Onc2024 Stories

🏆 HONORABLE MENTION - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A witch has to pretend to be the wife of the Prince of the Dead in exchange for resurrecting her lover. ⋯⋯⋯ Mavyn of Krauss has everything under control until her rich and influential fiancé keels over and abandons her. Now with no place in society as a witch, she moves to the next best option―summon an immortal from the Land of the Dead and strike a deal to resurrect him. Enter Valen Nox, a prince of the Underworld, bringing along an irresistible deal to the table. She will have a chance to comb through the Underworld's domains for her fiancé in exchange for being Valen's date for his sister's wedding. But when the truth comes out with the promise of a conspiracy, Mavyn is thrust into the wicked world of the Kathari, the Underworld's immortal rulers, and their schemes for dominion. Now, she must play by their rules while crafting deadly plans of her own―plans that may endanger more than what Valen bargained for. After all, the most logical thing to do in a court deep in chaos is to use it to one's advantage. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a tale of the deadly and the wicked, set in a world where life and death are not so simple, and there may be more to lose at the edge of the void than at the end of memory. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE WICKED DEATH SELECTIONS. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [22,000 - 27,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] 🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 R1 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

Rosemary Albright has been a topic of gossip in the Ton for six long years. She has perfected her gentle smile, her polite non-answers are above reproach, and not a single brash suitor has seen a snippet of her ire. She is the picture of a calm and collected widow, and she intends to remain that way, even as strangers, acquaintances, and friends alike insist on encouraging her to marriage once more. Alexander Kilroy will do anything in his power to remain unnoticed. Caught between two worlds - his brothers' titles and his father's humble roots - there is nowhere he quite belongs. Ignoring the whispers around him and the hurt in his mother's eyes, Alex is determined to forge his own path, even if it carries him even further from the family he craves but cannot have. When Rosemary and Alexander are reunited, they find their situations are not so different. And what starts as a friendship between two opposite - one like sunshine, the other midnight rain - might just be what they've both been searching for. *A Humphrey Chronicles Novella (book 3.5) which may be read as a standalone* An ONC 2024 Entry (2K, 8K, and Round 2 Ambassador's Pick) Completed December 2024 (~35000 words)

Peaky Blinders meets Bonnie and Clyde. **** Eighteen-year-old Kit Jones has spent his life on the wrong side of the law. Having grown up poor in London's seedy East End, Kit has fought tooth and nail just to survive. Emily Masters cannot say the same. Born to rich parents, she's been handed everything she could ever dream of on a silver plate, but she longs for adventure. When Emily and Kit's lives collide, they find they have more in common than they first thought. Hiding from the police is one thing, but when Emily's parents come looking for her, the two must do whatever they can to avoid being caught. They quickly realise that a life on the run is no life at all, but they may have gone too far to get out. Based on Prompt 14: "My Love, believe me, waiting for you has always been a form of freedom." - Alexandra Vasiliu.

Meredith, a doughty ex-FBI agent has escaped the fast-paced life of a federal gunslinger and is hellbent on keeping it that way. She's content living as a small-town rancher until an old friend tasks her with babysitting a vulnerable tech magnate worth billions. Sebastian is on the run from international criminals and the only person on his side is a reluctant tough girl with a complicated past and a farm she won't forsake. On a mission to outwit the powers that be, this unlikely duo might just learn two truths: #1 the odds are better together, and #2 whatever you sow, you will reap.

Inventor Selene Mintz and her partner Arch Kenton are on the cusp of breaking into the upper levels of Inno-Tech with their latest inventions when she is rocked by a devastating betrayal. Unsure who to trust but hellbent on making the person pay, she fights for control of her idea before the materialistic tech company turns it into a sinister capitalistic nightmare capable of destroying the lives of millions. Cover image by Noah Buscher from Unsplash

Three strangers. Two secrets. One key. Emma was perfectly happy being a driven, yet single, high school student. Until a love goddess decides that Emma needs a boyfriend- whether she wants one or not.

