Chapter 1

I stood in the little kiosk and looked out towards the other shops, wondering how my life had narrowed down to such a bleak outlook. It was a Tuesday morning, and I had just opened up. I hadn’t seen a single shopper yet. It was half past nine on a cold November day, so I hadn’t really expected anything else.

"Desert Valley's different," she said.

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Sure, as long as it’s not about my eye,” she shot back playfully. He turned to look at her. She smirked back at him. “It was a joke. What’s your question?”

Chapter 9

When we went to school on the Sunday, we took both cars. Now that I was independent, I wanted to visit my own parents when I could. Our room was now totally redecorated, with neutral walls and a red, white, and blue cornice at the ceiling join.

It may sound strange but I recommend you not to read parts 3 and 4 of this story.
Part 3 is only half decent while part 4 is way too confusing for readers. I had great fun writing these parts though. A classic example of self-indulgence.
I did consider pulling these parts but decided to let them stay as a reminder that I should stick to short stories.
So once again. Unless you actually like to be confused, don’t read parts 3 and 4.

Chapter 8

With the next day clear, we took our time with breakfast and then the two of us wore our special dresses to walk to the venue to spend most of the day doing our duty for our sponsors, posing for pictures, signing brand new clothing and talking to fans, many who had seen that interview and were interested in my story. I held nothing back. There were a few who looked at me angrily, but the two men from our clothing sponsor were big enough to have them leave us alone.

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

Heather actually beamed in the light of the lantern. “God damn. Maybe you really are one of us. Okay, let’s try a new one. Aria is what I call you, a nickname. Lewis Chambers is your scholar standard. Oh don’t look so surprised,” she laughed. “You think I’d let someone up here without finding out who they are?” She winked. “Anyway, you've got the trouser role, but up here in the shade you don't have to wear a mask. What's your true name?"

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Hyperextended in the AAA finals,” Jade sighed, balancing her weight. “They had to carry me off like a sack of flour. Totally embarrassing. But hey, now I’m a scout. I didn't see your name on the NAMASA roster, T-Bird.”

“Late entry. Jen thought I needed to ‘expand my horizon’ beyond the TKD bubble.” Tiffani glanced at the gold ‘NAMASA #1’ pin on Jade’s jacket. It caught the fluorescent light with a mocking glint. “The 2028 Olympics are the goal,” Tiffani said softly, her eyes drifting to the crowd. “But the noise, the drama about trans girls on the mat. NAMASA is already rattling the cage, Jade. I don't know if I can hold the mask for four more years.”

Chapter 6

The crowds were back, and the atmosphere had turned up a notch. This all made me feel alive. There were hundreds of fans here today to see us play. The other three doubles teams were specialists, while the other six singles players were all highly ranked. I knew that Tony was right, there would be no shame going down today, but we had worked hard enough to give it a good go.

A retelling of Pinocchio's most infamous detour, for the 2026 Summer Island Getaway Challenge. When Pinocchio runs away with a friend to Pleasant Island instead of coming home to become a real boy, he discovers the island has a very particular transformation in store for its visitors. And not everyone who escapes the island gets away clean.

Chapter 5

As Geraldine and I made our way to sign in, she wanted to know how I was advertising the tennis gear with a life-size picture.

“It was something that happened during summer. I was working with my aunt at her hotel in Brighton, which is the overnight home for executives for the shops in the big centre across the road. They wanted someone to model for them and I got some money, this outfit and two racquets out of it. It was a bit of fun at the time.”

Split Victory - Part 2

Chapters 3 and 4

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

In which the first seeds of the mystery are planted. A statue in a sea of chaos, and a stray remark from a coach
leaves its own unique marks on the twins despite their physical distance.

The Journal of a Junior Station Master
Or
Stories from the Knockanure Railway
By
Rebecca Anna Coleman

Introduction

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

He barreled through the extremely heavy door without a second thought.

For those of you who think it would be cruel and unusual punishment to wait for part 2 of this story (Yes I’m looking at both of you!) I’ve decided to post part 2 already today. For those of you unfamiliar with this story a part 2 usually signifies that there is a part 1. Not always but this time it does. You will be less confused if you read part 1 first.

The flight “home” had been pure purgatory for Chrysanthemum Daisy. Why had his parents bought “unaccompanied minor” status for him? For Cripes’ sake he was a high school student. Well, almost anyway. And to add insult to injury he had grown out of his middle school graduation suit (it had been on the small side already before) that he had arrived to camp in so he had had to wear his dress instead. Ok ONE of them. The first one, not the more daring one. So it was Miss Daisy here and Miss Daisy there. They were driving Miss Daisy out of her, sorry, his mind.

Chapter 3

Here I am in my first term of sixth form at Benenden, a very well regarded and expensive school for girls of good breeding. Why my parents decided that it was for me is too far out of left field for me to contemplate. I, a child of two middle-class office workers, sharing a room with the daughters of a peer and top lawyer.

Mount Olympus at last.