Life is collectively referred to as a dark fantasy, although many of us attempt incorporating ideas in our head, searching for ways to escape reality. I for one believe anything that can befriend you, can kill.

Every creature has a dark side but mine doesn't have my best interests at heart, I mumble short prayers, locking all the doors and windows shut.

Every step I took upstairs, made the wooden stairs creek, I keep having this feeling am been followed but every time I look back, am left with goosebumps and my head increasing in size.

I swallowed an imaginary saliva down my throat and continue walking up slowly otherwise I will freak out and run upstairs, that will mess up my night.

If you know anything about darkness, you'll know it leaves no room for the weakest heart. This foreign presence happens whenever am home alone, I made a research on the life beyond and discovered that the level of one's fear determines how far we're willing to let the darkness in.

I gently crawl under the duvet and sleep on my right side facing the door, my heartbeat was accelerating, you could hear every beat of it. 2,3,4 minutes later, the gruesome feeling was gone and I accidentally took a nap that lasted for two minutes until my ears picked a creaking footstep 👣 approaching in the direction of my room, dragging a metal object on the wall,  I froze on the bed.

I searched for my phone under the duvet and my eyes found it far on the table which was close to the door, this wasn't a normal circumstance so,  my mind is blank.

"Do you wanna play", the voice said, sounding distant but very  near. That was when I remembered all the short phrases used in horror movies, I stupidly find myself screaming them one by one.

Is anyone out there?

"Who the hell are you?"

Show yourself coward.

"What do you want from me?"

The noise died down and just when I thought it's over, the door to my room was kicked open with full force.

|ONC 2024 AMBASSADORS' PICK · 4X FEATURED|

Two years after her older brother's tragic death, anxiety-stricken Maisie and her emotional support cat, Milo, attend the Disney College Program, where they must discover a new life meaning in the most magical place on Earth.

***

The death changed everything. Milo, an orange tabby, has always wanted a little sibling, but after the tragic loss of his owner's older brother, adoption was put on hold, and he became her Emotional Support Animal. Now, two years later, Maisie's determined to grant Milo's long-overdue wish; however, she's still grieving and overthrown with anxiety, leaving Milo to tag along with her for the famed Disney College Program. Nevertheless, when heartbreak catches him, too, Milo must push past his grief to save himself and his wish.

Maisie Claire is ready to move on but not prepared to leave her family after two years for the DCP. She would've never accepted that offer letter if it hadn't been for her parents helping her get an ESA. Now trapped in an unfamiliar world, Maisie must find a new life meaning while still keeping her brother's memory alive. It starts with discovering the courage to befriend her mysterious suitemate and thanking Milo for everything he's done. After all, sometimes moving on just takes a little bit of courage.

***

*Prompt Used: #24-"A desperate wish, made from the heart, is always answered. Sooner or later.*

*Based on a true story.*

*Contains a subtle, LGBTQ+ subplot because of Disney's Inclusion Key, but it's not the main focus. However, please be respectful.*

Introverted, socially inept, and a little odd, Coyote has only one friend: her loud, reckless roommate Bobby. The two young women's unconventional friendship is stronger and closer than ever, until Jude, Coyote's enticing younger brother, shows up at their doorstep seeking shelter during the height of his addiction recovery. Terrified at the prospect of losing her, Coyote begins taking increasingly drastic measures in an attempt to preserve their relationship.

MA 18+

*There are no perfect people in this story; no villains, no perfect protagonists and no fairytale romance. There is, however, realistic examples of neurodivergence, discovering yourself, LGBTQIA characters and nuanced depictions of mental health problems, self harm, religious and generational trauma.*

"My name is Faith Elizabeth Samuels. Well, it used to be, before I left my fundamentalist helicopter parents and started going by Luna... My counselor tells me writing will help me to 'heal'. Somehow, writing my feelings of depression, anxiety, self harm and suicidal thoughts will negate a lifetime of 'bad feelings' about my self image, mental health and general well-being. Sounds legit. So, fair reader, does my little tale of woe intrigue you? If so, come join my merry band of misfits on this roller coaster of life."

A -sometimes- uplifting story about growing up and overcoming life's challenges. Laugh, cry and smile with our cynical author as she tries to traverse the scary life of after high school while battling her inner demons and conquering the ever-terrifying world of adulting.

Rated Mature (13+) For themes of self-harm, depression, anxiety and some sexuality.

The story of two boys with troubled pasts who find that the future canget better. I'm also publishing this story on Royal Road.

Mizuha's everyday school life revolves around her friends and the obstacles she overcomes throughout her high school years.

"Freedom is the greatest lie." Sal was kept shrouded from the world for years. When she was given a chance at freedom, breaking free turned out to be her biggest mistake, or is it?

When 14-year-old Aurora discovers a hidden portal in her book, she's thrust into a world where her choices shape reality. This novel takes young and older readers on thrilling adventures through new worlds, offering multi-level educational values for children and young adults.

Beta readers:"Like Jules Verne's works, but twisted to power.""A mesmerizing journey through worlds unseen - a must-read for fans of fantastic adventures!""This mind-bending tale explores the power of storytelling. I couldn't put it down!""A riveting blend of science fiction and fantasy that keeps you guessing.""The strangest novel since Alice in Wonderland.""Improves mood."

