by D Kershaw
The ship gently rocked as they moved towards their destination. There was not a star nor moon in the sky. Captain Haggard was at least thankful that the sea was calm.
“Cap’n, look! A fogs rollin’ in,” a sailor called suddenly from the crow’s nest.
At the same time, a mesmerising sound began to flow through the wind.
One by one, the sailors fell unconscious until only the captain remained.
“One more to the siren’s song,” Haggard said, entranced, as the ship disappeared into the fog.
MUSAAB SULTAN is a 22 year old university student and aspiring writer from Karachi Pakistan who spends his time buried in fictional universes, books and animes when not battling to keep his grades afloat.
The Ghost of Bosun Gregory
by Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer
It was wild and windy the noxious night
Boson Gregory was washed overboard.
A wave rose from the deep and rose to height,
Drenching dank deck wet from aft to forward.
The sailor cried and clutched at the mast,
Horror frozen face, flushed like a turd,
Battered and bashed, forward fell fast;
Gregory gasped to breathe his last word.
The wind howls, wet footprints patter the deck,
I shudder with fear, think a thought absurd;
Cabin doors rattle, I pray and genuflect.
But the specter crosses the floor undeterred.
“I couldn’t save you...” I averred.
“Too late!” My vision blurred.
CECELIA HOPKINS-DREWER lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has written a Masters paper on H.P. Lovecraft, and her weird poetry has been published in THE MENTOR (edited by Ron Clarke), and SPECTRAL REALMS (edited by S.T. Joshi). Her novels include a teenage vampire series commencing with MYSTIC EVERMORE. Short stories have been published in WORLDS, ANGELS & MONSTERS, BEYOND, STORMING AREA 51, and UNRAVEL. (Dark Drabbles anthologies edited by Dean Kershaw).
Amazon: amazon.com/Cecelia-Hopkins-Drewer/e/B071G968NM
Website: chopkin39.wixsite.com/website
Siren Song
by Sara Burke
A surface cracked by foam, rolling like thunder, crashes into a deep green cliff face.
Splintering waves grope the rocks. Reaching, tumbling forward. She stood on the precipice, scanning the horizon for a sign of a ship.
A tiny dot flickered on the line between the sky and sea. This metal bobber set lanterns ablaze as the sun sunk behind it.
“Almost home,” she whispered, clasping her bony fingers to her wispy shawl.
Icy spray from the churning waters rose to greet her. From her lips fell haunting notes, summoning an impenetrable mist, and beckoning the ship to come closer.
SARA BURKE is a writer living in Newfoundland, Canada. New to the writing scene, she has had three short stories published since the winter of 2018. The first two are flash fictions published via the “Kit Sora the Artobiography” contest. Sara was the first to win this monthly competition twice. The third short story is found in “Flights from the Rock” published by Engen Books. In her spare time she helps coordinate a local sci-fi convention, and enjoys painting and other crafts.
Storm Sent
by Katie Conrad
The storm arrived quickly but lasted three days. The little ship pitched and rolled until the captain lost all notion of navigation, focusing on remaining upright.
When the clouds finally cleared, the call came from the crow’s nest. “Land ho!”
The harbour didn’t resemble any the captain had seen, but she hadn’t visited every port on earth. Still, those towers didn’t look like any architecture she knew, and the stars didn’t match any of their charts. When the second moon rose in the sky, she had to face facts: the storm had blown them more than a little off course.
KATIE CONRAD is a writer and lawyer from Halifax, NS. When not writing, she enjoys tea, camping, and fiction podcasts. She has been published in several anthologies from TL;DR Press and won the 2019 Songs From Luna 48-hour flash fiction contest.
Twitter @KatieAConrad
Fortunate Soul
by G. Allen Wilbanks
The young sailor guided his small craft through the jagged rocks. Deaf from birth, he had only his keen eyes to keep his boat intact in these hazardous waters, so he did not let his attention lag for an instant.
He had navigated this journey before. He could make it through. In fact, he was the only one in his village who could.
He spied two of the sirens huddled among the rocks, their hungry, malevolent gazes locked on him. There were days he wished he could hear like everyone else, but today certainly was not one of those days.
G. ALLEN WILBANKS is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and has published over 100 short stories in various magazines and on-line venues. He is the author of two short story collections, and the novel, When Darkness Comes.
Website: www.gallenwilbanks.com
Blog: DeepDarkThoughts.com
Tale of the Hydrodragon
by C.L. Williams
The legends are that the worst animals of the ocean have yet to be discovered. I can say I have seen the worst. The worst entity in the ocean is none other than the Hydrodragon. It doesn’t blast fire towards its enemies; it sends blasts of water hurdling at speeds that cause certain death.
Everything is its prey, even the microorganisms that are crumbs to the Hydrodragon. My friends and I stumbled upon it by accident and nothing remain of my friends, not even their bones. I was only left alive for one reason; warn everyone about the dangerous Hydrodragon.
