While I've written a couple of stories that dealt with suicide, I've never had the nerve to describe my own experience. Until now. Please ... please be careful, before reading this story, and make sure it's something you feel you can handle. Knowing other people are okay is a lot more important to me than knowing this story is read.

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After a particularly nasty break-up, a young man’s life is changed when his ex-girlfriend gets her hands on a special voodoo doll. (Done as a request for a fan over on DeviantArt)

Butch
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I always said that I needed violence. I said it then: There is nothing like another man’s blood on your knuckles to make you feel like a man. Or that moment when you know a stand-off is going to turn to blows. The adrenalin is surging in your blood as you imagine the sound of his face being crushed. Yours or theirs, it makes no difference. It’s the buzz I needed.

And I know why I needed it. Because I knew that deep down inside me, I was a girl. I fought that every day of my fucking life.

This is a dark story. At least, it feels dark to me. Maybe it feels darker than it actually is, because it's something that happened to me. Still ... if reading about bad things happening to people might hurt or harm you in any way, then please don't read this story. This is something I'm writing for my own sanity. It would break my heart if anything I wrote hurt someone. So, if you're not sure you should read this story, then please don't.

An experiment in dystopian sci-fi, inspired by the works of William Gibson and Anthony Burgess.

In a post-apocalyptic world devastated by environmental and economic collapse, young Yana Milovic struggles to survive the horrors of everyday life, pursued on every side by human traffickers and corrupt officials alike. When a mysterious serial killer codenamed 'M' begins stalking homeless tranzies, Yana finds herself trapped in an endless cycle of terror from which there is no escape, no respite and absolutely no end in sight.

CHAPTER 7
I was up early that Saturday morning giving my harp a quick cuddle before pulling on my climbing tights and a T-shirt over a sports bra. I wasn’t big there, but it felt like part of the uniform: fit, outdoor-sporty woman, ready to brave whatever crag the Woodruffs had in mind. I was munching toast while packing my gaiters into a day sack when Dad arrived, and he shook his head.

“You won’t need them, love. No mud to worry about. Harness, rock boots, hat, helmet and jacket. You can manage in trainers for the walk in as well. Want some lunch making?”

“Please!”

Pete woke up this morning with a problem. Can he still play football if he doesn't have all his equipment?

My still sleepy eyes saw cars go by fast on the highway. I yawned and snuggled a little bit with Mary. It was still early and the sun was not going to rise for another two hours. I felt a little bit anxious but mostly excited about this new beginning. Mary smiled at me and squeezed my hand, just to reassure me that everything will be okay. Sometimes sisters just know.

Light And Shadow (Part 1 of 8)

by Erisian

Chapter 1 - Duty

The most annoying thing about hunting demons is the smell. The one in front of me naturally yielded no exception.

Green ichor of a most aromatic sort spurted generously from the stumps of the several tentacles I’d just managed to shorten, the foul mess splattering the walls of ice and rock around us as well as my best (and only) cloak. The vapors assaulting my sanity were, shall we say, worse than a raw sewage overflow from a center for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. FEMA would have posted signs declaring the bespoiled canyon a superfund site before themselves evacuating in a bureaucratic rush.

Yeah, it was that bad.

“Okay, now that everyone is here. Why don’t you tell us everything about this case?” Gina looks at Marshal Weather.

Marshal Weather takes a deep breath as he stands up from the sectional sofa he had been sitting. He was surprised by how many people had shown up from Mouse’s phone call. From what he has learned so far about the people that have shown up. Is that they were either related to Mouse or worked for her uncle.