Both Ends Of The Night

As Mia drove through the bustling city streets, her heart began to race—not from the traffic, but from the chilling knowledge that a bomb had been planted in her car. The news had come through a frantic message on her phone, a warning from an anonymous source that sent her spiraling into a state of panic. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as she fought to maintain control. With every red light, her dread deepened. She knew that the moment she stopped the car, the bomb would detonate. The thought of leaving her Lysander behind filled her with a profound sense of sorrow. They had so many plans, dreams of a future together that now felt impossibly distant. With trembling hands, she picked up her phone and dialed Lysander’s number. “Mi Amore?” Lysander’s voice came through, laced with concern. “What’s wrong?” Mia smiled sadly, he could always tell when something was bothering her and yet she was going to leave him. “Lysander , I need you to listen to me,” she said, her voice quivering. “ You’re a very great person. I never thought I would find this type of love. I only thought love like this was just a fairytale. But you….you….” Mia paused taking in a deep breath. “Anna? What’s happening? Is something wrong? You’re scaring me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned her head towards the backseat where the bomb sat. How could she tell this to Lysander? She was going to die and leave him. She was going to leave him alone with the thoughts and dreams they shared. Silence hung heavy on the line, and Anna could almost hear the rapid beating of her heart. “I just found out…… I… I don’t have much time,” she choked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, love. I won’t be able to see you again.” “Don’t say that! We’ll figure this out! Just tell me what’s happening? ” he urged, desperation creeping into his tone. “No, please, just listen. It’s too late now. I love you so much, and I want you to remember that. You’ve made my life so beautiful. I wish I could hold you one last time.” Her voice broke as she fought to keep her composure. “Anna, don’t—” “I have to go, Lysander . Just know that I’m always with you.” With that, she hung up, her heart shattering into a million pieces. She looked at the cliff ahead of her and stepped on the gas, the car racing towards the cliff. ************* In the heart of a bustling college town, twenty-year-old Anna Mia Harper is juggling classes, bills, and a growing sense of despair as an orphan navigating life on her own. Desperate for cash, she stumbles upon a peculiar job listing: a grave cleaner and companion for the dead at the local cemetery, promising a month’s rent for just one night of work. Excited by the prospect, Anna Mia arrives under the eerie glow of the moon, ready to face whatever the night may bring. But when she encounters a mysterious man lounging atop a tombstone—one who bears a striking resemblance to a deceased local legend—her heart races. Is he a ghost, a trick of the light, or something more sinister?

In the shadowed heart of Arunachal Pradesh, deep within the forgotten valleys of Dibang, there exists a place lost to time and wrapped in horror. No map dares mark it, no local speaks its name. It is a place woven from nightmares, where a golden light glows at dusk, and an eerie, seductive music echoes through the mist. This place has but one rule: once you step within its grasp, you belong to it—forever. Those who have ventured close are drawn in, captivated, and when they realize the terrible truth and beg to leave, they find only one way out—a final, blood-stained sacrifice. Enter, and you may never escape.

A phoenix's blood is priceless. One taste transforms into a drug, a cure, and, unfortunately, an addiction that can unleash the ferocious and wild sides of even the purest being. The creatures of the night decimated half of the population of the phoenixes until the strongest declared war on them, which eventually led to a compromise and a sacrifice. In a secluded life, Eleanor Dankworth grew up with a rebellious spirit. However, her peaceful existence ended when her entire family was brutally massacred in front of her on her eighteenth birthday. Just as she thought things couldn't get worse, her betrothed, arrived to claim her. Ares Mazitzis. His very presence could lead one to believe he was the devil. And despite his title as the emperor's illegitimate son, deceitful, malicious, and apathetic entities bow to him. Feared by his people and his family because of the darkness within him, Ares main goal is to find and claim his betrothed, as she was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb. What happens he finds warmth and love from the lamb? What happens when all he wants to do is protect her from the looming darkness and himself? A creature of the night and a phoenix of light... It is a love that shocked and perilously struck the world.

