Emmy's life is going just as she'd planned: She's living in her own apartment, dancing every day and is just leaps away from being named her company's next Prima ballerina. And she's only 17. But all of Emmy's plans come to a screeching halt when the FBI shows up at her door to let her know that she's being stalked by a serial killer. Suddenly, the safe, insulated world she created for herself is riddled with violence, fear...and a growing pile of dead bodies. At first Emmy wants nothing more than to forget her chilling new reality - but her admirer isn't finished with her yet, and before she knows it, Emmy's stuck in a nightmare she can't dance her way out of. Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains detailed scenes of murder, rape, torture, sex and stalking, which may be triggering for some readers. [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]]

✨First Place + Grand Winner of ONC 2025✨ (thank you!) In the wake of her estranged mother's death, Maricel Ferrer returns to her childhood home to confront the dark secrets she left behind. 🪞 Maricel has spent years trying to forget the house she grew up in - the house where her mother's mental health slowly unraveled. But after receiving unexpected news, she has no choice but to return. The old fears should be gone, just like her childhood "imaginary friend" who liked to appear in her reflection. At first, it's easy to dismiss the strange occurrences: a flicker in the glass, a movement that doesn't quite match hers. But then the reflection smiles when she doesn't. Moves when she's still. Whispers things she doesn't want to hear. By the time Maricel realizes the truth - that the thing in the mirror has been waiting for her return - it's too late. Because now, it wants out. And it wants to take her place. ONC 2025 | Exclusively on Wattpad Prompt 55: What if the person you see in the mirror isn't really you, but something that's been watching you this whole time? Prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real. © 2025 Darly Jamison. All Rights Reserved. This work is protected under international copyright laws.

Book of the Month on the @Ambassadors Mystery profile! This story will become FREE on August 30th, 2023! When 17-year-old Arbor Hayes' best friend turns up alive after a mysterious six-month disappearance, she must piece together the fragments of her story to make sense of what happened. But as clues emerge, she discovers how damaged Emma Navarro is ... and how dangerous the truth can be. * * * * * When 16-year-old Emma Navarro goes missing, the seemingly perfect town of Menteuse, Ohio is in shock - including Arbor Hayes, Emma's best friend and next door neighbor. After weeks of searching, Emma's truck is found abandoned hours away from home with blood in the back seat, turning the rescue mission into a recovery of her body. Six months later, Arbor receives a text from Emma's phone stating she's alive, but when her best friend reappears, she's more sinister and unpredictable than the Emma from before. And as details regarding her ordeal emerge, the more Arbor realizes how damaged Emma is ... and how dangerous the truth can be. Content warning: this story contains references to sexual abuse, mental health issues, violence, and mild drug use. ✨2022 Watty Awards Shortlist ✨Mystery/Thriller winner 2022 Amby Awards ✨Mystery/Suspense winner 2022 Punk Rock Awards ✨Best First Line - 2022 Punk Rock Awards ✨Best Action/Fight Scene - 2022 Punk Rock Awards ✨2021 Watty Awards Shortlist Emma That is Dead by Darly Jamison Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved Current cover designed by me, using MidJourney and Canva Pro. Photo inside created by D-Keine on iStockphoto, and edited on Canva Pro. (Previous Wattpad cover designed by Ashley Bandy) Notice: This document is not authorized for upload or use with artificial intelligence systems or platforms. Any attempt to upload, analyze, or process this content using AI technology is strictly prohibited.