As we continued our preparations for the battles ahead, Adriana and I recognized the importance of honing my skills with Lucifer's Scythe despite the inherent dangers it posed. With that in mind, we crafted an imitation scythe to serve as a training tool, allowing me to familiarize myself with the weapon's style and techniques.

Joanne sorts out her direction in life and makes some drastic decisions.

Waking up horny isn't exactly anything new for Evan - but it's not usually so literal!

...And waking up as a girl is kinda weird, too!

~~~

Evan's days are simple. Wake up, go to work, get drunk, hit the bar, head home for the day. It's a monotonous routine, but it works. At least until he gets lost on the way home, tries to cross a river drunk, bangs his head on a rock, and... wakes up as a muscular female oni in fantasy-land feudal not!Japan?

Join Evan - now Ella - as she attempts to answer a question that no pointy toothed oni has ever dared to ponder before: Rather than eating people to get stronger, couldn't I just eat them out?

(Good luck with that, Ella! Surely not everyone you meet will assume you're an enemy out to consume them... Right?)

~~~

Cover is by my friend/beta reader Lulla!

Chapter 8

The only break, the following Wednesday, was when we had the Mayor come along to cut a ribbon to declare Harrison Industrial Steelworks open for business. I took Carol and the girls in that day all of us dressed to the nines, and we met up with Janet, Gerald, and the rest of the Board, with their families. Geraldine turned up, with Bobby driving her and Astrid. Cyril and the rest of the office were there, along with some of the other union representatives.

Sluzhanka
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They were different times. It was a Russia when it was still a place to do business. In fact, the nation was desperate to do business with the West. It was a nation looking in our direction back then. There was a need to make things better. The Russians had achieved many great things, but as a friend of mine once described it – “Russia is spires of excellence in a third world swamp”.

Anno Domine

The other part of our convoy arrived thirty minutes later, and I spent most of that time staring out the window and trying to go over what kind of story I would tell the police when they arrived. Garrett was sure they were not coming and that she said that as a scare tactic.

Nathan and Natalie alike made sure to make good on that hope, every time a new switch occurred. When recording on a computer became too inconvenient for them, a file of the increasingly long video was sent to their phone. They could then record their speeches on their drives, on their breaks, anywhere they wanted.

Guess who is going to the fancy dinner
What is the More...

2024 New Year’s Writing Contest — Prizes, Awards, and Recognition!!!

Okay!!! It’s time to stick a bow on our 2024 New Year’s Writing Contest!

First, a huge thank you to EVERYONE who participated, whether by posting a story or leaving a comment. You helped make this a true community event.

Now: Let’s get to the part you’ve all been waiting for. We have a few prizes, but in the end, not enough of them, because so many wonderful people submitted GREAT stories.

Sergeant Mitchell stood looking at the pile of pallets while scratching his head.

“This is a great find. All the time, they were sitting right there in plain sight.”

Abduction Conspiracy
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

Brian had a file in his hand but it was just a prop. He wanted to cross over to Jared’s cubicle and exercise his lizard brain, probably the most active organ in his head.

“God, that temp is so hot. The one outside Finch’s office – the one with the long brown hair, in the short dress and black tights and heels” said Brian. “Do you know her name?”