: ̗̀➛ Open Novella Contest (ONC) - Entry ༘♡ ⋆
*ೃ༄ Prompt 22 - You get ready for work one morning as usual. When you arrive at your car,
which is parked in the street, the windshield is covered in blood.ೃ࿐
. . . . . ╰──╮Blurb╭──╯ . . . . .
In the quiet town of Eldridge, Willma's mundane life takes a spine-chilling turn when she stumbles upon blood splattered across her car windshield. A devoted fan of true crime and thriller novels, Willma finds herself thrust into a real-life mystery as a series of gruesome deaths unfold in her community. Intrigued by the enigmatic "ShadowBlade" killer, who dons a chilling mask during his heinous acts, Willma becomes determined to unravel the truth.
As the town becomes paralyzed by fear, Willma's obsession with the elusive murderer intensifies. Unbeknownst to her, the killer becomes aware of her relentless pursuit and begins fixating on her in return. "Masked Desires" is a gripping tale of forbidden allure and the dangerous dance between a girl infatuated with darkness and a killer drawn to her irresistible curiosity. In this twisted game of obsession, the boundaries between hunter and hunted blur, revealing the haunting consequences of desires that should never be embraced.
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.