Bewitched By Moonlight

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by C.L. Sidell

She stands by the river—silver hair gleaming in the moonlight, limbs pale as milk.

Haru drops the kettle, deaf to its clanging against the pebbled shore.

“Beautiful…”

The kimono-clad vixen turns. Smiling, eyes twinkling, she extends a porcelain-smooth palm.

Haru steps forward. Drawn by seductiveness. Blind to reason. Only as furred fingers encircle his wrist, does he notice the watery reflection:

Nine fluffy, silver tails part the strands of her silken mane.

Haru’s yearning swiftly yields to terror as the kitsune’s nose lengthens into a snout. Claws flash, slicing his torso from collarbone to pelvis…silencing his screams forever.

 

C.L. Sidell

A native Floridian, C. L. Sidell grew up playing with toads in the rain and indulging in speculative fiction. Her work has appeared in The Dread Machine, Factor Four Magazine, F&SF, Martian Magazine, Medusa Tales Magazine, and others.

Website: crystalsidell.wixsite.com/mysite/publications

 

Aya’s Makami

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by Pauline Yates

Aya, the transfer student, acts nonchalant, but beneath her straight fringe, her enormous eyes glisten with new-school nerves, and she clutches a diary to her flat chest like a life support. Fool. That diary begs to be read. Especially by me.

I snatch the diary from her matchstick fingers. Flipping it open, I stare into the eyes of Makami. The divine protector looks into my heart, then gives a guttural roar and swallows me whole.

I’m not alone. Another bully hunkers in the beast’s belly, her round face whiter than a tsuki moon. Somewhere above us, savage teeth snap shut.

 

Pauline Yates

Pauline Yates, Australian author of the sci-fi action/adventure, Memories Don’t Lie. Writes dark stories. Loves bright sunrises.

Website: paulineyates.com

 

Anime Killed Me Today

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by Mike Rader

You’re killing me girl,

you’re thrilling me girl,

with your pert nose

and lips like roses

love yo’ eyes

but then I spies

the dagger in your hand!

It looks awesome and

you wanna nab me

you wanna stab me

you mean to harm me girl

embalm me girl

I won’t let you girl

watch me twist and whirl

don’t wanna cartoon death

don’t wanna feel your breath

you ain’t gonna spill my blood

you ain’t gonna see it flood

oooooh, that cold steel

oooooh, it feels real

gonna die now girl

gonna expire girl

anime anime

killed me today!

 

Mike Rader

James Aitchison is an Australian author and poet.  He writes horror and noir fiction under the pseudonyms Mike Rader and JJ Munro. As James Lee, his horror and mystery stories for middle readers are bestsellers in Asia.

Website: flameoftheforest.com

 

Animalady

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by Jasiah Witkofsky

What the hell are these kids watching?!

I flip on the tube after my sons scurry off to finish their homework.

A blinding series of flashes and I nearly spill my brewski on my crotch. Damn kids!

The voices of some bratty teens squeals over the worst music I have ever heard.

For some reason, a wide-eyed, pink-haired punk starts a fight with a demon. Up-skirt shots and so much blood…

My boys should know better than watch this shit! And what’s with all the tentacles?

These damn kids are gonna be the death of me.

 

R.I.P.

Marvin Gaylord

1975-2023

 

Jasiah Witkofsky

Jasiah Witkofsky is a philosopher-gardener who spends his off hours penning dark speculative fiction and swashbuckling tales of daring and adventure. He resides at the foothill base of the magical Sierra Nevadas of Northern California with his merry band of rascals and rapscallions. His works can be found in more than ten publishers, magazines, and journal companies from all over the English-speaking world.

Facebook: @jasiahwitkofskyauthorpage

 

Am I Pretty?

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by Don Money

The task force had found the monster’s lair after months on the trail of the kuchisake-onna, The Slit-Mouth Killer, as the papers dubbed her. The investigation had consumed Captain Suto, the bloody images were a web of scars in his mind.

Suto’s department issued .38 Special revolver looked out of place amongst the weapons of the Special Assault Team. He followed the breach team in but was immediately pushed back outside.

The officers meant to shield him, but it was too late, the captain saw the body of his daughter under the red smeared “Am I Pretty?” on the wall.

 

Don Money

Don Money writes stories across a variety of genres. He is a middle school language arts teacher. His stories have appeared in a variety of anthologies.

 

 

All Over

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by JB Corso

Thomas floats away in bloody chunks towards their subterranean nest. Bits of his ear, sections of his tail, and several whiskers are carried away after their workers methodically snip each bloody piece away. Memories of his guttural whining hang within my tortured mind like mangrove tree seeds. The locals warned me about the outback’s jack jumper ants. I should’ve listened. Instead, they’re beginning to close in around my rock sanctuary. My refuge shrinks as they begin jumping closer like an excited ebony mass of finality. Thousands of golden mandibles clicking together near my open-toed sandals. Each tiny pincer advances closer.

 

JB Corso

JB Corso is a mental health clinician who continues to work with vulnerable populations. Their writing motto is “Developing stories into masterpieces.” They’ve been published several times in The Siren’s Call and are a Horror Writer’s Association (HWA) member.

 

 

A Siren’s Pitcher

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by Rowan West

She called to me from the jungle, a voice more beautiful than the moon itself. I was compelled to follow. She was exquisite to behold, perched on the ridged edge of a wellspring, its shape the most feminine thing I’d ever seen: a green and wine-coloured teardrop with a gorgeous canopy rising up behind. The beauty beckoned, invited me into that sweet smelling vessel. Unbelieving, I rose to her, and slipped over the lip into the pool. It was warm…So warm! And as the nectar enveloped me, I saw that canopy begin to close; and then I knew.

 

Rowan West

An Aussie-American, Rowan West is an award-winning screenwriter who grew up moving around as a child. He has lived on three continents, in three countries, in eight states, a parish and a region, one of them four times. He has worked as an actor, writer, designer, and enjoys studying psychology.