by D Kershaw
Twitter: @JoelRHunt1
Reddit: JRHEvilInc
An Accident?
by C.L. Williams
“It was all an accident,” Elijah says as he is panting and panicking over his actions.
Elijah has been undercover for the last eighteen months, posing as a drug dealer. The plan was simple; he gets into a fight with one of his fellow officers, gets arrested, and sent to his superior to tell everything.
In the fight, Elijah shot and killed the officer that was meant to take him to his superior. Now Elijah is running from the people he once worked with. Luckily for Elijah, he has kilos of supplies that will give him the money he needs.
C.L. WILLIAMS is an independent author from central Virginia. He has written eight poetry books, four novellas, one novel, and a contributor to multiple anthologies, with the most recent appearance being an all-ages anthology titled Temoli from Thazbook. His most recent poetry book, The Paradox Complex, features the poem “Sad Crying Clown” that is now a video on YouTube directed by Matthew Mark Hunter of MMH Productions. C.L. Williams is currently working on his first sci-fi book, an all-ages book titled Novo: Away from Earth. When not writing, C.L. Williams is reading and sharing the work of other independent authors.
Facebook: writer434
Twitter: @writer_434
Crime Scene
by A.R. Dean
Homicide at the Clarke house. Calling 911. Cops are on their way. He’s killing them all! Will they get here in time to save the day?
COPS ARRIVE IN THE middle of the mayhem. They stop the madness with their guns.
Two black body bags lie in the yard. An ambulance drives off with three more; I hope they make it.
Perp was sloppy with the axe and made a mess—blood on the ceiling and fingerprints on the door. Evidence is everywhere, packaged nice and tight.
Yellow tape across the porch and a man cuffed in the squad car.
A.R. DEAN is a dark and twisted soul. Dean has spent their whole life spreading fear with the tales from their head. Best known for stories that terrify and show the evilest side of human nature. So, look for Dean haunting your local cemetery or under your bed, because they’re here to spread the fear. Turn off your lights and enjoy a scare. Keep a lookout for more stories from this master of terror.
Facebook: ghoul.demon.orghost.a.r.dean
The Missing Flowers
by Angela Zimmerman
“But they were MY flowers!” Edith cried to the officer writing wearily in his notebook. He felt he was meant for better things than some woman’s missing flowers. This hick town was full of these sort of calls and a complete waste of time. He finished his report and let Edith know that he’d call as soon as possible. On his way to his car, a scream cut through the thick afternoon air. He and Edith both turned toward the sound, a house across the field.
Edith cackled. “Those were nightshades, Officer. Seems like we found out who took them.”
ANGELA ZIMMERMAN is a writer living in the Southern United States. She has been published in Unnvering Magazine and Coffin Bell. You can find her personal writings at Conjure and Coffee.
Website: conjureandcoffee.com
Cleaning Up
by A.R. Johnston
She ducked under the yellow tape, staring at the room in wonder. Literally. So much blood everywhere.
“Never understood why someone would want to do crime scene clean up.” She heard the officer at the door.
“Because no one else will do it, so I’m in high demand.”
It was true; no one wanted to immerse themselves and clean up after a killer. She found it fascinating. She always tried to figure out what went on when she was cleaning up. Every once in a while, she found clues that others missed. Maybe she would today, that was always exciting.
A.R. JOHNSTON is a small-town girl from Nova Scotia, Canada. Her style of writing is considered Urban Fantasy. Her first major publication is part of an anthology called First Love and she has several more titles lined up. She is a lover of coffee, good tv shows, horror flicks, and reader of books. She pretends to be a writer when real life doesn’t get in the way. Pesky full-time job and adulting!
Belated Regrets
by Charlotte O’Farrell
The boy hesitated, shotgun in his mouth. Would living another sixty mediocre years be so bad? Would the suburban house, middle management job, ordinary wife and kids really be so terrible?
He looked at the crumpled, bloodied bodies of his schoolmates. There was one girl he’d sat next to in geography class, lying on her back and staring blankly at the ceiling. The sirens were getting closer.
Too late now.
It hadn’t been like a cool video game after all. His parents would be devastated. His final thought, before the gunshot blast stopped them forever, was, “This wasn’t worth it.”
CHARLOTTE O’FARRELL is a lifelong horror fan who writes about all manner of the weird and wonderful. Her work can be found at the Drabble, the Rock N Roll Horror Zine and Horror Tree, among other places.
Twitter: @ChaOFarrell
Breakdown
by Nicola Currie
Hi Mum.
By the time you get this voicemail, I will be gone. I’m sorry. I just can’t cope.
I’ve cut the breaks on my car, in case I lose my nerve. I’ve stepped out to say goodbye, to breathe the air one last time, but then I’m driving over the ridge here, into Clearstream Valley. I’ve always liked it here. I’ve taken some pills too. It will feel like flying.
I love you, Mum.
MUM.
Delete your messages. Someone jacked my car while I was calling. I tried to stop them, but they just drove faster. They really flew.
