Watty Finalist: Mystery/Thriller, On the Rise I see him vividly in my head. Him. The guy who calls himself A for whatever reason. The guy dressed in a black cloak with a hood that makes his face look like an endless sea of darkness. The guy whose voice is like velvet; so smooth; yet so deep and dark it sends chills down my spine every time he speaks. The guy whose simple words and actions are enough to send my heart into a frenzy. The guy whose black-as-night eyes captivate me day and night. The guy who enjoys teasing me and making me angry, like it's one of his new hobbies. The guy who has the power to make my legs turn to jelly in an instant. The guy whose past is so deep, dark, and bottled up that it scares me. The guy who spends most of his time stalking me; visiting me at night. The guy whose arms hold me so tight and securely. The guy who evokes feelings in me that honestly scare the hell out of me. But he's not just a guy. He's a criminal. The criminal that calls me cupcake.

Excerpt Still carrying the small A5 book, I edged towards my front door and opened it. And there he stood, wet hair plastered to his head and dripping clothes clinging to his body. He stepped into the house and out of the rain so suddenly, I took a step back. He grabbed my waist and my neck, drew me towards him and silenced me with his cold, wet lips. I didn't hesitate or pull away and as I wound my arms around his neck, the A to Z clattered and dropped to the floor, laying at our feet.

Several months after a tragic mistake, a rift remains strong between Ellie and the man she loves. While she wishes to end the everlasting heartache and guilt, dreams of getting back to how life used to be keep her from taking distance to a whole new level. But closed ears, hearts, and minds make for bare progress, and Ellie finds she can only seek peace in her dreams. With their marriage on the brink of ending, will Archie find the forgiveness to save it? And can Ellie ever find it within herself to forgive and move forward? cover by dysanic