It’s virtually Halloween, boils, ghouls and gender-neutral creatures of the night time. And if there’s one factor about Halloween everyone loves, it’s small, fun-sized items of sweet.
However why cease at tiny sweet? What else can we shrink? May we shrink youngsters? What a few man? What about ourselves? What about … hear us out … what about horror tales? May we shrink these too, do you assume?
Trick query, sucka. We already did.
On the five-year anniversary of the Present’s 100-word horror characteristic that ran in 2020, we requested 13 San Antonio- and Austin-area writers to conjure up tales that clock in at precisely 100 phrases (together with the title). And that’s what they delivered.
Do us a favor and browse them out loud to youngsters as they fist your cauldrons for sweet on Halloween night time. Their mother and father will love you.
Holes
By L.P. Hernandez
Outdated Man Jones was recognized for 2 issues. Digging holes and giving out full sweet bars for Halloween.
“Trick or deal with!” I’d say.
“Heathen,” he’d reply, dropping chocolate into my open sack.
Went on for years like that. His yard regarded just like the floor of the moon. Treasure, he’d say to anybody asking what the holes had been for.
“My abdomen hurts dangerous,” Jenny mentioned. My trick or deal with days had been over, however hers had been simply beginning. I seen the wrapper.
“Outdated Man Jones, huh? He name you a heathen when he dropped it?”
“No. He known as me a treasure.”
L.P. Hernandez writes horror and speculative fiction, together with Stargazers and No Gods Solely Chaos. He co-owns the indie press Sobelo Books.
Who’s Acquired the Salt?
By Jess Hagemann
I search the pantry, the cabinets, the counters: no salt. The spell ebook says I want salt. There’s baking soda. Will Clabber Lady suffice? Shrugging, I tip some in. Stir. Say the magic phrases. Subsequent: Three liters of harmless blood. Hmm. I wouldn’t name them “harmless,” however between the 2 of them, they need to have sufficient. Excited to see it work, I stalk up the steps to their bed room. Think about the sleeping faces of the little snots I’m babysitting. Within the moonlight, their pores and skin is pale as salt. However not as pale as will probably be.
Austin novelist Jess Hagemann writes greatest on prolonged solo retreats, so she’s constructing one (open to different writers!) in Maine. Extra at lincolnretreat.com.
Hearken to My Partitions!
By Miguel Villa
The noise is deafening. I can’t assume straight, can’t concentrate on my work. So many issues to do I write them down on sticky notes. I begin working and the noise begins up once more. I ask my neighbor over to hear, however it goes away. They have to assume I’m shedding it. Am I shedding it? WHY DO THEY KEEP POUNDING ON THE WALLS? I resolve to go over and see for myself. I knock on the door, then stroll in. I see it, crawling alongside the partitions … I get it. I begin pounding on the partitions too.
Miguel Villa is a failed podcast host attempting his luck at writing horror comics and quick tales. He likes horror motion pictures and Ice 9 Kills.
The Treatment
By Sanford Allen
Rats skittered by means of the moonlit chapel as Brother Edmund tended to the dying, blue boils blossoming on their necks and faces. Between rattling coughs, the villagers begged for salvation, however all he may provide was empty hope. Prayer and water from the communal nicely. As soon as he’d burned the our bodies and no extra of the sick crawled to the abbey steps, he opened his journal full of cautious notes concerning the illness he’d brewed deep within the nicely. “Finally,” he wrote, smiling and tilting again a sip from his wine goblet, “alone in a world purified of sin.”
Sanford Allen is creator of the novel Lethal Passage and plenty of scary quick tales. Beneath one other title, he edits an alt-weekly.
Y-INCISION
By Reneé Hunter Vasquez
She by no means believed in an afterlife as a result of she couldn’t see or really feel it for herself. However she may really feel now that the desk beneath her was chilly. The sanitized air assaulting her nostril. Gloved palms prodding and meticulously inspecting. The ineffective hunk of meat inside her cranium was someway nonetheless firing off merciless warnings of worry and ache. Warnings that the damaged husk of her physique merely couldn’t heed. When the speculative dialog above her started, she couldn’t contribute. Once they scrubbed her down, she couldn’t transfer. And when the reducing started, she couldn’t scream.
Reneé Hunter Vasquez takes horror means too significantly. She co-hosts Pod Mortem: A Horror Podcast and writes scary tales. Comply with her on socials @bloodandsmoke.
What I’ve Discovered Since Crossing Over
By Celso Hurtado
Routine is vital. I float round each night time, slamming doorways and moaning. It took observe to get the sound correct, since I now not have vocal cords and should manipulate the air, however I managed it.
I like being invisible. And watching. As soon as, a girl yelled, claiming she may see me.
“You have to be a medium,” I mentioned.
She denied it, the liar. So, I haunted her. That makes 4 hauntings complete. A shocking tidbit about haunting somebody … a lot blood!
Another factor I’ve realized. Ghosts scream. In actual fact, my throat by no means stops hurting.
Celso Hurtado was born and raised in San Antonio. His first ebook, The Ghost Tracks, was praised by NPR and gained an Worldwide Latino Guide Award. The Satan’s Promise is his second novel.
At first, she was devastated concerning the being pregnant…
By Sloane Fitchett
However now? She was elated. She tenderly stroked her stomach’s slope as she studied the dwindling provide of cans. When her household had first retreated to the bunker, they had been sure they’d solely be down there a month, two at most. How lengthy may the illness final? However now, practically 5 months in, provides had been dangerously low. They had been down to simply cans of corn and beans.
