Bzzzt. Mariah tried not to look at the phone rattling on the wood-patterned laminate next to the engraved James Robertson nameplate. Because three years at the same Godforsaken bank and they hadn’t given Mariah her own desk. “Are you James?”… Continue Reading
Becca and Carl, Becca’s second husband, were in town. Tammy and I lived in Brentwood then with three children: Two from Tammy’s previous marriage and our own feral three-year-old. Tammy used to call Carl a bottomless pit of whiskey. She… Continue Reading
Alfred and Eldrid crept down the chimney, their tiny bodies moving easily in the cramped space. Hanging upside down, the elves scanned the living room for traps. As members of Santa’s Legendary Elite Investigative Getaway Helpers, or S.L.E.I.G.H. for short,… Continue Reading
There was a girl. An average sort of girl. Not an average girl exactly. But average in the way that you wouldn’t notice her, wouldn’t remember her. On the street, your gaze wouldn’t follow her — there would be other… Continue Reading
The antennae sprang from the cashier’s head. Jim rolled his eyes. He had come to the North Carolina mountains to exorcise writer’s block. He didn’t need another pull-the-rug-from-under-you plot twist. He had enough bad ideas on his own. Aliens did… Continue Reading
Oct 31st, 7pm I met up with Zara outside The Slug and Lettuce. Purple hair this year, but still that effortless rank look, wild and matted. Nice ragged slash along her throat, exposing the carotid and lots of gore splattered around… Continue Reading
Vladimir loves vampires. Ever since the night spent huddled on the couch, peering from beneath a blanket while watching Blood of Dracula on his mother’s little black and white television, he’s been hooked. He faked the flu during grade school… Continue Reading
I was sitting in the canteen minding my own business. I had a coffee and a crossword. I swear I wasn’t earwigging, it was just that what she said was arresting. There were two women who were clearly pregnant —… Continue Reading
They’re halfway back home before either of them says anything. The late Sunday afternoon traffic is light, but they’re stuck behind an Eddie Stobart lorry and the road is too twisty for Tim to get past. “Well,” says Angela eventually.… Continue Reading
Dana sat down heavily on the park bench. She was significantly late for what was sure to be a long and stressful day at the office. People were probably looking for her already. Her phone was buzzing in her pocket… Continue Reading