Layla Moran: Not a Real Author, Sorry

 

(Though I've written fanfic before, I've never came across plagiarism, not of my Fanfiction stories but this is what I came across regarding one individual who took it upon themselves to boldly use other author's work and relabel it as her/his own.)

Layla Moran has taken three fanfics, from fanfic websites. For over the past few years, she published books that are suspiciously similar to some fanfiction stories from other writers. She claims they are her own. This is a clear case of plagiarism.

It's really disappointing to see someone so openly plagiarizing fanfics by just swapping out names and a few words. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. It is disheartening to witness something so distasteful.

I haven't read any of her books, but I did watch a video about her plagiarism, and I found it really disappointing and upsetting. My question is simple: Is she genuinely who she claims to be? With a pen name and what seems to be a fake photo, I can't help but think she's a grifter. She or he is a person who capitalizes on the hard work of others for profit. A person like that is often seen as opportunistic. Personally, I make sure to protect my original works with copyright. Fanfiction typically draws on existing characters and storylines from TV shows or movies, which makes it difficult for writers to secure copyright protection for their work through the copyright office. 

I have published three stories on Wattpad and AO3, with only one being an original work. My book, A Time Traveler’s Companion, is loosely inspired by a fanfiction I wrote several years ago. But I plan on writing a book based on an original story that is posted on AO3 & Wattpad. 

The story is based on the Backrooms. It is essential for authors who have shared their original works on fanfiction websites to take the necessary steps to copyright their creations. While the video discusses the implications of AI for some reason, my focus here is specifically on the issue of plagiarism and how some people are stealing written works. I encourage readers to share their thoughts on this matter in the comments section.

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Video of About Layla Moran

Lost in the Backrooms: Chapter 3 The Site (excerpt)

 

Chapter 3: The Site (an excerpt)

When they walked in, Jane looked around. The house has an open floor plan so the kitchen can be seen from the Livingroom. The house is quite spacey and luxurious. There is no furniture in the Livingroom, except two chairs and a corner table set neatly at one corner of the room. A security guard was posted outside to keep curious people away and a cop car parked by the driveway as well. Two of the men in the suits looked at Jane and MK.

 “Hunters, we will give you necessary weapons that you’ll need for your mission,” the taller man said.

 “Okay,” Jane nodded. “While in the Backrooms, you will randomly find wooden box crates that might be filled with almond water and energy bars, you should

pack those in your backpacks when you can. It’s important,” the other man chimed in.

“Why?” asked MK.

 “It is believed that the almond water has healing properties,” said Father Patrick.

“How do you know this?” Jane asked.

“One of the Hunters that was sent into the Backrooms; hurt his hand pretty bad and when he drank the almond water, his wound seemed to have healed quickly.”

“What happened to the Hunter?” MK asked.

The priest hesitated, “He did not make it out but through the bodycam he wore, we got the information we needed.”

 “By the way, the bodycams might glitch and we honestly don’t know how long they will continue sending information back to the base so good luck,” one of the men in the hazmat suits chimed in.

Jane nodded, “Okay, understood.” Another man walked toward them and gave the priest a metal box, containing new weapons. He gave the Father a nod and walked away. Father Patrick set it down on the kitchen counter and keyed a combination number to open the box.

  “Here are weapons that you must carry. Our scientists created these weapons for special assignments like yours. You’ll be the first to handle them.” He handed MK and Jane a retractable silver sword, with a holster and sheath for it. He handed Jane a self-cocking tactical crossbow, and a handgun with pure silver bullets.

 “All items are Blessed. It is unknown if any of these items will be useful against the entities that reside within the Backrooms but through the experiences that other Hunters have had, some of these items do help to deter the creatures in that place.”

“So, the other hunters that went in, never returned?” asked MK. 

The priest closed the box. “We’ve sent other Hunters in the past and only one came back. He is the one who took the infamous picture and posted it anonymously online, against our wishes,” he sighed.

  “Is he still with us?” Jane asked.

  “No, he was let go, sent away for betraying confidentiality.”

Jane gave MK a look, “Well, that’s something we won’t do, we’ll keep everything confidential,” she said.

