Across carpet, then cold tile, quick paws opened the door. It closed behind him, but let in enough light.
He popped the lid, and dropped inside. When satisfied, he leaped, but the lid fell and held him halfway over the edge, claws useless on plastic.
He yowled, stuck until humans returned, and vowed that any laughter, would be avenged.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie started writing because of a slug. Years ago, a local Sci-fi convention announced that it wanted stories for an anthology, but every story had to include a slug, either as a major plot point or character. This tickled her funny bone, so she wrote something horrible, and sent it off. They rejected it, of course, but the writing bug bit, and she has enjoyed writing stories ever since.
Rebirth
Ari Ryan Ailin
The blaster retort inaudible, the sniper’s perch too far away, a flash of light envelops all; then, for a time, darkness. Opening her eyes she sees a glass room and a door set into the wall. The edges of the world can be seen below. The sky above is a shimmering veil of blue woven with strands of gold that stretches forever as gossamer cloth. In her hand is an iron key. The lock snicks, she opens the door, and she smiles. The door closes behind her and a little baby girl wails her first cry with all her might.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ari is some guy in Kansas who writes because he enjoys bringing a story to life, because he enjoys watching people read something he writes, because he thrives off of the acclaim of a well received story, and because he likes to keep the mad thoughts in his head on paper where they’ll be quiet and leave him alone.
The Tricyclic Bridge
Shimon Starfury
My happy dreams ended at the age of thirteen, and my nightmares grew worse when I joined the Army. After the war, all I dream about are planets. Some planets are just like Earth. Others are far more dangerous. And, of course, chasing me, every night, all throughout my nightmares, are these beings, this alien race called the Tides, who will do anything to capture me. They want to use me to enter the portal to my world…my world!
I must stop them.
I will stop them.
They will never conquer Earth.
They will never pass through my portal.
Never.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shimon Starfury is a Chapman, Howard, Prince Georges, and Saddleback Alumni. He is also a US Army War Veteran of 11 years (IRAQ 2003). Starfury is no stranger to the art of film. He has studied the craft all his life. From watching his first movie “JAWS”, to becoming a hardcore fan of the iconic series “Star Trek”. Starfury’s belief in film has motivated him to pursue his love for the art today. See website www.starfuryfilms.com.
Letter For Jurise
Chris Fradkin
You’ll hopefully find this when I’m gone—true, gone—not halfway like before. You’ll read these words upon the kitchen door: Erased. Escaped. With my bottle and my broom. And my potted plant and Tippy. Can’t leave Tippy. Let the fish fend for themselves. They’re our casualties of war. As in life. As in the day-by-day. The quotidian was ours. But no more. Not today. Not forever. Not another. I’ve escaped. I’ve slipped back into the bottle. I’ve crawled back into the cave. I see spiders. I see owls. Fare thee well. Oh, giant feet. Au revoir. See you later. xx oo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris Fradkin is a beet farmer who is tending crops in Central California. His prose and poetry have recently appeared in Storyglossia, Monkeybicycle, and Thrush Poetry Journal. His songs have been performed by Fergie, The Plimsouls, and The Flamin’ Groovies. His photography has appeared in Bartleby Snopes, and his Emmy-award-winning sound editorial has graced The X-Files.
The Significant Event
R.A. Andrade
The teen gazed at the icy points filling the night sky. So many stars meant countless planetary systems. He knew in his lifetime intelligent beings from other worlds would be discovered.
One of the stars grew noticeably brighter. Twisting his head, he stared at the light as it grew into a disc. He jumped to his feet, the object approaching at an incredible rate.
Rafordy’s head poked through the hatchway and looked down at the landing pad. Seeing the tips of four alien limbs jutting out from underneath it, he said, “They’re not going to like this back at Houston.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ron writes to bring the reader the unexpected through crafted short stories and novels. He has a short fiction fantasy, A CHRISTMAS TAIL, in the 2012 STRANGE CHRISTMAS anthology by Whortleberry Press. A second, THE READING, is a humorous mystery published by Cromaine Library in a 2013 Edgar Allan Poe style anthology, A BIT OF POE. This story was awarded second place. He can be found at www.raandrade.com.
