In the futuristic landscape of early 3018, "Fractured Reflections" unravels the tale of Adam Mercer, a reinstated detective in the bustling city of Zenith. Despite the city's technological marvels, crime still festers, exacerbated by the omnipresence of androids replacing humans in 90% of occupations.
When a string of inexplicable assassinations rocks Adam's neighborhood, he is tasked by the Zenith Police Department to investigate. What begins as routine soon spirals into a labyrinth of anomalies, echoing the tumult within Adam's own psyche.
Amidst the chaos, Adam finds an unexpected ally in Echo, an android assigned to aid him. Together, they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of Adam's mind and unravel the mysteries plaguing the city. As they confront their inner demons, themes of identity, trauma, and redemption emerge, blurring the boundaries between man and machine.
"Fractured Reflections" delves into the depths of dissociative identity disorder (DID), PTSD, and other psychological afflictions, from personal experience.
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.