Twists and Turns
Short Stories
The Queen’s Portrait (Vampire)
It's not right. It’s not right. My brush falters on the canvas. The queen's hair needs a glint of sunlight. I close my eyes, trying to remember the sun. Slowly, an image from deep memory surfaces: my love, Colette, standing in front of me, the morning sun glistening...
A Haunting Tryst (Horror with romantic elements)
The old streetlamp cast a dim yellow glow over the front of the aged funeral home. Along the lower side of the stone building where it was darkest, Mia Langston stood holding hands with her boyfriend, Lucas Forester. Lightning seared the sky, and they cringed at the...
A Mutt Named Jackson (Suspense)
"Come here." Randy's deep, rough voice demanded immediate submission. The dish Lilly had been washing slipped out of her hand and floated down into the soapy water. Turning, she faced her husband and pressed her wet hands onto her belly. She knew what was coming. When...
The Agreement (Horror)
Another dreaded Thanksgiving. Mr. Thomas has already taken his seat, and he strokes his beard with gnarled fingers as I set a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. I've heard his hands are quite strong. "Smells good," he says, watching me. "I always eat too much." I...
Laughter is the Best Medicine (Humor)
Fifteen gifts, all placed in boxes of identical size, were wrapped and lined up side by side on my couch. I'd completed the task with my usual meticulous efforts. After finding fifteen identical white boxes and inserting the gifts into a bed of gold tissue paper, I...
Brain Fruit (Light horror)
“It’s called what?” I leaned in and peered at the seed packet in Cara’s hand. We’d just eaten and were settling onto the couch in our apartment when Cara pulled the packet from her purse. “Brain Fruit,” she said, tapping on the packet instructions with one manicured...