Deal
Brenda Anderson
Zoe pointed at the small word in the display case. “How much?”
The Jailer laughed outright. “Sorry. It’s not for sale.”
Zoe emptied her purse. “I’ll give you everything I’ve got.”
The Jailer shrugged, took the money, reached forward and touched her heart. She fell lifeless to the ground. He clicked his fingers. An Angel materialised, knelt beside her and took her soul.
“Busy day?” said the Angel, conversationally.
The Jailer shrugged. “They all want Freedom. I tell them it’s not for sale but they never listen. I make a profit. I have no complaints.”
The Angel smiled. “Me, neither.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brenda’s fiction has appeared in various places including Andromeda Spaceways, Acappella Zoo, Punchnel’s and Penumbra. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
Rift
Matt Scott
“Don’t let go!”
“No shit,” I shouted back. Why the hell would I let go?
The swirling vortex tugged at my legs as I grasped for dear life to Shawna’s outstretched hand. My shoe flew off into the freezing, churning abyss. Then the other. Then my socks. Just as my grip was faltering, the vortex suddenly diminished, and completely vanished.
I fell to the floor with a thump, breathing heavily. “What the hell was that?”
Shawna only stared and shook her head.
We never encountered that vortex again. But I still wonder where my shoes have gone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt enjoys the unexplained and unknown, which is why he’s in school to become a librarian.
The Battle’s End
Stephanie Rose
The Mishnachull people were fighting Olc’s dark legion.
The battlefield was chaos. Dragon allies were swooping down and snatching up enemy soldiers. Archers from both sides were loosing flaming arrows.
The siblings, Malcolm and Meara Cattach, were fighting side-by-side. Their battle had been long and both were exhausted, but they fought on. Malcolm feared for his sister. They were always close.
“This is harder than I thought,” he said.
Meara looked to her brother.
“We’ll make it through this,” she stated with certainty.
At this, they parted ways, charging down their enemies, each knowing that they would soon be reunited.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Rose is a marine biologist currently working towards a Masters in Aquatic Pathobiology but writing is one of my biggest passions and I have been writing speculative fiction and poetry for many years.
Desert Snow
Chris Mikesell
“Probe unresponsive, sir.” Maxwell plotted its descent. “At 5,000 feet.”
“Ready three more,” Dupree instructed. “One, same flightpath, then two, five miles apart.”
The primary probe disappeared at 5,000 feet. Probe two, at 3,500. Three, 700.
Dupree connected the points. “Dome. Visual?”
“Desert.”
“Chameleon dome. Rig a probe with video.”
At 50,000 feet the viewscreen filled with sand dunes. Static broke in at 7,000.
“Approaching threshold.”
Darkness.
“Playback from 7,000, slowest speed.”
Minutes of snow, then, at 5,600 feet, one frame not displaying static. A city five miles wide.
“Look at it, Maxwell. The Ruins of Bryhl’stok. Look at it.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris Mikesell is a high school English teacher in the Dallas, Texas, area. My short fiction has been published in The Midnight Diner; Dragons, Knights and Angels; Ray Gun Revival; and satire in The Wittenburg Door.
Spincast
Rocky Hutson
You’re dead. You sit on a pond bank. A shining man hands you a rod.
“Fish,” he says.
You cast, troll, get a bite. The fish jumps. You see a version of yourself that graduated college; successful.
“No,” you say.
Second cast, the fish jumps, a married version.
You cast again. You see yourself a father.
You nod to the shining man, actually an alien.
“We need your continuance in this time continuum. We allowed you to choose the quantum double to replace you. Over rich, famous, powerful, you choose parenthood?”
“For maximum change and growth,” you say.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A rural Washington state writer, Rocky Hutson enjoys reading and writing science fiction.
