Voluntary

The Dead Pixel Society - 9

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

They both gasped. “Jesus Christ,” Elaine said. “Did... Did you actually run through that?” she asked, pointing her hand with the cable toward the door, where hail stones slammed hard against the glass, ineffectually trying to penetrate the newfound fortress.

“I was already halfway here so I didn’t really have a choice. I thought the hail was over, then,” she paused, another thunderclap causing her to flinch, “It opened up like the wrath of God.”

“Well,” Elaine said as she strolled over, placing the cable down on the arm of the sofa next to Aria, “I’m sorry to say, you’re not going anywhere until this lets up. I hope you can stand our company that long.”

Split Victory 8 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Viper

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

‘This is psychological warfare,’ the report stated. ‘Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact sport. How can a teenage boy trained to fight other boys be expected to hit a girl? League rules on gender divisions exist for a reason. Either the Tiger should be moved to the girls’ division or he should be disqualified and unseeded.’

Amber gave her a concerned frown. “What? What is it?”

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Morgan said just above a whisper, her voice cracking as she leapt to her feet and sprinted for the door.

Between Two Worlds - VIII - Too Close

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Saturday arrived.

Samuel went to Natalie's house early in the afternoon, long before the St. Catherine's Graduation Gala would begin. He expected a few hours of preparation. He did not expect what he found.

Natalie led him to the terrace.

It looked as if an entire salon had been transported into her home.

The Dead Pixel Society - 8

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

She wanted to be like Elaine, or Lyra. She wanted that effortless poise, that command of the stage while strutting around in a flawless, Clarity Beige pleated skirt and tailored blazer. These were taboo thoughts, thoughts she had buried before, and yet... And yet now she couldn’t stop the flood of emotions anymore. The dam had burst, and she started to cry softly.

She wasn’t a project, and she wasn’t a train wreck. She just was. She leapt up and rushed out of the room, not wanting her sobs to carry all the way across the theater, especially when she heard the thud of the heavy Chemistry book slam shut below. Did Heather hear already? She ran back, turning off the CD player, and then disappeared into the shadows of the utility corridor, trying not to breathe as she listened.

Life Changes - Part 4 - A New Chapter in our Lives

Life Changes

By Kathi Jo Daniels – KathiJo25

Part 4 – A New Chapter in our Lives

Chapter 47 – It’s A Small World

After our regular morning activities, we’d be leaving the house on Monday, so I removed my breast forms and dressed as Justin: a golf shirt, shorts, and loafers. Kayla chose a blue sleeveless knit blouse, white shorts, and sandals.

Split Victory 7 - The Princess and the Pedestal

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

In which Tiffany first learns more about her future rival, completely unaware that Morgan, 'The Untouchable Tiger' is her own twin sister, Liberty Styles is befuddled by the humble salad fork, and Morgan finally sees her dojo and her fellow students as they are, rather than as background furniture, as she learns to see herself for who she is as well.

Just Yoga

“You want me to do what?”

Danny stared at Zoe across the small café table, his cappuccino frozen halfway to his lips. At five-foot-six with a slim, almost delicate build, Danny had never been the adventurous type. That had always been Zoe’s department.

The Dead Pixel Society - 7

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

P.E. is bad enough, but at Clarity Prep, there's also the joy of the colorfully labelled New Experience Day, and today's lesson is Fencing, or as Lewis/Aria thinks of it, 'being a lopsided tripod with a sword.' Still, she manages to make a new friend in a senior fencing student and further the goal of repairing The Beige Beast in the process. And soon she'll get to actually see what the girls' dorms actually look like, too. En garde!

Split Victory 6 - Act II - The Forge

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoe Taylor

In which the twins experience their own forms of euphoric reforging of their previously shatterd defenses and world views. Tiffany experiences the embrace of the Static offshoot branch calling themselves simply "The Out Group" and the most brutal MMA training of her entire life, while Morgan learns that presenting as a girl doesn't mean she has to give up being the badass Kenpo master of the phantom blitz

A Part Of Her – 20 – A Mother’s Love & Epilogue

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

Trail Drive

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Trail Drive
A Short Story

It was getting dark. The sun had already dropped below the horizon but on the plains the twilight lasts a little longer, so the stranger, drawn by the light of a fresh fire, could easily steer a horse through the low scrub.

The cattle were well settled in a basin where there was a small watercourse and some green grass alongside as well as tender tips on some of the brush. They would settle well and could be easily watched from just above the campsite where the water flowed out.

The Dead Pixel Society - 6

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Quoth the Raven,” Lewis said to himself, as he leaned on the walnut panel to which the painting was attached. To his complete shock, the panel groaned softly, like a rusty hinge that hadn’t been moved in 20 years had just been awakened.

