"May the gods have mercy on your soul, for your soul is on a journey into a world of torment and madness. But be afraid, be very afraid. For there is no god to show mercy unto you. We are a blight unto this world. We have been abandoned and left to walk without our tongues, forced to watch the horrors with no word to utter. So, may the wicked and the principalities of darkness have mercy on your soul."

If you mention the past, you die. ~~~ Phoenix, a young woman living in The City, has grown tired of unjust deaths, brutal killings, and punishment for individuality. Chips implanted in the throats of citizens ensure that any mention of life fifteen years ago is heard, by none other than the unnamed president known as The One, and his loyal Enforcers. Lies are uttered, trust is scattered, and fear coats the air. Having endured enough, Phoenix, seeking peace and safety, decides to travel off the Continent. An unexpected encounter with someone she never predicted she'd see again alters her plans, and her life. Facing old friends, new comrades, and cruel Enforcers, Phoenix finds herself confused about her role in the midst of all these changes. Strangers are turning into allies, a revolution is being born, and there is a continuous battle between her heart and mind. She does not know who to trust and who to kill. When you are surrounded by many but are completely alone, you start making dangerous decisions. ~~~ ONGOING ©Heba Mawid 2020

This story will become free again as of 3 March 2025! It will then be removed in the not too distant future. Ike Wordsworth, a divorcee and rookie tour guide sent to Rome, struggles to survive a labyrinth of dark secrets, ancient mysteries and brutal murders. ***** Jessica "Ike" Wordsworth is leading the LiteraTour inaugural trip to Rome. But when senseless acts of sabotage culiminate in a murder -- with the victim's body dumped in a priestess's grace, alonside a message referencing long-lost prophecies -- Ike has to use her naturual talent for book-diving to find the killer before they strike again. But was the murdered girl really the intended victim? And who are the three women chasing after Ike? It's a race against time, because Ike can't solve the mystery if she's dead. ("Sibylline Greetings" is the standalone sequel to the 2018 Watty Winner, "Frankenstein's Guide.") [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Ren T