An ancient and mysterious dome was unearthed by a construction crew excavating subterranean slums in the heart of London. It became immediately apparent upon inspection that the dome was created for a purpose, but nobody knew what that purpose was.

The mayor gathered together the brightest and best to help solve the mystery: Reed, an antiquarian; Amelia, a philomath; Barnaby, a Fellow with the Royal Astronomical Society; and Emmett, a horologist and locksmith.

They quickly put their knowledge to spectacular use, but it isn’t until Emmett unlocks the key that the dome’s true purpose reveals itself.

I signed up for the 2026 Verdant Owl writing battle on WritingBattle.com on a whim.

I was looking for ways to improve my writing, and what better way than a competition that pits you against other talented writers! I was nervous the whole way through, especially when I found out I was being sent out of state on a job promising long days. Horay!

I pulled my cards – steampunk, locksmith, construction zone – the night before my flight. I decided to throw caution to the wind and keep them. In my mind, I was challenging myself to work outside my usual boundaries. I came up with a “safe” idea (what I thought was on the nose with my prompts), and then another idea evolved quickly that night and on the flight down. This idea eventually became “The Epicyclic Heart”. A story born in a night, drafted during a hazy week, and finished during two long, furious nights.