The Flash Fiction Challenge 2020 | 2nd Round, Challenge #3 Results

2nd Round / Challenge #3 Results
The results are in from Challenge #3 of the Flash Fiction Challenge 2020! View the top stories below by group number in ascending order. The top 3 writers in each group have advanced to the final round of the competition kicking off at 11:59PM EST this Friday, December 4th. Please keep in mind that choosing a top 3 from a field of 25 talented writers was very difficult and there were many great stories that were not recognized below. Everyone should be proud of rising to the challenges and making it to the second round from an original field of over 4,100 writers around the world. Thank you for participating and stay safe!

Top Stories by Group

HM = Honorable Mention

	GROUP	TOP STORIES
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#1 - ''Reflex'' by Candace Coulombe SYNOPSIS - A unique audition process tests behavioral readiness to assimilate in a new environment.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#2 - ''The Waiting Room'' by David Batteiger SYNOPSIS - A man obsessed with order must confront the disorders of his life or risk never moving on.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#3 - ''The Last Talent Show'' by Abigail Cushman SYNOPSIS - By the weeping willow, Sara-May and her friends come together for one last talent show.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#HM - ''Who Wants to Be a Reaper'' by Jane Brown SYNOPSIS - The afterlife needs a new reaper and failed musician Hendrix thinks he’s the one for the job. First, he’ll have to ace the audition.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#HM - ''10/1/1989'' by Amy Roon SYNOPSIS - Lydia is the new girl at school. One lonely afternoon she has to decide how far she’ll go to make some friends.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#HM - ''The Comeback'' by Roland Royster SYNOPSIS - A once renown jazz pianist attempts a comeback.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#HM - ''Final Call for Life'' by Anastasia Georgiou SYNOPSIS - A woman who has suffered from depression desperately attempts to secure a second chance at life.
	1 - Drama / An audition / A keyboard	#HM - ''The Roles We Play'' by Ashley Shaw SYNOPSIS - Pastor Dave is hiding a whale of a big lie, but when confronted with his sins, will he step up and embrace the role he’s destined to play? One thing is certain: auditions for a children’s church play shouldn’t be this scandalous.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#1 - ''Present Perfect'' by Clara Pratt SYNOPSIS - Luca is relieved that his college is finally removing an offensive statue from its grounds. After all, what kind of jerk puts a dress on a monkey?
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#2 - ''New Training Methods in Hell Come From Surprising Source'' by Trey Dowell SYNOPSIS - Baphomet the Undying breaks rules (instead of spines) in progressive new torture initiative, reports say.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#3 - ''The Prison of Paradise'' by Taylor Kowalski SYNOPSIS - In a future-Earth colonized by massive bird aliens called the Avis, Becks is an unregistered human, one of the few free from the clutches of the Nest. But when the Avis capture her girlfriend, Becks goes into the belly of the beast to bring her home or die trying.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#HM - ''Re-Opening Day'' by Michael Fineran SYNOPSIS - The ELA Department Chair shares curriculum updates that reflect the changing world.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#HM - ''Blue and Red Make Purple'' by Reed Kuehn SYNOPSIS - A version of the political environment has been developed to allow for the easy transition between two political parties. The end result is an alternating system of government, but authoritarianism wears many guises.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#HM - ''Pass/Fail \| True/False'' by Jamison Anthony SYNOPSIS - Mission accomplished! A hired test taker reflects on the hypocrisies, redundancies, and racial inequities of standardized testing while passing, again, a standardized test.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#HM - ''Flat Caps and Bomber Jackets No More'' by Katie McMurray SYNOPSIS - Flat Caps and Bomber Jackets No More A student has shown dangerous signs of loyalty to the deposed Trump monarchy. Principal Kai has called in the FBI.
	2 - Political Satire / A classroom / A fake identification card	#HM - ''Wrinklebottomgate'' by Kirsten Nichols SYNOPSIS - All William wanted was one bottle of wine.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#1 - ''The Thing in the Water'' by Angela Teagardner SYNOPSIS - Two sisters find something tangled near the shore. One thinks it’s a body; the other desperately hopes it’s not.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#2 - ''Hidden In Plain Sight'' by Terra Weiss SYNOPSIS - The only way to stay alive is to hide, an impossible task for a mother and her older children who are desperate to find their missing baby brother.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#3 - ''Murder at the End of the Rainbow'' by Michael Weldon SYNOPSIS - Someone has polluted the Rainbow River with toxic levels of Reality. Unicorn hair, love potions, and a red slipper point Detective Mazie McCrete to one conclusion: murder.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#HM - ''Mommy'' by Katy Sewell SYNOPSIS - Officer Will Baggs finds the missing young Annie under a bridge by the river and learns that she’s run away from her father after he did something horrible to her mother.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#HM - ''Death and Fish-fingers'' by Lucy Seviour SYNOPSIS - A veteran detective attempts to solve the murder of a venerated knight of the realm.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#HM - ''A Hop, Slip, and a Bump'' by James Hogan SYNOPSIS - When Mr. Tibbs, the class’s stuffed rabbit toy, is found swimming with the fishes, it’s up to Jimmy the hall monitor to find out who bumped off the bunny.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#HM - ''Ravi's River'' by Jennifer Sauer SYNOPSIS - What is the meaning of the toy ambulances washing ashore in Crystal River Township? Residents don’t put much stock in them, but a police officer new to town decides to investigate.