 “The Hunter’s bodycam went out after two weeks, so it did not send us video footage of the rest of his trip, only when he entered and up to the point when he went into the library.”

  “Library?” asked Jane.

  “Yes, you’ll see it if you come across it. I pray that both of you make it out,” he said with a worried tone, he gulped. MK smiled at him and gave him a hug. 

“We will, I have Jane, and I have Faith,” she said. MK watched the men in the hazmat suits going in and out of the house, then the last one brought in another box, and they begin to set up the equipment, a few feet away from the door to the storage room.

 “So, the hunters that went in had bodycams?” Jane asked.

  “All of them were equipped with bodycams, and yes, they had tracking chips too. The footage that the bodycams showed while in the Backrooms is intriguing and frightening. A Hunter engaged with an entity, used iron which fatally wounded the creature so, I imagine that some of the items you have in your backpacks will help, but it won’t work on the Hounds,” he said.

“The Hounds?” Jane asked.

 “According to the footage that one of our Hunters took, these creatures can be found in all levels of the Backrooms, they have filthy matted hair that obscures a twisted semi canine deformed face, it has human skin, but their bodies look like a jigsaw puzzle made up of human parts, formed and twisted into a monstrosity,” Father Patrick elaborated.

“When you see one, run or fight, either way those creatures will kill you. They have an insatiable hunger for human flesh. It is rumored that if they attack and bite you, you will slowly become one. Your body will reconstruct itself to adapt to the environment of the Backrooms,” one of the men in the hazmat suits informed her.

Jane sighed and looked at MK who was standing a few feet away from them watching as the men started to set up the equipment around the door. 

“So, I guess something like werewolves then.” Father Patrick nodded.

“What else should I look out for?” asked Jane. Father 

Patrick let out a sigh, “I’m not sure but you must use your instincts, and MK can guide you since she has psychic abilities. Use everything to your advantage. God did not create the Backrooms, but we can try to find the people that are lost and bring them back,” he said.

(Images are for the reader's entertainment)

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Social Media Indie Author Groups

 

I recently decided to leave a few self-promotion groups for indie authors on Facebook due to the lack of approval for my recent posts. While I noticed other authors successfully promoting their work, my submissions remained unapproved for several weeks, prompting my departure from those groups. I chose to stay with the groups that did approve my posts, but I find it perplexing why my contributions were overlooked. As an indie author, self-promotion is crucial, and social media offers valuable opportunities. However, it feels misleading when groups claim to support self-promotion for indie authors yet exclude certain posts. I wanted to share my experience to inform fellow authors about this issue. If you've had similar problems, please comment in the comment box below. thank you.

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My Goodreads Page & Changes I Made

 

I have updated my Goodreads account, changing my name to CG Heandez, which is a pseudonym for Cecile Garcia. Additionally, I revised the listings for books that are no longer available on Amazon as paperbacks by posting in the review box that they are no longer available. 

While "Chandra’s Quest" is accessible as an eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats, Goodreads still have books 2, 3, and 4 of the trilogy listed. I have noted in the review section for those books that those titles are no longer available on Amazon and have been incorporated into the complete novel, "Chandra’s Quest." Furthermore, some of my books on Goodreads feature outdated cover images. I wanted to inform my readers about these changes so if they visit my Goodreads page you'll see the changes.

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A Children's Book or Not

In the Company of Elves, a children’s book I wrote in the 2000s and published in 2009, was revised in 2018 and is now available on Amazon. I see it as suitable for readers aged ten and up, although it wasn’t quite what a family member had in mind when she suggested I write for kids. Her recommendation seemed to stem from her belief that my first book, Chandra’s Quest, lacked engagement, despite it being targeted at young adults. Ironically, after I published In the Company of Elves, I received no feedback from her—just silence. I know she must have seen it online since I’ve shared the link multiple times, which led me to think her idea of a children’s book leaned more towards younger audiences, perhaps with fewer words and more illustrations. While her suggestion might have been a bit sarcastic, it ultimately pushed me to improve my writing. In those early days, I often felt overlooked as a "real" writer or author.

