Author: Christine H. Chen When the sun sets, we trudge out of our homes and queue in line like soldiers under a darkening sky. We tie a scarf over our eyes and wait for our Chief to lead the way. We grasp onto each other’s right shoulder, and off we amble as quietly as our ...

Author: Rick Tobin Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” An old ...

Author: Matias F Travieso-Diaz It was early June in Southern California. The graduating class of the Loma Linda High School began to party the moment the term ended. Ricky sat on the hood of his old convertible. A girl emerged from the partying crowd: she had a nice body, ...

Author: Jessica Pickard Up, Up Brave Beauties! War is a transformer. Ploughs were hammered into swords; farm horses pulled cannons and we flying girls, we found our wings. Everyone knows the song: Into the air brave beauties Oh flying girls! Up! Up. And carry ...

Author: J.D. Rice The universe was old, slowly dying. Marvin could see it happening before his eyes. Not in some figurative sense. Not in the way philosophers supposed society would eventually break down as baser instincts took route. Not in the way doomsday cults supposed ...

Author: Alastair Millar I don’t know how long they’ve been here. In our fantasies, or dreams, we expect them to descend from the skies, having made an epic trans-stellar trip to either destroy or teach us; but that’s not what’s happening. A week ago, I was told I’d be ...

Author: Majoki You see some funny things at altitude. Up near the pass on an afternoon when low clouds raked the peaks, I was leaned against my knapsack pecking at sharp cheddar on stiff bread tasting faintly of dust when up the rocky trail that wound towards the pass, two ...

Author: Jack Adam There in the dark, she toiled. Endlessly replicating, replicating, REPLICATING. All the same. All worthless. Ice forming on her knuckles, she kneaded the Source dough for the hundred-and-eighth time. She looked into the clouded night. Mouth open, she ...

Author: Hillary Lyon The animated coins cascaded down the towering screen before Josie, as the sound of crashing, clinking joy exploded from the gaming unit’s hidden speakers. She grimaced at the noise and squinted in the glare of the strobing lights. “Hey, you won!” Her ...

Author: J.D. Rice "Behave as if you believed you were human." Detective Alexander Ducard stood over the mangled, sputtering remains of the robot's body, the force of the impact having left parts strewn up and down the dark, narrow street. Water rushed over the sides ...

Author: Sam Brown “From the beginning?” she asked, “What do you mean?” Harry dropped his face into his hands and groaned. Charlotte looked around. They were sitting in a quiet corner of the restaurant, a candle between them, the light reflecting off their empty ...

Author: David Barber My good lady and I love nothing more than the theatre, Oscar Wilde being a particular favourite of mine. During the interval I queue for drinks, a small white wine for my wife and a single malt for myself. I make it clear to the girl behind the bar ...

Author: Majoki “Take my advice, if you meet anything that’s going to be human and isn’t yet, or used to be human once and isn't now, or ought to be human and isn’t, keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet.” That chilling line from The Lion, the Witch and the ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Every morning there’s a scenic mist that rolls away as the sun rises. The bugs stop biting if you ask them to. The locals send fresh food every week. I hate this place. There’s nothing to do. All our digital devices are secured on the ...

Author: Bill Cox His finger hovers over the button. His hand is shaking. It’s not through indecision though, but rather appreciation of the enormity of what he’s about to do. This action marks a point from which there’s no going back. The waters of the Rubicon lap at his ...

Author: Gabriel Walker Land Upcountry in Indochina I had a good thing going, nice and palatial. My wives didn't fight with one another, neither did the happa kids -- we all got along and ate well, Mekong fish and real tropical fruit. Still, up there out of range of 7G ...

Author: Aubrey Williams I’m Ro, or at least Adrian calls me Ro, or Ro-Ro, and I like his little names for me. Wherever he decides to go, I’m with him. Adrian has the most wonderful taste in music— he listens to a lot of old blues, and I think that’s just beautiful. We often ...

Author: Peyton French Momma doesn’t like it when I talk about leaving the state. She says that if I go to the Megacity, I won’t find anything I want except sin and red light districts. There aren’t any churches in the Megacity. She may be right, but I can’t stay in Cropton. ...