Dream Con 2025 Story Snippets

“And this is the ballroom! We’re getting married in here!”

This couldn’t possibly be real.

“Oh my God Gen.”

Veronica’s mouth was agape as she took in the room, her eyes being overwhelmed with the sheer opulence of what they were witnessing.

The space was truly breathtaking. Absolutely massive with one wall having high arched windows, the sun still shining brightly through the sheer champagne curtains.

The brown marble floor sparkled under the chandeliers, Veronica able to see her reflection.

But the showstopper was the sprawling spiral staircase.

“Your wedding is going to be talked about for generations,” Veronica stated in awe as she continued to look around.

“Sure is!” chirped Genevieve, flipping her red hair over her shoulder. “Our painting is going up in the main foyer to solidify it.”

Veronica knew the wedding was going to be an extravagant affair but this was way more than she had expected.

Genevieve had kept a few things close to chest, the venue being one of the biggest.

So close, that for a month the only two people that knew they were getting married at Damien’s childhood summer home was her and Damien.

Veronica did appreciate that the only reason she wasn’t in on the secret was because she missed the site visit.

Perks of being good at holding a secret. And if she were being honest this was a better way of finding out.

“Would you like to dance?”

Veronica was broken from her thoughts and turned to her companion. Genevieve had her hand outstretched, head low in a bow.

With a smile and a little laugh, the woman curtseyed and like a prim and proper princess, gingerly took her friend’s hand.

The two then “danced” around the room, spinning around and humming to their invisible music.

“How fitting that I have my first dance in here with my first love,” Genevieve said as she turned Veronica out then back towards her.

“I feel so honored,” Veronica replied, dipping Genevieve. “I’ll be sure to do the same for you if I ever get married.”

The redhead scoffed.

“You’re gonna get married one day.”

Genevieve pulled back up and took back the lead. “You’re going to find someone that’s going to beg to put a ring on your finger.”

That was certainly easier said than done but Veronica admired the woman’s optimism.

“Let’s try to find me a partner first then talk engagements and weddings, yeah?”

“I don’t understand what’s the holdup,” Genevieve grumbled as she twirled the woman. “You are obviously a catch. Clearly people are dumb.”

Veronica appreciated her friend’s words but they were the same ones she had been saying for years.

The woman had been effectively single for the better (worse) part of a decade, only a string of disastrous situationships to her dating name. All with the same outcome.

Her crying, heartbroken on Genevieve’s couch. She didn’t know what about her screamed ‘please waste my time’ but it was a big, flashing sign brighter than anything Vegas could ever come up with.

Sometimes she wished she had her friend’s dating life.

Genevieve never had to look for a boyfriend. Whenever the guy she was dating was crap, she’d get rid of him and find someone new.

Did that four times and finally she picked a fantastic man in Damien.

And make no mistake-Veronica was thrilled that her friend got the man of her dreams.

She just wondered when it was going to be her turn.

But thinking about relationships (or lack thereof) wasn’t important. Not right now.

Having fun with her friend in a countryside manor, dancing and singing at the top of their lungs was.

Besides being in a relationship or even looking for one was the last thing on her mind.

For the next four months, Veronica’s focus was going to be on Genevieve and being a great, supportive maid-of-honor.

“I thought I was supposed to dance with you?”

The two women stopped to turn to the familiar voice.

Damien was coming down the stairs, another man at his side. A very handsome man in Veronica’s humble opinion.

“That’s your role in a few months,” Genevieve said, not even looking at her fiancé as she and Veronica floated around. “Let me and my wife have our moment.”

A small chuckle came from the man as he waved a hand. “As you wish.”

The two did a few rotations before Veronica switched off with Damien, allowing him to sweep Genevieve off her feet and leaving the woman with the attractive stranger.

“Aren’t they a lovely couple?”

Veronica nodded in agreement, watching the pair stare at each other with so much love. She had to look away. “They sure are.”

The man turned to Veronica, about to speak.

“Oh! Richard!”

In a similar manner to how she greeted Veronica when she arrived, Genevieve barreled into the man, hanging from his neck.

Veronica stifled a snicker behind her hand at the man’s frantic expression as he tried to keep them both upright.

“Hi Gen and yes I’m here early,” he said, patting her back. “Glad to see you.”

The woman beamed brightly at the man. Veronica was very curious to know who he was. Genevieve wasn’t the type to be touchy feely with a man that wasn’t Damien, so this was an interesting development for her. Especially a man Veronica has never met before.

“Vee,” Damien called as he joined the trio. “Meet my brother Richard.”

“Oh that’s right. You guys haven’t met yet.”

