(2 minute read) by Daniel Tierney (U.S.A) The phone in the next apartment had been ringing for hours. It seemed to be coming from through the wall behind her bed. The ringing would reach ten, then stop. After a few seconds it would begin again, over and over. She felt herself about to scream with …
(2 minute read) by Roland Gray (U.K) Annabel peered out across the open plan office. Dark holes left by the emergency lighting were ideal for sheltering monsters. “I don't believe in monsters,” she quavered loudly enough to believe her words. She was a child again, in the loo at the top of the stairs. Her …
(20 minute read) by Roland Gray (U.K) Catrin Carlyle was waiting to be counted through the opening credits of the evening’s main news bulletin - her sour scowl and snappish attitude unfamiliar to the millions of regular viewers enchanted by her sunny on-screen persona. But as far as work was concerned, she was a perfectionist, …
(20 minute read) by Max Talley (U.S.A) Alan Pearson surveyed the mist rising off the sea. He scanned the narrow strip of beach that curved around Whale Cove and heard the concussion of waves against monolithic offshore rocks. No sign of the lurking stranger yet. This place had been his dream for years while he …
(7 minute read) by Anne Lowe (U.K) The sound of scratching accompanied by the lashing rain forced Lydia awake. She must have dozed off in front of the TV. There it was again. She turned down the volume, opened the door and found the cat, a scrawny creature and not one she recognised from the …
(5 minute read) by Archibald Hobbs (Australia) “Welcome back to Good Morning Sunshine,” the handsome man intoned, direct to camera. “It’s the top of the hour and we have a very special guest with a story you won’t believe.” “It really is unbelievable!” the female co-host exclaimed. “Truly unbelievable.” “Should we just get into it?” …
(20 minute read) by Hilary Griffin Platts (U.K) Chapter 1 Pandora sat up with a start, her pulse was pounding at a rate of knots and she felt so dizzy that she immediately fell back into a supine position and stared at the familiar mark on the ceiling. She felt absolutely exhausted, despite having slept …
(15 minute read) by J. Azoulay (U.K) “What?” “Pardon.” “What?” “Pardon.” Tom repeated, smiling briefly. “You’re always telling the children to say ‘pardon’, not ‘what’.” Hester looked at him steadily over the antique table she had rubbed and rubbed until it glowed like a jewel. No-one was allowed to eat off it – they used …
(4 minute read) by Roland Gray (U.K) A lift opened with barely a whisper. M looked up long enough to register that the interior was empty then dropped her head back on the cushion, made by her arms and knees, as she sat opposite. The lift sighed close and carried on its way; up or …
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