Tanaka thought he had left his childhood friendships behind, distancing himself to avoid the pain of rejection. But when Hina, who moved away years ago, returns as a transfer student, and Inui, his next-door neighbor, begins seeking him out, their unexpected possessiveness turns his quiet life upside down.

Chen Li is a painter who has been forgotten by the art world and lives in seclusion on the outskirts of the city. His life was originally simple and dull until he began to notice that during his creations at night, he had inadvertently painted some strange scenes and figures. At first, he thought it was just his illusion, but as time went by, the details in the paintings gradually became connected to his real life. Even more terrifyingly, these "appearing" figures seemed to be closely related to an unsolved disappearance case that had occurred several years ago. Amid a series of mysterious hallucinations, dreams, and eerie incidents in reality, Chen Li gradually realized that all of this might be related to a forgotten past of his—and that past was slowly emerging from the canvases.

The loss of Annabel's daughter, born in perfect health, create a wall in her marriage, forcing Adam into a witch hunt that unveils dark secrets of the underground world connected to the state house and powerful entities who feels threated by the discovery, causing his death. Annabel decides to avenge her husband in the shadows after being announced dead, but the weight of it all is overwhelming . Will she find her daughter and avenge her husband, or will the burden crush her? she discovers her identity, which puts her in even more danger when the 'Reds' underground watchdogs discovers the existence of the only Karachi bloodline. Death becomes the only option to protect her daughter, whom she believes is alive. The discovery of her identity would put a prize on her daughter's head. Annabel believed her encounter with her husband was purely by chance ,and their falling in love was nothing but fate .In her quest for blood and revenge, she discovers truths that make her think her husband might be alive.Was it designed for them to meet and fall in love?Was it a trap to lure her into reviving what was meant to die?Was their love all a lie?And who is Adam?Is he the shadow she's been chasing all along,or is he just a victim who needs to be saved?.

A man gets reincarnated or transmigrated into a world full of steampunking, gods, and weird misconseptions, with only the memories of the body he is in. He fights the cruel world in order to find his lost memories and restore or destroy this body's life. Gifted three cards he must beat the odds that were never in his favor.

Duan Holster 24 tahun berambut hitam dan mata hitam seorang mahasiswa tingkat akhir yang tinggal bersama neneknya. Duan bekerja sebagai penjaga toko, setelah mengakhiri kelas, setiap siang hari hingga malam, Duan bekerja selama 10 jam. Pada suatu hari Sebuah serangan terjadi dalam serangan pada toko tempatnya bekerja, tiga perampok datang ke tokonya, satu dari jauh menodong pistol, dua orang mencoba mendekat dengan salah satunya membawa pisau. "Beri semuanya atau mati" Rampok meminta. "Tolong tenang, ambil saja ini semua". Sepertinya pekerjaan ku berakhir disini pikir Duan. Pria terakhir mencoba mengambil uang dalam penyimpanan. "Minggir jangan melakukan apapun" Pach!!, sebuah pukulan mendarat di pipi Duan dan Dia terlempar membenturkan kepala belakang mengenai meja kasir di belakangnya. 'Sial ambil saja tidak usah memukul' pikir Duan dalam benaknya. Duan berdiri dengan sedikit linglung, pria yang membawa pisau mencoba menusuknya, Duan menghindarinya ke kanan menyerempet lengan kirin, Duan memposisikan kaki kanannya ingin maju ke depan tapi merasakan bahaya, Dia melompat mundur dan dan suara bang bang kaca disamping Duan sebelum pecah. Duan dengan reflek langsung menunduk 'Sial kenapa bergerak sih' mereka waspada terhadap perlawanan Duan. Duan memberi sarat dengan mengangkat dua tangan keatas mencoba berdiri untuk menyerah tapi di abaikan oleh pria membawa pisau. Wuss wuss wuus, tiga tusukan yang cepat dilakukan ke arah dada nya. 'uhh!!!' tusuk terakhir mengenai ulu hati dan suara pistol meletus 'bang! bang!' peluru mengenai kepalanya dan Duan terjatuh terkapar dengan wajar menghadap lantai, darah mulai membanjiri area tersebut. Delapan detik sebelum kematian kenangan terlintas dalam pikirannya 'aku tidak memiliki banyak kenangan indah untuk dibawa mati' Dia yang di besarkan oleh neneknya saja yang tidak memiliki teman seorang pun karena terlalu lusuh. Setelah kegelapan pun datang di pikirannya dan Duan mati, setelah beberapa waktu berlalu, Dalam kegelapan Duan Merasakan hangat. Matanya terbuka!!!