	3 - Mystery / A polluted river / An ambulance	#HM - ''The Yellow Jacket'' by Paul Draper SYNOPSIS - An old man reports a body in the river, but there isn't one and no one is missing.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#1 - ''Human Temptation: A Beginner's Guide'' by Danit Cole SYNOPSIS - Newly promoted from the Pits of Hell, Pithius attempts his first human temptation under his mentor’s guidance.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#2 - ''The Indomitable Granny Baumgartner and the Art of Dyeing with Grace'' by Eric Egelund SYNOPSIS - The Trophy Room is hosting the largest paintball tournament for its biggest trophy yet, and Evan wants to win—bad. Except, he’s down a teammate and the only replacement available is his elderly granny.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#3 - ''King's Ransom'' by Samantha Heywood SYNOPSIS - Sent to document the collection of music awards belonging to an ageing rock star, Luke and Marie discover that all is not as it should be.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#HM - ''A Girl's Guide to Marrying Well and Living Lavishly'' by Regan Puckett SYNOPSIS - 1. Use your assets. 2. Amass theirs.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#HM - ''#1 Best Ed'' by Bethany Nevile SYNOPSIS - Ed’s feeling a bit low when he returns to his parents’ house, but reminiscing about all his childhood trophies is sure to give him the ego boost he needs. Or will it?
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#HM - ''Usability Test'' by Victoria Martin SYNOPSIS - A pair of spell developers at Charm & Hex Industry begin the usability testing for a new spell. It doesn’t go well.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#HM - ''Lady Willoughby's Guide to Spectral Spookings'' by Sarah Fettke SYNOPSIS - Two ghosts try to scare off the newest, living resident of their home. Things don’t go quite according to plan, assuming they had a plan to begin with.
	4 - Comedy / A trophy room / A manual	#HM - ''Trofeeënkast'' by Ross Stein SYNOPSIS - A man struggles to assemble a display case for his new trophy room in anticipation of great things to come
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#1 - ''Revitalized'' by Chelsea Sanders SYNOPSIS - A woman struggling with her mother’s impending death finds closure.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#2 - ''The Eleventh Hour'' by Ruth Bell SYNOPSIS - On the first Armistice Day after the Great War, a police sergeant takes custody of a corpse – a young army captain has taken his own life. As the sergeant attends to his duties, he hears a familiar, unsettling sound.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#3 - ''Keeping Count'' by Jennifer Meade SYNOPSIS - A beat cop wrestles with the haunting memories of lives he didn’t save while adding another loss to his list.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#HM - ''All Thy Kind'' by Ross Williams SYNOPSIS - When an old Victorian cemetery erodes into the sea one night in a sleepy Welsh town, a junior police officer is forced to confront the sins of his predecessors.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#HM - ''Whispers Through the Pines'' by Ian House SYNOPSIS - Luther wants a closer relationship with his father. If he’s not careful, he might succeed.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#HM - ''Guardian Aida'' by Sarah Benson SYNOPSIS - Getting shot in the line of duty doesn’t stop a young police officer from trying to do her job.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#HM - ''SOLITARY'' by Noah Edelson SYNOPSIS - In real estate, every building has a history. This one tells its own.
	5 - Ghost Story / A police station / A flag	#HM - ''The Breath of the Desert'' by Chris Simms SYNOPSIS - A renowned Egyptologist incites a ghostly apparition to strike when tries to renew his excavation permit
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#1 - ''Forged In Forty-Nine'' by Dai Do SYNOPSIS - Wartime breaks us all and it takes the strength of a blacksmith to endure the test of a raging furnace.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#2 - ''Fly Bait'' by Zira MacFarlane SYNOPSIS - A blacksmith returns from Gallipoli, haunted by war. His wife struggles to shoulder their burdens.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#3 - ''The Lone Blacksmith'' by Carmen Cosgrove SYNOPSIS - Beth overcomes adversity amidst the early Western Australian gold rush and will do what it takes to survive.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#HM - ''Izinyoka'' by Calantha Peck SYNOPSIS - Izinyoka (South African, pl), also inyoka: (Xhosa, Zulu) Snake, serpent Traitor, thief, sneak
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#HM - ''The Forge, Still Warm'' by Allison Rassmann SYNOPSIS - A young Bolshevik is ordered to investigate the spectre haunting the local smithy.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#HM - ''The Anvil Priest'' by Bo Cramer SYNOPSIS - An apprentice smith questions his master’s side job.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#HM - ''The Year the Geese Came'' by Catherine Muster SYNOPSIS - After a tragic accident, a blacksmith finds solace in raising an abandoned nest of goose eggs.