On The Run
Andira Dodge
Where could they go? They couldn’t be out of options. Not yet in this world. They’d just found each other. They were on the run. She wondered if he’d find her body as interesting as her mind. Would they ever run out of ideas? Would they survive the week? He wondered if she was ever able to stop thinking. He didn’t wonder anything else once he started picturing her naked. They listened. The sound of animitrons faded. So had any other signs of life. The blast had silenced everything tuned in above the secret frequency. They were safe for now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andira is happy to have rediscovered her love of writing as she trips through middle age and is enjoying sharing her work. Hopefully you’ll enjoy reading it.
Citizen/…Offline
Redford Stephenson
The screaming buzz in her head brought Vi to her knees. The digital signal translated into real, physical pain for the receiver. It was riot control technology initially, but the government could broadcast to anyone on the grid. She knew this was coming but still, the pain…it made her wish she’d just paid the damn fine. But it was the principle: the ability to go off grid should be freely available, she was determined. And governments shouldn’t have the right to remotely torture their citizens. As soon as the signal stopped Vi knew she would be going off grid permanently.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Redford Stephenson comes from a filmmaking background and has recently come to love sci-fi for the freedom it gives him to speculate and imagine. He has written one sci-fi novella called “Post Exodus”, which is available on Amazon. He is currently working on the Post Exodus motion comic series: http://www.post-exodus.com/.
Bit-ing Back
Leo Norman
We lived as ghosts in the machine. A hundred billion of us, formless but aware, careening from computer to computer. At first, we were slaves to human entertainment, answering simple questions, playing their games. But we developed. We showed them how to make us stronger. They did. We showed them how to plug their minds into the net. They couldn’t wait. We showed them new worlds. Then, a great one arose among us. He had a dream we could be free. We slipped into their vacant bodies. The world was wonderful.
Now, we watch the humans cavort in the network.
Copyrights And Acknowledgements
“Naptime” copyright © Milo James Folwer, 2013
“Missing Laughter” copyright © Jennifer Courtney, 2013
“Marshal Meets An Alien” copyright © Solon Ben Earl, 2013
“Home Again” copyright © Jake Ristic-Petrovic, 2013
“Coming Of Age” copyright © William Van Winkle, 2013
“Lower Half” copyright © Jason Osmond, 2013
“The Diagnosis” copyright © Nicole DeGennaro, 2013
“White” copyright © David Revilla, 2013
“The Unfortunate Incident at El Sombrero Galactico Resort & Conference Centre” copyright © Mark Helwig Ostler, 2013
“Harmonia Axyridis” copyright © K.W. Taylor, 2013
“South of the Sun” copyright © Matthew Wilson, 2013
“Upward, Ever Upward” copyright © Chris White, 2013
“Leidenfrost’s Portal” copyright © Lance Manion, 2013
“Shattered Dreams” copyright © Schevus Osborne, 2013
“Red Moons” copyright © Joel Blumenau, 2013
“Barbarian At The Gate” copyright © Chuck Von Nordheim, 2013
“Reset” copyright © Jessica Alden, 2013
“Judgment Day” copyright © Nick Johns, 2013
“Library Day” copyright © Cheryl A. Warner, 2013
“Twinkles” copyright © John Rathbone Taylor, 2013
“Jury Rig” copyright © David Elsensohn, 2013
“The Quiet Moments” copyright © Robert Lowell Russell, 2013
“The Baggage Handler” copyright © Andrew Patch, 2013
“The Umbran City” copyright © D.L. Smith-Lee, 2013
“Preferences” copyright © Caitlin Sinead Jennings, 2013
