Tag Archive for: dark moments

A Donation

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by Keev Kennedy

I expected my drunk brother to be the 3 a.m. knocker, but what I got was a little girl and a box.

“My sisters and I are seeking donations for our food drive,” she said. “Can you spare a part?”

“Come back in the morning,” I answered exhaustedly.

The girl frowned, then knelt and opened the box. “But the lady next door donated.”

I froze when I saw the severed fingers inside.

From the darkness emerged four little girls with demonic yellow eyes. As they marched towards me, knives in hand, the little girl said, “Please, sir. Any part will do.”

Keev Kennedy

Originally from Ireland, Keev Kennedy has always had a passion for telling stories. He currently lives in Canada. His works can be found in an edition of Every Day Fiction and multiple Black Hare Press anthologies.

 

The Walker

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by Francesco Levato

The growling was ragged and wet, like a frenzy of teeth tearing a child’s beloved toy apart. It set my senses on edge, broke the neighbourhood’s pre-dawn stillness—and it was getting closer.

The pack rounded the corner, thundering into the haze of the streetlight. As it closed on me, I could make out individual forms; dog-like, but far too big for the leashes they strained against—and their eyes, too much like embers. Behind them dragged a corpse, still clutching the leashes.

I felt lightheaded, insubstantial. Who walks dogs at devil’s hour? Why was the corpse wearing my clothes?

Francesco Levato

Francesco Levato is a poet, professor, and writer of speculative fiction. More about his work can be found here:

Website: francescolevato.com

 

Schoolyard

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by Brandon Korth

Living beside an elementary school is good fun during the day. Listening to the kids play ball, swing on the swings, and run around laughing can cheer me up in the foulest of moods, but that stops during the night. When the echoes of the kids continue to sound after the moon rises, the metal creaking as the swings sway back and forth, and the balls bounce off of the walls. Sleeping with my back to the first floor window as they bounce closer until they touch the glass and I turn to see nothing there. That’s what gets me.

Brandon Korth

Brandon Korth is a full-time, single dad living in Ontario. He used to write articles for Obilisk.co while earning two diplomas in policing at his local college.

 

The Invitation

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by G.B. Dinesh

The doorbell rings. It’s 3 a.m. God, who died?

I find a postman outside the door.

“Hello, Mr Smith.” He hands over an invitation.

An invitation to—

“Mister, what game are you playing?” I try to grab his collar, but I can’t.

I dash to the bedroom.

I touch my wife, I feel nothing. I kiss her lips, I feel nothing. I kneel down on the floor and weep. In her sleep, her face slowly settles into the most beautiful smile in the world. Holding that smile in my memory and the invitation to heaven in my hand, I leave.

G.B. Dinesh

G.B. Dinesh is a young Indian writer whose works span across many genres.

 

Lemonade, Mister?

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by Josh Hagen

Three nights in a row. Cars lined up for blocks through the neighbourhood. The crowd has grown from last time. More like a swarm. All searching for their sweet nectar.

I called the police again. The patrol showed up and got in line. Shuffling forward to receive their gift.

Enough of this. I storm outside in my robe and slippered feet. Three in the morning.

My temper flaring. “Hey! Some of us have to work in the morning.”

The mob turns to me, parting in unison to allow passage.

The kids at the lemonade stand offer a cup.

“Lemonade, mister?

Josh Hagen

After spending years as a storyboard artist for film and television, Josh utilised the power of coffee to focus on his writing. Bit by bit he has clawed his way up the overwhelming mountain that is the writing process in the hopes of one day becoming a professional author.

 

The Window Cleaner

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by Tracy Davidson

I know that whistle. That thunk of ladder against wall, those heavy footsteps hitting every rung. But never at 3 a.m. before.

I’d heard he was ill, close to death. Guess not. Through thin curtains, I see the shape of head and torso. The squeak of his squeegee gets louder. Where his eyes would be, two glowing orbs cut through the curtain, their light creeping up my bedcovers. I try to reassure myself I’m dreaming.

