Broken Mirrors, Fractured Minds

by Carmilla Voiez

  Shuddering, Samantha slid further down the bed, wishing the boundaries between reality and nightmares felt less blurred. She rolled over.

  ‘Sssssamanatha,’ whispered a voice.

  Samantha opened her eyes. Something tugged the sheets. She sat up. A shape slithered under the covers. Samantha leapt out of the bed.

  The snake’s head peeked out from under the covers. Its body coiled on Richard’s chest.

  ‘Leave him alone!’

  The snake stared at Samantha. Unhurriedly, it slid from her husband’s chest, off the bed, out of the door. ‘Come to me if you want your son back.’

  * * *

  Friends, relatives and strangers, all in black suits and dresses wore blank faces and offered empty words as they passed Samantha. The cold meat of Richard’s arm on her shoulder fell away. None of that mattered. The grave was filled and the last hymn sang.

  Samantha stood alone. No more words, no tears. Her world was empty. She walked away from the church, towards the wasteland, as the rain fell.

  The wasteland still bore the ticker tape of the police, but no one stood guard. The police had picked the site clean, like crows working the gallows. Samantha drifted across the road. Cold wind greeted her, raking her hair. Black clouds massed and swirled, high above the broken city.

  Samantha stepped through the archway. The ground shuddered, as if even the roots of grass recoiled against her step. Rain pitter-pattered on a ripped sheet of tarpaulin, mocking her with its soft beat.

  The world seemed to twist before her. The air tore in on itself, warping before her eyes. Trickles of tears dribbled down her cheeks; she blinked furiously, but the world remained blurred and distant. Her head pounded, groaning at the incessant beat running through her core.

  ‘When shall we three meet again?’ The words danced across the back of Samantha’s neck, making her twitch.

  A shadow moved; a face tore open in the darkness, Elmacha. Her eyes were bright, her skin so pale it might have been translucent. Elmacha grinned.

  ‘When the battle is lost and won.’ There was Mazaza, blood smeared on her neck from her open wound.

  ‘Get away from me,’ said Samantha.

  ‘Loving sister.’ Mazaza drifted towards her.

  Elmacha laughed, the sound dry and hollow.

  ‘What do you want?’ asked Samantha.

  ‘Want?’ hissed Mazaza. ‘How could we want anything from you? You who killed us, betrayed us?’

  ‘I never wanted any part of it.’

  ‘I think you did,’ said Elmacha. ‘I remember those nights your husband was away.’

  ‘You tricked me,’ said Samantha.

  The two of them swayed in front of her. Thin, pale faces with cold, dead eyes glimmered in the dim light. Slowly, Mazaza reached out her hand. ‘Come to me, sister.’

  Samantha raised her hand.

  ‘Get away from her!’ A brick whistled past them and slammed into the earth. Richard stood at the archway. He fell, crashing through nettles. The snake coiled around his body. Its head swayed back and forth as it stared at him.

  Laughter floated on the breeze, high and wild. A crack of lighting split the sky. Black clouds boiled. Strange shapes flew on the wind as it howled. The surface of the world quivered. Ripples of discord flickered across the air making it throb.

  ‘How did Tom die, Sssssamantha?’

  ‘What do you want?’

  The snake turned to face her. ‘Open the portal and let my brothersssss come through. Welcome usssss to thisssss world.’

  Samantha looked at Richard. His face was ashen and his body quivered within the snake’s coils. His face was wracked with pain, but he met her eyes, steadily. He shook his head.

  ‘Richard?’ whispered Samantha.

  Richard shook his head again.

  Samantha closed her eyes. ‘No.’

  The snake reared up and Richard screamed. Mazaza and Elmacha shrieked curses. The serpent lunged and bit Richard’s neck. Tossing aside Richard’s broken body, it slithered forward.

  Samantha waited as the snake drew closer then sank to her knees. ‘I have nothing left, do what you want.’

  ‘Open the portal,’ said the snake.

  ‘Never.’

  The snake circled her. Words hissed through the air. ‘Sister... Murderer... Betrayer...’, ‘Open the portal.’

