Blanche walked barefoot on the beach one last time before heading back to the city. Her quaint coastal hometown held a lot of fond memories, especially involving the beach. "Don't forget to make an offering to the sea," her grandfather had said as she was hugging her grandmother goodbye that morning in front of the … Continue reading Deity of the Sea
A $120 bottle of whiskey was opened and poured into a glass, and along with the dark gold drink swirled two bugs. The insects' departed souls were so steeped in alcohol that their spirits staggered toward the second entrance to heaven, a doorway meant for all nonhuman creatures, but then missed the mark. This happened … Continue reading Two Bugs in a Bottle of Whiskey
“What are you doing?” “Nothing.” “Don’t lie to me!” “I’m not!” A struggle ensues for whatever is being hidden. “Dork! You’re reading a book!” “I know!” “Why didn’t you say so?” “Go away and let me finish…”
MAX JOHNSON met his grandmother Neta at the community center for bingo as he did every Thursday. They always arrived early to talk while they waited for the volunteers to finish setting up and other players to arrive. This week, Neta shared a harrowing story about an elderly neighbor who had discovered a spoiled half … Continue reading Milk Carton Universe (Chapter One)
Otso Mustonen stood among onlookers crowding a pool table watching an intense game between an audacious university student and a cool-headed man wearing an over-sized cream-colored sweater. At 6'5" and as an avid weightlifter, Otso dwarfed all other patrons in the tavern. He stood in the back, leaning against the wood-paneled wall, and observed the … Continue reading Coping Capacity
Neutrino strode down a line of people seated on the bank floor with their backs to the wall, faces lowered, and hands on their heads. The armed supervillain's footsteps were the only sound in the largest financial establishment in the city. Police had surrounded the building and cut power nearly an hour ago however, due … Continue reading Evil’s First Hello
A GROUP OF MONKS fled with the forest snapping at their heels. The forest itself squealed with bending tree limbs and groaning trunks; the deafening thrashing of lush branches grew wilder as the exhausted and despairing monks burst into a clearing. They prayed to be able to see the next village from the treeline. It … Continue reading Unsettled Spirits
Captain Hass was still laughing when the looming tower-like fin of a submarine glided alongside their lifeboats. For years, a hijacking operation targeted yachts and small ocean liners resulting in stolen ships and victims abandoned in lifeboats. Scores of lives and livelihoods had been disrupted and ruined to the degree of bankruptcy and suicide however, … Continue reading Fish in the Water
"I hate you," grumbled the priest, seated in a dusty corner and handcuffed to a thick pipe. "I hate you more," growled the gangster. Despite wearing clothes easily worth more than $2000, he also sat on the floor as he was handcuffed same pipe. A detective looked at them from where she leaned over several … Continue reading Jail or Hell
In a world where 50% of the population can use magic, there existed an ordinary cast-iron frying pan. The pan had been owned and used to prepare meals the old fashioned way by six different sorcerers in its lifetime. Eventually, the sorcerers sold it either at yard sales or online. However, having been in the … Continue reading The Frying Pan (pt. 1)
Duri Rolvsson 