“What the hell was that?” Kris asked, her head jerking up suddenly. Lewis didn’t answer right away. He felt along the paneling for something, and found it - a crack, almost invisible. He managed to dig his greasy theater-hardened nails into the crack and pried it back. Another low, echoing groan as the hinges protested, but gave way to a massive steel door, covered in acoustic foam on the other side.

Appearances: A Blackwick Tale - Chapter 1

Chapter One — The Suitable Date

From behind the wheel of the idling car, Gwen Aldous watched Sam come down the dormitory steps in the rented tuxedo and felt something in her chest pull tight that she couldn't quite name.

Quarry, Chapter 4.

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My phone rang; I was jolted awake; Janet. I answered, quite disoriented as I was in another room. I hadn’t even woken when I’d been moved.

“Hi; how you?”

“More to the point, how are you?”

“Fine. I've just woken up; what time is it?”

“7:10pm; did I wake you?”

“Yes; but I’m glad you did. I just wanted to let you know what happened.”

“You’re all over the news… and you’ve been identified from the pictures of where you tripped up the gunman. How’d you get away?”

Split Victory 5 - Victory Lap

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Mom,” Morgan said, “I... I’m trans.”

Tori set down the oven mitt, approached Morgan, and wrapped both arms tightly around her. She wasn’t sure what she should say, what she could say in that moment, but she knew she needed, and wanted, to show Morgan that she supported and loved her

“I honestly don’t know where to go from here. I... I think I need to talk to a therapist or something, not you know, for the good drugs or whatever,” she said, trying to crack a lame joke. It fell on its face the moment she said it, but luckily, she didn’t. She persevered. “But just... I don’t know, to sort through what I’ve been quietly struggling with for awhile now.”

“Sweetheart,” Tori said and kissed Morgan’s forehead, “Whatever you need, you know you just have to ask.”

London Cab

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London Cab
Two Vignettes
By Maryanne Peters

Meeting His Parents

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We met again in London, two years after we had got drunk together in a Soho bar. Mark was still working for the same investment firm, and I was working for an associated one, just as I had been back then. He was more charming than I remember, but only by a fraction. I put that down to circumstance.

Life Changes - Part 1 - Into the Abyss of Debauchery

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Life Changes
By Kathi Jo Daniels – KathiJo25
Part 1 – Into the Abyss of Debauchery
Chapter 1 – Justin Goes to Colorado

This year has already been challenging, and it’s only halfway through.

A Part Of Her – 19 – Mother is coming

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

Wychwood Day 7 Later That Day

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Wychwood Day Eight

Later that day

One

It wasn’t Samantha standing at the foot of the bed, but Overstrand. The shock was like a punch to the gut. No, he thought, this can’t be happening.

Jeannie Dreams

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Jeannie Dreams
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

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It was as if I flew to the edge of space, and found heaven from there. It sounds as corny as the old TV show, but it turned out to be true, in a very strange way.

The Dead Pixel Society - 5

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Hey, can I ask you a stupid question?” he asked.

“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?”

Split Victory 4 - Push and Pull / Shattered Defenses

Split Victory

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“All I’m saying is boys shouldn’t be allowed to compete in girls’ sports!” the woman continued. Tiffani’s defenses were shattered in an instant. Everything she had worked so hard to build up, stripped away. How did this woman, this complete stranger even know about her being trans?

None of this made any sense. Before she could say something though,, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It belonged to Liberty, of all people. No gentle brushing of a hand, it was a firm squeeze, grounding, comforting. She had to fight the urge to lean into it instinctively.

“I’ve got this, Barbie,” Liberty said, squeezing her shoulder again, her arm around Tiffani now in a moment of solidarity.

Wychwood Day 7 Early Morning

Wychwood Day Seven

Early Morning

One

Sandy stirred in his sleep, disturbed by something. He groaned, desperate to get back to his dream. It had been so vivid, so real; he reached down to his groin and was almost disappointed to find his cock. His mouth was dry, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth, no doubt from all he had drunk with Annabelle and Fleur. A headache pounded behind his eyes, and he reluctantly dragged them open, groaning aloud before reaching for the glass of water he had left on the bedside table.

A Part Of Her – 18 – All or Nothing

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

The Dead Pixel Society - 4

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

Aria? Aria, née Lewis looked around, holding up the lantern. A thick layer of dust lay on everything - even the empty Jolt cola can resting on its side in the corner next to a cheese crackers wrapper that looked slightly less aged than the can, judging by its lack of dust. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “But I’ll admire the scenery later. You didn’t bring me up here for a social visit.”

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?"

Quarry, Chapter 2.

I woke early. At this time of the year it is getting bright around 4:30 and I had not slept well. What had started out as a good day two days ago had developed into a bit of a nightmare all due to an impulsive act involving me in something that wasn’t really my business. On top of that, I had possibly endangered Janet, and maybe my family. I hadn’t called home yet and was a little surprised that they hadn’t made contact with me. I would do it later; first things first.