  ‘Mummy?’ The word hung in the air. Tom stood in the wasteland. Dirt clung to him. His head lolled unnaturally, and there were deep red marks on his neck.

  ‘Tom,’ cried Samantha, reaching out.

  The snake waited between them, head swaying.

  ‘Mummy, stop it hurting me. Stop it, please?’

  ‘Ok,’ shouted Samantha. ‘OK I will do it.’

  Laughter filled the air. Samantha turned and looked. The pulsing gateway was fluid now. A world of flames and darkness shimmered behind a paper-thin wall.

  ‘Join us, sister,’ hissed Mazaza, drawing near.

  Samantha’s body shook. The dead fingers of Mazaza touched her shoulders. Elmacha’s hand touched her back, and Samantha felt a surge of power.

  The snake slid over to the portal, watching her.

  Samantha opened her mouth and words tumbled out: hidden, dark, cursed words of power. The wind shrieked across the wasteland. Lightning streaked overhead. Far away, wolves howled.

  Heat washed over her. The world was full of screams. A beast flew overhead. Three enormous serpents approached. The snake coiled up, ready to greet its brothers.

  Tom stood with his dead eyes fixed on the portal. Samantha sank to the ground, a great wave of weariness falling on her. Mazaza and Elmacha drifted towards the gateway.

  Samantha’s hand touched something. An ancient altar cross lay on the ground. For a moment she stared then, snarling, she hurled the cross at the snake. It missed. It flew past and struck the portal, blowing her world apart. She fell backwards, hearing a scream.

  Samantha opened her eyes. The portal had shrunk and become a whirling vortex that sucked the world towards it, but grew smaller by the moment. Elmacha tumbled through the gateway and into the world of shadow and flame. The snake was trapped in the vortex. Its body thrashed as it snapped at her, unable to reach.

  ‘Mummy!’ shouted Tom.

  Mazaza was carrying the boy towards the vortex. Samantha leapt up and tore at Mazaza, wrenching Tom free. Samantha ducked as a blade slashed towards her and kicked the dead woman. Mazaza fell into the vortex.

  Richard crawled towards Tom, blood pouring from his neck. As she turned to join them both, the snake bit her.

  The serpent dragged her towards the vortex. Numbness spread through her body. Her hands clawed the ground. Richard was by Tom’s side. Samantha knew she was lost, but it didn’t matter. She remembered one summer’s day, walking in the park with Richard and Tom. The sun was bright and warm. She smiled.

  Author Biographies

  Zoe Adams

  Zoe is a third year Professional Writing student, at The Grimsby Institute, through the University of Hull. She has always had an interest and a huge love of horror, science-fiction and paranormal fiction, and other media. She has been writing professionally since 2010, whereupon she first started her course. Blog - http://readerwriterzoe.blogspot.co.uk/

  Deborah Blount

  It was when Deborah "discovered" Salvador Dali, Hieronymus Bosch and other like artists, that she realized she identified with this dreamy sub-conscious art form of juxtaposed images and extreme symbolism. Deborah digs deep inside her psyche and conjures up images that are at times dark and disturbing. She has had art shows in New York, Los Angeles and the Greater Seattle area. Her work has been displayed at coffee shops and fine art galleries. Deborah also created a CD cover for a local Seattle band, worked on book illustrations including a graphic novel (not yet published) and has been included in art magazines such as Catapult Art, Innovated Magazine and a feature in Dark Arts 2011 by Sunbury Press.

  Robert Craven

  Robert Craven, born Ju
ly 2nd 1966 is currently living in Dublin, Ireland. His first novel ‘Get Lenin’ and sequel ‘Zinnman’ are published by Taylor Street Publishing, an independent press based in San Francisco. In 1992 Robert’s short story ‘The Chase’- was published. Having worked as a Graphic Designer and Desk Top Publisher for various Dublin publishers learning the ropes, in 2000, he collated his diaries from the years of gigging & turned them into the novel ‘Vocals preferred, own transport essential’. Robert has a full-time job, is married and a father.

