[OC]
The World is changed.
Once, beyond his screen grew dim, Do Hayeon sought solace in the glow of pixels. Life had become a labyrinth of disappointments, each dead end pushing him deeper into isolation. The Survival Multiplayer game, "Chase", promised escape-a challenge worthy of his unraveling soul. But Jackson didn't realize that it wasn't just a game; it was a cage, a nightmarish theater where he was both the audience and the prey.
He woke inside its sprawling map, the scents of damp earth and ash far too vivid for a simulation.
The rule was simple: SURVIVE.
But amidst the chaos of this newly found terror, he was unaware of that something far more scandalous.
The Hunter.
A specter cloaked in menace. His eyes gleamed like blades in the dark, his voice a low growl that echoed through the trees, hunted with grace, and whispered secrets no one lived long enough to repeat.
Hayeon first saw him at dusk, perched atop a ruined tower, his silhouette outlined by a bleeding sky. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met-amber against gray-and Do Hayeon felt the weight of a predator's gaze, cold and unrelenting.
In this game, survival wasn't just a test of strength; it was a dance with the devil, and Hayeon was about to learn the steps.
Can he escape the game?
(This is my original work with my characters. Do not be a bother)
-V
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.
***
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.