C.L. WILLIAMS is an international best-selling author currently living in central Virginia. He has written eight poetry books, four novellas, one novel, and a contributor to a multitude of anthologies and magazines. His most recent anthology appearance ANGELS: Dark Drabbles #2 from Black Hare Press became a number one in hot new releases. C.L. Williams is currently working on his second novel and a new poetry book.
Facebook: writer434
Twitter: @writer_434
Don’t Scream
by C.L. Steele
“Student-Mini-sub-1 to base, over.”
“Images sent, but no response from base.”
The aquanauts pressed against their seats as the bubble-gum looking glob turned inside-out again, doubling in size.
“It can’t be harmful, no teeth, right?”
“0ctopus; no teeth, still deadly. Plus, this thing morphs.”
The sub screeched with the changing pressure.
“I never get used to that.”
“Looks like gummy here doesn’t like it either. It’s morphing, again.”
“Getting bigger, maybe we should leave.”
“Gotta stay for Base to answer.”
“Student-mini-sub-1 this is base. That’s a prehistoric... crackling... it responds to noise. Go silent. Repeat go si....squelch.”
“Base, base! It’s enveloping us....scree...”
C.L. STEELE creates new worlds and mystical places filled with complex characters on exciting journeys. Her typical genre is Sci-Fi/Fantasy, where she concentrates on writing in the sub-genres of Magical Realism, Near Future, and Futuristic worlds. Published in numerous anthologies, she looks forward to the release of her debut novel. In the interim, she works on other novels and continues to write short stories, novellas, and poetry. She is featured as one of five international authors in ICWG Magazine through Clarendon Publishing House and is a contributing author to Blood Puddles Literary Journal.
Facebook: author.CLSteele
Instagram: @clsteele.author
A Final Wave Goodbye
by Shawn M. Klimek
After her swim, Patty scampered across the hot sand to fling herself face down upon her beach towel. Exhausted and lulled by the sun’s warmth, she soon drifted off, listening to the sounds of distant seagulls and chattering beach goers, against the background of rhythmically suss
urant surf. In her dream, she found herself sleeping instead on a sailboat. The sensation of a rocking deck was so vivid that her subconsciousness argued that the boat must be reality, and her beach experience mere memory. Because other sensations were consequently subverted to this rationale, the shouts of “Tsunami” failed to wake her.
SHAWN M. KLIMEK is an internationally best-selling short-story writer and poet, and author of Hungry Thing. More than 150 of his works have been published online or in such anthologies as BHP’s Deep Space, Eerie Christmas, Bad Romance, Jibbernocky, and every book in the Dark Drabbles series.
Website: jotinthedark.blogspot.com
Facebook: shawnmklimekauthor
Cosa Negra
by Andrew Anderson
“Let’s go to Cosa Negra,” I’ll say.
They’ll laugh and correct it to “Costa.” I let them think that.
I bring all my men here, to sit with me on the sand and watch the sunset. Distracted as they lean in for a kiss, they always fail to spot the black tentacle emerge from the water, which coils around their throat and drags them in.
I’ve nothing to fear.
My men are not nice men; they deserve to be punished for what they’ve done.
Cosa Negra—Black Thing—feeds on dark hearts. I already know who’s next on the menu.
ANDREW ANDERSON is a spare-time writer of microfiction, flash fiction and short stories, from Bathgate, Scotland. His work has been published on FlashFlood and Re:Written, and published in Black Hare Press anthologies.
Twitter: soorploom
The Sea of Grief
by Nerisha Kemraj
“Mommy!”
Myrtle frantically searched for the source. She swore it was Anna calling her.
“Mommy! Help me.”
She ran towards the sea, kicking sand as her steps became desperate.
“Honey?” Tears welled as she spotted Anna, a long way off from where the waves receded.
“Mommy!” Anna’s hand reached out to her mother.
Even though she couldn’t swim, Myrtle ran into the choppy waters to save her daughter.
But Anna was nowhere to be found.
The beach was quieter since Anna drowned exactly one month before.
And now, gasping for air, Myrtle’s feet could no longer feel the ocean floor.
NERISHA KEMRAJ resides in Durban, South Africa with her husband and two mischievous daughters. Writing since 2017, she has had over 100 short stories and poems published in various publications, both print and online. She has also received an Honourable Mention Award for her tanka in the Fujisan Taisho 2019 Tanka Contest. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Science, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from University of South Africa.
Amazon: amazon.com/author/nerisha_kemraj
Facebook: Nerishakemrajwriter
The Flood
by Charles Welch
God wasn’t supposed to flood the world again. God is a fucking liar. We had very little warning.
Because of global warming, the storms were fierce, and precious few of us made it to a boat.
Didn’t matter, they were soon capsized anyway. Sharks and barracudas got most of the people I saw. It was gruesome. Even with the volume of water, it was still tinged red. So far, I have been spared, although I’m covered in jellyfish, begging for death. Anything to be free. It’ll be hard, but I think I’ll drown myself. One, two, three, here I go...
