Eternal Nightfall is a dystopian world, harsh and unforgiving, where darkness has swallowed Earth almost entirely. For 2,000 years, a deadly plague and relentless storms have reshaped the planet, leaving it a shadow of what it once was. The sky is thick with clouds that block out the sun, leaving everything in a constant twilight. Temperatures hover near freezing, with icy winds that slice through whatever remains of human-made structures. The landscape is a haunting mix of decayed cities and empty wastelands, with only a few scattered sites where survivors huddle together, clinging to life.
Resources are scarce, and survival is brutal. The few survivors wear life-support suits to protect against the deadly air and freezing temperatures. These suits also filter out the lingering spores of the plague, keeping them alive in an atmosphere where just breathing could be fatal. Even these suits are starting to break down, and replacements are hard to come by.
In Eternal Nightfall, hope is a rare thing. People live day to day, each one harder than the last, surrounded by the sense that Earth itself has turned against them. Most of humanity has escaped to Mars, leaving behind the few who had nowhere else to go. Yet, despite the isolation, the eternal twilight, and the looming threat of death, those left behind refuse to give up. They hold on, in case the light will return-or in the faint hope that help might come from the stars.
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.