CURSES • Katie Harms
A baby bit Janey’s heart and then her heart turned black. Her heart had been a live, beating thing; it had led her first to Harry and then to the white waiting room with little wooden blocks painted in primary… Continue Reading
Horror
WECHSELBALG • by Jennifer Peaslee
Every night as a child, Hannah’s Oma had tucked her into bed with tales of changelings that switched with children if parents weren’t vigilant. Hannah still knew the rules to find a Wechselbalg: they can’t touch iron, can’t eat eggshells,… Continue Reading
BUG SPRAY • Michael Carter
“You were born during the summer of locusts,” Cole’s mother would explain when he asked why he was different, why he was the way he was. But it never made sense. He had no long, beefy hopper legs. No antennae.… Continue Reading
GRANDMOTHER’S ART • Rachel Barber
The weaverwoman clips bat wings in the forest every night. I’ve heard but never seenmyself until now, how she breaks their bones. Bat skins twirl like kites in the moon’s glow. “Leave the poor thing alone, dear.” I say. The… Continue Reading
HEY GIRL, DMING YOU ABOUT MY MLM FOR EXORCISMS • Cassandra Lipp
Hey girl! We haven’t talked in forever, how have you been? Just hosted a makeover party for your Aunt Trisha. Wish you could’ve been there so we could catch up! Everyone had such a nice time. Really fixed the vibes… Continue Reading
THE CREEP • Gregory Ballinger
The drizzly rain hung in the air like a fine mist, dampening the already wet muddy ground. McArthur stood in the field in his mud splattered boots and weatherproof outer layers, inspecting his crops. He reached out and touched the… Continue Reading
A QUIET AFTERNOON • by Ashley Akers
Madison didn’t sit in her usual spot by the window. She didn’t say anything to Sophia about the video she’d sent her of Charli vomiting in the girl’s bathroom. Elijah didn’t announce his late entry to class with raised hands… Continue Reading
THE LURE OF THE LOOKING GLASS • by Barb Lundy
A symphony of action and reaction played between mirrors in the window display of the small shop in the New Orleans French Quarter. Once inside, Etta surrendered to the fantasy. Convex and concave reflections faced one another in one corner.… Continue Reading
THE VENOM OF HONOR • by Cheryl Heineman
I heard footsteps come into the house. Then, silence. As young girls, after we helped plant vegetables in the garden, my older sister Ammara and I would fill our straw baskets with mangoes and climb to a high place on… Continue Reading
SNACKS • by Aaron Polson
Mrs. Jane Kotwitz eyed the lesson plan with curious disapproval. Typed neatly with plenty of white margin for notes, the plan for third hour simply read, “Paxton — reading. He takes the lone seat by the windows.” Mrs. Kotwitz’s eyes… Continue Reading