fiction
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Blight
The night air pressed down like rain-soaked bedsheets. Old, worn shoes rubbed Anthony Barron’s sockless ankles raw as they slapped against cracked concrete. Behind him, a Holtson City cop’s flashlight jittered between houses. “Stop running, boy!” He knew better than… Continue reading
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We Don’t Talk About Monsters
Halloween hands us easy monsters: plastic fangs, rubber masks, store-bought blood. They’re safe because we know they’re not real. Real monsters dress better. They keep tidy lawns and shake your hand at the ballgame. They’re at every community service event.… Continue reading
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Haunting Contradictions
Being scared is a natural part of life. But it’s never been my favorite part. Which may sound odd considering my chosen form of storytelling. But like the subject matter itself, I’m full of contradictions. I don’t enjoy the sensation… Continue reading
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Tap Tap Tap
Tyler O’Connor’s seventh birthday was tomorrow, but everyone forgot. His big brother, Peyton, disappeared about four months ago. Mom and Dad hadn’t thought about much else since. Mom especially seemed like the zombies in the one old movie Peyton used… Continue reading
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Don’t Let It Out
It was a perfect day for a drive back to Tuscaloosa. University of Alabama sophomore Maddy Thompson loved spending the summer with her parents in Fairhope, but she couldn’t wait to get settled into her new place. Continue reading
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The South Is Already Gothic
You don’t have to squint too hard to see horror in the South. It’s stitched into the landscape, layered into the culture, and hidden in plain sight. Continue reading
R.D. Sellers 