Unearthly Urge was first published in 'Southeast Asian Fantasy Drabbles' by Insignia Stories in September 2020.
Unearthly Urge
I wasn’t thrilled when my aunt invited me to stay with her in Thazi for the summer, but how I felt didn’t matter. She’d been lonely ever since my uncle died, and my parents felt guilty for not attending the funeral – though apparently no one did.
That left me as the perfect candidate for cosy teas and long chats to make amends.
It only took one milk tea for things to turn sour.
“I had to cancel the whole thing,” she sobbed, “so your uncle couldn’t pass on!”
Something shuffled into the room.
“He’s starving, he needs fresher flesh now...”
That left me as the perfect candidate for cosy teas and long chats to make amends.
It only took one milk tea for things to turn sour.
“I had to cancel the whole thing,” she sobbed, “so your uncle couldn’t pass on!”
Something shuffled into the room.
“He’s starving, he needs fresher flesh now...”
Infestation was first published in 'Southeast Asian Fantasy Drabbles' by Insignia Stories in September 2020.
Infestation
It started as a hum. That’s all it was at first. A brief vibration beneath the skin that would rise and fall throughout the day.
Angel thought nothing of it.
Next came the crawling sensation – then little lesions that ran the length of his body.
These were harder to ignore.
A local wise woman confirmed the worst: Angel had been cursed by a mambabarang – a sorcerer capable of inciting insects to burrow and breed beneath a person’s flesh.
Unless he could identify the spellcaster and make amends, he’d become a time bomb with a bellyful of bugs...destined to burst!
Angel thought nothing of it.
Next came the crawling sensation – then little lesions that ran the length of his body.
These were harder to ignore.
A local wise woman confirmed the worst: Angel had been cursed by a mambabarang – a sorcerer capable of inciting insects to burrow and breed beneath a person’s flesh.
Unless he could identify the spellcaster and make amends, he’d become a time bomb with a bellyful of bugs...destined to burst!
Unfeeling Dawn was first published in 'Ancients' by Black Hare Press in August 2020.
Unfeeling Dawn
Watching from atop a mountain peak, Itztlacoliuhqui never sleeps.
Bringing the dawn with him each day, he resents the people of the Aztec Empire – able as they are to enjoy the sun he so unwillingly summons.
Somewhere deep within him, he remembers the warmth of that blazing orb, but his obsidian skin – unfeeling as it is – ensures it remains a distant memory…
One thought sustains him: stealing their lives away through famine.
Each year he has one shot at brushing away their bounty beneath a bitter blanket of snow. A chance to watch them waste away under the winter sun…
Bringing the dawn with him each day, he resents the people of the Aztec Empire – able as they are to enjoy the sun he so unwillingly summons.
Somewhere deep within him, he remembers the warmth of that blazing orb, but his obsidian skin – unfeeling as it is – ensures it remains a distant memory…
One thought sustains him: stealing their lives away through famine.
Each year he has one shot at brushing away their bounty beneath a bitter blanket of snow. A chance to watch them waste away under the winter sun…
Tying Up Loose Ends was first published in 'Ancients' by Black Hare Press in August 2020.
Tying Up Loose Ends
Clotho ceased her labour, raising up her hands to see how skeletal they had become. “I can take no more of this, Sisters. There is simply too much to weave…”
“Too many lives,” murmured Lachesis, nodding in agreement. “Perhaps it is time to end this project?”
“An apocalypse…?” Atropos’ eyes widened in wonder. “Yes, yes, they’ve brought it on themselves.”
Lachesis gathered up the countless threads from around the room, as her two sisters watched on in silence.
“Sever them, Sister,” whispered Lachesis, holding the great bundle of thread aloft. “End human life on Earth.”
Atropos raised her shears. “Gladly.”
“Too many lives,” murmured Lachesis, nodding in agreement. “Perhaps it is time to end this project?”
“An apocalypse…?” Atropos’ eyes widened in wonder. “Yes, yes, they’ve brought it on themselves.”
Lachesis gathered up the countless threads from around the room, as her two sisters watched on in silence.
“Sever them, Sister,” whispered Lachesis, holding the great bundle of thread aloft. “End human life on Earth.”
Atropos raised her shears. “Gladly.”
Neptune's Bounty was first published in 'Oceans' by Black Hare Press in April 2020.
Neptune's Bounty
It all started with a single shark washed up on the shore. Dead, bloated, a thick film of foam around its mouth. It was only a minor nuisance at first, quickly taken back out to sea by some local fishermen.
Then the rest arrived.
Whole schools of fish, dolphins, whales. Each new fish festering under the unforgiving sun. Within days the town was being choked out by the miasma; but the sea’s bounty kept surging relentlessly.
Unable to afford to leave, most folks left it too late... Failing to stem the tide, the gangrenous grave would soon swallow every soul...
Then the rest arrived.
Whole schools of fish, dolphins, whales. Each new fish festering under the unforgiving sun. Within days the town was being choked out by the miasma; but the sea’s bounty kept surging relentlessly.
Unable to afford to leave, most folks left it too late... Failing to stem the tide, the gangrenous grave would soon swallow every soul...
Baby Doll was first published in 'Forgotten Ones' by Eerie River Publishing in March 2020.
Baby Doll
Ayaka kneeled on her tatami mat as she chanted away, cutting each paper doll down to size as her calls for protection grew more frantic.
These little katashiro would soon form her only defence. Each would have to be ready to receive part of the curse she knew would be incoming imminently, so she needed to work faster.
Ayaka had never meant to hurt her baby. The curse wouldn’t care; it would come for her regardless.
Her tears only making the spell more indistinct, deep down Ayaka knew that hanging even a hundred around her home couldn’t save her now...
These little katashiro would soon form her only defence. Each would have to be ready to receive part of the curse she knew would be incoming imminently, so she needed to work faster.
Ayaka had never meant to hurt her baby. The curse wouldn’t care; it would come for her regardless.
Her tears only making the spell more indistinct, deep down Ayaka knew that hanging even a hundred around her home couldn’t save her now...