Family can often be our toughest critics, but I believe I've made significant progress since my early writing days. I've released several books, including low-content ones, and my advice to fellow writers is simple: create what you love. Don’t let others' opinions dictate your writing path or deter you from crafting your next great story. Remember, not everyone will resonate with your work, and that's perfectly okay. If someone doesn’t appreciate it, that’s their loss.

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Goodreads: Changes I Made

Path Less Taken: Excerpt from Chapter 6

 

(An excerpt from  A Path Less Taken Chapter 6 : The Overlords)

As Katy assisted the other women in carrying a basket of fresh berries to the adobe cliff dwellings, fatigue set in, prompting her to pause for a moment. She found herself reflecting on the ingenuity of the native people who constructed these homes on the mountainside, nestled within a large cave. Memories of her history class surfaced, where she learned about the Anasazi cave dwellings carved into the sandstone cliffs of Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. Yet, she noted that the village she is staying at has its own unique characteristics. She inhaled deeply and gazed up at the afternoon sky, where lavender clouds blended with shades of crimson above her. “Maybe rain,” she thought.

“You should not stop,” Luana warned. “The overlords will notice.” Katy glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of one of the enormous insects fixated on them, its multifaceted eyes glinting in the sunlight. A nervous gulp escaped her throat as she exchanged a quick nod with her companion. The group of women pressed on, their footsteps crunching against the rocky terrain as they made their way toward the canyon. The adobe village, nestled into the vibrant red cliffs of the mountain, appeared to be much farther away than Katy had initially anticipated, its unique architecture blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, almost as if it were a part of the mountain itself. The afternoon sun beat down relentlessly on the group as they hoisted their

baskets of berries above their heads, the heat radiating off the ground. Katy is wearing a brown weathered suede crop top, which is tied at the front and features a striking black fur trim that added a touch of flair to her look.

 Below, she has a torn, weathered brown suede miniskirt that she wouldn’t have chosen for herself, but it was the only option available when she arrived so she could blend in. In fact, it is mandatory to wear what the natives of that world wear. To complete her outfit, Luana had gifted her some black fur wristbands, which Katy wore proudly, feeling a mix of gratitude and a sense of belonging as they all worked together under the sweltering sun.

Katy was feeling utterly exhausted after a long day of picking and hauling a heavy basket filled with fruits. She finally found a moment to rest, plopping down on a large boulder and letting the basket settle at her feet. Just then, Luana appeared, her striking lavender violet eyes wide with concern.

 She approached Katy with urgency, warning her, “Please, it will see you, and you’ll end up in the oubliette again.” Her eyes hinted at the overlord. But at that moment, Katy was too drained to care about the threat of being thrown into the dark, dreaded oubliette. Her disdain for the overlords overshadowed her fear, and she simply replied, “I don’t care.” 

As Luana’s gaze shifted to an approaching insect, she quickly turned and walked away, leaving Katy to her thoughts and the weight of her fatigue. “Rise to your feet,” it ordered. Katy glared at the insect. She let out a heavy sigh and stood up. She can hear it speaking to her in her head. The overlords are telepathic, among other things.

“Who came up with the term overlords?” she silently mused, a scoff escaping her lips as she crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on the creature before her. Her eyes drifted to one of its missing legs, a remnant of an ill-fated escape attempt by a villager named Gregor. He had crafted a makeshift bat from a sturdy tree branch, concealing it cleverly until the moment he decided to flee. Unfortunately, his plan was thwarted; he was outnumbered by the insect guards, and now, he was no longer part of the tribe, the Queen took his head off and ate it. The memory of his courage hung in the air, intertwining with the palpable tension of the moment as she pondered the intricate power dynamics surrounding her.

 She envisioned a future where she would orchestrate her escape with far more cunning than he did. The uncertainty of how far she might venture before being apprehended loomed over her thoughts, a tantalizing question that remained unanswered. Suddenly, a voice broke through her reverie, sharp and commanding. “Get back in line and rejoin the others, or I will inform the Queen. You’ll find yourself in the oubliette once more, enveloped in darkness, deprived of food and water.” The voice paused, dripping with sarcasm as it added, “Surely, you remember your first experience there.” Katy gulped and gave a nod, picked up the basket and joined the other women. They made their way to the village within the canyon. 

(This is what I got so far of Chapter 6. I will complete the book sometime in 2026 and publish it.) 

