Seen It Many Times

By H.A.L. Wagner The school bus blocks my view of Murray Russel’s new place. The city obviously didn’t do their predator checking lately. Murray shouldn’t be within 1,000 feet of this stop. Just another pleasurable reason to take this bastard out. The bus passes leaving no child behind. In the large picture window stands Murray.Continue reading “Seen It Many Times”

Courting Beautiful Darkness

By Rachel Racette I wish I’d never met her. Never followed that lady with dark hair and even darker eyes. Never let myself see – Maybe if I hadn’t pointed out the blood or – or the twisting shadows – she’d have simply killed me. If – If I hadn’t screamed while she still hadContinue reading “Courting Beautiful Darkness”

Tool #2

By Chris Bunton and VT Comics (Tool #1 can be found HERE.) The crickets and sounds of the peeper frogs were deafening in the forest as he silently moved along. Their sound brought him peace and joy, in the midst of the turmoil of his mind. “How could this be true? How could I beContinue reading “Tool #2”

This Is Not Your World

By Melissa R. Mendelson Dayla tried to stifle a yawn as she walked down the stairs. She smiled at the aroma of coffee wafting out of the kitchen. The sound of a spatula scraping the frying pan indicated that her husband made eggs again, and hopefully this time, they were not Bull’s Eye. She detestedContinue reading “This Is Not Your World”

The Carlton Theater

By Andy Betz and Samantha Fowler Part One: My life as it was My employer, Mrs. Oliver, assigned the duty of a visual inspection of an older movie theater to me.  I was to look around and walk about and give her my written report by the morning.  While her decision would not be basedContinue reading “The Carlton Theater”

Foundation Repair

By William David Higgs III He had been repairing foundations for fifteen years, but it only took him fifteen minutes to decide that it was the worst condition he had seen a house in. It’s a miracle this place is still standing, he thought. He prepared to turn around when he heard clanging metal followedContinue reading “Foundation Repair”

On The Menu

By Hillary Lyon “We don’t have that kind of money to spare,” Chelsea pointed out. “As it is, when I go to the grocery store, I use my phone’s calculator so I don’t spend more than what I have on hand. You know that.” “Yes ma’am, you are one conscientious little shopper,” George said distractedlyContinue reading “On The Menu”

A Blast From The Past

By Jason Smith As she opened her front door Trena didn’t immediately recognize Glenn, he’d changed so much. The last time she saw him his hair and beard were long, he was wearing a Baja Hoodie, black jeans, scuffed boots and a trench coat. Now he was clean shaven and his hair was short andContinue reading “A Blast From The Past”

The Dead Girlfriends

By Gratia Serpento Being dead is less than it’s conked up to be. It’s like you’re in a screen, a simulation, there’s a divide between you and everything else. Everything is mild. Any food tastes bland, and I could eat a ribeye and a celery stick and not be able to taste the difference. There’sContinue reading “The Dead Girlfriends”

Lavender Diamond

By Edward Sheehy I’m done writing first-person point-of-view stories. My latest saga of a modern family stretching back several generations, voiced by 72 first-person characters including pet dogs and cats and a crow circling the narrative dispensing omniscient commentary, had been soundly rejected by dozens of publishers. My agent said first-person was overdone, mine inContinue reading “Lavender Diamond”