	6 - Historical Fiction / A blacksmith's workshop / A bench	#HM - ''1588: AGAINST ALL TYRANNY'' by Tink Bell SYNOPSIS - 1588: When the freedom of England is threatened by the superior power of Spain; Elizabeth I must rally her troops with the speech of a lifetime. Inspiration comes from an unlikely source.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#1 - ''The Time Wasps'' by Natalie Belousova SYNOPSIS - All Simon wants is to find a safe haven from the mysterious Time Wasps. But reality isn’t what it used to be and “too late” doesn’t mean what it used to.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#2 - ''As the Curtain Folds'' by Zack Wilkins SYNOPSIS - After a horrifying accident, a woman struggles to survive and reconcile the past with her uncertain future.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#3 - ''Deep Calming Breaths'' by Janet MacLeod SYNOPSIS - Bound and gagged by intruders at their cement plant, a woman must figure out their terrifying plans. Countless lives could be in danger.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#HM - ''Crazy Skates'' by Harper Barrow SYNOPSIS - A rookie roller derby player stumbles across a violent interrogation. Will she be able to skate away with her life?
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#HM - ''Bad Signs'' by Dominic Pileggi SYNOPSIS - Trapped under equipment at the cement plant, Ryan did not need the ability to hear to know the fire was spreading, or that the words his ex-lover mouthed were treacherous.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#HM - ''This Is What Happened'' by Adrin Fisher SYNOPSIS - When a desperate teenager and his tagalong decide to break into an idled factory in search of cash, only one survives to tell the tale.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#HM - ''Wet Cement'' by Hallie Brown SYNOPSIS - Two trespassing teens encounter a chilling surprise at the local cement plant. They must be creative to make it out alive.
	7 - Thriller / A cement plant / Kneepad(s)	#HM - ''Secret Admirer'' by Ami Tain SYNOPSIS - A detective learns what it's like to be on the wrong side of obsession.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#1 - ''Acts of Service'' by Josephine Sarvaas SYNOPSIS - After defacing a local landmark, a teenage boy stuck doing community service gets swept into a decades-long love story.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#2 - ''Tree Bound'' by Angela Wilson SYNOPSIS - The fruit of the everafter tree will allow a couple to remain hopelessly in love for the rest of their lives. However, you must convince the tree you’re worthy.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#3 - ''Falling for Oreos'' by Jenna Weldon SYNOPSIS - After a near-death accident as a child, Emily Miller returns to Acorn Hill as an adult to overcome her fear of falling. In the process, she reconnects with Jason Sanchez, the sweet boy from her childhood who did what no other man has ever done: shared his Oreos.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#HM - ''Sustainable'' by Gina L. Grandi SYNOPSIS - Lovelorn Miranda is surprised to discover Arthur’s funeral home is offering eco-friendly tree burials. She’s more surprised to discover what Arthur thinks that means.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#HM - ''Sleeps Two'' by C. L. Taylor SYNOPSIS - Two strangers find themselves in close quarters after a secluded lodge on the banks of the Columbia River is overbooked, leaving just one, highly unusual and very romantic room available.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#HM - ''Easy as an Essay'' by Danae West SYNOPSIS - Scholarship student Kit is trying to write the perfect first essay to prove her merit. A stray bean bag and a goofy frat boy provide both distraction and inspiration.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#HM - ''For Lovers Old & New'' by Evelyn Maguire SYNOPSIS - When her backyard tree becomes a hotspot for teenage lovers, elderly Fran demands the Chief of Police take action.
	8 - Romantic Comedy / A large tree / A plaque	#HM - ''Wolfgang'' by Adrian Lewis SYNOPSIS - The actions of a thief lead to a wedding in the park.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#1 - ''One Step From Dead'' by Tim Gomersall SYNOPSIS - In the Second Civil War, a spy slips out of an enemy camp with a valuable secret. But danger comes in many shapes and species.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#2 - ''Mathilde'' by Kathryn Atwood SYNOPSIS - Mathilde yearns to escape her home town, but will she be strong enough?
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#3 - ''What Does the Guidebook Say?'' by Timothy Hayes SYNOPSIS - When a well-to-do couple is separated from their safari troop, they find shelter in a lookout atop an Iroko tree. But something beyond the West African wilderness preys in the night.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#HM - ''The Razorback'' by Lindsey McDonald Dorsey SYNOPSIS - Young Kayla flees a threat at home, only to confront another, more primal one.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#HM - ''A Matter of Time'' by Melinda Hagenson SYNOPSIS - As you ascend each of the watchtower’s countless steps, your anxiety increases.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#HM - ''Observation'' by M.J. Pullen SYNOPSIS - A photography student finds herself alone on a remote wildlife observation deck in a South Georgia wetland at nightfall.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#HM - ''Cascade'' by James Gregory SYNOPSIS - A Roman soldier’s faith is tested as he faces a horde of bloodthirsty barbarians.
	9 - Suspense / A watchtower / A pig	#HM - ''Scorched Earth'' by Gabriel Robitaille SYNOPSIS - A young woman looking for escape took work as a Fire Lookout, but she faces a stark decision that complicates her evacuation.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#1 - ''In the Eye of the Storm'' by MM Schreier SYNOPSIS - Drimara’s client asked for a basic data grab: jack into the Ultranet, download the info, and get out. Why was it that the most straightforward jobs always turned into a major clusterfuck?
