Ever wondered what life is like after death? Well there's one old man that knows, but he's being hunted in the darkest of ways... His name is Zachary fisher, but people around these parts call him Akuji, if you can even call them people. "I quite like that name" He says. Because he may be dead, but he's still very much alive. Or so he thinks.
It's not a secret that love can take over some people, for good and for bad reasons, and down in the mystical 'Waiting room' of Hell, Akuji finds that he has powers, infected powers that he can learn to control if only he puts his mind someplace else. Rightly or wrongly, he's achieved this by latching onto the soul of an existing, and who better to slowly destroy from the inside using the negative energy his dying soul brings with it than the boy who as far he's concerned, murdered him with a rock out of fury, after seeing Zachary and his car's failed brakes, whether accidentally or selfishly, running down an old-school friend while driving to get coffee for his wife, Wendy, at the hospital.
Call this the launch point of a great story, but there was always going to be more to it though, wasn't there?
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
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Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.