Issue: June 2009

Dandelions and Blue Doors

“Witches are born with only half a heart,” our mother used to tell us. “That is why you will never love anyone completely, and why your heart will break so easily.” She was right. My sisters and I were unable to commit whole-heartedly to anything we did. This included our long-standing estrangement from each other—those of us who remain still met once a year, without fail…

Vermin

Oscar drove his Rid-Rite Pest Control truck up the winding, steep driveway of the old Martindale house and ground the vehicle to a stop in the dusty circular driveway. The [...]

Missing in Action

It had taken sixty-seven days of incarceration before Elinor had deliberately destroyed her timing sensors. The little control nodule was buried under the skin at the back of her neck, [...]

Gemini

You’re on your knees in front of our neighbor from across the way (but never for him, no; that’s not for him). You’re on your knees and have been for [...]

In a Pale Room

Cecile had agreed to this charade of a tea, though she was by turns regretting and congratulating herself on her decision to meet Frank just this one last time as [...]

The Troubleshooters

The air was heavy with humidity. It stooped Dutch’s shoulders and made his shirt cling to his back. When he entered the restaurant, the cool air was like that first [...]

The Demon’s Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan

A fantasy adventure about teenage demon hunters in contemporary England. Debut novel by an internet favorite.