NICOLA CURRIE is 34, from Cambridge, UK where she works in educational publishing. She has published poetry in literary magazines, including Mslexia and Sarasvati, and has also completed her first novel, which was longlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award.
Website: writeitandweep.home.blog
Open and Shut Case
by Shawn M. Klimek
“Suicide,” declared Constable Barnes, flicking a note. “Broken heart. Gin wasn’t enough, so she looped a noose over that pipe and anchored it to the doorknob. When she got drunk enough to fall from that stool, her weight jammed the lock, frustrating her boyfriend’s key. Fire Department had to break inside to find the corpse.”
“Convenient alibi for the boyfriend,” observed Detective Givens. “But how do you account for that blood stain?”
“Well, the broken gin bottle, obviously.”
“Then why no blood on the stool?”
“Um...”
“Obviously, she was lifted into the air by the closing door. Arrest the boyfriend.”
SHAWN M. KLIMEK is the middle child of seven creative siblings, a globetrotting, U.S. military spouse, an internationally best-selling short-story writer, award-winning poet, and butler to a Maltese. More than one hundred of his stories and poems have been published in digital magazines or anthologies, including BHP’s Deep Space, Eerie Christmas and every book so far in the Dark Drabbles series.
Website: jotinthedark.blogspot.com
Facebook: shawnmklimekauthor
Immaculate
by G. Allen Wilbanks
The fire blazed cheerily in the hearth, its warmth chasing away a portion of the chill that had settled deep inside him. He was naked except for a pair of red-stained socks, but that was necessary for the moment. Soon, he could step into a hot shower and just drink in the lovely heat of the water as he was rinsed clean. Before that, however, there were a few more details he had to tend to.
He tossed his leather gloves into the fire. His life might be in a bloody shambles, but at least his crime scenes were immaculate.
G. ALLEN WILBANKS is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and has published over 50 short stories in various magazines and on-line venues. He is the author of two short story collections, and the novel, When Darkness Comes.
Blog: DeepDarkThoughts.com
The Earth Gets a Champion
by Aiki Flinthart
March 2nd. Australian Federal Govt, Accounts Department memo: Dr J Blake, Dept Environment. Please justify invoices for hazmat suit, culture medium, and CRISPR software.
10th. Landlord’s notice: Dr Blake, Apt 9a. Complaints about unpleasant smells.
15th. NZ Immigrations email: NZ citizenship has been approved for your arrival on 23rd March.
21st. Dept of Environment, Personnel memo: Farewell party at 3pm for John Blake.
27th. The Sydney Herald: Fifty-three dead in mysterious illness. Government denies risk of pandemic.
31st. Australian Govt statement: Ninety thousand dead from unknown virus.
31st. NZ Govt statement: NZ citizens safe. International travel banned. WHO declares pandemic.
AIKI FLINTHART has had short stories shortlisted in the Aurealis awards and top-8 listed in the USA Writers of the Future competition, as well as published in various anthologies and e-mags. She has 11 published spec fic novels and has edited 2 short story anthologies. She regularly gives workshops on writing fight scenes at conventions. Lives in Brisbane. Does martial arts, archery, knife throwing and lute-playing.
Website: www.aikiflinthart.com
Survey the Scene
by A.R. Johnston
Spencer arrived at the crime scene with Jarrett twenty minutes after receiving the phone call. They signed into the scene, ducked under the yellow tape, and headed towards Donovan.
“So, what’s the big deal?” she said as a way of greeting.
“It’s Michael Chambers.”
“Well, that isn’t good. Guess I need to go talk with Malkin then. I assume that’s why I’m here?” Jarrett said, and Donovan nodded.
“Better you than me. I hate him.” Spencer grimaced.
“I want you to survey the scene to take inventory for later questioning,” Donovan said to her.
“Dead guy, blood, bullets...”
“Smart ass.”
A.R. JOHNSTON is a small-town girl from Nova Scotia, Canada. Her style of writing is considered Urban Fantasy. Her first major publication is part of an anthology called First Love and she has several more titles lined up. She is a lover of coffee, good tv shows, horror flicks, and reader of books. She pretends to be a writer when real life doesn’t get in the way. Pesky full-time job and adulting!
A Significant Amount of Blood
by Bob Adder
They found blood: a significant amount of blood
Cheeks flushed of colour, eyes dull and limp. The walls coated in a thin crimson layer, the creamy-beige carpet ruined forever, a faint but familiar metallic smell filling the air. Two bodies lay frozen, unseeing eyes gazing blankly at each other.
In a small suburban house, a couple lay dead, gaping holes ripped through their chests, a single hole in a rear window. No evidence could be found other than, by the window, two small bullet case fragments from a .40 Calibre Glock 22.
A commonly used gun in the police force.
BOB ADDER is an aspiring author and superhero geek from Melbourne, Australia.
The Quick Score
by J. Farrington
The best crime is a crime that no one knows has taken place. I started at a young age, taking sweets from the local store, then items of clothing, slowly moving onto much bigger, more elaborate scores. I once took a live cheetah from the zoo—had to kill it and bury it in the backyard in the end.
