Onc2023 Stories

** The horror slumbers buried under many meters of rubble and desert sand. Nameless cartouches, desecrated relics, and a sarcophagus containing an ancient riddle. ** "Ancient lands lost in time. Storms of sand, walls of lime Surround this mask of death that I wear Awakened by invading souls The curse of Pharaoh upon you Who dares to invade his holy ground The gods rise to destroy you." - Symphony X - When young student and photography enthusiast Arabella Redcliffe visits her uncle at an excavation site in Egypt anno 1922, ancient secrets are uncovered that should have remained hidden forever. The men and women of the archaeological excavation stumble upon a still-sealed burial chamber. But not only its condition and location raise questions. Who was buried here, why was his name erased from all records and reliefs, and why were many grave goods wantonly desecrated? Together, Arabella and the dashing archaeological assistant Miles Thornton try to get to the bottom of the mysteries. But then, inexplicable and terrible events begin to take their course. If they don't figure out what's going on in this cursed place fast enough, this tomb could become theirs, too. ***** My entry for the Open Novella Contest 2023 Cover by Me ***** 🥇TheGemstoneBooksAwards - Mystery 🥇 1st Place The Aster Awards - Paranormal 🥇 1st Place Rose Book Award - Mystery 🥇 1st Place Crown Awards - Mystery 🥇 1st Place Luminous Award - Best Title 🥇 1st Place Starlight Mini Awards - Best Prologue 🥇 Grad Prize Starlight Mini Awards 🥇 1st Categories Awards 2023 - Best Cover 🥇 1st Place Astania Awards - Mystery 🥈 2nd Place Starlight Mini Awards - Best Cover 🥈 2nd Place Megawatt Awards - Paranormal/Horror 🥈 2nd Categories Awards 2023 - Best Blurb 🥈 2nd Place Dazzle Awards - Thriller/Horror *****

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When a grandmother is declared the Chosen One, she abandons her rocking chair to challenge the Dark Lord who plots to destroy the world. -- Formerly a single mother, now a devoted grandma, Granny Thayer has never left her hometown before, let alone slayed a demon. But she'd better learn fast; she's just been selected as the Chosen One, the only hero who can defeat the nefarious Dark Lord of Devnia and avert a zombie apocalypse. Accompanied by a devastatingly handsome prince, a failed bard, and a werewolf with a dangerous secret, Granny Thayer embarks on a quest full of intrigue and love triangles to save her grandson. This is a collaboration for ONC 2022/2023, written by SophieKestrel and Spelunkadunk. Prompt: "It's always what/who you least expected that blows your mind away."

Fate decided that their paths should cross. | For friendly, hard-working Sua, the only things that matter in life are the happiness and safety of her friends and family. She's more than content to manage her late father's inn with her pet antula by her side. However, being an innkeeper in a small town isn't always easy... or safe. There's danger lurking in the woods, and only she is allowed to stop it. Through a twist of fate, a mysterious traveler comes along and distracts her from the threat to her home. Sa Gin's new, handsome face becomes the talk of the town overnight. What's more, he has a charming personality, a purse full of money... and a weapon on his back. Can Sua trust this stranger with her burden and her heart? Or does the newcomer already have enough secrets of his own?

Zoé is a young immortal. She is only 186 years old. Currently, she works in an incredible library of the occult, located in Budapest and curated by a very old immortal called Ikshan. Unfortunately, one day she stumbles upon a terrifying monster in a hallway of this very library. That was definitely not in the job description. This story is a spin-off of my series For Centuries but it can be read as a standalone. Genre: Paranormal/ Comedy Award: First Place Prime Awards 2023 (Category: paranormal)

Elizabeth-Annebelle lived her life on the family farm. She gathered the animals for breakfast, helped clean and feed them, and reported any deaths or weird behaviors. One day, when she goes to report a death, she finds out that she's become a ghost. When trying to find out what to do, she finds two doors. Opening one, she releases many w into the living world. Now her and the Grim Reaper have to work together to return the souls.

Eset is finally at peace. But for some, the war still isn't over and old grudges reveal long forgotten secrets.

The empire of Aquila has taken over half of the isle of Prydain, and the young siren Veriel finds himself born in the pool of the conqueror's newly-constructed villa. After the other sirens die, leaving him alone and voiceless, Veri's sole comfort comes from the dream of a human girl who sings to him. Then one day, Veriel surfaces to see that his dream, the sunshine of his heart, is real, standing within his reach. And she's engaged to another. But he's tired living as a prisoner, and he can't let this rare bit of warmth escape without fighting for it. Veriel may not have a voice or song, but that won't stop him from trying to win her heart.