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Update on Audiobooks

 

 I've just released two new audiobooks on Google Play: A Time Traveler's Companion, Vol. 1 and 2. However, I haven't published the full-length novel yet. The book will be available as an eBook and paperback on Amazon KDP in the near future. Please visit link below to view details. Trigger warnings: Adult content--18 & over.

Lost in the Backrooms: The Phoenix Files vol.1 is seeing a surge in downloads on both GooglePlay and Amazon, largely due to its appeal among readers who are drawn to supernatural and paranormal tales with a creepypasta twist. A thank you to the readers who find my book interesting enough to read. 

Recommended age: 14 & over)

Having just finished the audio version of A Time Traveler's Companion, I'm now shifting my focus to A Path Less Taken: The Phoenix Files vol. 2. I'm aiming to release this book in the Fall of 2026, but if I wrap it up sooner, I'll definitely get it out earlier. Please visit links to my books. thank you.

A Time Traveler's Companion

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Lost in the Backrooms

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UPDATES: September 2025

 

It’s been a few weeks since my husband passed away, and I’m taking this time to grieve and reflect. To help distract myself from the heaviness of it all, I’ve been focusing on the audiobook version of A Time Traveler's Companion, volume 1. Not long ago, I shared on my social media that I decided to split the book into two volumes, and I’m excited to announce that the audiobooks will be exclusively available on Google Play. I still have plans to release the complete novel on Amazon Kindle, which will be around 600 pages long, give or take a few. It’s a big project, but immersing myself in this work is helping me navigate through this challenging time.

I am also working on  A Path Less Taken: The Phoenix Files vol. 2

As I navigate the difficult journey of coping with the loss of my husband, I will do my best to provide updates whenever I can. My children and I are leaning on each other for support and finding strength in our bond during this challenging period. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we take this time to process everything.

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Updates Oct. 2025

Chandra's Quest Paperback Book Now Available!

 

I have received two author copies of this book; one is for my personal collection, while I am selling the other on eBay. If you are interested in acquiring a signed copy, please follow the link provided below. Alternatively, if you prefer to purchase it from Amazon, I will include that link as well, though please note that the copies available on Amazon are not signed.

Page count: 558 Teen/young adult books.

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UPDATES

Chandra's Quest Paperback Book

 

I’ve just re-uploaded the paperback edition of Chandra's Quest, and it should be available for purchase in just a few days. I want to mention that I had to raise the price of the paperback due to its substantial length of 567 pages. Unfortunately, KDP has some restrictions that prevent authors from setting their own prices, making it challenging to offer a lower cost. For those interested in getting a copy, I plan to buy some and sell them through my eBay shop. As you can see from the image, the book has a thick spine, reflecting its considerable content, so be prepared for a lengthy read!

I’ve combined parts 1 through 3 of A Time Traveler's Companion for release on Google Play, and I’m excited to share that the audiobook will soon be available there as well. I’m currently working on merging parts 4 to 6, which will also be accessible on Google Play. It’s important to note that this book contains sexual content, so there are appropriate disclaimers and warnings included. In a few weeks, the eBook version will be launched on Amazon, and you can find the link on my Facebook page and other social media platforms, though I won’t be sharing it on this blog. Additionally, the link will be featured on CG Heandez's blog, so keep an eye out for that!

 I’m currently immersed in the writing of A Path Less Taken: The Phoenix Files Vol. 2. This next installment promises to delve deeper into the intriguing world of the Phoenix Files, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it. You can look forward to its release next year on Amazon, where it will be available for purchase. Additionally, for those who prefer listening to their stories, the audiobook version will be accessible on Google Play, making it easy to enjoy the narrative on the go. 

NOTE: Flare is now available through KDP Select and the audiobook is available on GooglePlay. Visit Linktree to access CG Heandez website. 

Trigger warnings: FLARE  has 18 & over content.

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New Paperback!

It's Not About AI!

 

As an indie author, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the constant accusations that writers are relying on AI simply because their work is polished and articulate. It's disheartening to see talent dismissed in this way, as if good writing can only come from technology rather than genuine creativity and effort. 

