Authors Note: Ive spent four chapters trying to build a world and I know in that time I've lost many of you. I think the world is built now, the board is set. This is the best chapter so far.

Just to a quick synopsis: It's 1994, ASHTON is a 20 year old college student in a small town. His best friend, GARRETT is a geek who is interested in esoteric knowledge and magic. At a party they met MARIE, 24 and JESS, 20. MARIE was looking for people she might recruit to her circle.

Authors Note: This chapter contains harsh language, and insensitive young people. It also has drug use, D&D, and a form of sexual abuse I suppose, though imaginary. Just be warned. I'll put more thoughts at the end.

Chapter 4 D&D
Garrett

Authors Note: First chapters are hard, I often can't determine if I like a book enough to continue it until I'm a quarter of the way through. The first chapter of Yesterday, Today, wasn't exactly a hit, based on some of the feedback I received. Which I really appreciate by the way. Right now everything I'm writing comes from slightly exaggerated and dramatized memories from my real life. I know some of you didn't like the gratuitous cursing. My best friend in high school couldn't speak around us without prefacing every phrase with a fuck'n.

Ladies and... gentlewomen? Anyway.... HERE WE GO AGAIN. It's a new story. I've been developing this for about 2 months. It's set in the same town as my last novel, Mud Creek. But in in 1994. The characters in this story are 20 something geeks, gamers, outcasts, wannabe satanic warlocks, and witches. It will be somewhat darker and grittier then Mud Creek. As usual consider this a preview, warts and all. I'm using a rotating 3rd person POV.

Authors Note: This will be the last chapter of Mud Creek I post here. I finished the book recently and have been editing, adding, and rewriting some scenes. There are 2 chapters left after this one. Thank you for everyone who read and especially, Dallas, Emma Anne, Joanne, Teri Ann, Patricia, KayD and anyone else who commented. Those comments kept me writing all through the Winter to finish this. I can't thank you ladies enough. As for Mud Creek Sarah, her story is complete for now. As for this Sarah, who knows we're still writing.

Love you!

Authors note: Hi, short chapter for this week. This felt like it could have been the end of the story, and it would be if this is was a story about Grace, but this is a story about Lucy and Sarah and they are far from resolved. I'm just about finished with chapter 32, but I'm not sure if I'm going to finish posting the story here since I'm concerned with publishing issues. I'm planning on cleaning it up and publishing an ebook this summer. Thanks again for reading and your comments.

Chapter 29 February 22nd, 2026

Chapter 28 December 25th 2025

There were times in Whit’s life when he saw himself in a photo, or a video, or in the mirror, and for a brief moment he saw her instead of him. Eventually he gave her a name, Sarah. Over time he realized that Sarah could be a great person, far less reserved than Whit. Sarah didn’t define her life by what she avoided. Whit imagined Sarah living a rich life full of new friends and experiences.

All Sarah ever needed was a chance…

Authors Note: Hi! Seven chapters left I think. Thank you for all being my beta readers. Your comments are what keeps me excited to continue posting. If you've enjoyed my story there is something you could do for me. Give me some constructive criticism. I'm going to go back through the text and work on grammar, but I'm also considering making a few changes. You could also let me know where you think this is going to go.

Welcome to my favorite chapter in the book so far. Thanks again for reading and your comments!

Chapter 22, October 29th 2026

Chapter 20 October 20th 2025

Whit pulled up behind an ambulance. There was a loud quiet inside the Emergency Room at Mud Creek’s small hospital. Whit and Lucy helped Grace limp up the counter. Heads turned, Grace had a bloody towel against the side of her head, her big pink Hello Kitty sweatshirt was stained with blood, and her pink tights and short skirt looked out of place in the blue green fluorescent lights.

The woman at the desk didn’t react outwardly. She glanced up once, took it all in, and stood immediately.

“Head injury?” she asked.

Chapter 18, October 11th, 2025

“Why are we doing this again?” Whit asked after he shifted the Jeep into park.

Lucy frowned, “It’s supper Darren, we need to eat.”

Whit rolled his eyes, “You know what I mean, we’ve been together for a long time, and this is the first time I think you’ve ever invited someone, besides our parents, out to eat with us.”