[ONC Shortlister - 4x Featured] Professional thief and smuggler, Nio Barn, lives by one rule: break them all. When his criminal past finally catches up to him, he's faced with a choice: win the world's most dangerous racing competition in exchange for freedom or face a lifetime in an overcrowded prison cell. As he enters a world of high-speed thrills, deception and betrayal, Nio realises that life in the Speed Sprint races is far from easy. Forced into a fake relationship with his teammate to keep the money flowing, Nio instead feels more drawn to his fiercest competitor, Ruben Vincuña. With ten races across ten different countries, the stakes are high and the tension is palpable. Only one can be crowned champion. Only one can be free. Death is but a corner away. Written for the Open Novella Contest 2023, based on the prompts: 69 - I had a marvellous time ruining everything - Taylor Swift 49 - Master the rules of the game until you play it better than they can - Michael Scott Four times featured: Romance - Rainbow of Love Dystopian & Apocalypse - Rebellion: Against The System Speculative Fiction - A Crack In The System Science Fiction - Punk Fiction

"We called them angels not necessarily because we believed them to be merciful but because back then we had decided they came from either Heaven or Hell, and devils at least bore some resemblance to humans." "These beings did not." ~ Once a month, the city at the end of the world is plagued by Dark Days-days wherein the sky goes black and the sun refuses to shine. Gray Barnes, a struggling university professor, has spent years studying the strange beings known as "angels" who appear during the Dark Days. They've never been harmful before, but Gray has reason to suspect that this coming Dark Day, the angel's intentions are far less innocent than they may seem. When an unexpected arrest disrupts Gray's plan to flee with their wife, they find themself trapped in the city during the Dark Day. And though they've spent years researching this phenomenon, nothing can prepare Gray for the day that awaits them. The city is dark. The angels are coming. The world is slated for change-and Gray can rely on the people around them, but for the first time, they're not so sure they can rely on themself.

After waking with no memory of her true identity, Aira must team up with a detective to solve a murder before she's arrested for the crime. 32. Your character awakens to discover a dead body in the bed next to them and a duffel bag stuffed full of cash on the floor... But the scariest thing is, they have no memory of what happened, or even who they are. 82. In a future where humans have the ability to upload their consciousness into virtual reality at the time of their death, a detective must solve a murder case in both the virtual and physical world as the victim's consciousness may still exist in the virtual world and hold the key to solving the crime.

[8X FEATURED] Merlin is the greatest-eleven-year-old nerd the world doesn't know because his name has cursed him--he's all parts nerd and zero parts magic and all he wants is to be cool. When Merlin hacks a new encryption code designed to protect online banks, he receives a full scholarship to Code-X Academy and wins a new enemy who trolls him online as @WizardSlayer666, ruining all his plans for coolness. Merlin discovers new powers and deadly secrets at the academy--but can he figure out how to control his abilities in time to unravel the clues before someone else dies? To do so, he may need to learn that the best kind of cool is to just be yourself. 1st Place in the Hallow's Eve Astania Awards 10/31/2023 Featured by @SpeculativeFiction 9/13/2023 3rd Place in The Book Awards 9/6/2023 Featured by @lowfantasy 7/2/2023 WINNER ONC 2023 Spirit Awards: Against All Odds 6/30/2023 Featured by @WattpadWitches on 6/15/2023 Featured by @WattpaddDisney on 6/12/2023 Hit 2,000 reads! 5/31/2023 ONC 2023 Shortlister!! 5/31/2023 ONC 2023 Longlister!! 5/19/2023 No.8 Rank on "lowfantasy" tag 5/10/2023 No.1 Rank on "fittingin" tag 5/8/2023 No.1 Rank on "nerdy" tag 5/4/2023 No.24 Rank on "middleschool" tag 5/4/2023 Completed!!! 4/26/2023 ONC 2023 Round 3 Qualifier!! 4/19/2023 No.1 Rank on "middlegrade" tag 4/5/2023 ONC 2023 Round 2 Qualifier!! 3/21/2023 No.1 Rank on "speculative" tag 3/20/2023 No.4 Rank on "witty" tag 2/27/2023 No.3 Rank "ONC2023" tag 2/23/2023 Started 2/5/2023 WARNING: This middlegrade book touches on topics of cyber bullying, death, murder, identity, and has LGBTQ characters. PG Rating. The story is based on ONC 2023 contest prompt No. 47: You had a dispute with a cyberbully/keyboard warrior on social media. So you decided to step up and track down the account to confront. But you were shocked when you discovered who the person(s) is/are. BOOK COVER: I created the cover using Canva + staryai to create image of Merlin

🏆ONC 2023 || Ambassador's Pick 🏆ONC 2023 || Round Two Qualifier One night is all it takes to change a life. There's something wrong with Felicity Farr. It's how she can't seem to do her job right no matter how hard she tries, and how she's still under her parents' thumb years after moving out, and how she looks at girls the way she should look at boys. So even though she can't fix anything, she tries to fix herself all the same. But when a blind date ends with her in an attractive stranger's bed, Felicity is forced to question everything in her life. Especially when said attractive stranger asks her to run away with her for a week. Clover Chai is beautiful, confident, and everything Felicity should avoid. But she captures Felicity like the drag of the tide, and as the week drags on, Felicity finds herself having to choose between her head and her heart---especially since she can't imagine her summer fling remaining a fling anymore.