I believe that those making accusations against self-published authors are often just trolls or bots looking to cause strife. So, it's not about AI, it's about being insulting and cruel to the Indie Author community. The majority of them work hard on their books. Indie authors are minding their own business, doing their own thing. Are you? 

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CG HEANDEZ

CECILE GARCIA

Lost in the Backrooms: Chapter 9 Through the Fields and Home

 

(An excerpt from Chapter 9, Lost in the Backrooms: The Phoenix Files vol. 1)

“There’s nothing out of the ordinary here, just an old, abandoned house,” Jane said. They went downstairs and saw a door in the kitchen that they hadn’t seen before. Jane opened it.

  “It looks like a basement,” MK noted. They hesitated and she took out a flashlight before they descended. The basement is filled with cobwebs and dust everywhere; the walls are made of old bricks which are decaying and breaking apart, the room smells like death. “Ugh, this place smells so bad,” said MK, covering her nose with her hand. Jane did the same.

“No telling if there’s black mold here or anything thing else that can kill us by inhaling the air,” said Jane. The basement had one small window, covered with soot and cobwebs. MK noticed a white door on the other side of the room.

“Well, what do you think?”

“I guess we should go in,” Jane carefully opened the door and walked through. They were back in the yellow maze of the Backrooms once again.

“Oh no,” MK said, feeling disheartened but there is a hint of hope in her, “Jane, I believe that we will find our way out this time, I’m certain,” she said, optimistically but Jane is losing hope. MK’s abilities have increased, and now she will be able to guide them through. They continued their journey, their hair disheveled, cascading loosely down their shoulders, no longer in a ponytail; rips on their clothes with blood stains from the creatures they had slain, and a strange cough suddenly started to plague them. They both drank some almond water, and it temporarily tamed their cough. 

“Why are we coughing?” MK wondered aloud. “We didn’t have this issue when we first entered the Backrooms. It feels like it kicked in after we left that last area we were in,” MK continued, trying to piece together what might have triggered it.

“I think it’s the exposure to this other dimension, or maybe the basement of that house.” MK took a deep breath and coughed.

“Maybe we should’ve been wearing masks all the time,” Jane remarked.

 MK stopped, “I sense something coming.” They brandished their weapons, Jane aimed her pistol, ready for anything that might attack them, while MK raised her sword. 

Around the corner emerged a creature with insect-like limbs, its torso had four arms with two fingered claws. “What the Hell is that?” Jane exclaimed. The head of the creature has two almond shaped eyes on each side, white in color with a red rim around the iris, its mouth has sharp jagged teeth, but as it screeched, strange foot long tentacles emerged from the mouth. “It started out human,” said MK, staring at the eldritch abomination.

 “Can you communicate with it?” MK tried but the creature was unreachable. She can see darkness and pain. It desires flesh, human flesh. MK gulped, “We are food,” she said. As it approached, it lunged at them. Jane shot several rounds into its head, bringing it down. MK took her sword and sliced the legs off.  “Give it mercy, may it rest in peace,” said Jane, delivering the final blow, blood gushed around the body. As it died, MK saw flashes of who he once was. She gasped, “He was a Hunter, one of us.”

“Oh no,” said Jane, a dismal look shadowed her face as she stared at the creature.

She sighed, “I wonder who he was?”

“I think his name was Micah?”

“I’ll inform Father Patrick when we get back, if we get back.” Her faith is faltering; her patience is wearing thin. The maddening buzz of the fluorescent lights lingers above them. They no longer have their earplugs, because they lost them. They both said a silent prayer for their fallen comrade.

 “Let’s keep moving,” said Jane, with a sigh. They came across a hallway, with many doors on each side. They tried to open several doors but to no avail. The last door at the end is white with gold hinges and a doorknob. They looked at each other, MK gave Jane a nod. Jane cautiously opened the door. They found themselves in an abandoned house with graffiti all around the walls, the sound of birds chirping signaled that their ordeal was over. They smiled and hugged each other, overwhelmed by the feeling of triumph and elation. Tears of joy ran down their cheeks. Jane kissed MK on her lips, she blushed.

