My flash fiction story “Purpose” in Havok (gohavok.com) depicts a grim reunion of four prep schoolers. I write mostly about heroes, but in 2024, I wrote a revenge tale where a male villain receives his comeuppance from a unique woman. This is “A Type of Woman” in Ye Olde Dragon’s The Invisible Files anthology. I thought it was a one and done, but then one of the editors inspired me to write about the woman again. She appears again in “Motion Picture Us Together” in Ye Olde Dragon’s Once Bitten anthology.

The reader, up to this point, knows few facts about this woman. She has an incredible ability, she’s a scientist, and her first name is Gloria. Unlike my previous female heroes, Gloria has a bit more dirt in her soul. My female characters were often intelligent and fierce, but to use a D&D term, often fell into the chaotic or lawful good category. Gloria was a true neutral. What serves her purpose is for the best.

In “Purpose,” we get a last name for Gloria (Stearnes) and a bit of background. Unlike in her debut story, she isn’t the agent of justice—because again, in that story, justice suited her ends. This time, she’s meting out the justice, and you get to see more of her dark side.

I like her, and I’m going to be writing more stories with her as a protagonist or antagonist. I’ve created three worlds in my publishing journey: the fairytale kingdom of Kingdom, the adventurous globe trotting of DEED, and now the more sinister horror world of Gloria Stearnes. We’ll see how Gloria’s world evolves.

I hope you enjoyed “Purpose.” You haven’t heard the last of Gloria (or Marjorie, the protagonist) yet.

Note: “Purpose” was published in Havok (gohavok.com) on April 2, 2026. If you’re reading this on the second of April of 2026 the story is free. If you’re reading this after April 2, 2026, you will need to be a subscriber to read it.