Syd, an elf bard escapes the abuse of an orphanage along with her friend Trace. Months after their escape, they make new friends and conquer many unexpected things: • A town who accepts any class except druids. • A rogue who they befriended after they tried to kill them. • Taking in a child without knowing his family. • A sorcerer who cannot use their spells perfectly. …and many more This story has D&D elements, which is inspired by my D&D characters. Rated 18+. Will contain the following but not exceed: • strong language • drug and alcohol use • bullying • gore • CSA/paedophila (only briefly) • physical intimacy (romantic and sexual)

Rachael Von Bathory, daughter of a first seat noble vampire, is set out to find the culprit who killed the vampire queen. after she awakes a mysterious power called Blood Weaving, she was announced as the successor of the queen but before she could learn more about her power, the queen was killed. now Rachael must find the killer with help of her friends. And along the way she must master her newly found powers.

Our protagonist is a vampiress that has everything, that all would envy. As she matures, Men after men, after men, they all are in constant turmoil with one another for her hand in marriage. Will she be able to pick one? Marry the 'one' the love of her life in a living in a simple life filled with contentment or will she succumb to greed as a Villainess and be the seductress they all love, to have handsome guys in her beck-and-call wrapped around her finger? ************************************************* 3RD PLACE | BRONZE WINNER WPC# 219 | MARY SUE *************************************************

The monsters which the people believed to be werewolves, were vampires killing people in the form of werewolves just to jeopardize their existence. This had created hate and contempt between the two clans and the only seeming solution to it was to send one to extinction. I'm relation to this, Dalton travelled to the seven continents bringing together the ancient dark ones reincarnated in modern humans. They were the target of the Vampires as well, resulting in a serious clash. Drawing from the townspeople, werewolves lived amongst them but were not aware neither did they know that the President of the state was a fully blown vamp, preparing something big for the lasting of his tribe. A heart-throbbing twist that is capable of keeping you glued to your phone is surely yet to come.

When a sudden quarantine leaves them stranded on an isolated campus, seven brilliant, parentless students of the prestigious Hisar Institute must make an uneasy peace with their situation. Arlt, a Renaissance philology student and gifted linguist, narrates their tale—a story shrouded in secrets as ancient as the campus itself. United by their orphaned pasts and exceptional linguistic abilities, they linger in Suare Kairos, a grim four-story dormitory overshadowed by the silent gaze of the Aeternolis statue. Life in quarantine is quiet until they stumble upon a hidden tunnel beneath the library, a passage rumored to have sheltered professors fleeing the horrific Great Genocide Era. What begins as a curious exploration soon reveals a legacy of betrayal, forbidden knowledge, and concealed atrocities that refuse to remain buried. Inside the tunnel, the students find relics of a forgotten resistance—ancient texts, obscure manuscripts, and encrypted journals that point to a grim legacy the Institute sought to erase. As they decode the cryptic writings, the students are pulled into a web of secrets that threatens to unravel not only the history of their institution but also their very identities. Each discovery comes at a cost, forcing them to confront questions about loyalty, survival, and the fine line between knowledge and power. Bound by a shared past yet divided by dark ambitions, they must decide: how far will they go to preserve the truths they’ve unearthed? And, when knowledge becomes dangerous, is it worth dying—or even killing—for? A tale of mystery, academic rivalry, and haunting secrets, The Scholars of Aeternolis explores the weight of history on those who seek to uncover it and the cost of pursuing forbidden knowledge.