Read more:Maja's choices can change the fabric of reality as she and her newfound friends traverse parallel worlds, uncover hidden truths, and face unique challenges. As they encounter cybernetic creatures, molecular printers, and twists on familiar tales, they must confront the sinister force of Blackness that feeds on entropy and threatens the balance of the multiverse. Embark on an adventure captivating readers of all ages.

1) NAKED - "Free" is the word. It's like, imagine you're born in jail, so you're used to it - you've never known anything else. You feel sort of not perfect, but it's life, so... But then one day you get let out - you get freed. And you go out of the prison gates and, wow, there's the world, and you feel a feeling that you've never felt before. Never even dreamed of feeling, really. A brand new feeling - feeling free. Well, that's what naked in the woods feels like, so think about it." ---------------------------Join six 16 year-old high school friends in a summer of discovery. They grew close by swimming together in a forest stream, but now adventures with sex, booze, relationships and identity threaten to split them up.

I wanted helpbut now that I have itit is a lot harder than expected.To the pointthat I don't want any help anymore.

(Or maybe we have all been told all the wrong things about getting help.)

Rose has had anxiety for what has felt like her whole life (considering that she was diagnosed when she was in kindergarten it was partially her whole life) and now it was really starting to catch up to her. Now at the age of 14, she can't leave the house. Why? you may be asking. Well, if she does go outside she HAS to be by one of her parent's side. So, she can't bring herself to go to school or go really anywhere. She has known for a while that she needed help but it wasn't until she couldn't bring herself to leave the house that her parents started getting concerned about helping her with it. Come with her on her journey going through the mental health field and navigating the new life it brings with it through poetry.

Okay okay this will suck but it is an idea to start off this story that has been in my head for a few months now. I have no beggining, barley a middle and no end. Would you like to join me on the jorney and find out what this wack story is about!?

*light Story Info*

A young boy Igoris put in the foster system at the age of 6 and a half.

His Mom Nancy  Anabella Mcneilhad moved down to Moscow Russia, she married a man, Alexi Dimitrievich Zuhkshe never took his last name but her children did. They had tons of children and Nancy did NOT enjoy kids, she had 4 kids and one miscairrage, One set of twins. One survived -Igor- Technicly 5 kids. Out of all of the kids only21 of them had Russian names.

Nancy divorced Alexi when Igor was 2 and moved back to the US stopping Alexi from getting to know his youngest.

Once back in america Nancy had no plan, very little money and didnt care for her kids.

She would always get high and or drunk. She didnt care for her kids health, if her kids was to cry or even annoy her in the slightest they was put in a dark room with no food or anything. Sometimes she would just get them drunk or as high as her.she started dating a man, Robin J. Sloth, J.R is what he was called, he was a drug dealer and he too also hated kids,but for her he would manage. He would make a mix of  drugs and test it on Ruben or Igor because he for some reason favored Zachori and Rodney. Ruben found ways to get money, he never told them how but with the money he did get he would do his best to use it for rent and or food, it was always hard to get both.

*How he ended up in foster care... alone*

A nabior had notified the police about people comeing in an out of the house and the police did a search, at the time Igor had gotten punishment from J.R and had beenput into the the basemnet, with all of the plants and pills J.R had, The police did a check on the kids, they was underfed, well Ruben and Igor was underfed. CPS took over the kids, J.R and Nancy didnt have any family that was trusted with the kids.

*Child Names & Age as of the taking*

Ruben Demi Zuhk 15

Zachori kenif Zuhk 13

Rodney Jane Zuhk 12

Igor Dimitrievich Zuhk6

|7X FEATURED · SPOLIGHT STORY|

Saddened by her lonely life, a little girl named Victoria Christie uses her inventive imagination to write stories. Now that she's an older individual, she must find a way to share her tale with the world.

***

Victoria Christie never expected to be a writer, but everything changed in 4th grade when she annoyed her mother at a barber shop. She told Victoria to write in her school notebook, which sparked her daughter's life-long passion for writing.

Now, many years later, Victoria is eager to share her story-through an interactive novel that showcases how her writing has changed overtime and what hardships she faced in order to keep her island of personality-especially after her brother's unfortunate death in 2021.

With the power of writing and her brother's legacy about her becoming a successful author, will Victoria's old stories spark the interest of an audience? Will they interact with her and tell her how her incomplete pieces should end, or will Victoria forever remain an undiscovered author?

This is an anthology of my old stories. Most are incomplete, so it's up to my audience to decide how they should end. This is the story of how I became Viktoria Fyodorova.

Let the cringe begin!

***

What You'll Find in This Book:

1.) 35 fun-filled chapters of my oldest stories.

2.) 11 short memoir stories--no more than 1,000 words each--that share the most important times of my writing career.

3.) A whole overview of my history as a writer!

4.) There's also a bonus chapter about how this memoir came to be!

2nd Draft

Genre (s): Creative Nonfiction/Coming-of-Age, with a touch of Magical Realism.

Word Count: 200,000-250,000