(Disclaimer: This chapter contains offensive and objectionable words. The intent of the use of these words is not to glorify or endorse these words. Rather, it serves to highlight the negative impact and implications of their use on men who do not fit strict gender rules and sheds light on the attitude of those who enforce strict gender rules. The character employing these terms does not embody positive values and their choice of language reflects harmful attitudes.

It shouldn’t be a big deal. All Billy's friends have visited the widow's house and each seemed to come away better for the experience. Visiting her has been a rite of passage for boys in town for as long as anyone can remember.

Billy knows he should want this. The whispers about him have been growing and even his friends are starting to ask questions. Tonight is the night if he's going to end the rumors. Should it matter if it’s Halloween and there’s a full moon in the sky?

I accepted magic to fight evil and it turned me into a girl, but I don’t think I really mind?

Jennifer Shannon

Chapter 1

The Accidental Soprano
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They said that I was fortunate that the injury did not cause lasting damage, but that was before it changed my life. I am not bitter towards the surgeons that repaired my neck. I have used surgeons since, and I am grateful to them. Surgeons have to do what they do to let us live, or to normal lives.

CHAPTER 54
That week was one for delicacy. While Maz and I seemed to have sorted a lot of common ground, it was still a problem dealing with the assumptions, and the dreams, of others. Not our first hurdle, but perhaps the most immediate, was at the weekend, when, largely at Dal’s urging, we had a mass descent on the climbing wall. Should that be ‘ascent’? No matter. That was when I discovered the fall-out from that publicity video, oh dear me.

Chapter Three – The Rings

Lily finds herself in a an abusive relationship and turns to Detective Steve Vogel for help. He devises a plan whereby Lily will be free from the clutches of Peter Simpson and their budding romance can blossom. A happy ending (pardon the pun) for those who love 'white knight' stories.

Clair’s Ranch:
Becky pulls up the driveway towards the farm house. She stops and notices the front door was lying in front of the house. She takes her helmet off and pull her Glock out and cautiously approach the house.

She quietly walks up the front steps and cautiously look inside the house. The inside looked like a tornado hit it. She walks inside and look around. She couldn’t believe the carnage that had occurred. She follows it to the hidden door that lead to the secret entrance to the underground tunnel.

Hope's Light

Chapter 5

by Erisian

Book 6

Part Two

Chapter Five - Plans

Brightness sweeps away the Book’s words and echoing voice entire.

All is light, and Light is All.

Infinite yet singular, timeless yet growing, perception expands.

Perception of existence, perception of pattern.

A vision of glory beyond all glory, depth beyond all depth, and purpose beyond all purpose.

From this vantage, a locus forms. A pivot through which the Light’s perception shall guide, reach, and measure.

A pivot through which to recognize Self.

A pivot through which to Act.

I was lost in his arms and dazed by the music, which had switched into a more somber piece halfway through our dance. At this point, we weren't even swaying anymore; we just stood there, holding each other.

I had long since closed my eyes and buried my head in his chest. If I listened hard enough, I could just make out the soft beating of his heart-- or was that mine? I couldn't be sure. I couldn't be sure of that, or anything else for that matter.

Part 22

As Chris stepped back outside, the girls on the porch didn’t react in the slightest at first. He had expected something. A fit of giggles, a teasing reminder of one of the many things he had said under duress, etc. It was almost worse when they acted like this was business as usual, save for the casual female references.

“Thank you, Chrissy,” Sadie smiled, “Such a good hostess.”

“She learned from the best,” Amy said. She took a sip of her lemonade, then asked, “No drink for Julia?”

‘Are you getting dressed tonight’ was the question I asked myself

‘Yes, I am ... but I want to try something different. I want to take one more step.’
That was how this happening happened last night.

Chapter 8

It was dark again when I woke up. Cate had stripped me while I was out to the world and covered me up. I was having dreams about shooting people, only to wake to realise that my dreams were only a reenactment of real life. When I put a gown on and went to the toilet, Cate was there to help me stagger into the kitchen, where she plied me with a fry up.

Note: This is not the Halloween story that I had planned. That story will likely be much longer, and being sick all last week killed any time that I had to work on it. I knew I wasn't going to finish it in time for the contest and then this idea hit me this morning and I managed to finish it just in time. I've really gotta stop these last-minute one day rushes for contests.