Dark Moments
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alt="A Song for Dorian by Carol Ryles"
class="motion-reduce"
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height="630"
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A Song for Dorian by Carol Ryles
"Ta-da!" Lucinda gestured to her newest creation: a tree adorned with taxidermic hummingbirds, cygnets, sparrows, and ducklings. Dorian chuckled, then guzzled his third goblet of merlot. "That takes stuffing the turkey...
A Song for Dorian by Carol Ryles
"Ta-da!" Lucinda gestured to her newest creation: a tree adorned with taxidermic hummingbirds, cygnets, sparrows, and ducklings. Dorian chuckled, then guzzled his third goblet of merlot. "That takes stuffing the turkey...
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alt="Always Watching by Sophie Wagner"
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height="630"
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Always Watching by Sophie Wagner
As he rotted away, cheeks sallow, smile bloody, dreams of sugarplums died. Even magic couldn’t fix him. “Good morning!” piped a sing-song voice from the speakers in the padded room....
Always Watching by Sophie Wagner
As he rotted away, cheeks sallow, smile bloody, dreams of sugarplums died. Even magic couldn’t fix him. “Good morning!” piped a sing-song voice from the speakers in the padded room....
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alt="Coal by David D. West"
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height="630"
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Coal by David D. West
Santa turned away from the plate of milk and cookies and saw the round rump of a boy digging through his sack of wonders. He frowned as the greedy boy...
Coal by David D. West
Santa turned away from the plate of milk and cookies and saw the round rump of a boy digging through his sack of wonders. He frowned as the greedy boy...
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Consequences by Mel Andela"
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height="630"
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Consequences by Mel Andela
A dead mouse sat in sister's stocking, a toy car on the stairs for mother, and Jamie nestled with visions of destruction rather than sugar plums. He sees you when...
Consequences by Mel Andela
A dead mouse sat in sister's stocking, a toy car on the stairs for mother, and Jamie nestled with visions of destruction rather than sugar plums. He sees you when...
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Crossing the Line by Jameson Grey"
class="motion-reduce"
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height="630"
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Crossing the Line by Jameson Grey
New Year's Eve. The day the last of my line dies. I've hired a boat for the occasion—a yacht, no less! Sailed out to the Line Islands. Currently sitting one...
Crossing the Line by Jameson Grey
New Year's Eve. The day the last of my line dies. I've hired a boat for the occasion—a yacht, no less! Sailed out to the Line Islands. Currently sitting one...
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alt="Dear Santa by James Rumpel"
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Dear Santa by James Rumpel
Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year. Papa says I have been a wonderful helper. He says I am great bait and that I am getting strong...
Dear Santa by James Rumpel
Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year. Papa says I have been a wonderful helper. He says I am great bait and that I am getting strong...
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alt="Ketrokur by Don Money"
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Ketrokur by Don Money
Of the thirteen Yule Lads, Ketrokur was the most feared. While his brothers were known to slam doors, lick spoons, and other trivial inconveniences, Ketrokur lived up to his nickname,...
Ketrokur by Don Money
Of the thirteen Yule Lads, Ketrokur was the most feared. While his brothers were known to slam doors, lick spoons, and other trivial inconveniences, Ketrokur lived up to his nickname,...
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alt="Merry Crashed-Mass by Shawn M. Klimek"
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Merry Crashed-Mass by Shawn M. Klimek
Day 11: So cold. The smoking, skeletal remains of the crashed sleigh are poor shelter. Yet, to be more easily spotted by a search plane, I have resisted wandering. I...
Merry Crashed-Mass by Shawn M. Klimek
Day 11: So cold. The smoking, skeletal remains of the crashed sleigh are poor shelter. Yet, to be more easily spotted by a search plane, I have resisted wandering. I...
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Slaybells Ring by Dawn DeBraal"
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Slaybells Ring by Dawn DeBraal
The blackened finger of evil rolled down the elf's face, leaving a trail of blood behind it. "Where's the fat man?" "My loyalty is to Kris Kringle." "You stupid imp,...
Slaybells Ring by Dawn DeBraal
The blackened finger of evil rolled down the elf's face, leaving a trail of blood behind it. "Where's the fat man?" "My loyalty is to Kris Kringle." "You stupid imp,...
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Pony for Christmas by Pauline Yates"
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Pony for Christmas by Pauline Yates
My “ho’s” change to groans as I play the shopping mall Santa—my wife arrives with our granddaughter, Ester, and home-baked cookies for my tea break. I love Ester, but the...
Pony for Christmas by Pauline Yates
My “ho’s” change to groans as I play the shopping mall Santa—my wife arrives with our granddaughter, Ester, and home-baked cookies for my tea break. I love Ester, but the...
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alt="You Better Watch Out by Matt Krizan"
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You Better Watch Out by Matt Krizan
This year, when Santa crept down the chimney, Caroline was waiting. She hid behind the tree, delighted to see Santa go straight for the milk and cookies she'd left. As...
You Better Watch Out by Matt Krizan
This year, when Santa crept down the chimney, Caroline was waiting. She hid behind the tree, delighted to see Santa go straight for the milk and cookies she'd left. As...
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alt="Christmas Cards by Sheri White"
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Christmas Cards by Sheri White
My parents own a business, so we get a lot of Christmas cards with family photos on the front. You know, everyone in matching pyjamas, even the dog (okay, the...
Christmas Cards by Sheri White
My parents own a business, so we get a lot of Christmas cards with family photos on the front. You know, everyone in matching pyjamas, even the dog (okay, the...