The Worst All-Nighter

by Rebecca Trifari A call. A simple call is all that it takes to change the rest of Sarah’s life forever.  She usually puts her phone in “Do Not Disturb” mode, but tonight she feels unmotivated with her work and decides to scroll through her device to distract herself.  We have Claire. Do a little favor for us and she will be fine. You have five hours. Hack this system.  In panic, Sarah accidentally drops Read more

Contest Winner: Guard Dog

By Zenia deHaven Cerberus was eyeing the boulder of Sisyphus when a swirling portal cleaved space and time in two.  The hound of hell didn’t notice. There was a true miracle transpiring before him that required all his attention. Sisyphus was rolling his boulder up the mound. This was not unusual. What was unusual was that Sisyphus rarely made it this far out of the Underworld. Cerberus’ post was at the mouth of Hades, bordering Read more

Face Cards

By Abby Meacham “I fold.” The words echoed in the gentlemen’s hall. Although it was nearly midnight, the chandeliers were still glowing, the windows shut against the rainstorm outside. It was empty save for the four men seated at a table near the back, all clad in costly suits. One was smirking, one was frowning, one was stacking his chips, and one held no expression at all.  The smirker was Charlie Harte. He was a Read more

Keeper’s Curse

By Shay Manning The keeper can’t remember the last time the old house had a guest. Perhaps the woman who’d become lost in the rose garden? Or was she before the man who’d been stung to death by the bees? He shivers; that death had been particularly gruesome. But the house demands a sacrifice now and then. The grandfather clock in the hall has long since chimed eleven in the evening when the keeper is Read more

Contest Runner-Up: Mina’s Mermaid

By M. Gagner The camp was a speck in the distance of Mina’s vision as she followed the shoreline. It was spring, and the lake’s water ran high and cold from mountain runoff. Wildflowers and lush willow trees populated the fields to the right of her, and iridescent clam shells populated the waves that hugged her ankles. Dry reeds brushed against her, fluting their soft airy song. It wasn’t her first time exploring this part Read more