What do you do when a teenage movie star makes it seem as if you've kidnapped him? After working two summers at his father's health club as a towel boy, Peter Fisk saved enough money to visit California. He literally runs into Lance Hardwood in his hotel lobby - and Lance just wants to have fun, incognito. Pete gets caught up in a mad escape from Disney reps, paparazzi and a trio of Lance's superfans; and finds that maybe, just maybe - Lance has kidnapped his heart.

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A young journalist must navigate a war-torn country and the intricacy of first love in order to save herself and her family. ⋯⋯⋯ In 2042, invaders crossed Philippine waters and marked the start of the war. Two years later, Maian Dizon, a displaced Metro Manila journalist, navigates the war-torn streets in search of a way out of the country. However, when her path crosses with Kian Lucero, a reservist medical doctor, doubts creep in. With the guilt he carries, the foreboding loss on her shoulders, and the pressing needs of her family, her calling points her back to her homeland with no promise of salvation. But the attacks crawl closer every day, and Maian must devise a plan to save the people she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a story of love and life, and how they fade and thrive at the face of war. There is an end to peace, memory, and glory, but there are things that will live forever. We only have to find them. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [30,000 - 35,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] C/TW: Some scenes in this story contain graphic physical violence, disturbing themes, or character introspection that may upset or trigger the reader. Please read at your own risk. 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

**ONC 2024 Shortlisted** **Featured on @Fantasy Reading List** Pristine Marvin, a shy sophomore harboring a secret crush on her classmate Andrei, finds herself unknowingly entangled in a web of mysterious events after a fateful encounter at an eerie shop. As the case unravels, Alan Alteiner, the manipulating hero of Caperwood, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth surrounding his friend, Andrei's demise. At the same time, Avril Alteiner, a distraught son with no possibilities of attaining supernaturalism, gets overshadowed by his family members, making him seize a risky opportunity that leads him down a perilous path. With Pristine on the run from a falsely implicated crime and Alan on the trail of a startling revelation, the entangled mess begins to unveil it's powers. Will Pristine navigate her route through the treacherous forest and clear her name? Can Alan untangle the twisted threads of the truth before it's too late? Or will Avril succeed in his evil conquest?

Elyminai are rampant in Cyber City 354431. They hold no formal ties to any of the three gangs controlling the city, though they'll steal or kill for anyone for the right price. After her sister, Stellae, signed on to a CryoFuture project, testing the latest developments in prolonging human life, Sol assumed the alias Aurablade. While many Elyminai capture and sell the final breaths of their victims on the black market, Sol collects them for herself, using them to visit the underworld, where her sister's consciousness is supposed to dwell while she's in a state of suspended animation. Except after two years, Sol still has not found Stellae. Sol suspects there's more to The CryoFuture's project then they have revealed to the public. And she is determined to unmask it at all costs. Pronunciation: Elyminai: Elim-in-eye Sol: Soul Stellae: Stell-ay #ONC2024 61. Your new car just might be the doorway to the underworld, and it needs more than gas to run. ONC 2024 Shortlister Cover by @thatwomanlywoman321 Sticker by @SuVida777 Featured: @action & @sciencefiction

One favor, one journey, one game-changing weapon. With tensions between humans and mystical creatures at an all-time high, going on a journey for rare blood was never going to be good. Especially when Vaughn knows he's the only one who can turn it into a weapon. As the journey continues, doubts soon begin to grow - between Vaughn and his companion, his strict manager from work; doubts about the past his family had warned him of; and finally, about the true reason behind this journey. Why exactly did the requester want this blood? Do they know how dangerous it can be? And if they do, what are they planning to do with it? ~ 21.6K words total ONC Shortlist!