  Danielle Farman

  Danielle Farman was born in Aberdeen, in the North East of Scotland and lives in her beloved bungalow with her boyfriend and several pets she likes to call her 'familiars'. She enjoys writing, reading, going on long walks while listening to music and modelling as her alter ego Jester Jinx. She also enjoys her job as a Support Worker for people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Danielle mainly writes paranormal romance and horror stories. It has been her dream since the age of five to be a published author. In November she is due to have her first child who she hopes will share her love for stories and the supernatural.

  Richard D. Findlay

  Richard D. Findlay is a writer based in North East Scotland. His stories bounce between Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction. He has had numerous shorts published on both sides of the Atlantic, and will one day, possibly, finish one of his many novels. When not writing, he rescues cats stuck up trees.

  Jeremy Garnett

  Jeremy is a website quality assurer in Darwin, Australia who slips haphazardly into the skin of a PSYBO (psychedelic bogan) after-hours. He is unrepentant of his barefoot state, and walks the land without fear of burnt ground, glass shards or the sun's rise; laughter dancing freely in the shadows behind his eyes. He takes life and death as the cycles turn, fearing only the end of humanity and the loneliness to follow. Blog - https://lunalaughter.wordpress.com/

  John Grey

  John Grey is an Australian born poet, works as financial systems analyst. Recently published in International Poetry Review, Chrysalis and the science fiction anthology, “Futuredaze”, John will also be published in Potomac Review, Sanskrit and Osiris.

  Marten Hoyle

  Marten Hoyle lives with his best friend, a pug-Chihuahua named Corkie in Helm, Washington. He considers the empty page his therapist. Any details readers may wish to know about him on a personal scale are concealed in each session, or “story.” He began employing this method of banishing terrible images behind his eyes at the age of six. He brought comedic writing to the stage, but after losing interest in audiences after fifteen minutes for three years, returned to his pieces of paper. His sessions of “conscious release” appear in anthologies and magazines in the United States and in Europe.

  Stefy Janeva

  Stefy Janeva is a poet and artist. She produced cover art for the first issue of Requiem Magazine. She writes dark, Goth poetry. Her poetry has been published in Poets of Blood Volume 2: Bleed for a Cause and she has several poems published in the horror anthology "In the Midnight Hour" by Dark Night Publishing. Her poetry book “Creatures of Destiny” by Dark Night Publishing explores her dark and light sides.

  Jovan Jones

  Jovan was born in Los Angeles, California. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his lovely wife and five kids. He was inspired by the testimonies etched on the notepad of his mind from various women in his life to write his first book Tears of a Rose. When he isn’t tending to his family Jovan writes any and everything that enters his consciousness. While he enjoys books, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment conversation is his favorite. Jovan believes there is no better storyteller than the one who doesn’t realize they’re telling one.

  Tom Killeen

  Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, Tom has been married to Rita, for 34 years, and has 3 children: Tom, Jr., 30, a paediatrician at St Christopher's Children's Hospital, Tim, 28, analyst for the Vanguard Group, and Sarah, 24, a pre-school teacher at the Goddard school. Tom has been a union Steamfitter for 38 years, working in oil refineries, nuclear plants and pharmaceuticals in the Philadelphia region and is a regular contributor to the "Mad Poets Society" annual review.

  J. T. Lewis

  Mystery abounds in the books of Amazon Best Selling Author J.T. Lewis. Living in Southeast Indiana with his wife and daughter, J.T. has always loved a mystery. Striving to bring readers a story packed full of action, adventure, and suspense has led to his current selection of titles. His first full length novel, Murder! Too Close To Home, has been voted #1 on Goodreads Best Debut Mystery Series list. The second in the series, Gabriel's Revenge, was released with much anticipation in July 2012. Both of these titles belong to the Adventures of Gabriel Celtic series. An electrician by trade, at night J.T. Lewis morphs into a fictional detective with a keyboard, a transition that suits his need for creating exciting stories for his ever-growing audience.

