Top 25 Finalist for Target's Once Upon Now contest He's trapped. He couldn't breathe. The white walls were smothering him, the barred windows were taunting him, the ticking of the clock was killing him. Now the nurses, of course, they were there too, they were there constantly choking him, forcing the colored pills down his throat. He wasn't just the amusement of the place. No, he was the beast of the place. Adam was suffering from insanity. Insanity from being locked in one single room for eleven years. Eleven years he has been stuck in the psychiatric hospital. He couldn't get out and he couldn't be saved, so what was left for him? What was there for the beast besides death? There was only one answer, one answer that not even he knew just yet, but it would all start with a single name. That single name that would bring a new feeling to that white room. That single name being Belle. ----------- A/N: This story is entered into the "Once Upon Now" story contest by target. This story is my version of a modern day "Beauty and The Beast" Anyways, thanks for reading!(: Xx Cover made by: Playboystiles

"Beg for it." He growled in my ear, making heat shoot straight to my core. "Never." I hissed back as his fingers moved faster inside me. His chest was pressed against my back, hand dipped into my skirt, panties pulled to the side. I wanted to come so badly, but I would never give him the satisfaction of hearing me beg. --- Violett Moore finished college over a year ago, yet she was still jobless. Of course, she was still living the life with the money her brother sent her every month, but she wanted something of her own. Hard earned money from a good paying job. When he brother tells her that there may be an opportunity for her, she couldn't be more ecstatic, until she finds out who's hiring. Roman Drakos, CEO of the Drakos Co. conglomerate that owns most of the media outlets in LA, some film studios, and the most prestigious marketing firm. He's also her brother's best friend. She's never met him, but she already knew she wouldn't take the job. This was just another handout and she wanted to work for it. Little did she know that Roman wasn't giving away any handouts and would indeed make her work for it, even if she had to beg for it. TOTAL WORDCOUNT: 97,431 ⚠️WARNING ⚠️ This story contains mature content such as foul language, some violence, & sex

After years of abuse at the sadistic hands of his Stepfather, Issac Carmichael had finally snapped in a haze of hatred, pain, and feelings of total helplessness. It was his driving need to get away from the abuse and torment, and a desperate attempt of self preservation he had made a choice. A life altering decision that he had no recourse but to act on it at the first given opportunity. And the penalty for that choice landed him where he was, in court standing on trial for his crime. But instead of life prison; he was deemed insane by the wonderful panel of his peers and sent off to Covington Behavioral Institute to be analyzed and treated. He was supposed to spend anywhere from 10 years to the rest of his life here and Issac thought it was better than where he was coming from. He just wanted to finally be left alone, and Issac didn't make it easy for anyone to get close to him or even speak to him.That was until Dr. Royce Covington stepped in to personally handle his case. The esteemed and world renowned Psychiatrist, and owner of the Behavioral Institute and the most beautiful man Issac has ever laid his eyes upon in all the years of his miserable messed up life. The slender man was to be his shrink, to try to figure out what made him tick, to bring him out of his shell, to find out the why behind his murderous act, and to treat his self destructive behavior. Read the difficult journey of these two, the compassionate Doctor and the unwilling Patient.

After unknowingly saving a mafia boss from a botched bank robbery, Kiara accepts an offer to work for him as a translator, not realizing love may become part of the package. ***** Though Kiara Payne may be a genius when it comes to languages, what she knows of the real world largely comes from books and movies. But after foiling a robbery on her first day as a bank teller, Kiara finds herself thrust into a world of danger, her life resting in the hands of the infuriatingly sexy Italian mafia boss Milo Di Vaio. In exchange for her safety, Kiara agrees to serve as Milo's translator, accompanying him across Europe as he tries to clean up the mess his late brother left behind and save the reputation of the Di Vaio crime family. Cold, ruthless, and sinfully beautiful, Milo is hard to resist but even harder to love. As tensions rise and secrets are spilled, Milo and Kiara are both forced to question everything they thought they knew. Does love outweigh loyalty? And if so, is it worth dying for? [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes and violence

James 'Bucky' Barnes/OC AU ~~~ The year is 1973. All Dove Rogers wanted was a relaxing summer. Just one last hoorah before being thrust into adult life. Yet everything shifts when her new houseguest- and long-standing enemy- Bucky Barnes, arrives. In the thick of sun-kissed relaxation, the two of them are forced to face the awakening and burning desire growing between them. Enemies to Lovers/First Love This story is 18+. Specific tags in the first chapter. (I'll update them as I go)

Dark!James 'Bucky' Barnes/OC AU ~~~ Margaret Everlee is a terribly timid little thing. Living her life as a struggling artist in New York, trying to find her place in the world. That is until the CEO with a dark past, James Barnes sets his sights on her. His infatuation is instantaneous, becoming a man possessed. Desperately needing her to be his own little doll and willing to take down anyone that gets in his way. This story is 18+. Specific tags in the first chapter.

After telling ladybug his true feelings and being rejected, again, chat noir needs someone to talk to. He just so happens to find Marinette sketching designs on her balcony later that night. This sparks only the VERY beginning of their story...

Killian King; cold, distant, dominant, and possessive over what's his is top dog at school and known as the bad boy, so what happens when Finnick Green, the nerdy shy and socially awkward boy, trips into his life and creates an uproar that leaves his alpha wolf trembling.

A magic-addicted spy trapped in the queen's service must track a princess-turned-assassin in order to earn her freedom, but things get complicated when she falls for the princess she's supposed to capture. ***** Weak. Cursed. That's how seventeen-year-old Kayden Branimir, the realm's deadliest assassin, views herself. Some believe she could save the world with her rare healing magic, but she gave up on her powers long ago after failing to save her best friend. Her life changes when she receives a letter from her supposedly dead twin brother, Alaric, begging to be rescued from rival territory Leodia. For the first time since her friend's accident, Kayden is determined to be the hero, but she must learn to embrace her magic--and herself--along the way. Strange. Unnatural. Those are the words whispered about eighteen-year-old Zara Tait, a Leodian spy addicted to soul-stealing magic. Forced into the queen's service, Zara wants to escape and return home, but she has nothing to offer the queen in exchange for her freedom. When Kayden arrives in Leodia, Zara sees the quiet girl with unique magic as the bargaining chip she needs. But the more she learns of Kayden, the more her feelings grow. Now, Zara must choose between her freedom and the dangerous assassin she hadn't meant to fall for. [2020 Watty Award Winner] Content warning: This story contains mature themes of violence, addiction, abuse, self-harm, and mental illness. Cover by Faera Lane

When Franny learns why former popular boy Tyler fell from grace, she gets thrown head-first into his dangerous world but also closer to his timid heart. ***** Eighteen-year-old Tyler Madden used to have everything. He was captain of the football team, popular, high achiever, and was set to have a successful career. But when a secret too hard to handle comes to light, he turns to underground fighting to deal with the pain. Now, he's in too deep. And when Francesca Howard befriends him at school in the hopes of figuring out what went wrong, she unknowingly gets pulled into the criminal world he's now stuck in. As the two find comfort in each other, they find themselves faced with their impending future and trying to get Tyler out alive. Content/Trigger Warning: this story contains scenes pertaining to drug use, substance abuse, and violence. [#1 in teen fiction, romance and action]