by Enoch Daniel High on a misty mountain, up above the clouds, in a lush, little valley nestled between snowy peaks, there once lived a girl and her mother. They had a cabin made of logs and mud surrounded by woods. The light was soft as worn linen, and the air held a breath of…
Read moreThe Forbidden Martian
by Margaret Karmazin I awoke and struggled to sit up. It was dark except for emergency floor lights, and I was ravenous. The door to my cell was wide open. Groggy and confused, I sat up, then very carefully stood. Where were my torturers? Why was it cold? Not sure of my strength, I crawled…
Read moreA Single Soul
by Richard Webb It was hard to tell which was worse: the shrieks of agony from the wounded, piercing the air, or the stink of sweat, urine and blood. The sudden screams still sent a jolt up Sathra’s spine and the tang of infected flesh in the air still made her gag occasionally, despite the…
Read moreFractured Mirth
“Fractured Mirth” by Sherry Shahan Iris longs to be with others who resist State laws; others who risk punishment to express themselves however they choose; others who believe that what a person dreams is more important than exams devised to test how little you know about history. She’s been searching for a group she heard…
Read moreCrow Barn
Crow Barn by DC Diamondopolous The rope pulled at Calypso’s waist. She staggered then stumbled as she clawed her way up the hill with Phoebe tied below. They had been searching for Alawisha, their younger sister, since her disappearance the day before. Hunger, thirst, and fatigue were ignored as panic pushed them to the edge…
Read moreThe Sisterhood at the Edge of Eternity
The Sisterhood at the Edge of Eternity by Steve Carr The shimmering silver underbelly of the enormous ship broke through the dense, dark clouds as it descended into the gale force winds that swept the planet’s surface. Eight large metallic legs with claw-like feet extended out from the sides of the ship. Plumes of vapor…
Read moreKeep Your Friends Close…
Keep Your Friends Close… by Richard Helmling (with compliments to Alan Dean Foster) He thought he was starting to get pretty good at reading the alien’s moods by how its feelers twitched. The Methcalt—a loose aural analogue of the name another species used for them—had no spoken language. They were capable of creating some sounds,…
Read moreIn the Name of Ammalee
The cave was the last place Kold expected to see a preacher. There were plenty of preachers protesting at the entrance to the cave. And there were even more lining the roads that brought him and his sister there. More than once they had to ditch the road entirely, just to arrive safely. But they…
Read moreRise of the Guild: The Monster
Previously, Abelon stopped by a pond near the Derry’s fields. The bank was muddy, but Abelon sank down to his knees anyway. The ground soaked his pants and brought goosebumps to his arms. Placing his hands on his upper thighs, Abelon leaned over to stare into the depths. He willed something to be there, but…
Read moreRise of the Guild
Abelon Wisecraft could hear his mother coughing in the next room, the barking and gurgling broken up by her gasps for air. He turned onto his side to face the wall, studying the stained wooden panels. He was nineteen and already the world had lost its shine. Once his mother was gone, there would be…
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