  Fred McGavran

  Fred McGavran is a graduate of Kenyon College and Harvard Law School, and served as an officer in the Navy in Vietnam. In June 2010 he was ordained a deacon in The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, where he serves as Assistant Chaplain at Episcopal Retirement Homes. The Ohio Arts Council awarded him a $10,000 Individual Achievement Award for The Reincarnation of Horlach Spenser, a story that appeared in Harvard Review. Black Lawrence Press published The Butterfly Collector, his award winning collection of short stories in December 2009. For more information, please go to fredmcgavran.com.

  Nelson Mongiovi

  Nelson’s lifelong passion for all forms of poetry is reflected in his various writing styles. Rollicking ballads, free verse, simple rhyme, limericks, Haiku and allegory are all used in his efforts to find a unique voice. While most of his work is considered “rather dark”, the author is currently working on two other volumes of poetry with much lighter themes. Nelson describes himself as, “just another writer dangerously close to being somewhat understood.” His poems have been featured in print and online in various publications. Nelson resides in Tallahassee, Florida.

  C Stovall

  Catherine Stovall is the author of Faire Eve, The Requiem of Humanity Series, Fearful Day, and Bloody Freedom. Stovall is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the creator of International Bug Your Library Day, an operation to spread awareness for Indie and Small Press Authors. Catherine is a fearless creature who surrounds herself with the joys of life both in and out of her fictional worlds. She lives in Southeast Missouri with her husband, three children, and pets. When not writing, she spends her time riding motorcycles, wearing elaborate hats, and genuinely enjoying the oddities in life.

  John D. Tucker

  John D. Tucker is a lifelong resident of Georgia, and made the decision to start writing late in life. He enjoys reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Jakes but isn't afraid to cross genre lines and read Romance, Supernatural Erotica, and Steampunk. To date, he has four published novels: Divisive a psychological crime thriller; The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight a Young Adult novel with a plucky teenaged heroine; Romancing the Fox a novel about a screenwriter/new producer who wants to hire a porn actress to give his movie some buzz; and Terpischore in Love a romance/drama hybrid about a romance between a mortal and a goddess.

  Carmilla Voiez

  Carmilla Voiez is a new voice in the world of horror. While her imagery harks back to the writings of Clive Barker and H P Lovecraft, her voice is uniquely female. Starblood is perhaps the first true female horror story ever written, dealing with both sexual violence and the struggle of a woman trying to make sense of a senseless world. Carmilla Voiez won the title Horror Author of the Year, 2013, for her debut novel Starblood. Her three erotic horror novels Starblood, Psychonaut and Black Sun are published by Vamptasy. She lives in Scotland with her husband, two children and three cats.

  P C Ward

  PC Ward lives and works in Staffordshire. He has been published in a number of small press magazines and will be the October featur
ed author on the P Neal Writers website. He is also studying part time at the OCA in Creative English. He has been a fan of horror ever since first reading IT by Stephen King although his favourite author is Shirley Jackson. When not writing he enjoys walking; last year completing The Coast to Coast walk with his wife. He is also to be found on the cricket field of his local village team most Saturday afternoons.

  Jef With One F

  Jef With One F is the author of the rock and roll memoir The Bible Spelled Backwards Does Not Change the Fact That You Cannot Kill David Arquette and Other Things I Learned in the Black Math Experiment, reminiscing about his time as an almost famous musician. He regularly contributes music, video game, comic book, and pop culture articles to the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Press, and considers being paid to talk about Doctor Who to be his greatest writing accomplishment. Jef lives in Texas with his wife, daughter, three cats, a dog and something uncanny under the bed.

  Sonja N. York

  Currently Sonja is an Eco (environmental) writer and official staff writer for Pink and Black Magazine, as well as a social media blogger, copywriter, and fantasy/alternative poetry writer. She graduated from Cal State University Long Beach with a degree in English (Creative Writing) and Theatre. Cat lover by day and vampire Goth writer by night, her interests include dark fantasy, screenwriting, black and white photography, alternative fashion/modelling, nature, animals, Celtic mythology, ancient Egypt, balance, spirituality, astrotheology, 80s music/metal, weird and alternative art, corsets, red hair, Celtic tattoos, candles, myths and legends, comic books, archery, painting, darkness meditation, jogging, and rum.