Alora was supposed to die, so when she ended up in a place in the middle of heaven and hell with an old classmate who should have lived, the universe knew something had gone wrong. Due to the glitch, she is given a chance at life again as long as she stays bound to the man who futilely gave his life for her. My ONC 2024 submission :) AI Transparency: All words in this work are my own and have NOT been generated or improved by AI. The cover was generated via AI provided through Canva, but I hope to create my own original cover when I get time.

|A SET OF TWO ORIGINAL DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM NOVELLAS| |INKITT HQ FEATURED · ONC 2024 LONGLIST AND AMBASSADOR PICK · 11X FEATURED| Milo and Maisie: Two years after her older brother's tragic death, anxiety-stricken Maisie and her emotional support cat, Milo, attend the Disney College Program, where they must discover a new life meaning in the most magical place on Earth. Milo and Maisie: The Veracruz Ghost: When Maisie and Feya's friendship is tossed into the danger zone, they must work together to save it before Summit 2023 destroys them forever. *** *Featured by Drama HQ on @InkittDrama (August 5th, 2025)!* *Prompt Used: #24-"A desperate wish, made from the heart, is always answered. Sooner or later.* *Based on a true story.* *Main Trope: Friends to Lovers.* *Moral: "Sometimes moving on just takes a little bit of courage."*

2100. A mysterious ship, nicknamed the Chimera, appears in Martian airspace. It bears the symbol of the international space agency, the BASE, but there is no record of such a vessel. Word and rumour quickly spread. BASE investigator Leanne Ziegler is sent to inspect the ship and make contact with its crew. But the Chimera seems completely deserted, other than the imperious AI caretaker, Valkyrie. Down in the fledging Nerio colony on Mars, suspicion grows. The colonists are already turning against the ways of the BASE, creating their own Martian identity. This potential security threat could prove to be the final rift between Earth and Mars. Trying to keep control of the political situation, Nerio sends a mysterious and cold liaison, Ryan, to aid Leanne. But, in ten days, Mars will turn her guns on the Chimera. Leanne and Ryan must work quickly to discover the secret of the ship - and decide whether its fate under the Martian guns is deserved. [ONC 2024 entry]

#ONC2024 Round 2 Ambassadors Pick | Shortlister (Finalist) When Prince Oskar decides to disguise himself and goes out into the village to see what the people are like, he is met with a shocking sight. There are orphaned children in the streets, beggars at every corner, and people fighting for their next meal. The kingdom of Unara has never seen poverty and the royal family looks out for the people. Why is this village struggling? As Oskar returns every day, he befriends one of the village's deformed members. A young woman with multiple scars on her face. Taking pity on her, the prince gives her one of the rings on his fingers, intending for it to bring her a better life. However, the woman is soon arrested for being in possession of this ring and Oskar knows she is innocent. Until he discovers she possesses a ring with the Unaran royal crest. This is not the ring he gave her. (The Royals of Unara) Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2024 | @OpenNovellaContest - Rules & Guidelines: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359598678 ©2024 E. S. Elias All Rights Reserved. Created & Published to Wattpad 02.01.2024 Completed: 04.27.2024 Main Prompt #55; "You're a young royal in disguise who befriends a villager with a scarred face. One day they are arrested for stealing something you gave to them." Secondary Prompt #67; "A promise is a promise. A secret is a secret. They must not tell anybody." Cover: Me @DesignsbyEH Image was generated using Dream.AI by Wombo solely for the purpose of making my book look pretty. Cover is temporary and subject to many changes. Word Count: 24,689 / 20,000 Round 1 ✔ | 2,000 words ✔ Round 2 ✔ | 8,000 words ✔ | Ambassadors Pick ✔ Round 3 ✔ | 20,000 words ✔ LONGLIST ✔ | SHORTLIST ✔ Rankings; #opennovellacontest #31 on 02.20.2024 | #ONC2024 #opennovellacontest2024 #15 on 02.20.2024