 “Oh my God, we’re home,” Jane said, overjoyed. As they emerged out of the front door of the abandoned house, they stood looking down at the neighborhood street and noticed overgrown weeds and cracked asphalt. Several homes were incomplete; the others are in disarray and decaying from abandonment and neglect. “I wonder if this was one of those communities that were abandoned and never completed because of the housing crisis,” said MK. Jane nodded and looked around, “I think it’s noon. I don’t know where we are.” 

(Images are for the readers entertainment, enjoy)

Chapter 3 Excerpt

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Lost in the Backrooms: Excerpt from Chapter 4

 

(An excerpt from Lost in the Backrooms: The Phoenix Files vol. 1, Chapter 4)

An energy burst swooped through Jane and MK as they fell onto the dingy yellow carpeted floor. Jane quickly jumped up onto her feet, grabbed her crossbow from the backpack and held it tightly in her hands as she looked around vigilantly. MK stood up, “Damn that was a drop,” she said, feeling a bit dizzy. “Shh, keep your voice to a whisper, remember that even though it seems like this place is empty, it’s not.”

 “Okay,” MK mouthed. The sound of the florescent lights sounded above like bees in a hive.

 “They are kinda loud but not that bad,” MK pointed at them, Jane nodded.

  “Father Patrick gave me these,” Jane handed MK earplugs.

 “This will muffle out the buzzing a bit. They are comfy but useful and they are also ear-coms,” said Jane. They both put earplugs in their ears. “I don’t hear the buzzing as much now, though I’m sure it will get louder as we move onward.” MK tested the ear-coms by tapping on the bud of the device.

 “Can you hear me?” Jane nodded then took out the tracker that Father Patrick gave her. The tracker is the size of a flip-phone from the 2000’s. It has a silver cross embedded at the center. “Nothing,” Jane whispered. “The girl would’ve popped up on the tracker if she was close, but nothing yet.”

A worried look shadowed her face. “Don’t worry Jane, we’ll find her and maybe some of the others that may have disappeared.” 

“Maybe but our first priority is Talia, that’s who we are here for.” They proceeded onward, stopping to look around, taking in the sights. MK gulped, “So, I wonder if they can see us through the bodycam?” asked MK.

 “I think, but not sure. They can see what we can see but he didn’t say anything about the bodycams receiving sound. I believe that it does but for how long the devices will work, I don’t know,” said Jane as she looked around at the grotesque yellow wallpaper, dingy carpet and the florescent lights that flicker above.

 “There’s a smell here,” MK noted.

 “Yeah, I noticed it too,” Jane responded. They walked on for what seemed like hours.

“Maybe we should rest,” MK suggested. Jane saw a dirty brown couch and a table, just sitting there in the middle of a room. “What the Hell?” she mouthed. She pointed at the couch; MK looked.

They walked over to it and Jane inspected the room. “It seems okay, other than the couch being dirty and smelly,” she said as her nose wrinkled in disgust. She sat down, resting her backpack next to her feet and setting the crossbow down on the table. MK set her backpack down too. They sat in silence for a moment, listening. They are not sure if they will come across any of the infamous creatures of the Backrooms, but they have remained conscientious of their surroundings. Jane opened her backpack and took out a water bottle, MK did the same. They took out energy bars and started eating.

“They could’ve given us sandwiches, but they chose energy bars. Guess they are trying to get us used to them. I wonder how long we’ve been here. It doesn’t seem like we’ve been here long,” said MK and took a sip from her water bottle.

“I don’t know, time moves differently in this place, and we might’ve been in here for a week or more now.” At a distance they can hear indiscernible sounds that are hard to interpret. Jane stopped chewing, took out one of her earplugs and listened. Their eyes shot open. Jane gulped, “I get that whatever it is might seem distant right now, but I truly believe our paths are meant to intersect eventually,” she said and continued eating the bar. MK noticed a medium-sized clock hanging on the wall. It showed 10:10. “I wonder what time of the day it was,” she asked.

“What time of the day was what?” Jane stared at the clock. 

“I wonder what time of the day it was when the dimensions merged, and everything stopped unbeknownst to many who were working and living in the Backrooms. According to what I’ve read, the first victims of the creatures that began to filter through were the ones that were in a cafeteria,” MK said. Jane glanced at MK and took out the map from her backpack. 

“Where did you get that?” MK asked.

