Dark Moments

Vanished by T.J. Gallasch sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Vanished by T.J. Gallasch" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Vanished by T.J. Gallasch

“Where are the twins?” Mandy asked her mother. “Gone with Daisy down to the billabong to cool off,” Nanna Rose replied. “And you let them?!” “Don’t worry!” the older woman...

Vanished by T.J. Gallasch

“Where are the twins?” Mandy asked her mother. “Gone with Daisy down to the billabong to cool off,” Nanna Rose replied. “And you let them?!” “Don’t worry!” the older woman...

The Ruins by David Albano sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="The Ruins by David Albano" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

The Ruins by David Albano

Images carved into the ice dance in shadows along the frozen corridors. Impish creatures and horned beasts glow among the etchings… That expedition still flickers across my memory like a...

The Ruins by David Albano

Images carved into the ice dance in shadows along the frozen corridors. Impish creatures and horned beasts glow among the etchings… That expedition still flickers across my memory like a...

The Final Gift Before Joining Our Family by Katara J. Z. sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="The Final Gift Before Joining Our Family by Katara J. Z." class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

The Final Gift Before Joining Our Family by Kat...

A faded jewellery box with a lacklustre ribbon beckoned from my stocking. Merry Christmas Eve, my future in-laws whispered. Waiting inside: a tarnished watch, hands frozen a minute to midnight....

The Final Gift Before Joining Our Family by Kat...

A faded jewellery box with a lacklustre ribbon beckoned from my stocking. Merry Christmas Eve, my future in-laws whispered. Waiting inside: a tarnished watch, hands frozen a minute to midnight....

O, Christmas Tree by S. Jade Path sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="O, Christmas Tree by S. Jade Path" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

O, Christmas Tree by S. Jade Path

The town council smiled stiffly as the Christmas tree blazed to life in the bright square. Cheers rose; mulled wine and cocoa flowed freely, carols filling the frozen air. “The...

O, Christmas Tree by S. Jade Path

The town council smiled stiffly as the Christmas tree blazed to life in the bright square. Cheers rose; mulled wine and cocoa flowed freely, carols filling the frozen air. “The...

I'll be Home for Christmas by Timmy le Frog sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="I'll be Home for Christmas by Timmy le Frog" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

I'll be Home for Christmas by Timmy le Frog

I lurch onward, burdened by gifts and a feeling I can’t quite place. Glad am I when my street comes into view. The name is the same but there is...

I'll be Home for Christmas by Timmy le Frog

I lurch onward, burdened by gifts and a feeling I can’t quite place. Glad am I when my street comes into view. The name is the same but there is...

Disgruntled by Jim Nemeth sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Disgruntled by Jim Nemeth" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Disgruntled by Jim Nemeth

Christmas morning, and ten-year-old Jimmy stared disbelievingly at the just-unwrapped present before him. “Jingle Bells” played softly in the background. “It’s a genuine Louisville Slugger bat, Champ!” his father declared...

Disgruntled by Jim Nemeth

Christmas morning, and ten-year-old Jimmy stared disbelievingly at the just-unwrapped present before him. “Jingle Bells” played softly in the background. “It’s a genuine Louisville Slugger bat, Champ!” his father declared...

Nothing for Christmas by Deborah Tapper sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Nothing for Christmas by Deborah Tapper" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Nothing for Christmas by Deborah Tapper

“Be good!” Mum warns. “Or you’ll get nothing for Christmas!” The twins ignore her threats. Especially when they notice the huge gift beneath the tree, which rattles enticingly when they...

Nothing for Christmas by Deborah Tapper

“Be good!” Mum warns. “Or you’ll get nothing for Christmas!” The twins ignore her threats. Especially when they notice the huge gift beneath the tree, which rattles enticingly when they...

You Better Watch Out by Kristin Lennox sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="You Better Watch Out by Kristin Lennox" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

You Better Watch Out by Kristin Lennox

Santa had no choice, really. Polls had shown a steep drop in popularity—more children believed in the Tooth Fairy than in him. It was either merge with the Demon Goat...

You Better Watch Out by Kristin Lennox

Santa had no choice, really. Polls had shown a steep drop in popularity—more children believed in the Tooth Fairy than in him. It was either merge with the Demon Goat...

Should've Mentioned Coal by Sloane sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Should've Mentioned Coal by Sloane" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Should've Mentioned Coal by Sloane

Leaning low to sniff at a tray of milk and cookies, the tooth fairy guzzled the former and scattered the latter. Sweet calcium. Horrid cavities. A noise. Movement briefly focused...

Should've Mentioned Coal by Sloane

Leaning low to sniff at a tray of milk and cookies, the tooth fairy guzzled the former and scattered the latter. Sweet calcium. Horrid cavities. A noise. Movement briefly focused...

Frostbite by A.C. Turner sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Frostbite by A.C. Turner" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Frostbite by A.C. Turner

We built him Tuesday after the first snow, used Mom’s buttons for his crooked smile. Wednesday he stood taller, thicker. Tommy’s scarf was wrapped around his neck. We didn’t put...

Frostbite by A.C. Turner

We built him Tuesday after the first snow, used Mom’s buttons for his crooked smile. Wednesday he stood taller, thicker. Tommy’s scarf was wrapped around his neck. We didn’t put...

A Cenobite Christmas by Liam Hogan sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="A Cenobite Christmas by Liam Hogan" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

A Cenobite Christmas by Liam Hogan

The house is quiet now. The dining table’s suspended mid-clearance. Father, having cut out his eyes with the carving knife, can’t see the mess of blood and guts congealing around...

A Cenobite Christmas by Liam Hogan

The house is quiet now. The dining table’s suspended mid-clearance. Father, having cut out his eyes with the carving knife, can’t see the mess of blood and guts congealing around...

Where the Grass Feeds by Kimberly Rei sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)" alt="Where the Grass Feeds by Kimberly Rei" class="motion-reduce" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="630" >

Where the Grass Feeds by Kimberly Rei

“Don't go there,” the locals warned. “People starve to death there.” I laughed, pausing outside the pub to bring up a hiking map. The field was a shortcut to Mullaghmeen...

Where the Grass Feeds by Kimberly Rei

“Don't go there,” the locals warned. “People starve to death there.” I laughed, pausing outside the pub to bring up a hiking map. The field was a shortcut to Mullaghmeen...