Category / Publications

by Warren Benedetto

“Something Borrowed” published by Rising Action Review

My humorous vignette Something Borrowed has been published by Rising Action Review. It’s the story of a wedding disrupted by an unfortunate disagreement about the ownership of the limousine.

“Under no circumstances are you to discuss what happened here today with anyone but people in the immediate family,” my mother said. She used the collar of her gown to dab the blood oozing from her busted lip. “This stays between us, understand?” The assembled wedding party nodded solemnly. Aunt Gracie picked another shard of a shattered champagne flute from my mom’s scalp. My mom winced in pain. “Careful, Gracie!” she hissed. “Christ.”

by Warren Benedetto

“Firefly” published by The ManifestStation

My short story Firefly has been published by The ManifestStation. It’s a simple story about a young girl who captures a firefly in the back yard to help cheer up her ailing sister. 

Content warning: terminal illness of a child

Missy caught the firefly in mid-air, cupping her hands around it to form a tiny, dark cave. She could feel the insect’s delicate footsteps tickling her skin as it wandered across her palm, searching for a way out.

“Got you!” she whispered, victorious.

by Warren Benedetto

“Pop’s Time Machine” published in Drip Literary Magazine

My sci-fi flash fiction story Pop’s Time Machine has been published in Issue #4 of Drip Literary Magazine. It’s the story of a boy whose father insists he has a time machine in his head.

When I was eleven years old, I told my dad I wanted to invent a time machine. He told me he already had one. I asked him where it was.

“Right here,” he said. He tapped his forehead and smiled. “All I have to do is close my eyes, and I can travel back in time as far as I want.”

by Warren Benedetto

“Up on the Rooftop” published in Christmas of the Dead

My holiday horror drabble Up on the Rooftop has been published in Christmas of the Dead: Krampus Kountry by Wicked Shadow Press. It’s the story of a brother and sister on Christmas Eve who hear someone—or something—climbing on the roof.

There’s something on the roof.

My sister and I huddle behind the couch, our tearful eyes glistening in the glow of the Christmas lights. The house shakes with each heavy footfall thudding overhead. Plaster dust drifts from the ceiling like snowfall. A low growl echoes down the chimney, followed by the metallic scraping of a heavy blade.

by Warren Benedetto

“Just What I Want” published by The Stygian Lepus

My dark sci-fi story Just What I Want is now free to read in Issue 9 of The Stygian Lepus. It’s a story about what happens when your digital personal assistant understands you so well that it starts doing things for you before you even ask.

Amy examined the shipping label. It was addressed to her. “Never mind!” she yelled back. She carried the package into the kitchen and opened it. Her eyes lit up. “Clara, did you order this for me?”

Blue LEDs flickered on a featureless black cube hovering over the kitchen counter. Tiny gray text on the front edge identified it as CLARA: Completely Lifelike Autonomous Robot Assistant. A woman’s voice emanated from within.

“I thought you’d like it.”

by Warren Benedetto

“Everything As It Was” published in Litbop

My historical horror story Everything As It Was has been published in Volume One, Number Three of Litbop: Art and Literature in the Groove. Set in the dust-plagued landscape of 1930s Oklahoma, it’s a story about lost hope, lost faith, and lost children come home.

“I prayed that you’d come home, and the crops would come back, and everything would go back to how it used to be. And now, glory be, here you are.”

by Warren Benedetto

“The Salt Circle” published in Tales of the Strange

My weird fiction story The Salt Circle has been published in the Tales of the Strange anthology by The Writer’s Workout. Imagine a werewolf story where, instead of the main character turning into a wolf when the moon is full, he turns into a slug when he has an early morning meeting.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” Linda said, wiping at her nose with a soggy, crumpled tissue. “I’m worried about you.”

I extended my eye stalks toward her, giving her what I hoped was a look of indignation. I couldn’t believe she was trying to spin it like it was my fault. “If you didn’t want me to get hurt, maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to deploy the chemical weapons.”

by Warren Benedetto

“Many Deaths Before Dying” published in Arcana Deck Three

My short horror story Many Deaths Before Dying has been published in Arcana Deck Three by Underland Press. When a giant, silvery puddle appears in the field where they play, four boys encounter an inexplicable horror that will change them forever.

Content warning: suicide (implied)

“We need to get help,” I said quietly. But I didn’t move. I felt rooted in place, as if my feet had bonded to the Earth’s crust. I was frozen solid, utterly paralyzed with fear. Shah hadn’t just fallen into the puddle. He had been pulled.