 “Father Patrick put it into the backpack. He wasn’t sure if it would be helpful because the map is going by the first model of the Backrooms,” she unfolded the map. “According to this, the cafeteria is another three miles away from here and in that direction is the library. However, the Backrooms tend to change.” Jane marked the spot with a marker. 

 "This place is like a maze," MK said, taking a moment to look around. "But seriously, these people seem to have had it all. I’m curious if they have showers and bathrooms too, because I haven’t spotted any yet," she remarked while sipping from her water bottle.

 "I get what you mean, but once those creatures got in, it was game over. The people in charge tried to seal off big parts of the Backrooms, but by then, it was already too late." Jane glanced at MK and asked, "Do you need to use the bathroom?"

MK replied, "Yes, but it can wait." Jane smirked and scoffed, saying, "I need to go as well." 

She then turned her attention to the map, looking for restrooms. “Hmm, it looks like there might be restrooms in that direction. We’ll head that way in a bit, but if they don’t have any, well I guess we’ll just have to

do our business at some corner. The carpet is messed up anyways and it smells like people have been urinating throughout the Backrooms,” said Jane, referring to that moldy, dreadful smell. She put the map back into her backpack.

 “This place already smells like feces,” said MK, rubbing her nose in disgust.

Jane chuckled, “I guess so. When I read the file back in the office, there was something in there about killing a creature and if you kill one, others will come, so let’s try to avoid killing anything yet, if possible.”

 MK nodded and said, “I wonder if it’s because they are connected.” Jane thought about that for a moment and said, “Maybe but nevertheless, we will have to be as quiet and vigilant as possible.” They finished eating their energy bars and saved the rest.

 “Well, we better head onward.” They picked up their backpacks and continued walking. Suddenly Jane stopped, “I think it picked up something,” she said, looking at the tracker. A red dot appeared faintly on the screen.

 “Could it be her?” asked MK, looking around, her eyes scanning the endless void of rooms, hallways, and corridors. She senses something else too. “There’s something out there and it’s not human, but I feel that it once was human.” Jane looked at her and they proceeded onward. They came across a wooden crate. “Should we attempt to look inside? Father Patrick said almond water is vital in this place,” MK mentioned. Jane nodded and they headed toward the crate, looking around cautiously. They tried to pry it open, but the lid didn’t budge. Jane opened her backpack and took out a screwdriver. 

“Guess they thought of everything,” she said, referring to the items in the backpack. The nails began to loosen. The lid fell to the carpet. They froze, afraid that the noise might attract unwanted attention. Jane looked around. MK searched through the crate.

“Oh look,” she pulled out several energy bars. “Well, I was hoping for beef jerkies or something else, but we need everything we can get,” said Jane. They packed a few Almond waters and more energy bars. “You know, our backpacks are getting a little chunky, I hope we’ll be able to move if we are attacked,” MK made a good point. 

“We can toss them on the floor if that happens. I’m not expecting to get attacked soon but I hear you.”

“I was wondering, how can one child survive in this place. If those creatures are around, wouldn’t she have already been dead?” 

Jane pondered, and replied, “True, Father Patrick did not specify how long she has been here, maybe she found a hidden room or something where she might be safe, I really don’t know. But I am sure that whatever way we find her, we must bring her home dead or alive.” MK nodded, “Let’s hope it’s not the latter.” Jane agreed. 

( Images are for the readers entertainment)

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Chapter 9 Excerpt

Chapter 3 Excerpt

Where Does Remi Live?

 

Curious readers have asked me about the residence of Remi, the protagonist in A Time Traveler’s Companion. In the opening chapter, it is revealed that she lives close to the Menifee Hill hiking trails. Her two-story home overlooks a park, and an elementary school is conveniently located nearby, which is significant since her son attends the same school she did as a child. This proximity to the trails adds depth to her character and setting. For those familiar with Menifee, the details may lead them to pinpoint the exact community where she resides. Please do consider that the character is fictional and not based on a real person; not to my knowledge. The book is available on Google Play in parts.

I welcome any questions about any of my books, and it's worth noting that A Time Traveler’s Companion is published under a different pen name. You can find the link to the book below.

(audience: 18 & Over)

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