I think I’ve gone too far this time though. I think I may have over stepped the mark a little...
An entire school bus of kids...
Guess I best get the shovel, at least the cheetah will have some company now.
J. FARRINGTON is an aspiring author from the West Midlands, UK. His genre of choice is horror; whether that be psychological, suspense, supernatural or straight up weird, he’ll give it a shot! He has loved writing from a young age but has only publicly been spreading his darker thoughts and sinister imagination via social platforms since 2018. If you would like to view his previous work, or merely lurk in the shadows...watching, you can keep up to date with future projects by spirit board or alternatively, the following;
Twitter: @SurvivorTrench
Reddit: TrenchChronicles
Far Enough
by Brandy Bonifas
Tino dropped a rock down the hole. “How far you think this goes?”
“Far enough you can’t hear that rock hit the bottom,” Vince said. “It’s an old abandoned mineshaft.”
“How many bodies you think are down there?”
“Lots. That’s why we’re meeting Lenny here. He’s shorted the boss one too many times. Boss wants to send a message.”
Tyres squealed. A black SUV barrelled down the alley.
“Someone must’ve tipped him off!”
A shot fired. Pain ripped through Vince’s shoulder.
The last thing Vince saw was Tino jumping into the SUV. Then, he teetered and was falling...and falling.
BRANDY BONIFAS lives in Ohio with her husband and son. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in anthologies by Clarendon House Publications, Pixie Forest Publishing, Zombie Pirate Publishing, and Blood Song Books, as well as the online publications CafeLit and Spillwords Press.
Website: www.brandybonifas.com
Facebook: brandybonifasauthor
Phantom Filth
by Hari Navarro
“What do you see?” whispers the Inspector, hovering over the mangled husk.
“Female. Double-ended fish hooks clawing her mouth agape. Spine snapped backward into itself. Bitch looks like a V, or maybe a U?”
“I don’t appreciate your irreverence, Catherine. You were once very much like this poor girl as I recall. Beaten and gralloched at the end of some filthy Whitechapel snicket. What distortion of humanity would do this?”
“No idea. I’m an eidolon not a clairvoyant. But... Y-shaped abdominal incision, O-shaped scream and U-shaped carcass.”
“You?”
“Not me. Killers blaming everyone but themselves. But, then, don’t they all?”
Hari Navarro has had work published at the very fine online flash fiction portal 365tomorrows.com, BREACH - a bi-monthly online zine for SF, horror and dark fantasy short fiction and AntipodeanSF - Australia’s longest running online speculative fiction magazine. Hari was the Winner of the Australasian Horror Writers’ Association [AHWA] Flash Fiction Award 2018 and has, also, succeeded in being a New Zealander who now lives in Northern Italy with no cats.
Facebook: HariDarkFiction
Twitter: @HariFiction
Double Vision
by Dawn DeBraal
At his trial for murder, Mark Lung sat next to his attorney, confident there wouldn’t be a conviction.
They would never find the bodies of the Twain sisters.
Pleading not guilty, he was relaxed until the prosecutor’s first witness was called to the stand. Mark couldn’t believe his eyes. The girl he had been accused of murdering walked into the courtroom to be sworn in. How could that be possible? He had killed and buried both sisters over a year ago. But here she was, ready to testify against him. Mark Lung didn’t know the Twain sisters were actually triplets.
DAWN DEBRAAL lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, two rat terriers, and a cat. She successfully raised two children (meaning they didn’t return to the nest!) After many years serving the government at the Federal and County level, she recently retired. Having extra time on her hands she started to write after a paralyzed vocal cord took her ability to speak for two months. Not finding her voice, she discovered that her love of telling a good story could be written. Her works have been published in Palm-Sized Press, Spillwords, Mercurial Stories, Potato Soup Journal, and Blood Song Books.
On the Ground
by Gabriella Balcom
“He didn’t get much from the teller,” Bank President Williams said.
“Maybe a thousand including change.”
Seeing something shiny on the ground, Detective Allen picked up a gold dollar. He raised his eyebrows when he noticed another a distance away, and beckoned to Detective Boyd, who’d accompanied him.
“Surely not...” Boyd commented.
After going outside, they found more coins, had a good laugh, and followed the unintended trail. Soon they stood outside a home, and Allen knocked on the door.
A man opened it, his eyes widening before he fled.
Headlines the next day read, “Stupid Criminal Helps Catch Himself.”
GABRIELLA BALCOM lives in Texas with her family, loves reading and writing, and thinks she was born with a book in her hands. She works in a mental health field, and writes fantasy, horror/thriller, romance, children’s stories, and sci-fi. She likes travelling, music, good shows, photography, history, interesting tales, and animals. Gabriella says she’s a sucker for a great story and loves forests, mountains, and back roads which might lead who knows where. She has a weakness for lasagne, garlic bread, tacos, cheese, and chocolate, but not necessarily in that order.