Genevieve turned Richard towards Veronica. “Rich, this is my best friend Veronica.”

The woman was wide-eyed as she shook the man’s hand, resisting the urge to swoon when he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. He was the infamous Richard she had heard about.

He was even more handsome now that Veronica was closer and able to get a better look at him. His dark brown eyes glimmered in the lights. A bit taller than his brother with a more svelte build. If she was honest, she would’ve never guessed they were brothers. The two had completely different structures, much like Veronica and Genevieve.

Where Damien was blond and green eyed, Richard was dark haired and brown eyed.

And even though she had just met Richard, she could tell he carried himself differently than his brother too. How she would describe it-she wasn’t sure. She’d be able to get a good read soon, she figured.

“Finally we meet,” he lightly joked. “They’ve been dating for so long and this is the first time we’ve been introduced.”

“I know,” Veronica replied, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “It’s honestly really crazy.”

His gaze quickly cut to his brother before going back to Veronica, something she was sure she wasn’t meant to see.

“So crazy.”

“Huh. Isn’t that so funny Babe?” Genevieve hummed out as she looked over at Damien.

The man shrugged. “You two are in our engagement photos.”

Okay so they were definitely having a moment Veronica was not privy to. It was fine because it gave her an opportunity to ogle Richard without anyone noticing.

She made a mental note to add his likeness to one of her characters. She had been meaning to pick a look for her male lead.

“Anyways, I’m glad you’re here,” Genevieve commented. “We can work out some Best Man, Maid-of-Honor business now.”

She clapped her hands before lacing her arms with Veronica and Richard.

“I can’t wait,” Richard responded, making eye contact with the taller woman over her friend’s head.

Her stomach fluttered a bit when the man winked at her. She was curious about Richard but something told her she was going to have a time with the man.

Whether that was a good or bad thing remained to be seen.

All of this over a birthday cake.

A completely packed church, though that wasn’t too shocking. This was basically the event of the season for the area.

A size too small black suit stretched over Elijah’s shoulders. He was so worried that he was going to bust out of it. He really should’ve taken his mother up on the offer to get a new one. Fortunately, he was able to borrow a pair of suit pants from his father.

A pew that dug uncomfortably into his back, making it hard to pay attention to the prayer being spoken ahead. The preacher’s voice cracked every once in a while, fighting to get his words out.

All of this made it hard to focus on the funeral of Elijah’s best friend. 

Kellan Monroe Barnes.

Beloved son. Well-respected young man of Douglastown. Dead at seventeen.

Something that still didn’t feel real to the young man if he were being completely honest. The scale of how beautiful and extravagant the affair was definitely fit the person.

Every single pew in the nave was filled with people who had come to pay their respects. Elijah was on the first one with Kellan’s family, his parents and friends as well. He remembered when CJ and Natalie sat down, both being tightly hugged by Mrs. Barnes.

The very expensive mahogany casket was surrounded by a wonderful and plentiful array of roses, hawthorns, and lily of the valleys. An elaborate collage made of photos of Kellan and his loved ones served as a background. Elijah wasn’t shocked to see he was in most of them.

Even the sun was illuminating the space of the altar perfectly. No rain on such a somber day.

Kellan’s mother did an excellent job coordinating this-no surprise considering her profession as an event planner. God knows Kellan’s dad couldn’t put something this lavish together. Not with how much of a wreck he’d been ever since they found out about their son. Luckily for them both Kellan’s mom was good at compartmentalizing her feelings too.

But he wasn’t the only one that completely fell apart. It seemed like everybody had except Elijah and Natalie.

He wanted to grieve-mourn the loss. But he felt….emotionally constipated was the best way to describe it.

Everything on paper was settled. His killer was found and locked up. His funeral was almost done.

So why did he feel so blocked?

Was he just going to feel like this forever? He hoped not.

And to be fair to Natalie, she had only been in their friend group for half of a year and he could tell she felt a bit out of place being on the family pew with the rest of them. But she was doing work trying to comfort Elijah’s sister.

His blubbering uncontrollably younger sister Katherine.

He really should’ve been comforting her too but he couldn’t set aside his feelings.

Absolute, white-knuckled fury flowed through his veins every time he looked at her.

It was bad enough with her teary theatrics but what really made him want to be an only child was the fact that it was her fault Kellan was dead.

She just had to have a birthday cake from that stupid bakery she liked so much.

Elijah remembered how annoyed Kellan was to go across town and pick it up. Lemon and strawberry cake with a honey drizzle. Her favorite.

If only he was more like Elijah and told that spoiled brat no more often.

Now he was gone and Elijah felt disjointed. Like half of his body was gone and he was expected to move without it.

