By Sandeep Kumar Mishra In his dreams, Rajan searches for the ghosts. He hunts for them, tracing their footsteps in the dirt. He is back in his hometown— he knows these roads. The moonlight shivers on his skin. The crooked streets rattle around him. His heart burns in his chest. Baba, mama. Where are you? … Continue reading Snake-Cell Dreams
The Emperor of 2nd Street
By Leo Hines 7:45 a.m. on Key South-Bay island meant tourists buses, motor-scooters and bikers were hogging the highways. The harbor was a ball of confusion with anxious tour groups meandering to their rental boats. Long crooked lines were at the Amusement park.The snow birds had arrived. Smiley Lehman, age 18, needed to hustle with … Continue reading The Emperor of 2nd Street
Imagine It
By Ciaran J. McLarnon The visits were moments of when Simon was given a precious glimpse of his future. From behind the shelves of tinned fruit and meat, the sacks of flour and rice, he watched the man enter his family’s grocery. Simon saw him as the man he wanted to be; his bowler hat, … Continue reading Imagine It
The Day of Judgment
By Archit Joshi In the desert city of Akhmenrah, peace was finally settling after a ferocious battle between King Gohäd and King Dahemòn. The battle had raged on for a decade, causing pitiable destruction of infrastructure and resources. That’s the thing about war. Willing or unwilling, each life is affected, be it a peasant’s or … Continue reading The Day of Judgment
Makeup
By Jegadeesh Kumar Vijayalakshmi alias Vj showered, dried her hair, brushed away the thought of having a ponytail and decided to keep a loose hair style. With larger earrings, it’d look graceful if the hair overflowed the ears. She scanned her image in the mirror. The hair was straight, shiny and bubbly. Yatra’s hair was … Continue reading Makeup
Arranged
By Rivka Shlesinger ‘Come out. You are going to meet him and you will like him.’ The bangs on the bathroom door increased. Jessica knew she’d have to open eventually, but for now she yelled, ‘No!’ The bangs stopped for a moment and she heard muffled voices. Her parents were out there discussing her future. … Continue reading Arranged
The Handmaiden
By Mehreen Ahmed Eliza stood in front of her bathroom mirror and squeezed the end of a nearly empty tube of toothpaste. Between her thumb and her index finger, her fingernails turned an inconsistent color of white pink, the plumpness of the tip of her skin diminishing. Breathing short and tight, her lips were thinning … Continue reading The Handmaiden
Tails, You Lose
By Leslie Knibbs He maintains stiletto like eye contact with each of those playing the game. Never looking down, his sharp eyes dart from one player to the next in staccato-like movements. Under a crude canvas canopy, the crowd gathers eagerly, all placing coins on the table. Standing…... Like some shifty sleight of hand artist … Continue reading Tails, You Lose
With Hands Tied
By Fernanda Poblete Gonzalez The door opened, and he entered quickly. He had a coffee cup and a few papers in his hand. He stood in front of me as he adjusted his crooked black tie. "Miss Martinez?" He addressed me. "Yes," I replied, with my hands wet from my anxiety. “I am Detective Patricio … Continue reading With Hands Tied
Kidnapping
By Fernanda Poblete Gonzalez Robert lifted me into his long arms, as he usually does, and put me in the place that he had been painstakingly preparing. I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen; every hair on my body stood on end, while my pupils slowly dilated. With their false smiles, … Continue reading Kidnapping
Academy of the Heart And Mind 