Onc2023 Stories

||WATTY WINNER 2023🌟|| Two strangers pretend to be a couple to win a dumb bet. The wager: they must enrol in couples therapy and fool their counselor. _________ Six non-refundable couples counseling sessions. That's how many Clementine booked for him and his girlfriend to sort out their relationship problems. What he didn't see coming was getting dumped as soon as he informed her of it. Enter Everett, a chaotic, curly-haired boy who barges into Clementine's life. He offers to fake date and attend the counseling sessions with Clementine. Unfortunately, they are both idiots. Did they really believe they could safely fake-date in a Wattpad book and NOT fall in love? ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Might bring to mind: "Heartstopper" but with a ton more baking and fake dating 🌈 🎼🎶 This book has a Spotify playlist with a song for each chapter. To download it you can search me on Spotify @itsmeimthevampire - the playlist name is "Idiots To Lovers." 🏅🏅🏅 Watty Winner 2023. Shortlisted in the Open Novella Contest 2023. Featured on Wattpad profiles: @Lgbtq @FreeTheLgbt @Romance 🏆🏆🏆 #2 lgbt #2 lgbtq 📆 10/5/23 #4 gay 21/5/23 #4 bxb 14/5/23 #5 boyxboy 13/5/23 #1 gayromance 5/5/23 #1 gayshipsareyayships 14/5/23 Written for ONC2023 using prompt 39: On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out.

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a young girl awoke in a body not her own. 'Mirror mirror on the wall tell no more lies of who we are.' Atticus When the giant mirror shows not her own reflection but that of an evil enchantress, Lucy Lambert realizes that her troubles have only just begone. Waking up as the villainous character of a well-known fairy tale is no walk in the park, especially not when her only options are to die a gruesome death or succeed where the original has failed. *Original Story written for the Open Novella Contest 2023, completed with 25K words*

Is he the greatest sorcerer that exists, or is he the biggest sham? *** Meet Aliath; the High Wizard of the Edvan empire as he searches for signs of the enemy within. He meets Hela, a mysterious girl who catches his attention. He later realizes that the enemy he sought was right beside him all along. And she has been tasked with one mission; his death! With war looming around, time is running out for Aliath. And he has a very important choice to make.

SHORTLISTED. Paul Finn wakes to discover that not only is he feeling horribly sick but, more worryingly, the naked stranger in his bed isn't moving. If only he could remember what happened... My story for the ONC 2023, a thriller scifi adventure, with a touch of romance. (SciFi /Adventure / LGBT) A Winner in The Nano Watt 2025 Novella category

[ONC 2023 Shortlister] ['23 RGAs Overall Winner] When the storm comes, who will you choose to ride it out with? In the sleepy coastal village of Porthdruro, the most excitement literature student Sally Tremaine experiences is the coming and going of the tide. So, when she runs into carefree photographer Flick Scott on a routine errand, the waves the girl makes in her life are beyond anything she's seen before. Flick is confident, passionate, and just plain fun - in short, she's everything Sally had never expected to find in her small world. Things aren't all fun and games, though. The rest of the village wants nothing to do with the boisterous traveller, and Sally senses there's something lurking beneath Flick's impulsive character, something she doesn't want Sally to see. And when another stranger follows hot on Flick's heels, Sally faces a choice between staying true to the place she calls home and protecting the girl that could take her beyond the horizon. As the storm draws ever closer, the questions rumbling in Sally's mind grow louder. What brought someone so full of life to a place like Porthdruro? Why is she so possessive of a simple camera? And will the toll of trusting Flick Scott be more than Sally can take? *** Written for #ONC2023. 50. "An attractive, mysterious stranger moves to your small town. While everyone is desperate to make an impression, only you notice something a bit odd about them." 51. "The problem with red flags is that I'm attracted to them." Stunning cover by the equally stunning @MiniMoxx. Adorable chapter-end graphic by the equally adorable @Metalcanine.

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.

