In The Service Of The Queen
After the war, came the task of rebuilding. The rubble had to be cleared. The ruins had to be rebuilt. And the dead had to be laid to rest…
Stories
Where The Little Boy Drowned
Gordon’s New Year resolution to exercise more is one that many of us explore, following the possible excesses of Christmas. But in Jim Mountfield’s tense tale, it leads the protagonist down an altogether much stranger path…
In The City In The Smog
In a city choked with poisonous smog, a young boy flees his murderous father. He finds another, nightmarish city whose inhabitants might save him – but at what price?
Marius
‘Marius’ appears to a bullied schoolboy in his dreams. When the bullying becomes rather extreme, Marius appears to the schoolboy and takes him to claim his revenge. However, it soon becomes clear that this imaginary revenge is all too real.
The Woman Who Loved Winter
The cold embrace of winter forms a commanding backdrop, in Jonathan’s haunting and atmospheric tale of a love which cannot and will not be denied…
The Reeds
Paul’s M.R. James-esque story, The Reeds, is set around the town where he grew up. In it, a grieving widower seeks solitude in a small village, where the ancient past is never far from the surface. And at every turn, the mighty reedbed that lines the river estuary haunts him – huge, unknown and mysterious…
When the Ghosts Went
John Arkwright has seen ghosts for years: in the bingo hall, in the supermarket; everywhere. The day the ghosts stop, John realises something has drastically changed…
Intoxication
Daniel’s relationship with his roommates has deteriorated, along with his dangerous relationship with drugs and alcohol. There is a high price to pay, however, when Daniel’s anger spills over one last time…
The Reunion
The protagonist of Max’s story receives an unexpected Christmas invitation from his ex-wife, after ten years of separation, which he tentatively accepts. The resulting reunion is a bittersweet affair, and not without its own mystery and magic…
Halls of Residents
With Christmas approaching and a brief respite in lockdown, one student chooses to remain alone in her halls of residence over the festive period. But has she made a terrible mistake?