Whistle, squeak. Whistle, squeak. Finally…silence. I rise, move to the window. Nothing. I sigh, relieved. Until…bare feet step on a soaking wet sponge.

Tracy Davidson

Tracy Davidson lives in Warwickshire, England, and writes poetry and flash fiction. Her work has appeared in various publications and anthologies, including: Poet’s Market, Mslexia, Atlas Poetica, Modern Haiku, The Binnacle, A Hundred Gourds, Shooter, Journey to Crone, The Great Gatsby Anthology, WAR, In Protest: 150 Poems for Human Rights.

 

Neighbourly

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by Sheridan “Virgil” Seine

I’m new to the neighbourhood, and work night shift. Lately, I’m waking up to footsteps and a knock outside my bedroom window.

Wilson, my always smiling, retired neighbour, is on the other side of the glass; a wide-eyed stare coming through the blinds, the afternoon sun on his face. Chuckling, he reminds me that the grass needs to be cut.

But I’m on vacation this week and it’s the middle of the night.

I roll over in bed, and my eyes drift to the window at my shoulder. A bug-eyed smile just outside says, “Not yet. Go back to sleep.”

Sheridan “Virgil” Seine

Co-administrator of The Twisted Castle, Sheridan “Virgil” Seine has been a professional monster wrangler for over 20 years. In his spare time, once his wards have been safely returned to their individual habitats, Virgil researches various literary genres to produce content for his YouTube channel, Literally Books. He also lets his wife write his bios.

 

Queen of the Night

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by Jeff Currier

“Staring out his sliding door, wishing for sleep, Jacob spied his new neighbour, poised atop a beach towel, rubbing lotion over gleaming moonlit porcelain skin. Adjusting her scant blood-red bikini, she lay back as if starting a mid-afternoon sunbath.

Suddenly swathed in full moonlight, she blossomed blindingly bright. Blinking away afterimages, Jacob saw her towel, smouldering in the grass, empty. He rushed outside; stopped short. Basking, glowing, she smiled, moonbeams glinting off—what the hell? She brushed his arm. A sharp prick, then darkness.

Dew-covered, Jacob awoke, a throbbing rash wrapping his arm, radiating from an embedded porcelain-white cactus spine.

Jeff Currier

Jeff works three jobs, so has little time to write. Hence, he writes little stories.

 

We All Scream

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by Kristin Lennox

“London Bridge is Falling Down…” The piping calliope music was faint, but it pulled Cindy from sleep.

Instead of pondering why the ice cream truck was trundling slowly through the neighbourhood in the dead of night, Cindy frantically scoured her bedroom for loose change.

Broke and dejected, she barely recognised her friend Hannah in the moonlight, accepting a double-scoop cone from a white-gloved hand. So lucky.

Such a waste, though, Cindy thought, as she discovered the cone in the street the next morning, upside down in a sticky puddle of mint chocolate chip…

…and a splash of bright raspberry swirl.

Kristin Lennox

Kristin is delighted to have had several drabbles published by Black Hare Press. She’s also a voice actor, and when she’s not talking to herself in her padded room (home studio), she tries to get the voices out of her head and onto the page.

 

Witching Hour

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by Kimberly Rei 

“We are gathered here to welcome Isabella into our church and our hearts.”

The small group pulled closer, sighing with joy at the bundle in the priest’s hands. He held the baby over a font, dribbling water on her forehead as he spoke. For her part, Isabella didn’t cry. She hiccuped at him, drawing indulgent laughter.

One by one, the candles flicked out, casting the church into shadow. A full moon shone through stained glass windows, painting priest and child in deep crimson tones. Chanting filled the space as unseen joined the ceremony.

This child would have a blessed life.

Kimberly Rei

Kimberly Rei does her best work in the places that can’t exist…the in-between places where imagination defies reality. With a penchant for dark corners and hooks that leave readers looking over their shoulder, she is always on the lookout for new ideas and new ways to make words dance.

Website: reitales.com