For the Grammy Award-winning band Roslyn, it's the end of an era. ***** A year after a fight that splinters Roslyn apart, the band comes together on the eve of when they are to announce they're disbanding for one final contractual obligation -- an in-depth interview covered by lead singer Nora's least favorite writer, Porter. It may not be what Nora wants to do, but it turns out to be exactly what she needs, no matter where the estranged group ends up. [ OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2023 : prompt #44 ] [ ONC 2023 SHORTLISTER]

[DUO spin-off, prequel to Codename: DEMON]  In the city of Portia, the government has a small branch called the Special Connections Division. On the outside, they serve as a way for for the government to keep an eye out for non-government funded organizations. On the inside, however, their job is different: they operate as a black ops, weeding out criminal organizations and gathering enemy information from the shadows During the night, Lucinda Saffirus works for the SCD as an assassin who uses her blood as a weapon. But during the day, she's a private detective working to solve the major crimes, especially murders, in the city. Juggling new jobs isn't new to her, but raising her eight year old son as a single mother changes a lot of things. Life isn't already easy, but a new threat makes things more difficult--one of the top members of the city's most powerful criminal organization has figured out her identity, and she's given one rule: play their game. And she has no choice but to accept. Otherwise, her family, friends, both jobs, and especially herself will be at risk.

Overweight. That's the dreaded word doctors used to described Zahra ever since she let herself go many years ago. Not obese, but dangerous close to it. So when her sister decides to get an old friend to help out, Zahra finds herself thrown to the wolf known as River Milton, a handsome, compassionate but stubborn physical trainer. When the power of music and dance is the only thing that makes the pounds drop, the two find themselves playing a dangerous game that makes hearts race, muscles ache, and kisses ignite. But when a illness threatens to claim the very person she loves, Zahra will have to choose to stand by his side or risk losing him forever. Warnings: May talk about mental health or eating disorders Amazing cover done by none other then @starisredy

"If I had known that I will be stabbed by my love, I would have never fallen for you," a low growl escaped from Amaal. "I can explain this Amaal..." "What will you explain!" Amaal screamed in anger making Aayat shudder in fear. She wiped away her tears. "This....the tabloids are exploding with your lies and with proof of your character!" Amaal threw his iPad at her feet. She looked at the pictures and closed her eyes. "Amaal....my love...please, give me a chance to explain," Aayat grabbed Amaal's hand but he jerked his hand away from her. "Explain everything to my advocate and the magistrate, I feel disgusted just by looking at your face," Aayat was taken back by those words. It felt like fire was raining on her, burning every bit of her existence. "Amaal, don't say that please, look at me, I love you..." Aayat cupped his face. Amaal tried to get her hands off him but she held him firmly. "Don't do this...please...let me explain everything, " she pleaded with tears running down her eyes. "Leave....after the trials, don't show me your pathetic face," the anger and hatred in the eyes of Amaal broke Aayat apart. Amaal jerked her hands away from his face and turned his back on her. Taking off the engagement ring, Aayat left it on the piano and slowly walked away. She looked back for the last time but alas it was useless. ************************************* Music is the bridge that can join together people regardless of their differences. But what differences broke Amaal and Aayat apart ? Music brought Amaal and Aayat together... What separated them? Will Music once again bring them back to each other?

"The pain of freedom is better than the pain of slavery." - Saladin *** For almost a century, a part of humanity has lived underground, in a bunker designated to shelter the vulnerable from the unending war. The people in the bunker, known as the Division Two people, had no knowledge of the outside world except from the reports of the news reporters. Amna, a typical twenty-year-old girl from Division Two, never questioned the absurdity of the rules until a series of strange events began to occur in her life. One by one, her friends were taken out-a punishment for those who defy the law. And when her supposedly dead brother appeared after her wedding day, she realised that everything was a lie. Together with all the 'fallen' people, they strive to overcome the upper class' control over the vulnerable people. Would they be able to bring about a revolution and save the people from being trapped in the bunker forever? ** Based on Prompt 67 from Open Novella Contest 2023. The war had been going on for over 100 years now. Not that you'd ever seen it, living in a bunker your entire life. But one day, a news war reporter suddenly says, "I can't do this anymore. Everything is fine! They're lying! Th-" And the signal cuts out. * Thank you for giving my story a chance. I hope you like it and I would appreciate your feedback. :) The cover is made by @bookloving_pearl