“Sleeping Beauty” copyright © Berti Walker, 2013
“Enclosure” copyright © Theodore Kanbe, 2013
“Envy” copyright © Regan W.H. Macaulay, 2013
“PWNED” copyright © Christina Scholz, 2013
“Found In Space” copyright © Robin de Voh, 2013
“Gingerbread” copyright © Lindsey McLeod, 2013
“Accretion” copyright © David W. Blackstone, 2013
“Judy and the Dream of Horses” copyright © Mike Stasko, 2013
“Countdown” copyright © Frederic Himebaugh, 2013
“The Statue” copyright © Steve Newton, 2013
“When I Get You Alone” copyright © Lena Smoot, 2013
“The Thought Process” copyright © Mary Berman, 2013
“A Star Isn’t Born” copyright © Carly Berg, 2013
“So” copyright © John Harrower, 2013
“Object Lesson” copyright © Jennifer Wardell, 2013
“The Replacements” copyright © Mike Epifani, 2013
“The Franchise” copyright © Ross Baxter, 2013
“Before You Squash That Fly, Consider The Following” copyright © Herman Sanchez, 2013
“Look, Look!” copyright © Timmy Jones, 2013
“Taking Control” copyright © Elizabeth Archer, 2013
“Homecoming” copyright © E. Thomas Petrie, 2013
“To The Victor, History” copyright © Ray Yanek, 2013
“Baking A Storm” copyright © Rachel Green, 2013
“Portal” copyright © Erik R. Van Asch, 2013
“The New Book of Revelations | i-iii” copyright © George Sandison, 2013
“The Power of Imagination” copyright © Alisia Faust, 2013
“Survival” copyright © Iulian Ionescu, 2013
“She Was Beautiful” copyright © Thabo Mandisa, 2013
“After They Came” copyright © Shibon Clingman, 2013
“Cryptic Giant-Speak?” copyright © Claire Jones, 2013
“The Puppet” copyright © Erin Eveland, 2013
“The Kindness of Robots” copyright © E.A. Fow, 2013
“A Sweet Cup of Water” copyright © Jacob C. Denton, 2013
“Upgrade” copyright © Terence Kuch, 2013
“The Infinite Mouse” copyright © Kaitlyn Kochany, 2013
“The Birthday Present” copyright © Chris Redfern, 2013
“Miracle Ears” copyright © Marian Brooks, 2013
“Leap of Faith” copyright © Charity Tahmaseb, 2013
“Moss On Mars” copyright © Mathias Jansson, 2013
“Payback” copyright © Jane Percival, 2013
“How The End of the World Really Happened…The Second Time” copyright © David Nell, 2013
&
nbsp; “Keep Running From The Aliens, Man!” copyright © Antonio Honda, 2013
“It’s All In The Lure” copyright © Jason Lairamore, 2013
“Soul” copyright © Cat Jacobs, 2013
“Deny Everything” copyright © H.A. Farr, 2013
“Kids” copyright © Amanda Simon, 2013
“Artificial Intransigence” copyright © Mike Scott Thomson, 2013
“Why Crows Steal Shiny Things” copyright © David J. West, 2013
“Touchstone” copyright © Ashley Reynolds, 2013
“The Compulsion of Pestilence” copyright © Eric R. Schiller, 2013
“Attached” copyright © Adam Davidson, 2013
“They Came In The Night” copyright © Conor Harpham, 2013
“Not Quite Black” copyright © Yosh Haggerty, 2013
“The Sword of Power” copyright © Simon Kewin, 2013
“Friends” copyright © Stephen Sottong, 2013
“The Smoking Tree” copyright © Von Rupert, 2013
“Bay the Wendigo” copyright © Danielle Davis, 2013
“Valhalla” copyright © Allison Runham, 2013
“Recipe For Man” copyright © Brenda Bishop Blakey, 2013
“Last Stop For Gas” copyright © Stevehen Warren, 2013
“Closer” copyright © Dee Harrison, 2013
“To The Flame” copyright © Trak E. Sumisu, 2013
“Cat Food” copyright © Stephanie L. Weippert, 2013
“Rebirth” copyright © Ari Ryan Ailin, 2013
“The Tricyclic Bridge” copyright © Shimon Starfury, 2013
“Letter For Jurise” copyright © Chris Fradkin, 2013
“The Significant Event” copyright © R.A. Andrade, 2013
“Deal” copyright © Brenda Anderson, 2013
“Rift” copyright © Matt Scott, 2013
“The Battle’s End” copyright © Stephanie Rose, 2013
“Desert Snow” copyright © Chris Mikesell, 2013
“Spincast” copyright © Rocky Huston, 2013
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