The newborn kicked her ribs and he or she smiled. “We are able to’t wait so that you can be born!” In a number of weeks, they’d feast on recent meat.
Sloane Fitchett lives in San Antonio.
Sluggish Burn
By Susan Snyder
An odor of burning hair and flesh permeates my nostrils. But, I hardly discover due to the searing ache. The insufferable licks of flame char my again, legs and arms. I can’t escape the fireplace. There isn’t any room to maneuver.
I’m keenly conscious of the cremation course of. In spite of everything, I’m often the one operating this crematorium. I solely went inside to repair it. To not be trapped inside. This course of takes two hours. At what level will I die? Please, quickly.
Who locked this door? Who stands on the surface, laughing, whereas I’m burned alive?
Susan Snyder is an Austin-based Wonderland and Splatterpunk award nominee who writes horror fiction, poetry, non-fiction and satire. On daily basis is Halloween!
Daytime Violence
By Lesly Julien
I’m cursed.
You at all times come again, like a haunted doll.
I’ve misplaced depend of what number of occasions I’ve killed you.
I can’t assist the intrusive visions of pouring gasoline throughout you and setting you alight.
You cling to me.
To remind me of what I’ve accomplished.
Simply after I assume I’m free. There you might be once more.
So the trend builds. My knuckles tighten.
I hate you for what you make me do.
I didn’t ask for this.
Why don’t I cease? As a result of the HOA gained’t let me.
So I minimize you. Once more and many times.
Lesly Julien is the indie comedian author of the spooky comedy Ghost Gauntlet, slapstick fantasy miniseries Savage Wizard, crime thriller miniseries Headcases in addition to long-gestating horror drama Misplaced Lake.
RTO
By Richard Z. Santos
Mother died, which sucked, however what’s actually unlucky is she got here again. Not a zombie, vampire or vicious factor like in that ebook with the misspeeled title, however like herself. When she returned to work she didn’t discover her photograph on the breakroom fridge or the gaping mouths. She scared the brand new lady out of her desk and began replying to emails. The standard of her work was, nicely, fantastic. After battling site visitors dwelling, she sighed, turned on the TV, and sat on the sofa. She ordered supply. I requested why she got here again. She mentioned, “That is higher.”
Richard Z. Santos’ debut novel, Belief Me, was a finalist for the Author’s League of Texas Guide Awards and was named among the finest debuts of the 12 months by Crime Reads. He’s the editor of the acclaimed assortment A Night time of Screams: Latino Horror Tales.
He Stated/She Stated
By Lori Michelle Sales space
He mentioned, “How come you didn’t prepare dinner dinner?”
She mentioned, “I’m sorry.”
He mentioned, “Why can’t you clear up something?”
She mentioned, “I’m sorry.”
He mentioned, “Why didn’t you make that invoice fee on time?”
She mentioned, “I’m sorry?”
He mentioned, “Why didn’t you do your hair good?”
She mentioned softly, “I’m sorry.”
He mentioned, “Why would you wish to do this as an alternative of be with me?”
She mentioned quietly, “I’m sorry.”
He mentioned, “Why can’t you ever do something proper?”
She mentioned in a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
He cried to her tombstone, “My love, I’m sorry.”
Lori Michelle Sales space is the quiet half of the Ghoulish Books enterprise. Within the night, she is Mrs. Lori, dance instructor extraordinaire. She spends most of her time being surrounded by costumes, books, formatting initiatives and barking canine.
A Message from the Principal
By Clayton Hackett
Expensive Mother and father/Guardians,
That is to tell you about an incident that occurred on campus at present. An unauthorized particular person breached the perimeter and was capable of entry a number of school rooms through the instructional interval. The person was armed with military-grade firearms.
We’re proud to say that the District’s speedy response tactical unit was capable of efficiently neutralize the intruder in beneath two hours.
Sadly, as of the time of this message, there have been twenty-three casualties, three of which had been…
***CLICK HERE to improve your subscription to considered one of our “Paid” choices to obtain extra worthwhile data!***
Clayton Hackett is a brief fiction author and legal professional residing right here in San Antonio.
The Fall
By Johnny Compton
Individuals mentioned this street was cursed, however it was worse than that. This street was malevolent. Conscious and merciless. He realized this simply earlier than the bridge fell away and dropped his automotive into countless fog.
The street taunted him with an indication earlier than he fell.
IT’S NOT THE FALL THAT KILLS YOU
He handed a tour bus that will need to have been silver as soon as upon a time however was nearer to brown with age.
He handed a rusted bike on the best way down. Its driver and sidecar rider had been skeletonized.
Then he handed three extra indicators.
IT’S
THE
TIME
Johnny Compton is the Stoker Award-nominated creator of The Spite Home, Devils Kill Devils and Useless First, in addition to the quick story assortment Midnight Someplace.
ABOUT THE EDITOR: Max Sales space III runs Ghoulish Books on South Saint Mary’s Road in San Antonio. Discover them there most days moreover Mondays. Do NOT go to the store on Monday. You’ll get pissed off.
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Associated Tales
The all-ages occasion options juvenile, young-adult and grownup fiction — particularly horror and darkish fantasy.
The bookshop, situated on St. Mary’s Road within the coronary heart of downtown, makes a speciality of all that goes bump within the night time.
The 2-day occasion will characteristic Juliette Lewis, David Arquette and Danny Trejo together with actors behind among the most terrifying film monsters.
