Onc2023 Stories

**ON HIATUS** Sophia Miller is failing her Advanced Political Theory class taught by the devilishly handsome Professor DeVille. She is determined to become a lawyer and advocate for non-profits, but she's not willing to do so at the expense of her soul. Of course, if anyone could persuade her, it would be the charismatic professor. Dr. Archer DeVille is just a demon trying to get by in a modern world. He doesn't need much, just a soul or two every year to keep him going. He's had a good run preying on stressed out college students with big dreams, but when he takes a chance at snagging the virtuous Sophia Miller's soul, he discovers his powers don't work on her. Facing a demonic life crisis, he decides to get to know Sophia personally to see what makes her so special. 'Professor DeVille' was inspired by ONC 2023 prompt #17: "When your teacher calls you to their office, you realize they're not quite human. Class is about to get interesting."

It's 1893, and Kitty's eleven cousins - her adoptive siblings - have all moved out. She only has Sherlock Holmes for company, until Cousin Joey returns from America alongside his dashing benefactor, Benedict Hawkins. Scotland Yard Inspector Tobias Thackery has spent a decade looking for his runaway sister. New clues on her trail point to an anarchist plot, and Kitty won't be left out as Tobias recruits family members into a spy network. The risks are real, and more personal than Kitty expects, on her whirlwind quest to self-fulfilment. * ONC2023 shortlister! Prompt 51: The problem with red flags is that I'm attracted to them. * To be completed on July 1st, ~40k words. Cover by @cxmern

** 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 *****

"Excuse me, mister, but why did everything suddenly turn black and white?" A miserable adult who prefers to ignore everything, including their dying father. A concerned neighbor/friend/something more with curious connections. A taxi driver who doesn't bother to ask where the passenger wants to go. And a cat with unclear intentions. Where will this journey lead to, if anywhere? --------------------------------------------------------- • Based on prompt #9 of ONC. • Started: February 2, 2023 • Ended: November 15, 2023

"Cuteness comes with charm." 🏫 The school year kicks off with a promising start, filled with the anticipation of new friendships, teachers, and exciting experiences. Yet, amidst the cheerful atmosphere, one student stumbles upon a secret about his most beloved teacher. 🐇 Prompt 17: When your teacher calls you to their office, you realize they're not quite human. Class is about to get interesting.

Magicless witch Vesper's life is completely turned on its side when she asks out the hottie who's been frequenting her work for two weeks. He's a bodyguard, she's in danger, and her newly incarcerated father is not the simple man Vesper thought him to be, but the Grand High Water Sorcerer. What? Not to mention every water sorcerer around is hunting her and her estranged siblings for the artifact that she's sure her father didn't take. It's fine. It's totally fine. Except her father's magic, and his entire bloodline's, will be stripped in punishment. Supernatural bodyguard, Fox has two goals; keep the little witch alive at all costs and don't get involved in the client's life. Only she's so much like his lost younger brother that he can't resist wanting to help her. She might be desperate to prove her father's innocence, but all Fox wants to do is protect hers, and maybe his own heart. Together they discover Vesper might not be as magicless as she thought. With her newfound magic on the line, will they be able to find the stone and clear her father's name in time? --------- ONC Prompt #20: You finally build enough courage to talk to the cute someone you see everyday on the bus. Their face turns dark as they respond, "you shouldn't be able to see me." and Prompt #64: You came 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?

**In Necropolis, every afterlife citizen is dead, including Tyryn. While each soul is seeking to carve a path towards redemption at second chances, the girl who still bleeds crimson in the city of the dead is searching for answers to her very existence. ** When Tyryn and her rival are tasked with working together in search of a relic that will unite the four realms of Necropolis, Tyryn is ready to carry Nikos on her shoulders if it means returning to the realm of the living. Especially, if it can help her find the answers she's been searching for. If she is lucky, maybe Nikos will get that second death she's been silently hoping for, finally ridding herself of his presence. Because dying once and landing in Necropolis is never good. But dying twice means you never come back. There is only one problem...well maybe two. One-Tyryn needs Nikos to find the relic. Two-Killing, while a Necropolis citizen, means forfeiting your soul. This novella has been written for ONC 2023 Prompt 63: A rivalry between two coworkers has unforeseen consequences. © February 2023 With Talons and Blood By Gwen Jean

