Fiction:
"Papa Crawler," by Josh Rountree
Daddy's dead and nothing can be done about that. But instinctual apprehension makes itself known when some unkempt stranger begins asking for Daddy's body and offering money in return. Too bad the two brothers left to tend the farm have different ideas about what's best for Daddy's body.
"Secrets at Sea," by Sharon Doering
Honeymooning in Mexico. It's adulterated and oftentimes unclean, but it's romantic and it's relatively cheap. And there are still unique things to be done, like taking a pirate ship cruise, where everything may not necessarily be as it seems.
"Frost Carnival," by Benjamin Coleman
Rucik's friends Poetr and Suskanne were burning in the Frost Carnival bonfire, and there was nothing he could do about that; it's the way things were done here, a sacrifice to Death so more would not be taken in the following year. But the gods and their legion are not as powerless to change things.
"from each brave eye," by William M. Brock
Mayr had spent his life coming here and places like it, researching local foliage, making the University back home millions of dollars. But he was nearing the end of the road; this would be his last expedition.
"A Debt Repaid," by Nelson Stanley
She was perfect -- at least in his eyes. With her flourishing garden, cozy ocean-side cottage, alabaster-pale skin -- it was all enough to make him want her every second of every day. Except they'd yet to be intimate, and lust is a difficult animal to quell. And she has secrets to keep.
"Windows," by John Kirk
Augustine had a natural tendency to raise the need in women to nurture him. And ever since Abilene, the mother of their son Francis, had been committed to Failing following her attack on Augustine, that need had only been amplified. It isn't long befure Gus's entire life is a series of broken windows.
Poetry:
"When It Is Over," by Christina Sng
Absinthe has the colour of envy
"Rock Star Buried in Black (for Mourners)," by John Edward Lawson
even as you stalked another icon from afar.
"Beyond the Mad/Funhouse," by Kendall Evans & David C. Kopaska-Merkel
Which, like a kiss to some dark princess, brings her to life
Artwork:
Allen Koszowski (Cover)
Rick Hudson ("Papa Crawler")
Marcia A. Borell ("Secrets at Sea")
Russell Dickerson ("Frost Carnival")
Cynthia Rudzis ("from each brave eye")
Eric Asaris ("A Debt Repaid" & "Windows")