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#2 - ''Lifeblood'' by Elizabeth Barton SYNOPSIS - The Milkmen trade in the blood of the Immune. Can Becca save her sister from their clutches?
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#3 - ''Fenrir's Daughter'' by Heather Santo SYNOPSIS - In a dystopian future, Callum and Rhys sail iceboats across a frozen ocean, scavenging from abandoned ships. They rely on Callum’s “hunches” to lead the way and Rhys’ shady black-market connections to make a profit, until one day they discover a potential payload that rips their partnership apart.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#HM - ''A Sense of Fairness'' by Leslie Boudreaux Tidwell SYNOPSIS - Xolani takes to the high seas with no formal training. She must try and survive so her family might be forgiven by… someone.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#HM - ''The Adventurer'' by Charlotte Smith SYNOPSIS - All of his life, Ky has been told there is nothing to find beyond the horizon. But when three strange treasures wash up on the beach, he decides to set out to find the truth for himself.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#HM - ''Remy's Journey'' by Hannah Sedlak SYNOPSIS - A young mouse sets out to save her siblings.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#HM - ''Played'' by Summer Echo SYNOPSIS - Young Marcus heard the rumors about a pirate ship that sailed the Gulf waters and the sadistic captain that commanded her, but safely tucked away in his small town he never imagined the horror of being taken. Now, he must come to terms with the unthinkable and find a way to survive.
	10 - Action/Adventure / A sailboat / Sunglasses	#HM - ''A Professional Guest on the Au Revoir'' by R. Douglass SYNOPSIS - A professional party guest who prides herself on being prepared for any occasion gets tangled up in a new and serious kind of trouble at sea.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#1 - ''Yatorongo'' by Donald George SYNOPSIS - Villagers deep in the Amazon protect their land against an unwelcome visitor.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#2 - ''When Life Gives You Griffins'' by Deb Medsker SYNOPSIS - Leading his team in a game of laser tag, fourteen-year-old Seth Ackerman just has to worry about the wizard, the griffin, and the teammate who won’t carry a gun. Should be a piece of cake.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#3 - ''Retrospect'' by A. J. Bermudez SYNOPSIS - With the arrival of a presence first thought to be preposterous, then intriguing, then influential, a town is transformed by the magic of seeing what it wants to see.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#HM - ''Acceptance'' by Jolie Williamson SYNOPSIS - A woman hoping to escape stress, anxiety and depression finds an unexpected amenity among the luxuries of her solo glamping trip.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#HM - ''Snap, Crackle, Pop'' by Samantha Proctor SYNOPSIS - In a dying magical forest, two sprite-speakers must choose between starving or saying goodbye to their beloved sprites.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#HM - ''The Land Without'' by Sam Baldassari SYNOPSIS - In the Land Touched by Sun, a man makes a sacrifice to honor his mother.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#HM - ''Yellowstone'' by Nick Strait SYNOPSIS - A team of loggers makes camp in a brave new world.
	11 - Fantasy / A campfire / A laser	#HM - ''IGNOBLE SAVAGE'' by Carl Huebner SYNOPSIS - A dedicated witch is “rescued” before undergoing a brutal ritual, but chafes against the disrespect shown for her obliterated culture.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#1 - ''The Fifth Remembers'' by Phillip Lobo SYNOPSIS - Each cut takes away a little more of what they once knew. But it’s not too late.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#2 - ''Another Little White Cross'' by Alex Clark SYNOPSIS - There is more than meets the eye behind “The Mystery of the Desert” along a stretch of lonely Arizona highway.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#3 - ''Fetch'' by Zoe SYNOPSIS - Powerless and alone, a sea monster has been reduced to a cheap aquarium attraction. When help comes from an unlikely source, she seizes a chance for revenge.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#HM - ''The Heart of America'' by Jelena Djukic SYNOPSIS - The restaurant at the geographic centre of the contiguous United States is terrorized by an active shooter.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#HM - ''New York Strong'' by Jamie Finn SYNOPSIS - A New Yorker attempts to take in the empty sights and sounds of a pandemic-plagued Times Square and quickly realizes she’s not as alone as she’d like to be.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#HM - ''Daughter of the Sea'' by KT Wagner SYNOPSIS - Midsummer, Cordelia’s mother abandoned her daughter and husband without a word and Cordelia despises her for it. However, when violent, desperate men visit the family’s tourist trap restaurant looking for her father, Cordelia learns there is a lot she doesn’t know about her family.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#HM - ''Gone Fish'' by Heather Ringo SYNOPSIS - A fish at Aquari-Yum™, a popular seaside tourist trap, mysteriously disappears. What starts as an isolated incident quickly careens out of control, and a race to identify the perpetrator becomes a race for survival.