Grown up in the simple town of Forn, as the daughter to an innkeeper and ex-soldier, the youthful Marion Barwick aspires to become a soldier herself. Beaten down time and time again by life, she is eventually broken and takes on the role of innkeeper her father always hoped her to have. Here, she reunites with an old friend after losing her partner, who invited her to his wedding. The night before the wedding he confesses love to Marion, as well as his family-in-law's likely plans to murder him during the wedding ceremony in a coup of revenge on his family. Determined to save her love and live happily ever after, she elopes with him. Before they can make it off of the palace premise, he turns back to save his family. Now alone and grieving, Marion is left to pick up the pieces of her life to remind her she is worth of love, no matter what. An homage to simple fantasy, short bittersweet romance stories and stories without teenage protagonists. This story is a short recollection of the life and mind of Marion Barwick, a simple woman in search of a meaning to her life after losing her partner. This romance novel is focused on self-discovery, family and found love. Based on a Dungeons & Dragons game. Prompt 55. Since you've been going out for quite some time, your love arranges for you to meet their parents. When you get to their house and you enter the front door, you hear them say "I'm sorry" as the door closes behind you. ~(✩✧✩)~✶~(✩✧✩)~ Chapter I. • 1627 W (Total 1627 W) Chapter II. • 1974 W (Total 3601 W) Chapter III. • 2530 W (Total 6131 W) Chapter IV. • 1869 W (Total 8000 W)

This is my ONC submission for prompt 23: They were not real, everyone told me they were not real. But why are they here? Why are they trying to talk to me? Why are they calling me the ONE? Why are they staring at me like that? Avery had been bullied in first grade, for she has a broken leg. After watching a video about a monster, she says that the monster already got to her bully. Nothing changes. The Inequality Monster, which is what she called it, is on the loose, leaving her on her own to hopefully catch it. After going through a portal, she goes face-to-face with the monster since she's The One, according to society. If she fails, the entire world is in danger, and the blame will be on her. Will she be able to find help or be solely on her own to attempt to defeat the monster? Does she spend valuable time thinking why she's The One, or does she go straight into action to save the world? Cover done by my mom! "The Inequality Monster is definitely a good read! Full of conflict, resolution, and some slices of humor!" - @Storytellingdude871 !

"You were at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and now you are running for your life." Christabelle Lewis, a young, independent journalist with a dark past, has... a special relationship with the devil, which, naturally, means she'll do anything for him. She takes a trip from New York to Lostville, Netherlands to meet Kelvin Hexxus-her mysterious online boyfriend, only to find out that he is an immortal being whom connected to her. The situation left Christabelle with two choices; to spend six months in LostVille- a haunted town where strangers can't leave or Kelvin takes her life. What happens when Christabelle becomes pregnant with the devil... Would she birth it? Would Kelvin ever let her find peace? This story story is written for the Open Novella Contest 2023 (Prompt 13). Copyright©2023 Madinah_Writes

If you'd like to pick up mind-reading, look no further! This unorthodox guide by a normie draws on first-hand encounters with mind-readers, which means you get an outsider's perspective. If one day you find yourself unable to read minds anymore, or it suddenly occurs to you that you could never read minds, pray that 1) you do not expose yourself, and 2) you have this guide with you. Else, you're in for a wild ride. Hope the taxi from the urban legends exists in your city. It will make things a tad easier since it takes you to places you never knew you needed to be at until you're there.

After more than thousands of years of hibernation, the infernal god Calu is reawakened - by a child. He resigns himself to a monotone future, until the opportunity for him to get rid of Lach arises. But what Calu doesn't expect is for him to care about his young charge, and when Lach goes missing, Calu is ready to raise hell. Hopefully, before it's too late. Unedited

Until recently, Mia's biggest challenge was attracting visitors to a province whose unsolved crime rate keeps climbing. After her Bear Claw Lake ice fishing tourism campaign gets axed because a body was discovered, an unusual stranger offers her unconventional help to catch a potential serial killer. Even with his help and that of her childhood friend from the affected community, the clues leave Mia with more questions than answers. But she must discover the truth to keep the province safe, get justice for the victims and save her job. Trigger warning: This story is related mature because there are brief mentions of the suicide of a family member having an effect on a supporting character as well as one scene that flashes back to child abuse in the form of neglect resulting in a near-death experience. Cover photo by Simon Wijers (from Unsplash)