**In the Jim Crow South, two star-crossed lovers will change the trajectory of their nation's history forever.** Harriet is clearing out her grandmother's attic when she uncovers the truth: a love story marked by scandal, desperation, and a nation torn between a troubled past and a hopeful future. Harriet learns that at the heart of a great American victory is her family. Marked by legacy, this whirlwind romance proves that love isn't always black and white - and that changing the world comes at a cost. - ** ONC 2023, PROMPT #7

Legend speaks of a man with crows in his hair and stitches in his lips who will teach you his greatest trades. Some call him a monster. Most call him the Needle-Mouthed Man. But only the shadows know his true name, and they call him Master. As one of the dead, Minseo Park is a creature of the night, doomed to eternal darkness. However, refusing to accept his fate, Minseo turns to the shadows to give himself a second chance at life---all to get his sister out of the whorehouse where he himself died. Desperate, Minseo seeks out the Needle-Mouthed Man for guidance. But the Needle-Mouthed Man brings company: his protégé Nikolas, who both makes Minseo's blood boil and sets his heart aflame. In order to find his murderer and save his sister, Minseo must walk the balance between life and death and decide whether to embrace his inner darkness---or to let it consume him. Because the shadows are hungry, and the only food they want is revenge. [ cover and banners by inmyxikey ]

An ONC 2023 Entry. For many centuries the Kingdom of Nivaria only knew peace. However, when an unstoppable monster from the past resurfaces, the mages are put to the test. Marla, a once confident descendant of the powerful High Elder Estarosa, begins to wonder if their power will be enough to stop it. Nightmares have begun to plague the minds of the people and they have started coming true. Are these signs warning of a dangerous future or are they the monster's power? With no choice but to stand up and fight, Marla embarks on a journey to locate a famous Wizard for help. Prompts used: 64 64. You come from the first bloodline that has produced powerful magicians for centuries to keep the world safe. So what does it mean when you, the xxth descendant, are born with the power to nullify the magic? Will update as the contest goes on. I plan to post the first chapter soon. Stay tuned! **Contains occasional swearing and some scenes of violence & blood.** Book Cover made by myself through Canva (2/7/23)

ONC 2023 Shortlister His features had haunted her for years; a boy with silver eyes peering out from beneath a mask of bone. His body cloaked in darkness, a wicked grin upon his lips that spoke of treachery-- a smile that had broken countless hearts. And in that instant, in the midst of this game of life and death, Lucy wondered if hers would be next... .................... Lucy was warned never to trust those within the Carnival of The Lost-- a circus of strange creatures who spend their nights in performance, vanishing during the day. Yet she is drawn in by its music, her dreams filled with the face of a mysterious boy who's eyes shine pale as the moon, the air of a dark power shrouding him. But when by her own hand a deadly mistake is made, she must play the carnival master's wicked game to set everything right. Written for the Open Novella Contest 2023, this novella is a companion book to my short story 'At Autumn's Edge.' Prompt used; 49. "Master the rules of the game until you can play it better than they can." Cover image AI generated using Canva. Cover composition made by the author.

There is an old and traditional shop that has been closed for decades in the small Town of Nowhere, right at the end of the obscure Dream Avenue. There were all kinds of made-up stories about this shop, tales about the mysterious business owner's magical methods. Thomas, a local officer with the town's police department, is a pragmatic man who has always mocked those who believed in such ridiculous rumors. That is, until the shop's door opened one day. ❆ ❆ ❆ This short story is my work for the #ONC2023. I hope you enjoy reading it!

#ONC Emma Valentine is desperate to prove she can be a great archaeologist, and she has found just the way to do it. Ephyra Islet is an uninhabited and restricted island with a secret. Determined to figure out the secret and learn all about the ancient civilization that lived there, she ignores all the warnings and sets-up her own illegal dig. When Emma discovers a massive bio-dome and a long forgotten immortal inside, life as she knows it will forever be changed. On the run with an immortal by her side she will have to decide what is more important, her career or her life. My first and only novella on Wattpad

🤎 'Three women. Three secrets. Three tangled lives.' 🤎 All that supermodel Amy Wonderson ever wanted was a few breathes of relief in a new home, after an early retirement from the industry, with her long-term partner and fiance. But leave the breathes, even her want to stay for a minute fades away when a not-so-secret gets exposed about her past on the internet. 🤎 Julien Sally Neverith was a normal girl with a simple part-time job in a coffee shop, a few cats in her one-room apartment and a hobby of collecting painting and hosting parties and competitions for kids in the asylum. But, her life comes to a 180⁰ turn when she realizes what actually happened to her sister almost 7years ago. 🤎 'Being jobless, orphan and a single mother at the almost 27th year of your life in the 21st century' was the position that Rosetté Maria Gomez have always despised with all her heart and might. Although tired, she had no other ways but to chose to live for her daughter - her first priority. 🤎 Fate has decided something else when Rosetté meets Amy and Julien - people with equally troublesome surroundings and situations - at the most uncanny settings - a 'Masquerade Maskers' concert in Texas. How will this one meeting at the most arbitrary place prove so much changes in the life of these three struggling young ladies with no will to continue their journey? Will they be able to find their way back to the start after coming so far into a messy life; together? 🤎 An 'ONC 2023' project with prompt #15. 🤎 Word Count- 3.6k [updating] Start date- 2nd February'23 Finish date- [*shrugs shoulders*] 🤎