Chapter 5

We both had a laugh, and I added another note, ‘Get signwriting stuff’. I did a rough calculation based on the size of the figures and told her how much wall needed to be cleared.

Surprise Acceptance

By Joan Knight

PROLOGUE

Introducing:
John / Joan Knight, late 50s, 5’10”, 175 pounds, short-cropped brown hair.
Andrea Knight, late 50s, 5'5”, 120 (?) pounds, short brown/grey hair, 38-D breasts, 34-inch waist, 36-inch hips.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on my sister’s bedroom. I stood there, my heart pounding, staring at the reflection in the mirror. My sister’s pink sundress clung to my slender frame, the fabric smooth against my skin. I had always been drawn to her clothes, to the way they made me feel… different. Not like Taylor, the boy. But like someone else. Someone I couldn’t quite name yet.

No one knows exactly when the aliens came and began slowly infiltrating the human race. Twenty years ago, when I was twenty-nine, the news began reporting incidents of strange behavior from people around the world. I was just starting my neurosurgery practice at the time. The medical community believed this was a new strain of virus that was spreading at epidemic proportions. Initially it was thought to be a variant of the Vika virus as it seemed to affect the brain first.

After getting punished for a fight he didn't start, Taylor's life has taken a turn for the weird. First it was strange dreams then it was a bizarre feeling that something isn't right. Now he's constantly cold and can't figure out why.
But these things are just the beginning of his problems.

"Josette's Story" is a prequel to my story "The Dark of the Moon," here at Big Closet. That story introduced Josette Melford as a boy temporarily turned into a girl by magic. This novelette looks back in time and to tell the story of how Josette's strange adventure began months earlier. Read and enjoy.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

It’s time for some answers.

Chapter 22 recap.

She’s had enough rest, I think, watching Lorien’s confused but slowly softening expression. The tension in his body has eased, and his mind is clear again. Time to let her deal with this.

©2025 SammyC

Chapter 3 – Follow through

Not as bad as the others, and with maybe an epilogue to follow

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Shade is in the drivers seat now.

Chapter 21 recap.
“Rest, Artemis,” Shade says firmly, his tone carrying an unexpected reassurance. “Save your strength. I’ll handle this, and they’ll never know it wasn’t you.”

CHAPTER 65
My mouth was sticky the next morning, my head still fuzzy. I could still remember most of it though, as the pictures were shown, more wine poured and a messy bout of tears was resolved in the old, old way. Maz looked up at me, bleary-eyed, and lifted a sheet to her nose with a wince.

“Which of us spilled the red on the dooner?”

“No idea. Won’t need a dry clean for a while. Stain’s there to stay, I think. I’ll stick the kettle on, and then we can strip the bed”

Her smile up at me was a little fragile, but she nodded.

“Good job we’re both off today”

Chapter 3

I called Marilyn the next morning, before I left the motel. She told me that there was a car park on Portland Terrace, not far from the office, and to park there if I got to Southampton before the office closed. She would contact Gloria to get another key cut for the house and the office for me. I took my time going east, my car wasn’t as swift as Marilyn’s.