When Tomas arrived at the apartment, there was a naked hooker sitting on the kitchen table, one leg above her head. The music was so loud, he’d heard it from the street– techno, or pop electric, and now that he was inside the apartment, the …
Each night our mascot— a black and white cat— sneaks into the base searching for a warm lap and scraps of food. Tonight our reconnaissance unit joins an elite group of combat fighters. These tough guys volunteer for their unit with the promise of death …
The first thing Brandon says, after coming to, is a lie. “What happened?” his father asks. “I was trying to get the dog away from the stairs,” he says. And although the doctors at the hospital are sure there is no evidence of …
The note tucked into my backpack pocket. First note. A simple question with a doodle resembles a turtle nearby. His fingertips rich with Irish Spring. An answer is what begins when all he wants is an answer. The heft of high school hardback textbooks …
It was the first day of summer when we burned Daddy’s body. I know because I looked at the calendar in the pantry right before doin it. I wanted to remember the day. We decided to burn him because we knew diggin a hole would …
I’m a Cop, sure. I think that all the time, out in the street here. I’m just a Cop, walking my beat. I walked the beat all my life, but—these days now, it’s all just mirrors. It used to be a regular town but now …
It wasn’t yet six in the morning when the doorbell rang, but I was already awake and dressed and had the coffee brewing. Susan, my best friend from childhood– known as Susie back then– had talked me into having a joint tag sale today. I …
On his snowmobile, Tobias Morgan rode along the frozen sea of Mortla. He was hauling an unusually large package that had taken him fifteen minutes to tie onto the sleigh hooked to the back of the snowmobile. The treadmarks in the snow were made deeper …
With the whistle of mortar fire, the golf ball strafed their heads and landed with a thunk on the green. Sam ducked, along with the two players in his group. He stared at the foursome behind them, resisting the impulse to hurl the ball into …
Mike Harrison’s shoes were on fire. He stomped and stomped, but each smack against the pavement made the flames spread to the cuffs of his pants. “Someone fucking help me!” Mike shouted. The employees at his backyard picnic were a healthy mix of frozen with …