by Nerisha Kemraj A loud rumble shakes Noah awake. Third day without food, he wouldn’t last another night. He crawls on the floor, weak arms struggling to hold his sign, even though the rush of feet threatens to trample him. A sudden boom erupts… He watches as the pedestrian collides with the speeding train. Within […]
by Jeff Currier Desperate for food, Basil and Chloe risked an already looted grocery. A scavenger band ambushed them. Consciousness fading, Chloe never expected to reawaken. *** The leader’s matronly voice penetrated Chloe’s resurrecting awareness. “Your husband claims you’re a doctor.” Chloe nodded, though the Collapse had cut medical school short. The woman proffered a […]
by Nina Miller Tori awoke, missing a thumb. A skeletonised stump jutted out from her palm. Phantom pains pulsed. She sucked the nubbin, and its coppery tang activated her taste buds. She got out of bed. Empty cans rattled around her feet like bones. No food remained. Vermin had fled. Tori’s roach jar was empty. […]
by Chris Clemens I’ve been here before. Chloroformed. Abducted. Shivering in a mystery kitchen, somewhere without extradition laws. Chopping peppers with shaky hands. Serving up inventive dishes using shark steak, canned cat food, polystyrene bricks. Watched by millions on encrypted livestream, probably because the losing chef gets beheaded. Finals. Blindfold off. It’s infamous Chef Miko, […]
by C.L. Sidell Damien sets the bell curve—gets A-pluses on exams, wins first place for science fair projects. “Why couldn’t you have got your brother’s brains?” That’s a good question. One that I ponder for days. I know siblings—even identical twins—inherit different traits from each parent. Maybe… I conduct my own experiment. When our parents […]
by Scott O’Neill “Stupid goose,” said the witch. “The opening is big enough. See, I myself could get in.” She stuck her head into the oven. Gretel shoved the witch and slammed the door. The witch howled frightfully. Finally, all was still. Gretel started towards Hansel’s cage, then stopped. The smell of roasted witch had […]
by Tim Law I have whispered those words before, in passionate moments when desire has overruled logic. Tonight, you believe we have taken playtime from the bedroom to the kitchen. Your naivety makes me smile. Tied to the table instead of the bed, I run my teaser across your flesh, only this time it is […]
by M. Belanger Sever the head with a single, swift strike. To hesitate brings shame to the family. Open the cavity and remove all organs. Offer these to the gods. They like their meat bloody. Dig a pit two handspans wider than the carcass in all directions. In the bottom, kindle a fire of sacred […]
by Weird Wilkins I always thought I’d die in battle… Now I lie here, the drifting snow slowly smothering my twisted form. My skin, blackened and wracked with weeping welts, sloughs in great hunks from my charred bones. I try to speak, to curse at the one who has wrought this upon me, but I […]
by Kai Delmas Gunnar breathed in the sea spray as if it were mead while they sailed through the storm. Midgard’s edge was surely close now. They had been sailing for weeks. Scales rippled in the choppy waves. “Jörmungandr!” Ivar roared from above, pointing. Finally, Gunnar thought, readying axe and shield. His companions joined him […]