CHARLES WELCH is an aspiring writer and a prolific reader—the weirder and odder the better. He is strange and unusual, like Wednesday Addams is quoted as saying.
Tall Tales
by David Bowmore
I’m only a simple fisherman, making a modest living alone in a small boat hauling cold, wet nets by hand.
I’ve had some rare old catches in my time. Pulled a mermaid in once, I did. Truth. Don’t look at me like that.
She weren’t no looker, anyway.
‘Nother night, a dead body ends up in the nets. ‘Eadless it were, naked and bloated too. Nearly shit myself, I did.
I threw it back. Nothing I could do for the poor sod, was there?
The look on your fizog tells me ya don’t believe me.
No one ever believes fishermen.
DAVID BOWMORE has lived here, there and everywhere, but now lives in Yorkshire with his wonderful wife and a small white poodle. He has worn many hats in his time; head chef, teacher and landscape gardener. His first collection of short stories ‘The Magic of Deben Market’ is available from Clarendon House.
Website: davidbowmore.co.uk
Facebook: davidbowmoreauthor
The Cave
by Brian Rosenberger
I had heard of sea caves but never seen one. Neither had Clarissa, my beautiful new bride. We were honeymooning off the coast of Thailand, snorkelling near Phag Nga Bay, when we discovered the cavern by chance.
I knew the battering of waves created sea caves. We wondered how many centuries of contestant pounding created this one. The cavern was roughly the size of an SUV.
Salt water lapped our waists. The cave walls felt like limestone and resembled the patterns of coral.
Clarissa posed against one of the stalagmites as I focused the camera.
No cave. Not stalagmites.
Teeth.
BRIAN ROSENBERGER lives in a cellar in Marietta, GA (USA) and writes by the light of captured fireflies. He is the author of As the Worms Turns and three poetry collections. He is also a featured contributor to the Pro-Wrestling literary collection, Three-Way Dance, available from Gimmick Press.
Facebook: HeWhoSuffers
Splash Down
by Peter J. Foote
“3...2...1... Splash down!” Hafsa says as the command module strikes the alien ocean, violet water cascading over the spacecraft as it bobs to the surface.
The lone pilot powers down her craft and continues speaking. “Log of Commander Hafsa Khalid continues. Survey probes of Vega Atheni show a perfect world for colonisation. The air, water, and land all fit for humans, it’s paradise compared to the mess we’ve made of Earth. I’ve landed near the largest landmass and hope—”
Rising out of the alien ocean, the colossal sea creature swallows the spacecraft whole before returning to the depths.
PETER J. FOOTE is a bestselling speculative fiction writer from Nova Scotia. Outside of writing, he runs a used bookstore specialising in fantasy & sci-fi, cosplays, and alternates between red wine and coffee as the mood demands. His short stories can be found in both print and in ebook form, with his story “Sea Monkeys” winning the inaugural “Engen Books/Kit Sora, Flash Fiction/Flash Photography” contest in March of 2018. As the founder of the group “Genre Writers of Atlantic Canada”, Peter believes that the writing community is stronger when it works together.
Twitter: @PeterJFoote1
Website: peterjfooteauthor.wordpress.com
A Deadly Dive
by Nerisha Kemraj
Dylan dived into the waters with James right behind him, eager to explore the ocean to see what treasures she held today.
Moments after reaching the ocean bed, James turned to see Dylan thrashing about in the water.
Just great, pycnogonids! Remembering Dylan’s phobia, he rushed over to his friend as the swarm of sea-spiders closed in.
Fending them off, James realised Dylan had released his oxygen tube, which now filled with the creatures. Placing his oxygen into Dylan’s mouth proved futile; three tiny spiders floated out of his open mouth. Dylan’s face, frozen with fear, stared at him, unresponsive.
NERISHA KEMRAJ resides in Durban, South Africa with her husband and two mischievous daughters. Writing since 2017, she has had over 100 short stories and poems published in various publications, both print and online. She has also received an Honourable Mention Award for her tanka in the Fujisan Taisho 2019 Tanka Contest. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Science, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from University of Sou
th Africa.
Amazon: amazon.com/author/nerisha_kemraj
Facebook: Nerishakemrajwriter
Skull Island
by Zoey Xolton
Jason clung to the old red buoy desperately as it bobbed wildly upon the sea. Would his friends come back for him? It’d been hours...surely they’d noticed his absence?
Night fell—and his strength failed him.
Blinking, Jason’s vision took a moment to adjust. It was daylight, and he felt wet sand beneath his fingers. Pulling himself up, he tried to gain his bearings. Palms swayed in the salty breeze, and the sea lapped gently behind him.
Beyond the lush tropical forest, he spied a derelict fort perched high above the island. Steeling his nerve, he ventured into the unknown.
ZOEY XOLTON is an Australian Speculative Fiction writer, primarily of Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. She is also a proud mother of two and is married to her soul mate. Outside of her family, writing is her greatest passion. She is especially fond of short fiction and is working on releasing her own themed collections in future.