Chapter 17, October 10th, 2025

Lucy stood in Grace’s gravel driveway in front of the beat up pickup. The three tall pines behind the trailer trees loomed dark against the fading greens of the hills in the distance.

The door of the trailer opened up and Grace pushed her way through the heavy blanket hanging in the doorway. She was wearing cotton shorts and a long Hello Kitty sleep shirt. Her hair was in pigtails. She looked like a kid who’d just gotten out of bed even though it was 2:30 PM.

Chapter 5

Drew Fairchild stepped out of his Tesla model 3 and pulled out a mint condition Zuca Roller Derby bag emblazoned with flames. He sat it on the gravel parking lot and examined his surroundings.

The expansive gravel parking lot of Swanky’s Fun Center was mostly empty; a handful of cars were parked near the front door. He studied the once colorful, but now dull paint chipping off the metal walls and took a deep breath. “This place is so real,” he said and checked the time on his Apple watch.

Authors Note: Just to make it clear. Darren is also Whit, who is also Sarah. This is another flashback chapters. I don't know about you but when I'm reading I hate flashback chapters. I like writing them though. Chapter 13 and 14 were both written around Christmas, and if you're wondering, this scene is almost word for word how I remember proposing to my wife whose name is not Lucy.

Chapter 14 December 25th 2007

Chapter 3

“What have I got myself into,” Rose thought as Swanky handed her a black and white referee’s shirt. It was the week of their first practice and Swanky asked her to come in early for a birthday party.

“Do you have a bigger one?” Rose asked.

“Nope,” Swanky said with a shit eating grin on his face. The young man with Rick behind the counter rolled his eyes.

“Grandpa, you know we’ve got one in every size,” he said.

Rick glared at him, “Mikey, you’re ruining it.”

Chapter 2

“Wow, this place could use some work,” Tracey said as she walked up to Neal and Rose who were standing near the front door. A faded sign painted in 80s neon declared this to be, “Swankies Fun Center.”

There were 7 cars in the parking lot including the three that Rose, Neal and Tracey arrived in. Rose smiled and pointed towards the door, “Don’t worry guys, this is perfect, it’s the exact vibe we need, and it’s going to be cheap.”

Author's Note: Happy New Year! This chapter was something that I imagined leading up to from the moment I started the book. It's a very powerful chapter and I'm so excited to share it with you. As of now this is the only place I share this book. I may be suffering illusions of grandeur but I believe that it is good. I may attempt to publish it somehow when it's complete.

Chapter 9 September 19th 2025

“Here’s your money back dear,” Carla said, handing Lucy some folded bills, which she quickly pocketed. Lucy sat down on her front porch with her Mom, Carla, who lit her cigarette and took a deep pull. She could hear her Dad flipping through TV stations in the house. “Your cousin Elle invited you to her baby shower,” she said.

Chapter 7, Whit, October 27, 1998

Darren Whitlock is following his mother through Wal-Mart with his head down.

“No Mom, I’m not doing Halloween this year, I’m 12 years old now. Besides, I haven't dressed up in years.”

“Come on Darren, it could be fun, you could help hand out candy, and surely someone’s having a costume party,” his Mom said.

“Mom, no, I’m not doing it,” Darren said.

“I don’t understand what’s gotten into you, all you want to do is sit in your room and draw from your silly books. You used to love dressing up.”

Author's Note: There is a plot, it starts to take off in this chapter, but there will still be chapters that focus more on Whit and Lucy's relationship and trauma. Something I haven't made clear that I will need to in future edits is that the story is taking place in a rural town In Illinois called Mud Creek. It's the kind of place that has very powerful gravity. My three main characters, Lucy, Whit, and Grace are all stuck in Mud Creek. Thank you reading and I so appreciate the comments!

Chapter 5 Dead Battery September 11, 2025

Chapter 3

Jim woke slowly, wrapped in a warmth he hadn’t felt in decades. His limbs were heavy with sleep, his mind still floating in that soft, dreamy place where nothing hurt and nothing worried him. He hadn’t woken up to pee at 3 AM. He hadn’t woken up at all.

Then he shifted, and froze. The mattress beneath him was cold. His stomach dropped.
No. Not again.