Him and Kellan were a duo. Dynamic and attached at the hip for their entire lives.

Destined since birth. Their mothers were best friends since middle school and when they grew up, they were even pregnant within months of each other.

The Unrelated Twins. They didn’t look alike. Elijah was all dark features with a slim build-the polar opposite of Kellan.

And Kellan was born just three hours before Elijah-a fact he would jokingly dangle over his friend’s head. Elijah would roll his eyes every time it was brought up on their birthday but now all he wanted was that familiar voice to laugh and say,

Happy Birthday Lil Bro

Now he’ll never hear that again. Never see Kellan again.

Elijah was going to be eighteen next month and it was going to be the first time he was going to be older than his friend.

A thought that made him sick to his stomach.

They. Had. Plans. The future was supposed to be bright.

Best QB and Tight End in the entire state of Georgia.

Their senior year was going to be explosive. 

Winning season. A run for the championship. College scouts and recruiters.

They were going to be picked up together of course and absolutely dominate in college.

Next up was the league.

Dreams they had worked at so hard to make realities.

Realities he has to do alone now.

Elijah was still expecting Kellan to jump out of his casket and say this was all an elaborate ruse to see who really loved and cared about him.

But no, he had to live in a universe where his best friend got gunned down outside of a bakery. For no reason other than the fact that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

A situation that just didn’t happen to blond haired and blue eyed white boys very often.

“Baby.”

The teen snapped out of his thoughts. His parents, sister, and their friends were all standing. He didn’t even realize everyone else had left. Even Kellan’s casket was gone from its place up front.

“It’s time to head to Saint John’s,” his mother spoke gently.

Elijah nodded then stood up, following behind the small group. He was appreciative of the fact that nobody tried to stop and speak to them, instead allowing them to make it outside.

Right at the bottom of the steps were Kellan’s parents, the two talking to a brown suit-clad man flanked by two police officers.

The man in the suit was Detective Jeffery Williams. A “man” Elijah wasn’t exactly a big fan of.

And judging from how agitated Kellan’s parents looked, they weren’t pleased with the man and his entourage’s presence.

“Should we go over there?” Elijah and Katherine’s mother questioned.

The teen didn’t wait for his father’s response before heading down the stairs towards them.

They already solved Kellan’s murder. Whatever that detective had to say was actively upsetting who were essentially his second parents and it could wait until tomorrow.

“What’s going on?” he asked when he stepped down from the last step.

The two cops narrowed their eyes at Elijah but he ignored it. Not the first time he’d been stared down.

“Nothing honey,” Mrs. Barnes replied, a tinge of edge to her voice. “The detective was just leaving.”

Williams hummed as he leveled his gaze to Elijah.

He really didn’t like the man.

Ruddy in the face and always had a look in his eyes that gave off a ‘he knows more than he’s letting on’ feeling.

“Hello again…Elijah right?”

A curt nod was all the older man got. If he thought Elijah was going to speak to him, he had another thing coming.

“I had a few ques-”

“Uh no you aren’t asking him anything,” Mrs. Barnes interrupted.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. Elijah wasn’t sure if she even knew it was shaking.

“Come on. We need to go.”

The three were trying to leave but the detective stepped in their way.

“Mrs. Barnes please,” Williams pleaded. “We’re just trying to make sure we’ve covered all the angles of your son’s death.”

Williams glanced over at Elijah before going back to the woman.

“It was a random senseless act of violence,” she spat. “Bothering my son’s best friend at his funeral is sick and now I’m telling you to leave before I sue the hell out of your department for harassment.”

The man looked like he was going to persist but ultimately he relented. Elijah figured it was because his parents also came up, combined to be a unified front. He also didn’t miss the way one of the cops adjusted his stance to place his hand on his gun.

“Alright. Have a good rest of the day and again I’m sorry for your loss.”

Him and the other cops left, Elijah keeping his eyes locked on them until they were completely out of sight.

He knew exactly what he was going to ask. It was the same thing he questioned about the day he came to the Barnes residence.

Are you involved in any gang activity?

To which Elijah and both sets of parents immediately shot down the accusation.

Elijah was never affiliated and he never in life had any intention of being in one. Not because his parents would kill him (they most definitely would) but because he didn’t want to die young.

Caught up in an awful situation, shot up and bleeding out in the street.

Except that’s what happened to Kellan.

So he figured it didn’t matter. He could be shot just getting a birthday cake too.

“I’m so sick of that guy,” Mr. Barnes muttered. “He’s like a damn mosquito.”

Mrs. Barnes agreed, shaking her head. “He better heed the warning.”

She squeezed Elijah’s shoulder, placing a small smile on her face. The teen had never seen the woman’s bright eyes so dim.