AU Stranger Things Fanfiction Steve Harrington x Jonathan Byers Written for ONC 23 - Prompt 62 "I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul" - Pablo Neruda _ Trapped in a dark, alternate world with no evident escape, two halves of the same soul are pushed to face their deepest desires and fears, while dealing with consequences of their fates. _ Started: 27th February 2023 Round 1 Qualifier

[FEATURED STORY] Welcome to a tale of mystery, romance, and the dark side of happily ever after. *** In this thrilling YA fairytale mystery, star-crossed lovers find their happily ever after cut short by a midnight murder. Join a rebellious princess and a runaway prince as they race against time to catch the killer and uncover the truth, all while navigating the treacherous landscape of love and betrayal. A new kind of fairytale is born with nods to classic fairytale tropes and the suspenseful intrigue of Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None. Lies are told. Painful truths are revealed, and no one is safe. Who will make it out alive? *** Featured by @mystery in their Murder Reading List (March 2025) Open Novella Contest 2023 Participant - Prompt #49 Cover by Hendré Basson Interior Character Art by Hendré Basson Other images created with Canva

Three women. Three secrets. Three tangled lives. Aisha, Karen and Pamela can best be described as the contemporary supremes. Beautiful, smart, resourceful. Yet, something so dark and ominous haunts them, hovering over their heads like a dark cloud, threatening to expose them. They find a way to cope, to keep their heads up despite the shadows that is lurking. However, they'll eventually come to the realization that all is not as it seems, double nature comes naturally to most and your second skin is not thick enough. Secrets would be unveiled, bonds would be broken, some repaired, mistakes would be made and lessons learnt too. In the end, some would conquer, others would cave.

(ONC2023 shortlist) Minnie, a retired airship pirate, and Eleanor, Minnie's respectable new wife, discover what's at the bottom of the seemingly bottomless pit that has opened in their steampunk city. Can they survive the strange world below, and protect their home city from disintegration? This is my entry for the ONC2023, using the following prompt: 38. A seemingly bottomless pit was found, for which the depth can't be determined. Over time, scores of people began using it to illegally dump trash. Many have jumped believing that they'll find life's answers within it. Today, we learn the truth about the hole.

Everyone knows the band Zenith, but nobody knows how they managed to rock Zerkovkia's youth into starting a revolution... until now. Tolya Viktov is coming of age in the 1980s to the tune of spinning records, cheap liquor, and Zerkovkia's nine year war with neighboring Blivdova. The perms and denim jackets are hip, but it's the underground music he's most excited about. By the time he enters university, his lyrics and his talent have helped him break through on the student musician scene. Tolya, a duo of genius guitarists, and a bandless drummer soon come together when a producer realizes the key to achieving radical change in Zerkovkia is getting them to make music. What happens next is the stuff of legend and a whole lot of love, revolution, and rock and roll. Honors/Awards: ONC 2023 Honorable Mention ONC 2023 Ambassadors' Pick (Round One) "VIKTOV LIVES!" is featured on @music's "mighty drumset" reading list @storiesundiscovered's "feast on fiction" reading list @flexiblebookexchange's "read these gems!" reading list @opennovellacontest's "2023 honorable mentions" and "2023 ambassadors' picks" lists Copyright © 2023 Elle Chaika Open Novella Contest VI (2023) | Prompt No. 44

