SUMMON YOUR INNER WRITER TO INVESTIGATE THE TROUBLE PENDING FOR FORMER DETECTIVE RACHEL DORAN.
You are invited to join our community and write the next chapter to the great mystery and dark fiction story, A Little Scratch, a crowdsourced novel being written collaboratively right now at Next Chapters.
Participation in this novel and
membership at Next Chapters is free.
Simply register for a FREE account at Next Chapters to participate in A Little Scratch, a collaborative dark fiction and mystery novel being written right now!
![112c3248-skull-3044135-1280_105l062000000000000028[1] 112c3248-skull-3044135-1280_105l062000000000000028[1]](https://nextchapters.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/112c3248-skull-3044135-1280_105l0620000000000000281-pqzh4ay4q7bgjpp6xt2ffspm2lmg67hn6z48ut5azk.png)
EXPLORE THE CONSPIRACY BEHIND A YOUNG COUPLE'S DISAPPEARANCE
Clarence and Carol Reed looked like the perfect couple – young, wealthy and in love. But Rachel Doran, retired detective, understands how much appearances count for. When Carol disappears and Clarence turns up at Rachel’s doorstep, desperate for her help, Rachel knows that trouble is coming her way. What may appear a simple case of marital dispute will turn out to be an unravelling conspiracy that will take Rachel to the darkest parts of her city and her past.
Ready to get started?
Register for a free account at Next Chapters and submit your “next chapter” on the novel A Little Scratch today!
CHAPTER ONE
Maya closed the front door, hauling the bulging trash bag behind her. Hell but the door was heavy. Its sole purpose, she reckoned, was to make her work as difficult as possible. One of the countless injustices suffered each day working for the Reeds. But did she holler like Mrs. Reed when a single decorative lawn chair was out of place? No ma’am, she kept her mouth shut. Even now, through that enormous door, she could hear the yelling. Five years in and she’d got used to the screaming matches. Her ma’d always said money was like hot sauce. A little was a fine thing, but too much would burn like hell. But she had a notion the Reeds wanted it to burn.
Maya shuffled towards the bins then stumbled out of the way as Mr Reed’s shiny little sports car zoomed past her. Bastard nearly hit her. She glared after him, catching her breath, as he screeched down the long driveway, through the front gate and off the property. Guess he was done for the evening. Maya took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. There’d been a large, new scratch down the side of the car. She wondered if she’d be blamed for that. But what worried her more was the look on Mr. Reed’s face. She’d only glimpsed him as he nearly drove over her but it had struck her and stuck with her now.
Something was missing in his eyes. Sounded like a fool thing to say, but she couldn’t find any other words. Some part of him was just not there.
“Guess some men can’t help it,” Maya muttered to herself. She stretched her aching back and peered up into the tall glass windows of her employer’s mansion. She fancied she could see Mrs. Reed peering down from on high, out towards the sunset. “I know the feeling girl,” she sighed.
What Maya didn’t know was that no one would see Carol Reed again. And Mr. Clarence Thomas Reed, Tom to his friends, had plans to disappear too. But not until he paid an old friend one last visit.
Read more of Chapter One and add your next chapter for free at NextChapters.com

Want to write the Next Chapter?
Register for a free account at Next Chapters and submit your “next chapter” on the novel A Little Scratch today!
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Think you’ve got what it takes to fulfill your dream to become a published author of a great mystery novel? We’re here to help you achieve your dreams.
Getting started is easy. Sign up for a free account at Next Chapters and follow the developments behind the disappearance of a young couple in A Little Scratch, a novel already in progress on our writing platform. Then write and add your next chapter to the story.
While the plot and characters are outlined to help guide writers collaborating on this novel, you have complete creative liberty on your chapter, taking the story on whatever path you wish. You can suggest any change to characters or the plot that fits your vision for the rest of the story.
Your work will be read and considered for approval as an official chapter of this novel; meanwhile check some other great works on our platform and craft additional chapters there too. Or start that great story inside you waiting to be told for others to join in and write alongside you. If you’d like help improving your writing craft on this novel or one of your own, we can help there too.
If your chapter is accepted as a part of this novel, you will share in any profits generated from publishing and selling A Little Scratch.
And don’t worry about rejection! If the editors decide to go in a different path than your submitted chapter, you will have the option to continue writing a copy of A Little Scratch using the chapters including yours to finish and complete writing your story.
Want to write the Next Chapter?
Register for a free account at Next Chapters and submit your “next chapter” on the novel A Little Scratch today!
F.A.Q.
How much does it cost?
Registration on the Next Chapters writers’ platform is free. While we have some paid writing services you may opt to buy, it’s perfectly possible to start and finish your book at no cost to you. Participation in A Little Scratch and dozens of other novels is also free – no cost for a Next Chapters account as well as being free for you to participate in writing this novel!

Will I be paid for my work?
Yes! For every novel completed and published on our platform, authors are compensated a percent of the profits earned based on their contributions to the novel!
For more details, please check out our FAQ.

What if my chapter isn't selected for inclusion into
Beyond The Barrier?
Maybe your storyline doesn’t fit the idea set by the editors for this book, or perhaps someone else’s chapter was chosen instead of yours. No worries!
If your chapter isn’t selected to be included in this work, you will be able to take the story – using your chapter – as a separate novel in progress, with you as the editor of this new version. You can use all the prior chapters in your book, so you can complete the story taking place in outer space on the Dust Bus.
Similar to the original book, if your novel gets completed and generates a profit, you and all the participating authors will receive a share of that revenue.

I need help with something not mentioned on this page.
While we can’t fit everything on one page, we’ve never seen a problem that we couldn’t help overcome. Send us an email with any question or comment and we’ll get back to you!
CONTACT US
Interested in getting a free Next Chapters account?
We’re interested in hearing from you on ideas, wishes, and what we can do to make our site and services better.
Use the form below to send us your message. We’ll be happy to reply as soon as possible!
CONTACT INFO
- +1 814 240 2400
-
900 State Street
Erie, PA 16501

Copyright 2022 Next Chapter Stories, LLC. All Right Reserved.