“Come on Eli. We gotta go.”

The group of families made their way to the limo waiting for them. Mr. Barnes opened the door and helped his wife and Elijah’s mother inside then let the teens go in next.

Katherine was calm now, Natalie and CJ on both of her sides. Elijah took the space next to Natalie, watching his dad then Mr. Barnes file in.

 A somber quiet settled over the car, only sniffling breaking it up.

Elijah hated it.

They were never quiet. There was always some conversation or noise or something.

This wasn’t them.

And he was genuinely worried that they wouldn’t be able to move forward from this loss.

But they had to. Kellan wouldn’t want them held in place. He’d want them to keep going.

Elijah had to keep going. Kellan’s legacy rested on his shoulders now.

He wasn’t alright but he would be. They all would be.

They just needed to take the first step.

When Maureen shot up from the ground, the gasp of air she tried to take was smothered by the earthy taste of Georgia black dirt.

She coughed and wheezed as she tried to clear out the dryness, clawing at her throat in an attempt to alleviate the feeling of suffocating. Eventually relief came and she was able to take in raw and ragged breaths, shivering violently from trying to breathe and from the cold coming through her soiled dress.

Bleary brown eyes blinked as she tried to figure out where the hell she was.

It was definitely late at night, the moon high and bright overhead. She couldn’t see much but she definitely was in the woods. A few insects, the rush of the creek over yonder, and other nighttime sounds hummed around her before it dawned on her how she ended up there.

Her mama tried to kill her. Full on, ran a knife through her murder.

Heart dropping in her chest, Maureen frantically grasped at herself, hands shaking when she felt something sticky.

Maureen’s ears were ringing, her brain running too fast for her to keep up.

She was absolutely terrified to look down. But she did it anyway.

Through the dim moonlight, there it was. Sticky, mixed with leaves, twigs, and more dirt was blood. And a lot of it.

Except there was a lot of it. How was she still alive? Surely she would’ve bled out-especially with it still being wet. Was it not that long she was out?

She was definitely stabbed, her lower torso throbbing in pain. But it was mild. Not enough to be fatal. Definitely not with how she feels...fine? Disoriented sure but not on the verge of death.

Maureen took a closer look and tsk’d.

It wasn’t blood. It was corn syrup.

From the prank.

Maureen-at the encouragement of her father before he went to work-wanted to joke with her mama but the never could see the humor in anything woman would never be amused.

So much so that she needed to kill Maureen for it she supposed.

Definitely a bit peeved she didn’t even get to pull the trick off. But that didn’t matter right now though. Right now Maureen needed to figure her way out of the woods.

Slowly standing up on shaky legs, the young woman hissed at the pain that zipped through her body.

Okay so she wasn’t as fine as she thought. Her wound was deeper than she thought too. Now she really was bleeding. Not super heavy but enough that she was worried about it.

Where could she go from here? She had no idea how far away home was.

Couldn’t go back home anyway.

Maureen squinted in the dark, trying to find any sort of clue to figure out what to do or where to go from her shallow grave.

Then her gaze landed on tracks.

Her body tracks.

She started limping along, holding her side and following the marks.

So many emotions swirled inside Maureen as she went. Confusion, sadness, despair and pure white hot blinding rage. All rotating at a near equal pace, individual and in various combinations.

She didn’t understand. What did she do to warrant being stabbed?

If this was about the dishes she didn’t wash, being stabbed was 100% an overreaction.

Or maybe it wasn’t intentional and her mama buried her to cover her guilt.

But there weren't any markers for that. Probably because she didn’t have time. Maybe she could go home. Get an explanation and they go back to being a family. Maureen was sure when her father got home from work he’d be concerned about her missing whereabouts.

It was going to be fine. Everything was going to be fine. She just had to keep moving.

Maybe if she stayed lucky she’d find someone to help her out. And hopefully they weren’t a creep. She didn’t have a weapon and she wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to fight anybody off. But she still picked up a large branch.

And then there it was, out in the distance she saw it. Light from a fire. 

Someone camping.

Maureen picked up her pace to get to the clearing. She was about to call out, hoping to not scare whoever was around.

But she came to a screeching halt when she saw what was there. Or rather who.

It wasn’t someone camping. It was a group of men in white robes and masks.

She had stumbled on the Klan. 

Burning their cross proudly as they hooped and cheered. 

Her mama buried her on Klan land.

And suddenly the idea of her mama having guilt about what she did went right out the window.

It was very common knowledge that a certain part of the town’s woods belonged to them and that the Black people that lived in town kept their distance. For her mama to leave her here meant she didn’t have any intentions of coming back.

