by Douglas Kolacki Sam Fitzsimmons shifted uneasily on his feet and sized up the uniformed customs official on the other side of the glass. The Frau’s chiseled face and aquiline nose reminded him of Mussolini—not a good sign—and contrasted with the WILLKOMMEN IN BERLIN banner with its black, red, and gold stripes spanning the hallway…
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By Leland Hames Leonard sat around the fire in a semi-circle with the others, each sipping cups of hot coffee to fight off the chill, their cups leaving wispy trails of steam in their journeys from laps to lips. The group sat on lawn chairs, stools, and crates. A few were on short pieces of…
Read moreThe Replacement Wife
by Barry Fields In the middle of Group Five boarding, Lawrence’s wife said she forgot something to read and ran off to the bookstore. Lawrence boarded the plane without her, taking his window seat and keeping his eye out for her as passengers filed by, eyes trained on the row numbers. Lawrence Purnell, the thirty-five…
Read moreA Gravedigger of the Deepholds
by J. Scott King Today, in the quiet darkness of the deep Halls, I buried the last of my people. There is no one left to put in the cold ground. The question of my own grave will fall to the kindness of others, Gods willing, though I doubt I will see another soul in…
Read moreMoney Problems, A Level Head Story
By Nicholas Woods Image Courtesy of Nicholas Woods Some mornings start off slow and light and easy. And some mornings, a man gets his heart ripped out. Cliff Fonseca stood in the corner of his bedroom staring at several bills, each tagged with ominous red letters of warning. Menacing words like overdue, interest, and account…
Read moreHappybot
By Caridad Cole I watch myself sleep all night. At least, what I understand sleep to be. It is when the body becomes dormant and the mind is shut off from the outside world. If this qualifies as sleeping, all of us are participating. The figure next to me is as still and unblinking as…
Read moreBoat Ride
By Henry S. Reimert Photo provided by Patrick Shaffer Kari’s bicycle tires crackle and pop as they roll over the crushed oyster shells of the parking lot. She lets the bike coast to a stop and performs a practiced dismount. She lands with a little puff of white dust that spurts out from beneath her…
Read morePROTOCOL THREE TWO SEVEN
By Paul Stansbury “Captain McKennon, why don’t we land in the canyon?” Colvig asked. He looked at the science tech, Palmer, hoping to get her support. She shrugged, remaining silent. “Sure would save Palmer and me a lot of time and effort. I don’t look forward to lowering the equipment down the cliff walls.” Captain…
Read moreThe Way of the Chapels
By Ken Foxe Once, they used to race bicycles up the hill. Sinewy men and women, engorged calves and thighs, on near weightless machines resolutely climbing at what must have seemed like superhuman speeds. They called the race La Flèche, the Arrow, a coincidental harbinger of what the ascent has since become. The hill itself…
Read moreA Daughter’s Choice
By J.F. Sebastian Trigger Warning: Suicide is discussed. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is out there. You can call, chat, or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Nathan watched his daughter as she trotted towards a river that spurted from a crack…
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