	12 - Thriller / A tourist trap / An octopus	#HM - ''The Octopus'' by Jocelyn Malamy SYNOPSIS - In uncharted territory, two creatures struggle to connect and save each other's lives
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#1 - ''Taking Miranda'' by K Kachel SYNOPSIS - When Kristin accidentally promises her wife the perfect gift for a forgotten anniversary, she has to scramble to make Sun-mi’s dreams come true.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#2 - ''Money, Power & Fame, LLC'' by Libby B Bushell SYNOPSIS - The firm needs an expert witness. Girl is expert at the con.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#3 - ''The Corona Job'' by Andrew Perry SYNOPSIS - The COVID pandemic has brought Hugo Crook’s law firm to the brink of financial ruin. In an attempt to rescue his business, Hugo attempts a final make-or-break heist; however, social distancing regulations mean it must be carried out over a Zoom video-conference.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#HM - ''Finster, Pickles and the Case of the Lost Marbles'' by Isabelle Gremminger SYNOPSIS - Olly needs to restore balance in his family, and failure is NOT an option.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#HM - ''Vole and Viper'' by Sara Dee SYNOPSIS - The best-laid plans of mice and women sometimes go off without a hitch.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#HM - ''The Mountain Eagle'' by Alexis Silas SYNOPSIS - An unnamed mafia henchman finds a Hitchcock film that’s been lost for nearly a hundred years.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#HM - ''The Legacy of Thieves'' by Kimberly Walton SYNOPSIS - A young cybercriminal and her cat burglar grandfather join forces so he can pull off one final heist.
	13 - Crime Caper / A law office / A bronze statue	#HM - ''ScaliaSux'' by Lauren Bavis SYNOPSIS - An easy assignment for Bethany’s crew hits a digital snag
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#1 - ''Underground'' by Hazel Hitchins SYNOPSIS - In the Golden Age of television, when tragedy strikes during a live performance, the leading man learns the hard way that the show must go on.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#2 - ''The Newsstand Man'' by Daniel Malossi SYNOPSIS - On his deathbed, a long-silent hero from the “Greatest Generation” describes his previously unknown yet pivotal role in apprehending one of history’s great villains.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#3 - ''News'' by Ben Coppin SYNOPSIS - In which a blind man helps a friend.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#HM - ''My Left and Liver-Spotted Hand'' by Lewis Holliday SYNOPSIS - A corner of Warsaw, 1985. An old man returns to the site of his father’s newsstand.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#HM - ''The Death of a Newsstand'' by Kelsey B. Toney SYNOPSIS - The Newsstand on the corner of 15th Avenue and Market Street has watched life change in the city for the past seven decades. One local reporter reflects on how in a city of millions, one less newsstand is a surprisingly profound loss.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#HM - ''Coffee at Midnight'' by Jordan Gibler SYNOPSIS - In the grip of the Cold War, Dr. Otto Wagner is faced with the proposition that his work on a nuclear project will lead to global destruction, and contends with a colleague who wouldn’t have it any other way.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#HM - ''A Strong Constitution'' by Meg Overman SYNOPSIS - In the summer of 1993, an historic figure made a lasting impression on a precocious 10-year-old when she visited the child’s newsstand in Washington D.C.
	14 - Historical Fiction / A newsstand / A parking meter	#HM - ''Red All About It'' by Hannah Smith SYNOPSIS - A newsstand owner in Montréal is offended after he hears the mayor call newsstands ugly and turns his anger towards the newly commonplace parking meters that line the streets.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#1 - ''Feed the Birds'' by Kristen Ray SYNOPSIS - In the basement of a White House at war, young spy June falls for Cristina, the Italian-speaking traitor she’s assigned to birdwatch.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#2 - ''Playing the Game'' by DIno Shiatis SYNOPSIS - In 1940, the German army storms through Belgium and now threatens France. On the British-held island of Jersey, only a short boat trip from the French mainland, a young telephonist must decide between her loyalty to her friends and the British Empire.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#3 - ''Lives on the Line'' by Nora Fry SYNOPSIS - In a 1940s switchboard room a covert Agency operative must train an inquisitive new switchboard operator without blowing her cover.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#HM - ''Mine for the Asking'' by Eve Cran SYNOPSIS - An ex-Green Beret nips into a seldom-used switchboard room for a drink and stumbles onto a spy plot that – if fully executed – will cause mass suffering, devastation, and death. When he realizes the situation, he’s forced to make a decision that will be influenced by his history, biases, and desires for the future.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#HM - ''The Operator'' by Krysta MacDonald SYNOPSIS - A young woman works for a prestigious company. She witnesses someone suspicious right before a catastrophic event shakes her workplace.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#HM - ''The Details'' by Natalia Rivera SYNOPSIS - An employee at a demonic spy station tries to push a mediocre human over to the side of evil so that Hell can capture another soul.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#HM - ''Bee Sting and Apricot'' by Tracy Mumford SYNOPSIS - A young spy with a very short career meets an old spy with a very long career, which may not be finished yet.
