by Jake Jerome The travel brochure said these are the clearest waters in the world, and God, it’s true. I can see everything. The coral reefs. The fish whose species I’ll never know. The hermit crab taking residence inside of my hollowed out foot. I didn’t lose much blood when Mr Hermit came along […]
by Fiona M. Jones The bad dreams started when he was a baby. He got eaten by wild animals, struck by lightning, he fell from terrible heights or drowned in deep water… and every time I am paralysed, unable to save him. I would wake, sweating, silently screaming, and slowly breathe again. The day […]
by Jo Mularczyk “Look Mama, a mermaid!” The child’s shriek of wonder froze on her lips as the creature turned from its perch upon the rock. The golden tendrils the child had admired were revealed to be a web of sand-infested kelp writhing with tortured sea urchins. The creature’s skin was a pallid green, […]
by Avery Hunter Caked in No-Man’s-Land mud, ears still ringing from the explosion that took my leg—I haven’t yet realised its gone, there’s just a dull throb where it used to be—I blink shit from my eyes. Jimmy lies next to me, a smile on his face. “It’s over, Lance,” he says, clear as […]
by Warren Benedetto Jameson surveyed the battle-scarred landscape. Shadows rose from the mud, moving through the fog obscuring the carnage. The sharp smell of cordite hung in the air. Jameson’s ears were numb—the only sound was the agonising wail of an injured soldier on the ground beneath him. Shrapnel had shredded the man’s face; […]
by Stephen Herczeg Insects. After decades of Hollywood telling us that aliens were little green men, they finally arrived. And they were insects. Bigger than rhinos. Tougher than cockroaches. And hungry. The first wave hit New York. Ripping apart people like they were dolls. We deployed within hours. Thousands swarmed the streets; the sound […]
by Steven Lord The crosshairs rest just above the target’s spine. Cold zero. That’s what we call these shots. No chance to learn the pull of the rifling, or the lie of the scope. The flag flutters slightly in the wind. I adjust my aim half a degree left. I’ve scored seven kills this […]
by Pauline Yates Why’d you bring me home, Jimmy? Couldn’t hack a third tour of duty? The war ain’t over. You and me, we make the best team. But you’re a coward, ain’t ya, Jimmy? Shit, if it wasn’t for me, you’d be rotting in a body bag. Is this how you repay me? […]
by N.E. Rule On her patio, Linda’s jaw clenches in determination as she starts her classical music. Exactly one minute later, punk rock blasts back at her from her enemy’s yard. She storms onto his deck. His words strike first from his hot tub. “Dumb bitch, stealing my batteries is the best you got? […]
by Marion Lougheed I float above the body that used to be mine, imagining I will break free if only I tug hard enough. Our corpses blanket the field, our blood already drying. Our enemy has slain us all. “Help me!” I call, but I am voiceless. The survivors straggle up the hill. A […]