[ONC 2024 Round 2 Ambassador's Pick & Longlister] Zjahn Zjmit, AKA Sean Smith, AKA Psycona. Alien refugee from a destroyed world. Peacemaker. Superhero. The life of a superhero isn't everything Psycona thought it would be. He feels unappreciated, undervalued, and sits in the shadow of other heroes. Heroes that he could beat with little trouble. Though he remains committed to the life of a hero, something is missing. When the world's greatest hero, Principle, must go off-world to save his loved one, Psycona takes the opportunity to prove to the world that he is its greatest hero. All he needs is a villain only he can defeat. As a plan formulates, Psycona will become the world's greatest hero, even if he has to become its greatest villain to do it. ONC 2024 - Based on Prompt 49 - Being a superhero is just too boring. Let's be a villain! Cover created in Canva, using an AI generated picture and text through Logokit

{2024 ONC Round One Ambassadors Pick }In the heart of the bustling Bronx, amidst the vibrant chaos of Highbridge, where the rhythm of life pulses through the streets, a resilient 18-year-old Camila finds herself thrust into a nightmarish struggle for survival. Balancing the weight of two jobs to support her family, Camila dreams of a better life beyond the confines of their cramped apartment. Little does she know that fate has a different plan. When a mysterious outbreak turns the town she called home into a living nightmare, Highbridge transforms into a battleground of undead. Camila's world unravels as she races against time, desperately trying to navigate the levels of her apartment to reach her younger brother. The only problem that's between them is mad hordes of zombies lurking in every corner. As the streets echo with the haunting groans of the undead, Camila's journey becomes a gritty, pulse-pounding odyssey through the darkened corridors of survival. Each level of her apartment complex presents new challenges, pushing her to the limits of courage and determination. Will she conquer the shadows that threaten to consume her, or will the Bronx be her final resting point. #ONC2024 | Prompt 22 ✨Round One Ambassadors Pick in Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round One Qualifier in Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Two Qualifier in Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Three Longlist in Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Four Shortlist in Open Novella Contest✨ ‼️ Content/Trigger Warning: Contains gore, violence, some strong language. All rights belong to the author and no reproductions are allowed without the permission of @Renaissance111. Please respect the author's copyright. 😊❤️ 2024 C.S. Marie

Join Katie on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and friendship as she unlocks the secrets of a mysterious box filled with unexpected treasures. From rediscovering childhood joys to embracing newfound confidence, each item in the box leads Katie on a path of self-care, creativity, and connection. With the support of her friends Marlow and Clarence, Katie navigates life's challenges with humor, grace, and a touch of magic. Delve into this enchanting tale of adventure, growth, and the transformative power of simple pleasures. Inspired by prompt 11 of ONC 2024.

[EDITING] ONC2024 Longlister❤️ Using Prompt number 14 "My love, believe me, waiting for you has always been a form of freedom." Alexandra Vasiliu" A guy and a girl have been best friends since childhood, but their destiny parted them. The little girl had to move away with her parents. Years later, they meet again, but the bond of friendship still remains the same. But the young lad has realised that his affection has developed into love, but, he's scared to express his feelings. However, he also feels that the girl has changed a lot. She cares more about money and herself than before. His love remains unwavering and he proposes to her, but she rejects him. He decides to wait for her, letting her take her sweet time. In the meantime, he's always there, supporting her, and scolding her for her bad deeds. He's continually showing her the path of truth, but she's not looking back. He also learns about her past, which has changed her personality. He wants to change things for her, only if she is ready. Slowly, with time, things happen and she realises that she's been trapped in her own net. She realises her mistakes and her best friend forgives her, as they walk through the aisle, starting a new life.

Round two ambassador pick. Wyatt has just won it big and, in a drunken haze, buys an old, neglected mansion. When she moves in to start renovations, she gets an eerie feeling that she's not always alone-and let's not forget the noises. One fitful night, she heads to the kitchen for a midnight snack and is shocked when a random stranger runs past her in the hallway. A handsome man dressed like Mr Darcy, who disappears like a ghost. After her encounter, Wyatt does some research into the old house, only to discover it has a creepy and troubling past. But that's nothing compared to the revelation that the old antique wardrobe in her room is a secret doorway to the past and the handsome stranger is no ghost, but the son of an Earl looking for his long-lost aunt.