	15 - Spy / A switchboard room / A menu	#HM - ''Listening'' by Erin Shifflett SYNOPSIS - A threatening proposition gives a workaday woman an opportunity to alter the course of her life.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#1 - ''Barstow: 131 Miles from the Ocean'' by Beret Olsen SYNOPSIS - Ralph and Junior usually guard the impound lot during the day, which is a bore. Guarding it at night is a different story altogether.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#2 - ''The Ones That Go Unclaimed'' by Aubrey Zahn SYNOPSIS - When Mutilated Corpses Begin Appearing in Locked Cars at an Impoundment Lot, One Worker Is Determined to Solve the Mystery. His Investigation Reveals a Deeper Horror.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#3 - ''Submerged'' by Annmarie Lockhart SYNOPSIS - It’s just another night on the job at the Bayonne Impound Lot for Jerry. Until the harbor police drag a 1971 Lincoln Continental out of the Hudson River and into the lot.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#HM - ''Fishers of Men'' by Sean David Robinson SYNOPSIS - A man vacationing in a southern seaside village runs into trouble when his car is towed by a local fisherman.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#HM - ''Final Girl'' by Chrissie Rohrman SYNOPSIS - When hoping to entice an evil entity to do your bidding, you'd better make sure to do your research first.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#HM - ''Cherries in the Snow'' by Mindy OldenKamp SYNOPSIS - A young man is forced to confront a dark moment from his past.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#HM - ''Devil's Lake'' by Jenny Wagstaff SYNOPSIS - A small town in North Dakota is plagued by a series of mysterious disappearances.
	16 - Horror / An impoundment lot / A wetsuit	#HM - ''Soul Food'' by Sage Allene Lowry SYNOPSIS - A demon spirit who lives in cars and feeds on human souls contemplates its last victim and meets its next.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#1 - ''Truly, Madly, Deeply'' by Chad Frame SYNOPSIS - A repressed man stuck in the endless drudgery of his daily life escapes every night with the man of his dreams.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#2 - ''Sublimation'' by Isaree Thatchaichawalit SYNOPSIS - Adela ponders her place in a world of fire and ice. She meets someone who just might be able to help her.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#3 - ''Clay Date'' by Beth Latham SYNOPSIS - Holidaying alone in an unfamiliar city, Erin finds the sparks of romance in an unexpected place.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#HM - ''bloom'' by Laura Franks SYNOPSIS - He smiles, and it gently cracks Amelia’s chest asunder like the roots of a tree parting concrete.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#HM - ''Cherubs'' by CHRISTINA TOMAN SYNOPSIS - Two mischievous cherubs fall in love and are banished from heaven.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#HM - ''So This Is Your Life'' by Samantha Zoeller SYNOPSIS - Rachel and James, family friends with a powerful connection, grapple with complications and fear in pursuit of the love of a lifetime.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#HM - ''Anything For You, Sailor Moon'' by Rita Cross SYNOPSIS - A young man contemplates the suffering he endures for the sake of his cosplay-loving girlfriend during an anime convention.
	17 - Romance / A public square / Styrofoam	#HM - ''The Intermediary'' by Michelle Jayne SYNOPSIS - An unlikely matchmaker helps a grieving woman find love again.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#1 - ''The Crimson Dawn'' by K.L. O'Rourke SYNOPSIS - When jealous women drive a budding sorceress and her lover apart, she flees to the safety of the sea to exact her revenge. Will her heart be lost in the process?
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#2 - ''The Prince's War'' by Kate Harwood SYNOPSIS - A Prince in the land of Proprietus, where everything is done with exacting civility, attempts to declare war on a neighboring realm.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#3 - ''The Rise of the Mariner's Star'' by Lisa Fox SYNOPSIS - In a dark and starless world where magical creatures are hunted and destroyed, a captive girl’s courage sets in motion a wish that will change the skyscape forever.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#HM - ''Selkie'' by LK Munday SYNOPSIS - An ugly princess is abandoned by her father, sent to marry a prince who doesn’t exist. Alone in the Arctic seas, Princess Selkie summons a mermaid and the confidence to create her own happy ending.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#HM - ''The Brave Red Princess'' by Gale Martin SYNOPSIS - A Beautiful but lonely Princess from an Uncommon Kingdom longs for the Romance of a Lifetime, but when her Kingdom heads to War, can she Save her People? Will she Ever find a Forever Love?
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#HM - ''Wave'' by Eric Plosky SYNOPSIS - One of three warships learns a valuable lesson about his true self as, along with two others, he adapts to keeping the peace in a battle-weary world.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#HM - ''The Lady's Favor'' by Christina Bridges SYNOPSIS - An outcast seeks a new life on the high seas.
	18 - Fairy Tale / A warship / A stamp	#HM - ''The Wedding Feast'' by Jennifer Marion SYNOPSIS - Two rival kingdoms come together to celebrate a wedding but all is not as it seems.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#1 - ''Rerouted'' by Catherine T. Ricardo SYNOPSIS - A burned-out celebrity gets more of a break than she bargained for.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#2 - ''Last Rotation'' by Susan Hogan SYNOPSIS - A true love is more than the sum of its parts.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#3 - ''The Mother of Invention'' by Kate Bock SYNOPSIS - Traci is a hair stylist and one of the greatest robotics minds of her generation. Her dreams aren’t what people expect.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#HM - ''One For the Road'' by Cody Lindenberger SYNOPSIS - A group of car thieves find more than they expected in their final score.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#HM - ''Segment B-16'' by Jennifer Pickett SYNOPSIS - An employee at a biological chop shop makes a life-changing discovery, but she soon realizes the moral implications are far more than she bargained for.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#HM - ''Vice'' by Jeanna Cotnam SYNOPSIS - You can live forever, but you can’t even enjoy it. Immortality has a price but is it worth it?
