Luminaria, Chapter 4: Wrong Turn — Lilly, Part 1

Birds sang. A sweet, intoxicating warble. The sun was just rising over the Santa Monica Mountains, casting a golden glow. A new day. Awakening life.…


Drawing Board

They met during a dancing party at the end of the 1950’s. When Arthur saw Liz, he said to his friend: “This is a girl I will dance with; this is a…


Deliver Us from Evil

Jerry opened the pastrami on rye wrapped in foil; inhaling the steam as it rose from the sandwich, he smelled the little bit of heaven on Earth. He…


The Queen of the Seminarians

Sunday morning, spring semester: sun melting the frost on courtyard grass, light streaming in through stained glass. Sacristans swishing about in…


The Spire

I was sitting on the beach at dawn, peering into the distance. A wave rolled in under a thick layer of trash and broke with a feeble crunch. "We…


Ending Bigly: The Many Fates of Donald Trump — Prologue

I knew a man once. His name, it doesn’t matter, but I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. His name was Gilbert Florin. He did not live in America…


Meeting

I’m so happy that the three of you could join me today. The paid plane tickets and goody bag filled with expensive gifts may have been the…


Luminaria, Chapter 3: Killer Gene — Natasha, Part 2

I poured myself a whiskey and took a big gulp. Forget my training. What should I do, go to the police? I groaned at the absurdity. No one would…


Flying

Four months had passed since Beata had her bike accident before her friend Martyna could see her. First, she couldn’t visit because Beata was in a…


First Light

I prayed for death, as I felt it would be the only way I’d ever live again. Someone trapped me in a steel cage, with any chance of escape dependent…