Until last night, this morning even, it was always Marcus’s responsibility to keep the coal bin loaded and to keep the fire stoked. He was the last of the boys. The last of my brothers. The last of my siblings. It was the pox that got Johnny. Then Billy, Bobby, and Rachael (my twin) all… Continue reading Lizzy’s Brother
Tag: Horror
After Johnny’s Funeral
Revenge is a dish best served perpetually. I drop my purse on the kitchen counter and exhale for the first time in what feels like a decade. I hope my tears were convincing. After the funeral, Helen hugged me tightly, then looked at me with a strange expression that made me wonder. The way her… Continue reading After Johnny’s Funeral
Wormhole
The exterminator wipes his brow, pockets his grease-stained handkerchief, and checks his tablet again. “Yeah. We don’t see a lot of these. If I’m honest, they told us about these in class, but I swore the instructor was pulling our legs. Pranking us. You know? That it was a joke to see which of us… Continue reading Wormhole
Lou Cypher
June 2022 Flash Challenge, Day 12 The first thing I noticed about him was that he dressed impeccably in a black silk suit, the whitest shirt I’ve ever seen, and a red silk pocket square. His beard was salt and pepper but neatly maintained, and he carried himself with crazy confidence. His eyes were friendly… Continue reading Lou Cypher
Glitch Mendelsohn
June 2022 Flash Challenge, Day 9 I hurry my pace and steal a glance behind me. Damn it. They’re still there, the three teenage boys following me. Again, I allowed myself to forget that I’m an eighteen-year-old girl. What is my name this time? The body might be 18, but its rider is much older.… Continue reading Glitch Mendelsohn
Blythe
June 2022 Flash Challenge, Day 6 It is surprising how much misinformation the media and books have regarding monsters. The idea that the only way to kill a werewolf is with a silver bullet? Laughable nonsense. Or that vampires can’t go out in the sunlight? Silly and baseless. Most of them don’t like being in… Continue reading Blythe
Papa
June 2022 Flash Challenge, Day 3 Uncle Kenny never rises before noon on the camping trips. So far now, it’s just me, Cheryl, Adam, and dad, finishing our breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. The cool air and the smokey smell usually make me feel giddy in the mornings. That isn’t the case this morning.… Continue reading Papa
Reynaldo the Rat
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 66 His reactions were shock, followed by horror, then disgust – all in rapid succession. It wasn’t an enormous rat, nor was it small – if the man had to venture a guess, he would say the rat was average-sized. However, the thing that was not average was the… Continue reading Reynaldo the Rat
Monster
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 65 Monday – “Again, I’m sorry for snapping at you,” I say to Maria. She works with me at the spa where I give massages. “Uh-huh,” she says. I think she suspects something is up with me. I unloaded on her earlier. The funny thing is I don’t remember… Continue reading Monster
Mike
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 63 The injected serum doesn’t knock me out; it merely renders me temporarily paralyzed. One Week Ago, Tuesday “No, not Sherrie. Cheryl, with a ‘C?’” I say. “You have seen no clients named Sherrie or Cheryl this year,” Chrissy says. I’m getting mad. Chrissy sees my mood turning. “Here,… Continue reading Mike
Possession
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 45 It started with the damn tea! I’m sure of it. I’ve not felt the same since I drank the mysterious tea at the Chinese restaurant two weeks ago. Now maybe the two things are not causally related, but I seriously doubt it! I drink the strange tasting tea… Continue reading Possession
Doppelgänger
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 33 The driver behind me tries to make it seem they aren’t following me, but they fail in achieving that goal. For an instant, I had thought to turn left. I was in the turn lane, but then I remembered the veterinarian’s office would already be closed for the… Continue reading Doppelgänger
Esmeralda
FLASH Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 29 “You can have your money back; just please go,” the psychic says to me. Madame Esmeralda is more window dressing than even cynical ole me was expecting. Still, I wanted answers, so I was ready to try anything when I arrived here at their modest-sized storefront in North… Continue reading Esmeralda
Monolith 2
FLASH Fiction Challenge 100 — Day 24 The monolith had always stood there. When the heavens and earth formed, it was already there. As soon as there was light, the first thing illuminated was the monolith. When the continents began slowly sliding apart from each other, they slid around the black stone monolith. It was… Continue reading Monolith 2
Monolith
FLASH Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 23 I think on some level, I knew I was dreaming when I first dreamt of the monolith. But it doesn’t matter because the dream pointed me towards something true. In the garden of Eden, the tree of forbidden fruit gave Adam and Eve knowledge of both good and… Continue reading Monolith
By the Red Chair
“The fabric on that chair is red and blotchy,” I say. She ignores me of course. She’s ignored me since I first kneeled down here at her feet I don’t know how long ago. It’s been a while I’m certain of that much. It feels like hours, maybe longer. The whole time she’s has cried.… Continue reading By the Red Chair
Stories by Shawn 