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#HM - ''The Day the World Fell'' by Connall Quinn SYNOPSIS - An underground fighter battles both an unforeseen match-up and himself in order to save all that he loves.
	19 - Sci-Fi / A chop shop / A hair dryer	#HM - ''Libertad'' by Charlotte Wiemerslage SYNOPSIS - Teenage Nora longs to be free of her boisterous family and the cramped ship they call home. But, as her abuela explains, freedom means something different out in the void.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#1 - ''Underneath'' by Georgia Atkin SYNOPSIS - Haunted by a childhood tragedy at a lakeside cottage, Abe is persuaded by a friend to return to the scene of the incident and face his fears.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#2 - ''Give a Man a Fish'' by Alex Odenkirk & Keenan Odenkirk SYNOPSIS - Mark spends a long winter with an unexpected companion.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#3 - ''The Ice Lake Sings, The Perpetual Night'' by Jennifer Rowe SYNOPSIS - A Swedish town sits in snow and darkness, harbouring secrets. While Nathan searches for his brother, the ice lake start its song.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#HM - ''The Pond'' by Tzu-Mainn Chen SYNOPSIS - At the end of the world, a man makes the right choice for his family.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#HM - ''New Boots'' by Grace Lobo SYNOPSIS - Members of a religious cult participate in a strange tradition to honor a child’s fifteenth birthday.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#HM - ''Barton Lake'' by Marci Pliskin SYNOPSIS - Mary’s love is as deep as the lake that sits on her estate, and she would do anything for Jolie – except let her go.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#HM - ''Qalupalik'' by Emma Schmid SYNOPSIS - A detective in Nunavut tries to solve a series of child-murders. Meanwhile, the culprit, a blood-thirsty creature, stalks its next victim.
	20 - Horror / A frozen body of water / An underwater camera	#HM - ''Dammed If You Do'' by Caetlyn Van Buren SYNOPSIS - An Ontario Park Ranger finds more than she expected while doing a routine check on a local beaver dam. No wonder they couldn’t find the missing hikers.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#1 - ''Mercy'' by Elizabeth Hope SYNOPSIS - In a society that makes sport of the human desire for freedom, one family has a plan to exercise the ultimate freedom of choice.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#2 - ''The Whale-Road'' by Brittani Howell SYNOPSIS - Every year, a seaside town hosts a boat race through the nearby ruins of a drowned city. A team of brothers is determined to win—until they receive a higher calling from the past.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#3 - ''A Beautiful Day on Colony 12'' by Ben Werdmuller SYNOPSIS - Moments before a catastrophic event, a colonist tries to convince his pioneer mother to come in from the water.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#HM - ''Camp Frankenstein'' by Rory Kelly SYNOPSIS - A Teenager seeking Acceptance must Reckon with the Ultimate Outsider.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#HM - ''Felo-De-Se'' by Callie Barrons SYNOPSIS - In a society that values the healthy, a caste of Well-Beings resources the infirm and genetically disabled for their bio-material, while they live on eternally as able-bodied versions of themselves in a virtual “utopia” called the Indefinite. An experimental trial offers one subject the alluring prospect of an alternative— if she can sustain the limits of her own condition.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#HM - ''The Tournament'' by Gia Batty SYNOPSIS - In a world where abandoned oil rigs now serve as floating villages, a young man knows that winning The Tournament is the only way he'll be able to see his father again.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#HM - ''Last Hope'' by Monti Rodgers SYNOPSIS - A young woman enters in a tournament to win her freedom from the Company where she has worked her entire life.
	21 - Sci-Fi / A tournament / A dinghy	#HM - ''River of Dreams'' by Hallie Ranta SYNOPSIS - An alien couple travels to Las Vegas with high hopes, but soon learns winning big won’t be as easy as advertised.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#1 - ''Wreck'' by Marie Lemoine SYNOPSIS - Jane – a theatre set designer – has built a sinking boat decor for an upcoming play. Two days before the premiere, one of the actors decides to visit the set while in a rather sorry state.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#2 - ''"Cheers, Skipper"'' by Miranda Morris SYNOPSIS - Dave impresses his family with an outing on the new boat- that is, until stupid sexy Greg shows up.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#3 - ''Troubled Waters'' by Ram Sundaram SYNOPSIS - A married couple partake in a unique counselling exercise which requires them to work together and realize they’re in the same boat.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#HM - ''Chara and the Sea'' by Alexis Hunter SYNOPSIS - Charged with delivering tribute to the Temple of Demeter, Chara must cross the sea. It’s fine though; the Kraken hasn’t surfaced in forever, right?
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#HM - ''We're in the Same Boat After All'' by Diana Siwek SYNOPSIS - While on an amusement park boat ride with his dad, Tommy Carderin gets a sinking feeling.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#HM - ''Lady Full of Gold'' by Meg Cameron SYNOPSIS - The famous pirate Captain Black Jack Blackheart has met his match. It’s math.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#HM - ''Granny's Lucky Coin'' by Lizzie Mary Cullen SYNOPSIS - Tilly’s naughty granny helps her loosen up and find love.