Now Maureen was trapped, injured, and scared with no way to help herself.

What the hell was she supposed to do now? She already knew if they found her out here she was done for. Really dead and gone this time.

She hoped it being dark and in the thickest part of the woods kept her hidden as she quietly tried to leave.

These had to be men from town. Which means someone had to have driven.

Hopefully she’d be able to swipe a car from them without them noticing and drive to a safe spot.

Tiptoeing away from the spirited yelling, Maureen immediately took off-injury be damned.

She knew the woods were west of town and judging from the position of the North Star, she was heading in the right direction. She sent prayers to her Granmama Leah for teaching her how to use the stars to find her way.

It’s a good lil thing to have in your pocket. Never know when you’re gonna need to run.

Maureen never thought in her brief twenty-two years that she’d have to use the skill in such a circumstance.

But it worked and just as her lungs started to burn, she broke out of the woods and into the road.

Taking in deep gulps of air, she examined the rows of cars and trucks, trying to figure out which one to go to. All of them pose the worst type of risk but Maureen was desperate.

She scurried around, carefully trying doors and hoping one was unlocked with keys inside. Unfortunately she was getting nowhere with that approach with almost every door she tried locked tight.

The idea to just hide in the bed of one of the trucks was percolating around in her mind when the door to the pretty cherry red car opened up. She let out a small sigh of relief as she slipped into the driver's side. 

With the type of urgency her mama wished she did her chores with, Maureen searched for the keys to her freedom. 

Found up in the visor. She grinned widely and was about to put the key in the ignition when she heard voices.

“Woooowee! I can’t wait to get home and try that piece of pie from Mabel’s place!”

Maureen’s smile dropped. She didn’t have time to unpack the fact that Mabel-that sweet old lady whose mama was a former slave-had sold one of her infamous pies to a man that would love to see her grandson swinging from a tree.

Instead she had a decision to make. Either she drove off with this car now or she could hide and pray they didn’t have anybody riding in the back.

Both choices potentially led to her death so she chose the one she could work with.

She chose to hide. Maureen put the keys back where she found them then dove in the back seat, covering herself with some spare blankets.

A leftover streak of dirt was on the armrest but she hoped whoever came didn’t notice.

The voices grew louder as Maureen held her breath, trying to calm her panic.

This was absolutely insane.

“Alright now! I’ll see you tomorrow at the courthouse! And you better not be late like last time!”

Maureen covered her mouth as the door swung open and a heavy body slumped into the driver’s seat with a heavy sigh.

“Oh that damn Oliver,” the gruff voice mumbled.

Maureen heard him continue to grumble under his voice as he retrieved his keys and started up the car.

It rumbled to life and not long the car took off, three quick horns going off.

The radio was turned low, playing some blues song Maureen was familiar with. She tried to relax but between the situation and the extremely uncomfortable position she was in, it was impossible. And it seemed like the car ride was taking forever. She was hoping this ride wasn’t taking her the opposite direction. She’d just roll out now and deal with the consequences. The reaper was pretty much right behind her anyway.

Fortunately for her she felt a large bump. The one everyone hit when they got into town. They were going the right way.

Maureen felt a small bit of tension leave her body. Unfortunately for her that meant her body thought it would be okay to remind her of her grass allergy.

She let out a very loud sneeze, the driver up front immediately slamming on the brakes.

And here she was, hoping he didn’t hear it.

“Who the hell is in my car?”

Maureen’s heart stopped, blood running cold in her veins.

No.No.Nononononononono-

“I’m only going to ask again,” the man warned. “Who. Is. In. My. Car?”

Maureen was dead. No doubt about it. Here she was. In town. Probably not far from home. And was about to die.

At least she could face it head on. 

With a sense of fortitude she didn’t know she possessed, Maureen pulled the blankets off and revealed herself.

The man turned around. And immediately started screaming bloody murder.

Which caused Maureen to also start screaming. Both hollering in each other’s faces.

Except the man’s shifted to groans as he gripped his chest, Maureen watching as his face grew pale.

Then he collapsed back against the seat, quiet as a church mouse. 

The teen frowned as she gingerly looked over. She yelped when she realized he was dead, his head leaning down.

Oh no. She could not be here. She had to leave. Her being found with a dead white man? The shame alone would kill her before anything or anyone else got a chance to.

So with haste, Maureen got out of the car. She took in her surroundings. Downtown judging from Larry’s Corner Store and Juniper Jenkins Laundry up ahead.

Definitely in town. Still a bit too far from her house to go there in her condition. 

But there was one place that was nearby she could go. Off to the right Maureen went.  

In the direction of her friend Diana’s house.