To Anwen Pike, To you, my granddaughter, my blood-born heir, I must admit I've committed something quite abhorrent. You don't even exist yet and I've already wronged you, but I shan't apologize, because my legacy must survive. I have done terrible things to acquire my position, you know. These things, these horrid acts, will not be in vain. I will not allow the truth to die, and I have every hope that you will do the same. There are secrets, awful secrets, that you must promise me that you will safeguard. Promise me that when I am gone, which to you should be the present moment, these happenings will not go with me. You must carry my burden as you carry my name, whether you wish to or not. To the bearer of my blood, and therefore my mind. ----- This is my submission for the Open Novella Contest 2023 and it goes along with one of their wonderful prompts. I don't usually like writing for a deadline, but I'm giving it a try. If it turns out rubbish, oh well.

⊹ Book 2 of the Aldergrove Duology ⊹ {ONC 2023 Shortlister} Desperate to see his dead mate again, Sebastien makes a deal with the Devil. But the price he has to pay is much more complicated than simply handing over his soul. ⤠ ≻ ◈ ≺ ⤟ Graduating from Aldergrove Academy and heading to the New World was anyone's greatest dream. But what was the point in starting a new life if the person Sebastien fought so hard to be with wasn't around to start it with him? Struggling to accept the death of his mate, Sebastien seeks out one of the rulers of the New World and offers him his soul in exchange for his lover's resurrection. But any deal made with the Devil is never so simple, and there are several deadly strings attached. Sebastien faces his greatest challenge since going up against Aldergrove's elites, and this time, his brute strength simply won't be enough. ♠ Gay Male MC ♠ Haunted House & Paranormal Curse ♠ Race Against Time ♠ Word Count: 31,600 ─────────────────────────────────── ✵ NumenVerse year: 1177 2023 © Tate Csernis | | Exclusive to Wattpad and Inkitt

The dead objects know how to tell a story. If you know how to ask them... An unfinished novel. A golden medallion. Even an ordinary coin. When she was only a teen, Clara learned that the voices in her head - the ones that tormented her - came from the objects around her. The family curse that was sprung upon her had followed her for years before she learnt how to live with it. But no learning happens without mistakes. Once anonymous threats start arriving to her door, Clara knows her past has finally caught up to her. Now, she must trust her powers and solve a murder that happened ten years ago before it becomes too late. ----- Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2023 ONC Prompts #5 & #15 ©2023 Jana Tulisa Published to Wattpad 1st of Feb, 2023 Draft Ongoing

In The Soul Collector, Josh, an unlucky funeral director in training, gets roped into helping Woojin, a grim reaper. One could say they were a match made in heaven, or rather, in the afterlife. With Josh's paranormal sensitivity and Woojin's supernatural abilities, they team up to recover four escaped souls before it's too late. As they work together to capture the souls, their relationship deepens, and they must navigate their growing feelings for each other. But with the barrier between the living and the dead, can a human and a grim reaper truly be together? They face unexpected obstacles that test their resolve and their connection. Get ready for an exciting and unique paranormal romance novel filled with gothic imagery, Catholic mysticism, and haunting mysteries. Will Josh and Woojin be able to overcome the challenges they face and find a way to be together, or will the consequences of their actions tear them apart? Find out in The Soul Collector. (Cover Generated with the help of DALL·E 2)

Eletonias is a kingdom of great technology and pain. Magic is banned, and those found with it face a fate worse than death at the hands of the King and his machines. Runa barely leaves the candlelit alleyways she calls home, working with a rebel group to overthrow the rulers who have forced her to hide her true self. Cyrus is a prince, grappling with vicious court rumours and a secret that could soon become fatal. Desperate to protect himself, their worlds collide when a series of deaths and a shattered crown reveal a darker past than anyone could have expected. But, to save the kingdom and their lives, they must first discover that things will be a lot harder when hell is empty and all the devils are here. Trigger warnings - fire, blood, swords, death, dying, dead bodies, demons, soldiers, skeletons The trigger warnings are not shown in each individual chapter at this point, sorry Main prompt- 62

The new and attractive landlord has left everyone else wanting to make a good impression. But me? I've known something was off from the moment he shook my hand. There's just something wrong about him. Something . . . dark. But I brushed it off. And now it might be too late. Guess I should have listened to my instincts after all. __________________________________ This story contains profanity and violence. • ONC 2023 •