	22 - Comedy / A sinking boat / A gold coin	#HM - ''Hang Tight for Treasure'' by Madeleine Pelletier SYNOPSIS - TV reporter Molly Falolly is no fool, but she meets a lot of them through her work.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#1 - ''Courting Miss Whiskers'' by Jackie Mak SYNOPSIS - At an eccentric office party, two introverts battle for the quiet room with the cat.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#2 - ''Love, Under the Reign of the Lobster Lord'' by K.G. Carpenter SYNOPSIS - A mysterious stranger arrives to town just in time for the virgin sacrifices. For the town seer, could this be destiny?
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#3 - ''Moving Out, Moving On'' by Jenna Samuels SYNOPSIS - Henry has sold his house, but he decides to have one last meal there before handing over the keys. An unexpected visitor helps him realize that it’s time to move on.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#HM - ''All Bets are Off'' by Judy Cohen SYNOPSIS - A woman gets more than she bargained for when she attends a party with her dear grandmother.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#HM - ''Hats Off to the Single Ladies'' by Jennifer Towery SYNOPSIS - Roped into brunch with a group of bored, aging women, a divorcee learns what she doesn’t want out of life.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#HM - ''Searching for Love at the Senior Seafood Buffet'' by Peter Weiland SYNOPSIS - Ol’ Benny has struggled his whole life trying to find a lover. Now, does he have what it takes to land the hottest girl at his retirement center?
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#HM - ''You Taste Like Strawberries'' by Autumn Forrester SYNOPSIS - When Khalid feeds at The Smorgasbord, all he wants is a swift, impersonal meal – in, bite, out. What he gets is a human who tastes like strawberries and makes him reconsider his feelings about entanglement with his meals.
	23 - Romantic Comedy / A smorgasbord / A guitar	#HM - ''This Was Not on the Menu'' by Jen Mierisch SYNOPSIS - A man plans a special evening with his girlfriend, but an unexpected encounter causes things to go haywire. Can he save the day?
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#1 - ''The Fredonia Hotel Unlimited'' by r e hunke SYNOPSIS - Her long-time lover is content to re-visit old memories, but Tabitha suspects that unusual circumstances warrant drastic decisions.
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#2 - ''Etched'' by Alexandra Otto SYNOPSIS - When Sarah has dinner at a luxury hotel restaurant, she gets to impress her friend with the fact that her daughter is the star chef while reflecting on their past. Content warning: Self-harm
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#3 - ''Love, Elizabeth'' by NRG Schmidt SYNOPSIS - On the night of her bachelorette party, a woman writes a letter to her fiance
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#HM - ''You Are Forgiven'' by Myna Chang SYNOPSIS - "Forgive and forget" is a nice policy--until something triggers your memory.
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#HM - ''Sometimes You Have to Leave'' by Emily Morrow SYNOPSIS - A street vendor plays witness to a night of excitement at the Plaza Hotel.
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#HM - ''A Night At The Howard Johnson's'' by Sheryl Goodspeed SYNOPSIS - On a summer’s night in 1972, nothing in Washington D.C. is quite what it seems.
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#HM - ''In Living Memory'' by Justin Petronglo SYNOPSIS - On the day of a man’s funeral, his son finally gets to know him.
	24 - Drama / A luxury hotel / A frankfurter	#HM - ''The Interview'' by J.D. Sweeney SYNOPSIS - A law student endures the last job interview of a disastrous recruiting season.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#1 - ''Impure'' by Liza Ackermann SYNOPSIS - A doctor is determined to make the “undesirables” of society useful. But evil has a way of extracting payment.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#2 - ''This Gymnasium Dedicated to the Memory Of'' by Gem Hopkins SYNOPSIS - Aiden just wants to destroy the monster who made his last blood donation hell. If he can save his peers from a similar fate… bonus.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#3 - ''Blood Services'' by Albert Moman SYNOPSIS - The ghost of a young person’s father appears while he’s giving blood and offers him support during a complicated change and advice on navigating a conflict with his mother.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#HM - ''A Time to Give'' by Palao Coleman SYNOPSIS - A selfish man finds reason to give something back.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#HM - ''The Bouquet'' by Jessica K. Sklar SYNOPSIS - Jim sees something unexpected when he goes to donate blood.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#HM - ''Lifeblood'' by S. N. Rae SYNOPSIS - A nurse who can see blood uses her talents to keep vampire-ghosts satiated.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#HM - ''Cleaning Up After'' by Tyler Oshiro SYNOPSIS - Even after the blood drive is closed, the sound of scrubbing won’t leave Kirk alone. He will have to learn how to take care of his own cleaning if he wants the quiet to return.
	25 - Ghost Story / A blood drive / A helmet	#HM - ''Selling Her Soul'' by Frances Howard-Snyder & William Howard-Snyder SYNOPSIS - When Leah visits the blood drive clinic to sell her blood to get money to pay for her diabetes treatment, she gets an opportunity to sell something even more valuable.