Thomas Allan Wehl’s silver tongue has got him out of many tight spots. From age thirteen he has finely tuned his skills in conning bartenders to serve him beers to the point that here he is at age fourteen and seven-twelfths quaffing pints and abetting in the delinquency of pretty minor girls. Can her silver tongue get him out of trouble as fast as it’s getting her in to it?

The Wager Part 8
The story starts to near its end. Jen and Sam think that they are making good progress in thwarting Justin's plans. There is reason for some optimism but then the story reaches a dark place. Is it the dark before the dawn?

For a rescue to be successful, those being rescued must still believe it's possible.

Haunted

I remember the moment I became haunted.

Kindergarten, first day, they lined us up

Boys on one side, girls on the other

And as soon as they put me with the boys, the haunting began

The ghost being the girl I should have been

And as time went by

That haunting, that echo of what could have been

Only grew worse.

Until the day the doctor took me the first time

And my mind split

And the girl went deep inside

And I started being haunted by darker things

There were a lot of tranzies around Ridgewick these days. Seemed like every second kid you met was one - although you probably wouldn't have known, not unless you'd lived here all your life. Half the time, you hardly noticed they were even there...

Stuck in a Rut.
By Rosalie Redd

Casey Church is a normal 13 year old girl, But in a world where there hasn’t been a girl born in over 100 years, Casey adjusts to her new life as a girl. Can Casey cope with everything that comes with being a girl, or will others conspire to ruin her life?

Chapter 33

The Plan-B Bust: 1 / 5

An Altered Fates Story
by Iolanthe Portmanteaux

“Look at her! There is nothing she can do that isn't sexy!" Joseph exclaimed. "That woman is a living, breathing sex bomb! If the atom bomb could be a woman, it would be Caresse Desmesne.”

“That makes no sense whatsoever,” William replied, “but I know what you mean, brother!”

In the newly assimilating areas, the Clan Corvo crushed the rigid class systems that existed in the overwhelmed empires. Those striated societies were totally dominated by the elite upper classes consisting of about 5% of the conquered peoples. Another 5-10% formed a sub-elite class. Beneath them were the lower classes, totally beholding to the upper classes. They had no opportunity to advance and no means to do so even if they tried. Those downtrodden masses, 85-90% of the conquered, eagerly allowed themselves to be swept into the classlessness of the Clan Corvo. For the first time, those long downtrodden people had hope of improving their lives. They eagerly accepted the education opportunities offered by the Clan Corvo since it meant a way to improve their lives.

Raven was on her way to work when she spots a car with the hood up and a young woman with long auburn hair standing in front of it. She pulls up behind the car and gets out and walks towards the young woman.

“Car trouble?” Raven was watching the woman.

Clair knew she should have the water pump taken care of, but she has been too busy at the Library covering people’s shifts. She hasn’t had the time to take the car by a mechanic to get fixed. Now, here she was stuck on the side of the road. She spots a small dark green pickup truck pull behind her car.

Sam's pregnancy becomes real. Jen's relationship with Mike continues to develops and young Liam becomes reliant on his Aunt Jen. Jen spends the night with Mike. Research into Justin's criminal activities continues. Time is passing quickly and relationships are becoming increasingly strained.

Stuck in a Rut.
By Rosalie Redd

Casey Church is a normal 13 year old girl, But in a world where there hasn’t been a girl born in over 100 years, Casey adjusts to her new life as a girl. Can Casey cope with everything that comes with being a girl, or will others conspire to ruin her life?

Chapter 32

Hello, readers. I should say long-suffering-probably-given-up readers. I plan to post more and longer chapters, but this one at least moves everyone off the terrible cliff I left you handing from in chapter 18. Enjoy and many apologies for the long wait.

Chapter 19

"Here they are," called Carla as the car pulled into the driveway.

Melissa sprang from her bed and turned down the music they had been listening to. "This is going to be so great." She took a seat by Carla at the window.

Curtain Fall Chapter 22

David made a small groan as he leaned back from what seemed his twentieth examination of the images that they’d captured of what had happened in the ceremonial circle on the Tirielen palace grounds. His eyes itched with fatigue and he gently rubbed them as he thought about what he’d seen.