He couldn’t help but clean his teeth at his desk with a straightened paperclip, not even realizing he was doing it, soothed by the addictive scraping, unaware of those watching him. A nickname that stuck for years after, the grooves still in his enamel.… more
Category Archives: FICTION
Sit a Spell
FICTION by Jill WilliamsI took those Precious Moments angels out to the red clay driveway and lined them up like killers facing a firing squad. I aimed my Hellcat 9mm straight at their soulful saucer eyes and blasted their innocence into a pile of porcelain, shattering their skulls just the way they had shattered mine.… more
Thomas Burke, 1983
FICTION by Steve LambertI whispered to her, “You’re like a dead catbird to me.” It just came out. I’m out of control sometimes. But I did love a dead catbird once. When something’s dead and you feel an ache for it, that’s love.… more
Two Stories
FICTION by Jon WesickTo deliver Russia’s most advanced submarine to America, Captain Boris Zardoz beats the political officer into a stupor with a dozen kicks to the face, stashes the rat bastard Commie in one-of-two bathrooms, and keeps the crew of 160 away with an out-of-order sign.… more
Old Style
FICTION by Robert ParilloOthers have come here. Sacrifices have been made. The suffering is ancient and it gets inside your nerves. But at least when you hear the screaming, you know where it’s coming from.… more
Owl Farm
FICTION by Mike EvansThe next thing I knew, me, Hunter S. Thompson, and the apparitions he’d conjured; terrible, naked creatures doubled over at various coordinates dotting the property’s back forty, relieving themselves of their lunches and who knows what else against a perfect Colorado sky.… more
Jon’s Plan
FICTION by D.A. GrimIf he had a little angel on his shoulder right now, it would tell him to hit the guy from behind real quick, take the fifty bucks, and run. And if there was a devil on John’s shoulder, it would tell him to do the same thing but take all of his money.… more
The Apple Unbitten
FICTION by Josh TealI came across a job posting for a water slide tester at a park called HydroTopia. In my application, I said I had balls the weight of osmium and a passion for water. They got back to me that same day and brought me in for an interview.… more
Christian Charity
FICTION by Frank Byrns“Your mistake,” Margie said, holding the sawed-off shotgun, “was confusing my kindness with weakness.”… more
The Junkie Upstairs
FICTION by Whitney R HolpI will always remember that fat junkie sitting in my rocking chair, strumming away, an urgent blank-faced zombie chant: “Kill them all, kill them all / Everyone must suffer now / Everyone must pay.”… more