In the midst of the Salem Witch Trials, a resentful woman employs the help of an executed victim's ghost to solve the growing mystery of the conspirator behind the trials. *** Salem, 1692: Witches are feared, and rumors are spreading of the wicked deeds they commit after dark. As tensions rise, more and more men and women find themselves at the mercy of their townspeople. One of the first to die? Elizabeth Varlett, an innocent woman. Anne Blight had the misfortune of watching her die while on trial - but she soon learns Elizabeth is far from dead. And when Anne starts to see strange visions and bloodstained memories that don't belong to her, she realizes that something far larger than false accusations is brewing within Salem. And if she cannot solve this growing mystery, then her life may be the next one at the stake. -----　✼　----- INCLUDES: ✼ Dynamic detective duo ✼ Race for survival ✼ Unraveling mysteries of history ✼ A fight for feminism FEATURED: ✼ @OpenNovellaContest Round One Ambassador's Picks, Honorable Mentions, @lgbtq's Pride Award Grand Winners ✼ @Mystery, @StoriesUndiscovered, @WattpadWitches, @HistoricalFiction, @lgbtq 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙚: 02/07/2023 𝙀𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙚: 04/20/2023 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩: 26k 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧: @rissacorbyn © 2023 [First Edition]

A vast beautiful garden existed a long, long time ago, governed by a deity called Igong. She grew flowers and had caretakers to help her. These flowers, however, are not normal flowers, each flower represented a soul. And when one stubborn caretaker, MaSun defies her orders, angering the deity, she was punished into exile. . Was it just a deity's fickleness or a blessing in disguise? What about the coin that followed her since she was a caretaker. Does it have a deeper meaning? Will she succeed in the end? Thus, the journey begins... . . For Open Novella Contest 2023 (ONC) (Original Story)

No one has seen the real world in centuries. Since the creation of Dreamworld, humanity has transported permanently into the digital realm. The only ones who even know that Earth was-and is-a real place are the members of the Embassy, Dreamworld's sole government power. Tom Tolmafin, the last human to remember Earth, has hacked the aging process to prevent himself from dying before he finds his son, who was by the agency just before Dreamworld became operational. Now inside the digital realm, Tolmafin has created the catalyst to the Embassy's destruction and the only hope to finding his son-an android. Ace Raven, the most sarcastic AI known to man, has two objectives. Find Drake Tolmafin and shut down Dreamworld. When he meets a band of rebel teens attempting to break out of the system, he finds his chance to face the most lethal virtual landscape that will lead him to his goal. If they survive the Zones, they can hack the program and complete their objective, returning humanity to the real world. Failure is not an option. Failure means death. Prompt: In a dystopian world where technology controls every aspect of life, a group of rebels must navigate through a virtual reality landscape to hack into the mainframe and take back control from the oppressive government. {ONC2023 Shortlister}

There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a driver that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to be. One morning before daylight, Cenicienta stepped into his cab! Once inside the taxi, she skims the newspaper and reads about the increased bounty on the bandit plaguing the neighborhood. Wishing to escape her slavish life, the burglar's bounty seems appealing, and she becomes interested in catching him. The cabbie stops in a lonely alley, insisting it's where she is destined to be. She hesitantly disembarks, intending to catch another cab further up the road, which disappears as soon as the cabbie speeds off. Thereupon, Cenicienta stumbles upon a drawing of her six-year-old self with a note hinting at a secret treasure and also chances upon the handsome Robert Warren, who is quite taken with her. Cenicienta begins her search for the bandit at the Magnificent Seven Balls, the place of his intended thievery. At the balls, she meets Robert Warren, whose stepfather, Sir. Henry Moore tries to steer him into the arms of the young Elle Anderson, his deceased best friend's daughter. Robert meanwhile gets caught up in Cenicienta's life. The two grow closer and sparks fly. Cenicienta, in her pursuit to solve the mystery of the midnight bandit plaguing her town's elites, discovers a most sinister plot that wrought a terrible wrong upon someone very dear to her, and which threatens her relationship with Robert. Will she be able to help right the terrible misdeed and save her relationship with Robert, thereby changing her entire life?