A collection of short stories inspired by stories I used to hear as a child whenever the power went out, now retold in whatever way I find interesting. Some will be paranormal/fantastical in their nature, others set in the mordern world. I hope these can provide some comfort, entertainment, nostalgia or even inspiration for your own stories.

It could have been simple. Childhood friends - First Crushes - Football - Laughter - Cuteness - Love. Maybe even happily ever after. But it is not simple, and Noah doesn't know why. All he knows is that Ethan suddenly ghosted him when they were thirteen. Cutting their story short at Football. Now, years later, the same game throws them back into each other's lives when Ethan suddenly transfers to Noah's school. What he doesn't know is that Ethan comes fighting an invisible battle for control that Noah can't begin to understand. He just feels frustrated that Ethan seems hell bent on keeping a solid wall between them. A wall that keeps cracking. And the question is, once it finally breaks, can they find their way back to the story they were meant to have? ___________ Completed 19 of February 2026

**WATTYS 2025 HONOURABLE MENTION** Cas and Vish are best friends whose feelings run deep. Whilst Cas is clever, sporty, and on the brink of a bright future at university, Vish has no such prospects. A painfully shy artist, Vish's horizons end at his daily routine of pills, sensory issues and panicking parents. When they celebrate what could be their final summer together by painting wildlife and swimming at a secret wooded wetland hidden in the Fens, the lads awaken something ancient and sinister lurking in the water. A voice in Vish's head -- Charlie -- tempts him to spend longer and longer in the woods. When villagers begin to disappear and Vish becomes increasingly secretive and distant, Cas is convinced that Charlie intends to claim Vish, body and soul. Lies, heartbreak and obsession push their friendship to breaking point, but nothing will stop Cas from protecting Vish from Charlie's onslaught, not even a fight to the death. --- This book started life as an ONC 2025 prompt: 105. Your childhood imaginary friend who disappeared years ago returns - only this time they're real.

Robbie Blue hates clichés. And what could be more cliché than transferring to a completely new school in the middle of your senior year? Well, how about transferring to a cotton-candy-colored private school, filled with rich kids who live in mansions and drive sports cars with private chauffeurs? -🪷- Sunny Palm Coast wasn't exactly where 18-year-old Robbie had imagined to spend his final months of high school. A brand new student at Harmony Heart Academy even less. Yet there he was, thrown into the deep end with not a single clue on how to survive this chaos. Amidst all of the unknown, one thing was crystal clear; Robbie would do anything to stay away from clichés. However, this proves to be harder than he had anticipated when he meets the school's self-proclaimed troublemaker, and everything Robbie thought he was certain of now seems as unclear as ever.

A vampire named Citlali receives an email from an old lover who broke her heart centuries ago. The message says the immortal is dead and she left a key for Citlali in a bank in New York. But the same message had been sent to two other persons whose identity Citlali ignores and the safe can only be opened if the three of them are present. Dear Citlali is a queer polyamorous paranormal romance. This story is set in the For Centuries Universe but can be read as a standalone. Cover by Bartholomé Girard