Chapter 7

Friday was our round three matches in the singles. We were now getting into playing seeds and high-ranked players. I knew that we had done as well as most would have expected, even if they wanted us to do better, As first-timers, getting to the third round was considered good. We were, however, determined not to go down without a fight.

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

“Pete,” he said softly, holding his arms open.

Pete's Vagina
87. Spikes
by Erin Halfelven

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.”

Caden wakes to the alarm's shrill beep, his hand slapping at the nightstand like it is a betrayal. The garment bags lie in a dark heap by the door.

He hesitates at the underwear drawer. The boxer briefs are folded neatly. He pulls them on, then dressed mechanically: the navy pencil skirt next, the wool cool against his thighs. Then the cream silk blouse, buttons fumbling under his fingers. The blazer comes last, shoulder seams settling perfectly without adjustment.

Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC

People are Complicated
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I was an experienced transvestite. I had been closeted for years. I denied it to myself and did not tell my wife the full extent of my need to dress. She was open to “kinky sex”, but she drew the line at anything more than that. I decided that I would lie to her as well as myself.

“Brock,” she said. “Oh, Brock, look at you.

Last to Know
by Suzan Donamas

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!

It's one thing to be pulled into another world to fight an evil queen, but what do you do when the spell that transports you there also gives you a woman's body? And what if it feels... right?

Atticus Carver, the star wide receiver, a popular sophomore in a high school in Louisiana, is about to get a change to his life he doesn't expect or want - and it's all in public.

Now the person who changed him to her, in spite of feeling terrible for what they did to an innocent young life and potentially more, wants one-hundred-million dollars wired to multiple bank accounts within a month, or they'll set the gender-bending spores on D.C.

Atticus is left reeling from everything, having to pick a new name for herself, learn to be a girl in high school, to finding new romances, to keeping her old friends and finding new ones, to picking up a brand-new sport for herself...and making enemies that she has no idea how to deal with...

I will also be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com and ScribbleHub.com.

Back in the lab. Seo-yeon does the blood draw at my desk — tourniquet, vein located without hesitation, needle in. Three vials, labeled in her handwriting, coat pocket. She doesn't look at me while she does any of this. The mode she uses when she's already three steps ahead and the thing in front of her is a procedure rather than a problem.

Then she says: "The server."

I know what she means. I know what we're about to do.

Chapter Five
Banquet of Broken Dreams

The phone buzzed for about five seconds before she answered.

“Well, good morning. I suppose this means you’re in town?”

“Yeah, you busy?”

“You mean now, tonight or both?”

“Either, neither, both.”

“Just starting work now. Good tonight. You coming over?”

“Will we meet in town around six? Somewhere nice; my treat.”

“OK, send me a text.”

“Will do; see you then”.

Drew Balor was at 1st fairway of Three Rivers Country Club in a tux pacing back and forth while taking a long drag from his cigarette. He wished he could calm down but knew he would not. His nervousness has been building up for the last year so how he felt has been par for the course for him. This state of mind all started by him asking Becky Stewart to be his wife. All the groom wanted was for this day to be perfect for who he saw as his perfect mate.

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

Introduction