Split Victory 3 - Jade and the Concrete Jungle

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.”

A Part Of Her – 17 – Before The Storm

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

People are Complicated

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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.

The Dead Pixel Society - 3

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor

“Let’s see...” he said as he ran his fingers over the shelves. “Read it, read it, read it twice... Oh, what are you doing here?” he said, picking up the 1995 copy of Wicked. It was stuffed to the far right of the shelf, and, at least to his vague recollection of the Dewey decimal system, was completely on the wrong shelf.

A yellowed, old index card, fluttered to the ground. He knelt down to pick it up, turning it over.

‘If ur reading this don’t throw it away. Put it back where u found it. But, if ur looking for amazing acoustics, ask Jessica in the skool theater. She’ll show u the way to the utility corridor! -W.W.’

Split Victory 2 - Chaos and Order

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.

A Part Of Her – 16 – Burglary & Bullets

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

The Magician's Daughter - Ch. 19

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Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC



CHAPTER NINETEEN


The Dead Pixel Society - 2

The Dead Pixel Society

© 2026 Zoë Taylor


The second the bell - not a modern chime, but a literal, 1970s classroom steel bell that Clarity never bothered to upgrade probably because it would break something else if they did, screamed the hour, he bolted. He didn’t wait for a dismissal, or for Madison and her entourage to clear the hell out of his way.

He just. Ran. He knew there were bathrooms somewhere in the next corridor. He swore he would never use a public bathroom if he could avoid it. He even showered at odd hours, like midnight when everyone else was asleep, just to have a modicum of privacy, but this? This was a saliva soaked emergency.

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

From Soldier to Cutie Chapter 3

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Chapter Three: Identity

The air outside the chamber felt sharper than it should have.

Wychwood Day 6

Wychwood Day Six

One

This time, Samantha announced her arrival by knocking on the door after she opened it. “Good morning, Sandy. Did you sleep well?” She bent down to pick something up from the carpet. “How did this thing get here?”

Sandy looked at her through bleary eyes. He felt drained, and his body ached as if he had the flu.

“How did what thing get where?” he croaked.

She held up a large black feather. “I think it’s from one of those rooks from around here,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Nasty birds.”

J04 - Joining the Scouts - Chapter 5 of 5

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Joining the Scouts
Juliette's Story Four

Juliette
Jimmy’s world is changing fast now that Bree sees her child as Juliette. The day after the big reveal is a wild ride for Julie, and she is not in control. Unsure about where things are going, she is overwhelmed and worried. Mom trying to make up for lost time and Rachel trying to be a good best friend are a force Julie can't slow down. The day's adventures bring her clothes shopping, two photo shoots, and to a Girl Scout meeting. Is it too much for Julie to handle, or meeting her every dream? Could it be both? New questions, nervous moments, and a few truths that can’t stay hidden forever all happen in one day. A day that Juliette will never forget.
By
Becky Anne
©2026

Split Victory 1 - The Sparrow and the Tiger

Split Victory
©2026 Zoë Taylor

14 year old Tiffani and her identical twin Morgan were both assigned male at birth, but due to an unusual intervention, they were separated and raised in vastly different lives. While Tiffani was allowed to simply exist, following her dreams of studying Taekwondo at a prestigious global academy, her long lost twin brother Morgan found himself under the oppressive shadow of his stepfather, billionaire playboy John Roth.

But now, Tiffani has left the singular world of Taekwondo tournaments behind to join the global world rankings of the North American Martial Arts Sports Association, she and her long lost sibling are put on a collision course that was never meant to happen, and along the way they'll unravel a mystery that's bigger than the both of them.

A Part Of Her – 15 – From Paris With Love

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A Part Of Her


An Intelligence Officer damaged by the job is presented with an impossible decision when a life is placed in their hands.
Can they save a child and free themselves from the past?

Wychwood Day 5

Wychwood Day Five

One

Sandy awoke to the racket of a lawnmower beneath his window, followed by the ear-shredding shriek of a leaf blower. Mhairi had said the gardeners came once a week, and as he pulled his pillow over his head, he would tell Overstrand that he could earn another fortune by inventing silent garden machinery.

Wychwood Day 3

Wychwood Day Three

 One

Samantha’s knock on the door didn’t rouse Sandy from his sleep at first. It wasn’t until she had entered the room and drawn back the curtains, letting bright sunlight stream through the windows, that he opened his eyes, startled to see her there. He had kicked off the duvet during the night, and only as he sat up did he remember what he was wearing, desperately pulling the duvet up to cover himself. 

“What are you doing, Sam?” he squealed.

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