Burn Hand – Written by Chris Sims

We burned Joe-Joe deep in the canal tunnel, in the blackest part where it descends deepest under the city, the towpath winding around upon itself until the darkness enfolds you utterly. This is our world, where the day folk don’t go: only we know its footfalls and its secrets. Sometimes they venture in, curious or [...]

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Marry Me – Written by Leah Leaf

I was standing wedged betwixt other commuters when, at Deansgate, the lone Glaswegian embarked, singing, nay shouting John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, spitting and waving and mouthing and cackling in people’s faces. He mocked a young man for his gelled hair and started to poke at it, saying that men shouldn’t style their hair. The Glaswegian was [...]

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The Island – Written by Benjamin Judge

The church is supposed to protect their castrati but sometimes a zealot will slip through their walls. A knife in my mouth, cutting down to the cheek, took away the voice that another, equally cruel, blade had preserved in me. Without my gift I was of no use to the order and I passed from [...]

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One – Written by Claire Symonds

“This is the selection,” said the saleswoman. “The policy covers one item.” “One?” “We did contact you earlier in the year asking if you’d like to upgrade,” she said shortly. “As I remember, you decided not to take that option.” He took a deep breath. “You called me at two in the morning. On a [...]

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Another Angel – Written by Dom Conlon

“We lost another one.” “Another? Really? Where was it this time?” Mick pointed in the direction of the ancient oaks that arched above the crumbling crypts. “The medieval quarter. Same place as last week. Same gang, probably.” A stony silence fell between the pair as Lou considered the situation. “But that means…” “It does,” said [...]

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The Glass Shatters – Written by William West

It was gala night at the Royal Festival Hall. Everyone, I mean just about anyone who was anyone was there – including royalty, peers of the realm, classic and pop stars, (could you tell the difference anymore?) the odd member of parliament (some of them were truly very odd!) and even the US and French [...]

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Killed by the Furniture – Written by Christopher Marshall

Hush darling, I’ve been waiting. I’m ready. Try to breath steady but shallow it will upset you less; the poison makes it hard to breath, there’s no point fighting it. Oh don’t look at me like that! Surely you saw this coming. It was in the bottle your “associate” plastered his clumsy fingerprints on, just [...]

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The Big Laburnum Tree is Dying – Written by Stephen Shaw

The big laburnum tree in the garden of the house on the corner of our street is dying. I walk past it every day on the way to the newsagents to pick up the paper. Overhanging the main road it must be thirty or forty feet high. Buses brush it as they pass. It’s the [...]

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Bisto – Written by Oli P. Lill

“He’s bloody done it again!” shouted Alfred, clattering his way into Ethel’s kitchen laden with bags. “Who dear?” replied Ethel, stood at the sink polishing last night’s drinking glasses with a soft cloth.   “Who? That Bisto character, of course. Right by the bloody paper shop – he’s written his name all over the post [...]

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