Terry Mason spent the last 12 years designing nanobots with his long time friend Dave Pembrek. When the nanobots find a way to evolve out of their control, infecting Terry in the process, will he survive? And what are the nanobots doing to his body?

Alright. Longtime reader, first time poster. I think I started tuning in around the end of the Bush (the lesser) years. Here's the beginning of a pretty basic story that I think could be fun.

If you like it and want more, say that and I'll post the continuation.

If you hate it and want me to kill myself. Maybe just say that you don't like it.

It's whimsical, it's dark, it's twisted and borderline nonsensical.

Chapter One
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“This is DEFINITELY one of my favourite times of year, hehe!” I giggle as I paint a thin horizontal red stripe onto my friend’s cheek.

“What, autumn?” Sarah replies with a snort of laughter. “Everything getting colder, it raining constantly, going through, like, fifty pairs of tights every week?”

“…Okay, THAT isn’t much fun,” I concede as I carefully paint an orange stripe underneath Sarah’s red stripe. “I am, as you damn well know, referring to Freshers’ Week!”

In a Medieval fantasy world, a war is conducted on a magical chess field instead of on the battlefield. Young Joshua is drafted to become a pawn in a deadly game. His only hope is to reach the end of the field and fulfill a prophecy that will save himself and his comrades. However, things are not as they seem as Joshua experiences a shocking transformation.

Ever have one of those days that just went sideways?

Ever have a week?

How about a month?

Why do I ask. Well.....

To start with my name, my real name, is Tony Smith...yes smith. Is it the last name of my parents? I have no idea I was an abandoned baby so nobody knows. Raised in an orphanage till age six then multiple foster homes.

Hello readers, I haven't posted on BC for quite a while, don't know why really but anyway here is my latest offering to you. I have posted all seven chapters together so the story can be read as a novella as I sometimes forget to update chapters regularly. Let me know what you think of this format and also of the story of course. There is a sequel coming...

xxx
Michele

I was seven years old when my life turned into the proverbial mother of all train wrecks. The date was December 19, 2008.

Mom, dad and my baby brother James were coming home from a hospital visit. James, who was 3 years old, had come down with a nasty cough that just wouldn't go away, and mom and dad had taken him to the hospital while I was in school so he could be examined.

Snowmen plotting revenge. Servants of Krampus plotting death and torture. Rotarians plotting... a carol sing? Sample five short holiday stories by Cashmere Chloe, Trismegistus Shandy, TGSparadox, M. A. Thermidor and Hikaro.

Change of Seasons

By Tigger (Copyright 2017)

“Cheese!” I yell, pulling my widest grin as I and my other bandmates pose for a selfie with the excited young woman.

“Oh my god, thank you so much!” The girl- who I am told is barely eighteen years old- squeaks, before heading into the crowd to find other famous faces to photograph.

“You know, I like the idea, yeah?” Adeola says. “Giving, like, fans the chance to come to these parties…”

“Especially as, if memory serves, that’s how someone became part of this ‘family’ in the first place?” I tease Becca, who rolls her eyes and sighs over-dramatically.

“Here comes the bride!” Katie yells as the doors to the fancy living room open.

Aurora is an intellectually precocious, depressed high-school senior at an existential crossroads, with a wounded heart and an intense inner conflict that leads to alienation, repression, sexual frustration and self-loathing. Aurelia is a nurturing, empathetic, emotionally sensitive, congenitally blind classmate who fast becomes her closest confidant. Together, these two special girls take solace in each other, cope with their respective challenges and ultimately find intimacy and fulfillment.

I punched the speed dial on my Mobile.
It was a Friday afternoon in early March and I needed some entertainment.

“Hello Jen. What’s up? Your Boss still trying to feel you up then?”

“Hi Kylie. No. He’s not. I’ve threatened to tell his wife if he tries it again.”

They both laughed.

“As it’s the last Friday of the month and I’m assuming that you’ve been paid so how about some fun tonight?”

“I don’t know Jen,” she said with a big Sigh.

“Come on K. It’s been nearly nine months now.”

“…Wow,” Lauren breathes as Ophelia and I step out of her bedroom, dressed in our elaborate costumes.

“Sure you’re wearing enough make-up?” Katie teases.

“Is it ever possible to wear too much make-up?” I ask as I preen and playfully flick my hair away from my face, which has been smeared in a bright white foundation and ‘enhanced’ with thick black eyeshadow, long (and heavy) fake eyelashes and thick black lipstick.

“Think you’re missing the words ‘at Halloween’ from the end of your question,” Katie asks.

“Does it change the answer?” I ask.

Janet tried her hardest, but she couldn't prevent herself from breathing a sigh of relief as she pressed her employee pass against the scanner, officially ending another week of monotonous work. As Janet quickly discovered, though, she wasn't the only one feeling relieved.

"At. Last!" Rebecca- one of Janet's colleagues, a woman in her early thirties- giggled as she and a handful of her colleagues walked alongside Janet to the vast supermarket's locker room. "Dunno about you ladies, but I am in a mood to unwind!"

What might happen if the woman who lived in the flat upstairs had the power to redefine reality? This is the story of the courtship of Robert and Janet as they get to know each other and ‘edit’ the universe together. Oh... and did I mention that she likes her men girly? A science fiction story set in present-day Edinburgh with a slow-burning transgender theme.

“Bet THIS wasn’t how you thought you’d spend the New Year!” Laura teases as we sip our hot, sweet drinks, surrounded by some of our friends, some of our families… And a few people I never thought I’d get the chance to hang out with!

“So then, you two,” the unmistakable voice of Jamie-Lee Milton- one of the most famous transgendered people in the country- asks as she sits down opposite me and Laura. “How long have you got before you’re back at school?”

“Ugh, we go back TOMORROW,” Laura moans.

“Is it, like, the beginning of the end for you two?” Jamie-Lee asks.

“Thanks for letting me swap my shifts again,” I say as I switch off the shop’s lights and step outside, allowing Dean to lock up the shop.

“Yeah, like I’m gonna let you work on your eighteenth birthday,” Dean says with a snort of laughter. “You have a good one, mate. See you a week tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure,” I say, waving goodbye to my supervisor before climbing onto the back seat of Rob’s car, where my girlfriend- or, to be more accurate, lover- greets me with a long kiss.

“Hey, sexy!” Chloe giggles, before giving me another kiss.

“Go in peace to love and service the lord,” Reverend Stubbs proclaims with a wide smile on his face.

“In the name of Christ, amen,” I- and the rest of the congregation- reply.

“And on a slightly more festive note,” the young priest says, “a very, very Merry Christmas to you all!”

“Merry Christmas!” The congregation replies with light-hearted chuckles. I take a deep breath as I raise from my pew and help my grandmother to her feet. As usual, we’re one of the last to leave, and as usual, grandma stops to talk to the young vicar before we head out of the small church.