Of course, it produced no change in temperature, but when the dust from the ring system pelted Ularma’s Orbital Station, it sounded like a massive thunderstorm and made Corry long to curl up in a warm blanket. The sand formed tiny rivulets on the domed window that comprised the ceiling and upper wall, working in ...

Days went by, and still waiting for word from Thelma. I drove to the farm, hoping to see my Uncle Jeb, but he wasn’t on the grounds. It was unusual for him not to be around. The gnawing tug in my gut grew stronger. But when Ralph, the most unobservant of men, failed to offer ...

A skeleton dances when the front door swings open, drawing my latest customer inside. I go overboard decorating, but this season is the bread and butter for shops like mine. In January, I might spend weeks without pulling cards for anyone, but come October, even the most devout Catholics know the veil between the world ...

Footfalls echoed through the empty street, bouncing between abandoned buildings and fading into the warm, muggy air. Marcus glanced at Jax, noting his six-foot-plus frame, muscled upper body, and confident stride. “Are you a local?” Marcus asked. “For now.” Silence stretched. “Here on vacation?” “Nah. Vacations are for rich people.” Marcus frowned. “How did you ...

Uncle Jeb had a far-off look in his eyes, as if gathering his thoughts on where to start with his missing hand story. Throughout my childhood, my mom and aunt recounted the tale of him driving down one of the dirt roads one day with his arm dangled out the window. His truck got too ...

Fitz’s lungs burned as he spun in the shallow, murky seawater. Agony tore through his calf muscles, which ripped beneath the powerful reptile’s vice-like jaws. As his brain begged for oxygen, Fitz tried to focus. In his mind’s eye, Fitz suddenly saw a young woman on a muddy bank. Blood oozed from a dozen puncture ...

Peris and Alfie sat facing each other on Nor’s ribs, their feet dangling. They continued to orbit the yellow star while Nor lapped at its energy, half-asleep. On a normal day, they’d be underway as soon as they woke up, but on this occasion, they let her doze.  “It feels wrong to exercise control over ...

Now unimpeded by cloud cover, the gleaming sun threw waves of late-summer heat down to the still waters in the streets below. Sea birds explored further inland, drawn by the floods. The air buzzed, and clouds of mosquitoes searched for their next meal. Fitz lifted a flat hand to his brow and squinted at the ...

The morning passed peacefully after Ken left for work. I showered and dressed before I drove out to the house to do more research. I texted Ralph. Considering his character, it was likely he had already headed to the golf course to play a round before enjoying the rest of his day at the country ...

1. There’s a moment, a second in time, when something happens that we can’t turn back. It’s the accident where we’re not there but at home unaware of what’s coming.  The instance that changed my life, our lives, happened on an uneventful Friday night. The boys were in bed, or at least pretending to be. ...