The darkest hour is incorrectly referenced as being an hour, or sixty minutes long, when in fact the majority of people would agree the darkest hour often references a great chunk of time. My darkest hour began with the first kill in a chain of serial murders. This isn't just any murder story, there is no "final girl" emerging from the fire and blood the killer left in his wake. the past, no matter how hard we try running always comes back to teach us its lessons. I've tried for many years forgetting the blood soaked pavement under the carved bodies of the people I loved. I think about the friends I lost. And how the killer is still out there. As the end approaches I fear that I'll never get the time to tell my story. With death itself breathing down my neck Ill start from the beginning...At the first incident. **** WARNING**** This book contains chapters that younger readers and people who struggle with mental health may find disturbing or triggering. This includes things like written talks about depression and suicide. It is never my intention to make people feel worse and if you are struggling to find resources please reach out or contact the national helpline at (810-662-4357)

Wared Ra'Han, a young man in his late teens, finds his world turned upside down when his uncle unexpectedly survives a sacred ritual that every citizen must participate in. Shunned by his future fiancée and under the microscope by those around him, he turns his anger towards the source of his pain, his uncle Tarun. When he learns that Tarun harbors secrets that endangers not just them but their society as a whole, he is forced to pursue the answer to a question no-one is asking: what exactly is the purpose of the Departure Protocol and why did Tarun survive? What happened to all those that went before him and what secrets is the Protectorate really keeping from everyone? Wared's own future and that of their whole outpost hangs in the balance. ~~~~ Soon also on Royal Road! This story is the result of "My Journey To The Wattys 2020" - a diary of my creative process and progress in creating a brand new story for the Wattys 2020. You can follow the journey here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/213976622-my-journey-to-the-wattys-2020

A seven-part story written for Ninjago Angst Week. ---------- Cole should have known that it would happen, should have known that nobody lives forever. Cancer was almost incurable, anyway. But it didn't make his mother's death hurt any less, nor did it stop him from blaming himself. --- All his life, Morro had been alone. When Wu found him that one day, he was happy. Content. Loved. It was a foreign feeling, and he naively thought it would stay there forever, only for Wu to lie to him. Now he was alone again, desperate to prove to destiny that he was worthy to be the green ninja. It was his biggest mistake. --- In hindsight, maybe getting stabbed in the stomach wasn't the best idea he'd ever had. But if it was to protect Lloyd, Kai would do anything for his baby brother, even if his own life would be at risk. --- Nya had always hated failing, always hated making mistakes. It made her feel weak, useless, and unworthy. It was a fear that could either be a strength or weakness. But she had never hated failing more than she did when she hit that lever the wrong way. --- When Kai disappeared, Jay knew that all hope was lost. When Zane was lost as well, Jay knew that the chances of defeating Nadakhan were close to none. When Jay stupidly got himself captured, he knew that he shouldn't make his last wish. One by one, as his teammates were separated from each other, it seemed as if victory was non-existent. But he wasn't going to quit. --- As a nindroid, it wasn't possible for Zane to get sick. And he was grateful for that, because it meant that he could take care of his siblings better without getting sick or injured himself. Still, he worried whenever one of them got sick or injured, especially since he wasn't sure if Jay was going to survive. --- Lloyd knew that it would happen, that he'd be alone someday. Again. But he never expected it to hurt this much, and he never expected the day that he'd hate his dragon side.

Like everyone else, Percy Jackson has a past, but it's not a normal one, even by demigod standards. Everyone thinks they know him, but do they really?