Tag Archive for: dark moments

Not a Reflection on the Quality of the Work

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by Arvee Fantilagan

“Rubbish,” she brutalised one submitter. “Worthless,” another.

Her own cruelty made her wince.

“Tenth straight rejection. I suggest a career change.”

Yet people kept submitting! And who could blame them? “Eternal Damnation Magazine” would sound badass on any bio.

DID YOU ACCEPT ANYONE?

She flinched, flames scorching her face.

“There wasn’t anyone good enough…”

LIAR!!

She screamed as her skin melted into syrup. It would regrow soon enough—though she knew a chunk of her dignity would not.

TEN NEW SOULS, OR ELSE.

Grimacing and on fire, she began messaging the next submitter:

“Congratulations! We really enjoyed your piece—”

Arvee Fantilagan

Arvee Fantilagan grew up in the Philippines, lives in Japan, and has more of his works at sites.google.com/view/arveef. He hopes to write a better bio someday.

Bleed Red

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by Don Money

“As I mentioned when you signed the contract for editorial services, my expertise comes with a price,” Vachele Quinn said to the younger man.

The imposing view of the city from the ninety-seventh floor splayed out behind the man at the desk furthered the trepidation felt by Cameron Yates. “I thought you were kidding. You can’t be serious?”

“Oh, I am quite serious,” Vachele replied. The editor slid the empty ink well and syringe across to Cameron. “I find writers make fewer mistakes when they have to give a little of themselves to help me mark the corrections I find.”

Don Money

Don Money writes stories across a variety of genres. He is a middle school literacy teacher. His stories have appeared in a variety of anthologies and magazines.

Cutting Words

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by S.F.J. Painter

“You’re awake. Good. Wondering why you’re here? Stop whimpering. Well, dear boy, you’ve been my editor for many years. Sorry – was that too many words for you? Curious why you’re naked, tied to a chair, your skin a patchwork of ink and blood? You didn’t know I was in earshot. I heard everything: ‘Another bloated horror novel from the king of verbosity, every other word needs cutting’ Well, there they are—all 227,000 of my blood-sweated beauties etched into your flesh.”

The author leans in, scalpel glinting in the candlelight. “Let’s begin by cutting out some adjectives, shall we?”

S.F.J. Painter

Simon Painter lives in the UK with his lovely wife, cat and chickens. He’s a former actor, puppeteer and theatre director and has written or adapted over 20 professionally produced plays. Simon’s has been a mental health therapist for far too many years and is currently recovering from prostate cancer.

Woeful Distortion

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by Evan Baughfman

In the funhouse mirror, Paul looked ridiculously out of proportion—legs stubby, torso stretched out like taffy. His arms were disjointed giraffe limbs, impossibly long and spindly.

“Disgusting,” Paul spat.

He modelled for local shops. Usually, mirrors were his friends.

His distorted reflection grinned huge teeth, even as Paul grimaced.

He lifted a middle finger. Realised it had actually become a horribly elongated digit.

His hands! They resembled pale, upturned spider crabs!

Paul stumbled away from the mirror on abridged femurs, tiny feet. His cavernous mouth sobbed atop a now-wobbly upper body.

Outside, Paul was recruited for the carnival’s sideshow.

Evan Baughfman

Evan Baughfman is a middle school teacher and author. Much of his writing success has been as a playwright. A number of his scripts can be found at online resources, Drama Notebook and New Play Exchange. Evan also writes horror fiction and screenplays.

The Mirror Doesn’t Lie

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by Susan Monroe McGrath

“Hold still.”

Before I can protest, my sister yanks a hair from my scalp.

“Got it!” She holds the gleaming grey strand like a trophy. “Once you find the first grey hair, it’s all downhill.”

I retreat to the bathroom and stare into the mirror. Another grey hair. Sigh.

I mimic my sister, reaching up to pull the offending hair. It feels like it’s attached to my brain.

A drop of blood runs from my hairline, but I can’t stop. I pull harder.

My skin rips before the hair releases, opening my scalp like a zipper.

My sister was right.

Susan Monroe McGrath

Susan Monroe McGrath is a theatre graduate from a school of the arts who still can’t decide what she wants to be when she grows up. By night, she writes novels and short stories in a variety of genres. By day, she teaches science to high school students.

Website: susanmonroemcgrath.home.blog

The Ruthless Red Pen

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by Randall Andrews

In the south of Australia, an editor sits at his desk wielding a magical red pen. The story before him morphs with his every deft touch, the words shifting and shuffling on the page.

After an hour, he flips to the last page of the manuscript, tweaking the author’s bio ever so slightly before moving on to the headshot. With confident strokes, he goes to work, removing an ugly skin blemish, straightening an awkwardly crooked nose, trimming away a little extra flesh from the cheeks.

***

In the northern United States, an author screams in agony as the edits take effect.

Randall Andrews

Randall Andrews is the author of two books, Finding Hour Way and The Last Guardian of Magic, which won the National Indie Excellence Award. His shorter works have appeared in places like Abyss & Apex, Space & Time, Mystery Tribune, and Sci-Fi Shorts. You can find his books at online retailers.

Narcissus: A Retelling

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by C.L. Sidell

“Steer clear of Marwynn’s Pond.”

Curious to see this forbidden place, I creep past Crocus Lane into Farthery Forest.

The pond appears after an hour of hiking, water glinting where sunrays touch it through the coniferous canopy.

Crouching at the bank, I peer into its silvery depths and see myself—eyes brighter, face unblemished.

“I’d no idea I was so beautiful…”

Awe-stricken, I reach toward the liquid mirror—and my ghastly grinning reflection breaks through, grips my wrist, pulls me under.

Down to a bed of scattered bones. Where I thrash and choke. And the watery surface above remains breathtakingly still.

C.L. Sidell

A native Floridian, C.L. Sidell grew up playing with toads in the rain and indulging in speculative fiction. Her work has appeared in Cosmic Background, Factor Four Magazine, F&SF, Martian Magazine, Stupefying Stories, and others.

Website: https://crystalsidell.wixsite.com/mysite/publications

Future Reflections

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by Dillon Hendrick

There’s a mirror in the woods, and this sounds crazy, but I think it can tell the future. I found it while wearing new hiking gear, but in my reflection, I had a gaping hole in the knee of my pants. Bewildered, I kept hiking. Moments later, I fell, ripping my pants.

Coincidence? Maybe. But get this. I went back to find my reflection wearing a red sweater. That night, after dirtying my shirt, my friend let me borrow that very sweater.

So, you can imagine my concern when today’s reflection showed a bloodied stump where my head should be.

Dillon Hendrick

Dillon Hendrick is a psychiatric behavioural nurse with an unsurmountable love for literature and horror. His interest in the macabre dates back to his childhood, reading R. L. Stine in his front yard. When he is not working, reading, or writing, Dillon spends his time with his two young children and his beautiful wife.

You = We Now

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by T.J. Gallasch

You try to ignore us; believe you succeed. Splashing water across the bathroom mirror merely blurs our smile. Each puddle you splash in, each shop window you rush by. You don’t notice us getting closer.

You doze on the bus ride in; we creep and sneak, almost there. Twenty floors up is where your office is waiting. You catch the lift and suddenly we are all around you. Reaching for the kitchen knife you didn’t know we’d placed in your pocket, you grin because now it’s OUR turn to write the story. We guarantee it will be a fun one.

T.J. Gallasch

Open Call – Dark Moments – Drabbles – Evil Editors

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DARK MOMENTS – MONTHLY THEME

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