By Andy Betz The rain beat down hard on the convertible soft top. Generally, this meant I had two, maybe three hours before it began to leak. What I had to say did not warrant this much time. However, should she want to fight, at least I knew when it was going to be over.Continue reading “Et Tu”
Category Archives: Dark Literature
Christmas Roses
By John E. Marks You can interrogate roses all you likeBut do not lie. The rain waters you too.In this human garden it is you who is the flower. Roses at the graveside:Blood red petals grown from the groundAn abyss of petals? Fervent and well paid scholarsArgue, when babies cry,That’s one in eye for scholarsContinue reading “Christmas Roses”
The Backyard Digger
By Robb White The boy was a nuisance. Every day I’d find him digging out there with his child’s shovel and pail with happy cartoon figures bordering the tops and bottom. I was solely concerned about his well-being, not the fact he was trespassing. Two summers ago, we had two bands of coyotes raising theirContinue reading “The Backyard Digger”
Poison Marsh Summer
By Mark Benedict When your parents first pitch you on their idea to steal a laundry basket full ofcash, you know you should skate. Not that you’re above petty crimes. Heck no. In fact, petty crimes are kind of your thing. But it’s a dark, do-nothing chapter in your life, not to mention that theseContinue reading “Poison Marsh Summer”
A Scene Illuminating the Perils of Truancy
By B.W. Carter So, yeah, this boy, he’s standing on his usual corner, right, watching traffic dissolve into the vast white wash of the sun. The day is loud as a concert and very bright. The boy is slouching against a streetlamp. Squinting into the beeping, belching exhaust-sweet bustle, he smokes his last cigarette. Smoking,Continue reading “A Scene Illuminating the Perils of Truancy”
For Your Protection
By Chris Bunton “Tracy and David Santos, come out of the house!” A voice spoke through a loud speaker. Tracy and David both jumped up from the couch in their living room. They looked around in terror. Their favorite show flickered on the TV, and the image was replaced by a message which read. “DavidContinue reading “For Your Protection”
Warhawk Road
By Ken Wheaton Tyler’s shadow stretched before him in the moonlight, landing on his girlfriend’s back. The first time they’d driven up 285 into the mountains just west of Denver, they’d picked a moonless night and the dark was too much. It pressed, it smothered. Every sound was amplified, every crackling twig a mountain lion.Continue reading “Warhawk Road”
Water
By Andy Betz and Jaysa Brown Water is patient It yields easily to gentle force It recovers without fanfare; without notice Water is patient It persistently waits the proper time To steadily erode the foundation of all who resist its presence Water is patient It may dissolve the most formidable of opponents It will diluteContinue reading “Water”
Shots Ring Out
By Matthew Senn My daddy was a paranoid man. Had every right to be too, ‘course. He’d always figgered someone would come lookin’ for ‘im one day. Never went into much more detail than that. One mornin’, he hears some shots ring out. He was a corn farmer then, our patch a land went fromContinue reading “Shots Ring Out”
Future’s Cold Hand
By Sebastian Iturralde Waiting by a cliff, as the cold twilight wind blew around her, Licana Rose watched the light of a lonely house come on. Darkness surrounded her. Little did she know that Death was standing next to her. “What do we have here?” asked Death. “Who is our target for the night?” LicanaContinue reading “Future’s Cold Hand”