By Dick Johnson Carl awoke. His head hurt and the light was bright. His memory flooded back to him, and he realized where he was. He was in his underwear, and lying on a concrete bunk in a room with almost zero features. There were fluorescent lights in mesh glass above, grey rubber walls, aContinue reading “Drunk Tank”
Category Archives: Criminal
Death by Innocence
by Dan Cardoza Infestations of Fire Ants are everywhere. Onyx-eyed, Insect aliens, dressed in antennae, oversized mandibles, and swollen abdomens. They exist in the shadows of cracks, in vast armies on the march, and in the darkest corners of our minds. The neighborhood is pulsing. Neil Armstrong is stepping onto the moon, right now, inContinue reading “Death by Innocence”
Izzy’s Demise
By John Haymaker Rain crashed a late night frat party. Just after one, Alex stumbled back to the student ghetto and up the rickety stairs to his loft. Once inside he misplaced his keys. He pat himself up and down but forgot about the keys the moment he found the dime bag he scored atContinue reading “Izzy’s Demise”
The Wrong Name
By Marco Etheridge The woman saw her face reflected in a thick pane of security glass smudged with the ghostly imprints of forgotten kisses. Her reflection was serious, nervous, pretty: Margaret Kayner, a young graduate student waiting to meet a monster.Beyond the glass barrier was a worn counter bare of anything except a dirty phone.Continue reading “The Wrong Name”
Santa Cruz 1970
By Carl Boon I live over on Collier in a duplex with a Mexican girl who’s studying to be a nurse’s aid. She wants to work in a mental hospital after watching some documentary about schizophrenics on Channel 6. I tell her some of those people would just as soon stick a fork through herContinue reading “Santa Cruz 1970”
The Exit
By Dylan Todd “Take a seat, son.” The old man pointed at a chair directly across from himself. Tommy obliged. Tommy had been to several sit downs just like this, but never the focus of said sit down. Nervous, he fought every instinct to run, but he knew that to run would mean that heContinue reading “The Exit”
Dead Flies
By Lindsay Fudim By the time my swatter cracks down on the porch railing like a court gavel the fly is a pancake. Again, I lift the swatter to the air and mercilessly bring it down on the dead fly’s companion, sending sawdust and splintered wood into the air as I do so. “By God,Continue reading “Dead Flies”
Thou Shalt Not
By Dick Johnson Sweat dripped down his face as he watched his house. This wasn’t the first time she had cheated and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. But, it would be the last time she cheated on him, with this guy. Wind blew through the trees above him, cooling him slightly. It was summerContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not”
Octavia
By Pablo Agrio We arrived late afternoon, after stops at several different penitentiaries in the immediate area. CDC bus rides in handcuffs and leg chains were always a nightmare. There was still the matter of processing but at least I could use the restroom without having to deal with all the restraints. It is theContinue reading “Octavia”
Bag of Soap
By Dick Johnson I was in the county jail. I won’t say which one. But, I was locked up in a cell block with 6 other guys. We were all awaiting trial. The cell block was made up of 2 cells with bunks, connected by a day room, with a table. The jail was overcrowdedContinue reading “Bag of Soap”