In the bustling city where the nightlife pulses with energy, Mia, a talented dancer at a popular nightclub, finds herself caught in a whirlwind of passion and intrigue. Every night, she captivates the audience with her sultry performances, but behind the spotlight, she longs for a deeper connection. One fateful evening, she meets Alex, a mysterious and alluring stranger who seems to understand her in ways no one else does. Drawn to his magnetic presence, Mia is swept off her feet as they share stolen moments between dances, igniting a fiery romance that feels both exhilarating and dangerous. As their relationship deepens, Mia discovers that Alex has secrets of his own—he’s not just a charming patron; he’s a successful entrepreneur with ties to the city's elite. Torn between her growing feelings for him and the fear of losing her independence, Mia must navigate the complexities of love, ambition, and trust.

Was he a pawn or would he reach the end of the board and flip it over? ............. At the age of 5, Leon's parents were slaughtered in front of him, but instead of getting arrested and punished, the case was closed off, with the villains of the incident running free. At the age of 24, he had turned into a mass murderer crazy psychopath. After sending many criminals to hell, he finally got his revenge and killed the people responsible for his parents' deaths. However, instead of finding solace, what he felt was never-ending emptiness making him lose his will to stay alive. Surrounded by cops, instead of struggling he leapt off the building deciding to end his life. Alas, fate played another joke on him. He was selected by Deity and was sent to a world filled with protagonists and antagonists of urban cultivation novels. And to his utter dismay, when he woke up he found himself in the body of trash fucked by fate brutally. His mother divorced his father and remarried. His fiancee was taken away by another one. A girl whom he fell in love with later turned out to be his step-sister and engaged with someone else. His stepmother had thrown him out of the house and blocked his cards. Recounting all the bullshit, Leon finally lost his sanity. "Screw you all and Screw the world." "I wanted to have peace but since you are not going to let me in peace, you will see my dark side." Follow Leon's journey as he tramples over the so-called childrens of heaven and destiny villains, and strives to the top of the world. ................ .......... I am a complete novice. My English sucks still I will try my best. However, despite all the flaws, I hope you can give it a try.

Live like a dog. Be treated like one. But when the time comes, fight for the last bite like the greedy dog you are. Just then you would find your peace. On one side we have Sora Danuja finally finding a propose in life and an idea what her future would look like. Her vision was much brighter than her future. On the other hand we have Shishijima Kana that just wants to BE. What happens when a starved dog finally finds food after years and years without? It eats it selfishly till it's last crumb.

When Ena woke up from her coma, she wanted to change herself but did not know where to begin. She was used to being the least prioritized because she always put herself down. Most people treat her like a bother. That is why when their gorgeous beyond reason CEO Aidan Lewis showed interest in her, her life began to take a huge turn! “Why me?” His eyes held many secrets behind his kind smile. “You are the woman of my dreams.” She became so confused. She cannot begin to fathom how a man like him would dream of such a plain lady like her. There is really something wrong here!

Summary: Ultimate cultivation techniques, unparalleled dominance; the martial world bows in awe! With a flick of his wrist, the skies change; mastering both immortal and martial realms, who dares to compete? Homebody Xiao Chen, armed with a 'Complete Guide to Cultivation' bought off Taobao, finds himself transported to the Martial World continent. There, he concocts pills, crafts talismans, sets grand formations, and creates magical artifacts, all while training in the lost art of the Azure Dragon Martial Soul, scripting an epic tale of passion and power!

The Night comes from a poor, forgotten village near the edge of the Wastelands, an isolated region at the border of the Shadow Realm. His parents were killed by marauding beasts, leaving an orphan at a young age living in the shadow of the more powerful factions. He's worked as a scavenger to grow in power. But he fears becoming like the twisted beings and corrupted shadow users they’ve seen and despised. Follow the Night as his past is coming back to reveal power , the kind which people only imagined.......

We must learn for the mistake of the past work together to create a better, and more sustainable future for all

After a night of passion, the sperm and egg found a perfect match. Though it was purely accidental, she optimistically decided to take good care of the 'keepsake' he left behind... This reckless woman openly seduced him, and how could he not give her a little 'lesson'? Unexpectedly, this 'love education' turned out to be her first experience, and he seemed to have made a sweet mistake! The woman only left behind a 'thank you' card, but years later, she surprised him greatly... This time, he wouldn't let her brush him off with mere words of gratitude. He planned to come back with a vengeance, reclaiming everything “with interest”!