The girls just wanted to see their treasured friend again – and help her take a baby step. That’s all it was supposed to be!

This was an alternate opening to the story that I submitted for the New Year’s Resolution contest. My muse has finally revealed that this was to be a story all its own.

Disclaimers
* No characters were harmed in the making of this story.
* This story is not related to that of Lilli from my earlier story, Budding Lilli.

Alex's jewelry business was gaining traction, thanks in large part to the invaluable support of her fellow consorts. They admired her designs and often showcased her pieces at events and social gatherings. Morgan, in particular, played a significant and irreplaceable role in promoting Alex's work. As a popular singer, Morgan's choice to wear Alex's custom jewelry during her performances was a game-changer, attracting attention and sparking interest in the unique designs.

Raina hugged her knees and sobbed quietly at the foot of her bed. The pain of the black eye she received from her stepfather was still fresh and sharp.

“I can feel your pain… Your desire… Tell me, my dear, what is it that you want?” Raina’s head snapped up to see a naked woman with pointed ears and the lower body of a deer stride into her room. Behind her was a forest from another world. As she stepped further in, her lower body became human.

“I want, I mean I am… but…” Raina struggled to get the words out. “Make me a girl… please…”

Arcturus and Valin were escorted to the teleportation dais, and in a few moments, they were whisked off home, and he was promptly set upon by his immediate family. There was much exchange of hugging and kissing and tears, as well as questions firing off all over the place. But eventually, Valin got to the question that he really wanted to ask.

“Has anyone told Ariadne yet?”

There were a few questioning looks between his parents and his siblings, before they arrived at the answer, no.

Valin sighed deeply. “Well, I guess I’d better get on that. Can’t put it off.”

WARNING: ABORTED SUICIDE ATTEMPT

“Discipline, discipline, discipline.” Valin repeated this mantra in his head, over and over as he prepared himself for the practical exam. He was sure that he had gotten a perfect grade on the written portion, not that he expected otherwise, as he had been training himself for it almost his whole life. Not that he hadn’t done the same for the practical, it’s just that the practical required certain innate qualities that Valin didn’t have.

An executive discovers a mysterious package which allows him to become the embodiment of his greatest desire, and it makes an invitation from the boys at work an irresistible opportunity for self-discovery. However, the journey to understanding is fraught with peril, and hell hath no fury like a woman’s.

Marcia woke with a start. She'd heard something in her sleep which didn't come from the engines or the gentle rocking of the “Blue Canoe.”

It came from the other bed in the room. She lay quietly again for a few moments until she heard another sniff. It didn't seem like the product of a cold or allergies. This sounded like someone hurting. She debated for a few minutes, wondering if she should just let Heather cry it out. When she heard the multiple exhalations of a weep, however, her compassion took over.

When a mountain downpour forces Lydia and Thomas Thompson into a cavern's shadowy embrace, Lydia's touch upon ancient runic inscriptions awakens her latent power and identity. As they emerge to find the enigmatic town of Sælicbrook—a nexus of realms and magic—Lydia is transformed into her destiny as its guardian. But as the cosmic entity Nyarlathotep stirs, intent on unraveling the threads of reality, will Lydia's newfound power be enough to stand against an eldritch horror bent on devouring all? The battle for existence looms, and only the guardians of Sælicbrook can safeguard the world from the impending darkness. Will they triumph, or will everything they know be consumed by the infinite appetite of the Crawling Chaos?

Chapter Two – Day Two - Day Three - Day Four

Transgender detective Julie Sanderson begins to break down detective Tommy Lomax's prejudices and they actually begin to trust each other and bond. As they get closer to finding out who murdered Stephanie Carter the investigation turns dangerous

When a mountain downpour forces Lydia and Thomas Thompson into a cavern's shadowy embrace, Lydia's touch upon ancient runic inscriptions awakens her latent power and identity. As they emerge to find the enigmatic town of Sælicbrook—a nexus of realms and magic—Lydia is transformed into her destiny as its guardian. But as the cosmic entity Nyarlathotep stirs, intent on unraveling the threads of reality, will Lydia's newfound power be enough to stand against an eldritch horror bent on devouring all? The battle for existence looms, and only the guardians of Sælicbrook can safeguard the world from the impending darkness. Will they triumph, or will everything they know be consumed by the infinite appetite of the Crawling Chaos?

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Wherein all your questions are answered. Happy Halloween, everyone!

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I wasn’t crying, I was sobbing. Lying on the floor of my bedroom in a nightgown, bawling my heart out.

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Old man Kelly had some secrets, I guess. But he was dead and gone. Nothing to do with me, right?

Chapter 27

6:00 PM

Mage hadn’t had time to prepare anything big with driving Stephen to the doctor’s but on the way back she stopped long enough to pick up a couple of take and bake pizzas.

At eight o’clock, the kids went upstairs when the doorbell rang. Chet answered it as Mage called out to the kids to be nice to each other. Lately, they had started bickering as siblings often did.

Bonus Chapter: Helen turned 18, she now has the right to contact her father. Now that she’s out, how will that affect her interaction with her estranged father?

Gakkou No Kaiden
Andou-San the Red Head

When I tell people I've seen a mermaid in Walesheba Creek, people often just chuckle and say I've been out in the woods too long. The more uncharitable souls will tell me it's time for me to finally settle down and find me a life because I'm just seeing things. But I tell you, that there is a mermaid that lives in the Walesheba Creek and she is a real man eater. Now I've only encountered her once, and that was way back in two thousand and fifteen. I was fifteen years old then, and fancied myself an avid hunter and fisherman. I also fancied myself as something of a fossil collector. 

Part 3

We spent the night in the hotel and went back to Skegness the next day. As Cherry drove, I looked out of the window at the passing countryside and pondered on yesterday’s interview.

It had been interesting in many ways. Norman had been good, with great memories. The new member of the group was an interesting turn of events. I had to agree with Cherry, we weren’t any further in finding a murderer.

Part 1

I started screaming as the strong arms held me so I couldn’t move. I kept screaming until my throat was rough and I had tears in my eyes. When I stopped, I was sniffling and hiccupping at the same time and the arms loosened.

“That’s the last time you’re going to get me on one of these things, “It’ll be fun”, you said. I thought I was going to die!”

Bill helped me get out of the Odyssey roller coaster car when it slowed to a stop.

Chapter 1

I was driving from my apartment, in Boston, Lincolnshire, to Skegness, on the east coast, when my mobile rang. I was lucky to be near a layby, so I pulled over and took the call. It was Angela Williamson and just the person I wanted to talk to. She sounded excited and wanted to meet me at the café, near the bank where she worked. I agreed and we made a time to have lunch.

This story is both an entry into the April 2023 “take your daughter to work day” challenge and a personal homage to a classic shared world from the archives of BCTS.

I could see the plume of smoke rising over the cornfields from several miles away. Not the thick, rolling smoke of a hungry blaze, but the puffs and wisps of a fire nearly burned out. Despite it being over a decade since I last fought a major fire, I still felt the same pulse of adrenaline and the bitter taste of fear and anticipation. As I approached the site along the narrow country road, I pulled over to let the coroner and a police cruiser pass in the other direction. If anything, that made the anticipation worse.

In the plane was his daughter Amber, seated in the right seat. A newlywed couple was in the back row, and in front of them were Marcia and Sammy. The little boy had come to help take his mind off the terrors of the Fourth of July, but he wanted his Aunt Marcia along with him. Once Sammy and Marcia were going, Amber wanted to fly with her daddy too.