By Fred Klein A rider came through the nightly mist up the deer path to the hillside campsite. An armed guard challenged the rider. “Stop, who are you?” “I am Miquel from Anaheim. I seek the great bandit, Pedro Ortez,” said Miquel. The guard replied, “Why do you seek him?” “I have a message from … Continue reading The Bandit
Silence Is Golden
By Steven Bays George was on his way home after a night out with his friends. It was late and since it was a weeknight, he would pay for it in the morning. His alarm would go off on time regardless of when he went to bed. George, in his early twenties, still lived with … Continue reading Silence Is Golden
The Soap Bubble Fairy
By Matias Travieso-Diaz We are blown upon the world; we float buoyantly upon the summer air a little while, complacently showing off our grace of form and our dainty iridescent colors; then we vanish with a little puff, leaving nothing behind but a memory-and sometimes not even that. Mark Twain Elisa was only five when … Continue reading The Soap Bubble Fairy
Me and Myself
By Amir Natan I was sitting alone in the movie theater, enduring yet another one of those quality boring movies that only two other odd people and I came to watch. He arrived late and sat right beside me—another weirdo. Just my luck. Not in the mood for small talk with random people seeking relief … Continue reading Me and Myself
Chasing the win
By Louisa Prince Just another twenty dollars, then I’ll quit. Neon signs glowed and flickered in the dimly lit room. Mark had been there for hours with his bulky frame hunched on the stool, eyes focused on the screen in front and hand hovering over flashing buttons on the keypad. It seemed like a good … Continue reading Chasing the win
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey – Novel Excerpt Chapter 1
By Rayne Lacko Shelby 2010 The last semester of high school, I kept a list called “Things I Won’t Miss After Graduation” in the back of my chemistry binder. The instigator of the list was the periodic table. It seemed impossible that so much magic should be boiled down, parsed, categorized, and then fenced together … Continue reading The Secret Song of Shelby Rey – Novel Excerpt Chapter 1
The Pond
By Gregory Smith Frank was a real Renaissance man. He was a writer, an artist and musician. He adored nature and animals more than people. Don’t get me wrong- Frank was a sociable guy. But like many tortured artistic souls, he was happiest in solitude. He never married and only tolerated children when he had … Continue reading The Pond
Her Life
By Cynthia Li With a lilac bra on the top and underwear on the bottom, and with face downwards, she dived down under the pool, motionless. Illuminated by ethereal lime-green glow, the ripples sparkled as the shallow waves rolled. Behind the pool was her stately mansion. The ivies twined their way through the gate and … Continue reading Her Life
Brake Neck Speeds
By Faith J Forster ‘I bought a Cadillac,’ Wilson hollers over the phone. He overwhelms me with talk about his newly acquired car. He’s gone mad, I decide and collapse flat on my back to pedal my legs in the air. A thing I do to get in a few seconds of fitness while attached … Continue reading Brake Neck Speeds
May Microfiction Contest: Gold Winner: “Breadcrumbs” by Scott Tierney
The two noble mountaineers, weighed down by their leathers and hoods and frost-encrusted beards, were less than an arm's reach apart and within touching distance of the summit; yet the brutal, howling, all-engulfing blizzard made both distances seem insurmountable. “Victor!” Dudley screamed over the torrent of snow, both his voice and parched lips cracking with … Continue reading May Microfiction Contest: Gold Winner: “Breadcrumbs” by Scott Tierney
Academy of the Heart And Mind 