things i miss about going to school
A girl and her best friend find a floating blue door in the sky and, upon crawling through it, discover a world made entirely of blue vapour inhabited by a strange old woman.
Speculative fiction. As published in Bristol Futurist.
david and the three ivs
A prison guard partakes in capital punishment. He comes to work as normal, but he has no way of knowing whether the one lever he pulled out of three was attached to the lethal dose.
Moral horror, psychological workplace drama. Sample available.
... Leland had a long, straight nose and beady, blue eyes; the narrow, curious kind, constantly perceiving. His whole face was long, in fact. He had two daughters and his wife visited every week. In for dealing, two years left, David recalled. Maybe three. It was always changing for Leland because his attorney wasn’t too competent and he had a few cases too many. That’s what Patrick told David anyway. David hoped it was two years. As he watched him, Leland seemed to be leaning back, as though trying to recall something, trying to recognise him. Will Leland have heard by now? That was why he peered. Like David would start hurting him. But he wouldn’t. Of course not. With each lap, Leland slowed as he neared him. From the bend of the track, his shadow ran long and thin in the cold sun, reaching where David stood.
poor old thing
John Abner, a farmer, wakes up to his entire herd being slaughtered overnight. He and the town mayor investigate. But, an evil spirit threatens their town and their families.
Western, folk horror. Sample available.
John Abner stood with his legs apart, mouth pursed, clutching his hat by its stiff woven brim as he scratched his head, staring at the collapsed cow he had uncovered on his pasture. Last night, John Abner watched her pace steadily into her gated stall and wished her and her sisters a good night.
Now, Dottie’s brown hide was caked in dark bloodied splotches; oil that tugged flies. Taking his worn gloves off, John softly pressed Dottie’s fuzzy eyelids shut. He hovered there, squatting on the dry grass.