by Scott O’Neill Buzzing fluorescent tubes fitfully illuminated the dank, cluttered hostel basement. “The washer’s munted.” Whirling and dropping laundry, the American girl gawped at Noah. “Jeez! You scared me! That accent… Australia?” Leaning against a red-spattered freezer, Noah grimaced. “New Zealand.” Her brow furrowed. “Not Australia?” “Decidedly not.” “Our exchange student had an Australian […]
by Madeline Mora-Summonte The music, always so loud. Edna asks, begs, demands. The neighbours next door stare blankly, deny, close the door in her face. Fury scorches her. Then, the icy focus finds her. Happens every time. That night, Edna pads across the back lawn, hatchet in hand. She slashes, silences the stereo, radio, phone. […]
by Lauren Dennis Putting my fist through Valerie’s shit-eating grin is akin to feeding it into the office industrial shredder. Her teeth slice my skin, sending shards of enamel and flesh plopping into Susan’s coffee. The blood and icing-coated knife in Valerie’s shaking hand narrowly misses my cheek, allowing me to slam her skull against […]
by Jonathan Tolstedt The contractor pointed out three places where nails I had driven into studs had broken through the sides of the noggins. Three nails out of how many thousands I had put into this house? He told me to fix them and went on about how he puts a part of himself into […]
by Stephen Herczeg I can’t believe she did it again. Sixth time this week. Rule One: Always expect someone is leaving the elevator. Does she care? No. Every time the doors open, in she charges, regardless of whether you’re getting out or not. She’s like a virus. Others drawn by her stupidity follow her in […]
by Kristin Lennox Doug’s head snapped forward as he woke with a snort; the greasy pizza box in his lap fell to the floor. He squinted at the sun streaming through the tiny basement windows: mid-afternoon? But what day? Doug cracked his neck and set his controller on the desk…or tried. The gamepad was stuck […]
by Bridget Holland Gabby smacked her torch against the hydra’s severed neck. Flesh sizzled. The air stank. “Last head!” Luke called through the murk. “Keep up!” As she lunged forward, a coil clamped onto her shoulder. She fell, swamp water closing over her head. Her health points flashed red. Blackness. *** Her mother, shaking her […]
by Crystal N. Ramos I didn’t do it. She was my daughter, officer. I was playing some kind of new VR game. Really immersive. See, you run around stealing cars and stuff and try to evade the law. The game has this mechanic where you can pick up a prostitute, gain health, and then kill […]
by Grace Quon Derek grabbed the shotgun from the table. Six shells. Guttural snarls erupted in the hallway. He burst the first zombie’s head open like a rotten melon, but the next one was already charging. Bring it on, assholes. A minute later, six festering corpses littered the floor. TUTORIAL COMPLETED What? ExtremeReality had hyped […]
by Nina Miller You saw me selling wares from a cart. Watched my bosom jiggle as I cried over my pies. Asked me what was wrong, and I told you of my sister kidnapped by necromancers. I needed a knight errant and offered what I had. You obliged. You entered the cave and negotiated with […]