A sequel to the Gun Princess Royale series. Yanked off the streets of New Angeles by the tenebrous Pantheon organisation, and gifted with a deadly avatar known as a Diva, Nikola 'Sola' Raynar is a Lanfear - a huntress of Bloodliners and Wolvren. When she isn't hunting down the denizens of the night, she's busy finding ways to build up her nest egg for the day of her retirement from Pantheon. But when her rampant greed carries her a little too far, she finds herself in a mess that wasn't entirely of her own making.

Greetings, dear reader. I hope 2021 is finding you well.
Just a brief announcement.
Finally got my Twitter page off the ground. Search for Simkin Hart (i.e. @HartSimkin) to find me there.
I plan to use it more than Facebook.

It had bothered me since our first exchange of gunfire on the terrace courtyard.

It bothered me after I shot her up on the building’s balcony.

Why didn’t she dodge?

Why did she stand and take the bullet hits, one after the other?

When William McLennan decides to dress as Wendy the witch for Halloween she has no idea what awaits her at a deserted house on the edge of town.

A sequel to the Gun Princess Royale. Yanked off the streets of New Angeles by the tenebrous Pantheon organisation, and gifted with a deadly avatar known as a Diva, Nikola 'Sola' Raynar is a Lanfear - a huntress of Bloodliners and Wolvren. When she isn't hunting down the denizens of the night, she's busy finding ways to build up her nest egg for the day of her retirement from Pantheon. But when her rampant greed carries her a little too far, she finds herself in a mess that wasn't entirely of her own making.

A sequel to the Gun Princess Royale. Yanked off the streets of New Angeles by the tenebrous Pantheon organisation, and gifted with a deadly avatar known as a Diva, Nikola 'Sola' Raynar is a Lanfear - a huntress of Bloodliners and Wolvren. When she isn't hunting down the denizens of the night, she's busy finding ways to build up her nest egg for the day of her retirement from Pantheon. But when her rampant greed carries her a little too far, she finds herself in a mess that wasn't entirely of her own making.

Why was I going through the building and not over it?

Because I had no intention of being caught by surprise and sniped while using the balconies to climb up the side of the building and onto its rooftop.

Instead, I stepped through the shattered balcony window-wall into what resembled a luxurious, spacious apartment complete with a breakfast left cold on the kitchen table that was one of those island designs where the table is more like a bench with stools surrounding it.

Clenching my jaw against the pain, I stifled an anguished gasp but couldn’t help wheezing a little as I stood up on the wrecked balcony.

I could only think of one reason why the countdown had been trimmed by ten minutes.

Looking northward in the direction of the Promenade, I saw smoke trailing out of its stern as it drifted leisurely toward the tall tower with thin branch-like arms reaching up for the sky.

Ah…so that’s why.

The time penalty was probably for shooting at the Promenade.

Chapter One -- Gamer in a Suit

Taylor Averille finds a magical USB which promises him a life changing manifestation that will grant him happiness and fortune. Taylor has been trying to get his startup off the ground. Maybe the magical USB can help? What has he got to lose?

Chapter Three -- Truth and Consequences

The final chapter. Adele's trial comes to a shocking conclusion and her daughter's kidnappers make their demands known. Cassie is hot on the trail of the kidnappers but will she be too late, or will Adele pay the ransom and hope the girls are released unharmed.

The Displaced Detective: A Body Hopper Tale – Part 3
by Limbo’s Mistress

The perky blonde newscaster’s voice remained completely somber as she stared out at us from the giant screen dominating the wall of Thomas’ living room.

Neuron Transfer
A Novelette
By Maryanne Peters

For my 100th story posted on Big Closet, here is a novelette. Please read my blog "One Hundred"

When I died I was John Pierpont Morgan Backhouse. I was a successful businessman, although not as successful as my namesake. I was a father, but not a good one. I was a husband – definitely a bad one. In short, I was an asshole.

I almost shot him.

My right arm moved, and the Punisher scythed through the air as my body reacted – as I reacted – to Arnval’s announcement in the blink of an eye.

But at the last moment before my index finger depressed the trigger, I held myself back.

The urge to fire the linear rifle was tremendous.

The rifle trembled in my grasp as I was caught between opposing tidal forces raging within me.

The need to vent crashed with the need for prudence.

Chapter 8

I was a bit surprised by Michael leaving so quickly, but now that I had another adult to take care of me, I could see why he didn't feel the need to be present. To be honest, I was a little hurt by his abrupt departure, feeling a little bit abandoned. It was only later that I understood what it was he did in his time away from me, although he never admitted it. It also taught me that a hero did what was right rather than what was legal.

Chapter 7

I was second-guessing myself coming up to my mother's house. Was I an eighteen-year-old man or an eleven-year-old girl? Was I merely a caretaker for this body? Was Cindy ever going to return or was this my second chance at life? I had all my memories of Eric and none of Cindy, but this body was clearly a young girl's body.

Chapter 4

He loitered for half an hour, waiting for me to emerge, but I knew he was there with his emotional signature. I was getting tired anyway, so I pulled a couple of jumpers on, curled into a ball, used my backpack as a pillow and tried to get some sleep. I couldn't really settle down until I felt him leave. Then, despite not feeling that comfortable, I couldn't keep my eyes open and drifted off.

Part VI

A Switcher Tale...