Everyone needs a superhero. Especially thirteen-year-olds trying to survive junior high. At least, that’s what Maya thought. But explaining that in a book report to a teacher’s aide who took offense
“But that’s my black horse!” Eight-year-old Timmy tried to take the LEGO figure from his older brother’s hands. “Mom got it for my birthday last year!” Eleven-year-old Chris wrenched the pieces
Dustin tugged at the metal restraints that clattered against the table. He swallowed hard as the icy claws of fear slowly squeezed his heart. He looked up and saw only darkness but then
The prince awoke to cannon fire. He sat up and stared at the curtains over the windows. More cannons went off. Voices shouted. Something exploded. The prince kicked the blankets away and ran
It’s a dangerous thing, the human spirit. It drives men to achieve things never before possible and brings woe to the fool who tries to stand in its way. The human spirit
Calak slammed to the deck, covering his head as a barrel splintered over him. Water splashed across the deck as he scrambled to his feet. Glancing over his shoulder, he lunged for his
The Tempest drifted into port with her esteemed captain hunched at the helm. With the treasure safe in the hold and eight weeks of restless sailing behind him, Captain Silverius allowed a rare
To whomever might be reading this, I pray you have escaped my fate. Documented in these pages is a tale of misfortune and grief that has sealed me within a cursed town. Should
The harsh slam of the door echoed through the walls of the old marsh cottage. Anne curled up amongst the rumpled blankets, clinging to warmth. She slept on a bed far too small
October 16, 1793 Paris, France Outwardly, I am calm and composed even as the rickety wooden cart jolts me over the cobblestones. I avert my gaze from the gleaming blade in the distance,
I hear myself breathing. My inhaling comes slow and steady, as does my exhaling. Each breath is perfectly paced, never coming too early or too late. I can tell just by watching my
Honorable mention of the English Forum short fiction division. For the past few days, the parchment at my desk lay empty. I’d only managed one word in the top left corner: Ayaks.
Friday, December 5, 1941 7:52 a.m. “Yasu?” The man snorted. “I never heard that name before, and I’ve heard some strange ones living in a big city.” Yasu pressed his
The mischievous Russian Blue hunched on the shelf, taunting me with her purrs and deceitfully sunny personality. She shook my wand in her jaws, her saliva flying everywhere. "Zinta! You drop that right
Aaron cracked open his eyes, the slate ceiling greeting him. Plain. Empty. A gray stream of light from the mostly shuttered window coated the room in a dull glow. Exhaustion washed back over
Mrs. Charles ran through her home, ducking as a fourth round of bullets peppered the wall just above her head. She shrieked, yelling for her husband. The twins clutched her skirt as they
Ow! My nose bumped against a barrier. I couldn’t make out my surroundings because of the darkness. With my sense of sight rendered useless, I decided that depending on my sense of
Winter “I’ve got an extra sauce. I think it says “Pollyanna” on it. Do you want it?” Jude looked up from his chicken nuggets. He still couldn’t believe he was eating
Mabel leaned toward the sunlight streaming through the wide window, squinting at the ball in her hand. “G 32,” she called out. Around the plastic card table, a man and a woman bent
I stared at my paper, the problems blurring before my eyes. I blinked, but the confusing numbers and carried digits made my head spin. I glanced up at the timer and gripped my