Tag / short-fiction

by Warren Benedetto

Watch the animated trailer for “I Hope Your Happy” from Storiaverse

The trailer for the animated version of my dystopian sci-fi story I Hope You’re Happy has been released by Storiaverse. The story takes place in the state of Bliss, where the only crime punishable by death is crying. Storiaverse combines original animation with text to create a unique interactive reading experience. Coming in March 2024.

In the State of Bliss, the only crime punishable by death is crying.

It isn’t a difficult law to enforce, given the rarity of the offense. In fact, there hasn’t been an execution in Bliss for decades—nary a tear has been shed in over 50 years. Babies in Bliss are born quiet and serene, passing through their mothers’ hips like wet grapes through pursed lips: just a soft little pop sound, and the newborns emerge into the world with smiles on their faces and birdsong in their lungs.

That’s what made Fiona’s reaction all the more unusual: she was absolutely sobbing with despair. Uncontrollably, inconsolably sobbing.

by Warren Benedetto

“Die on Your Feet” published in Antipodean SF

My post-apocalyptic horror story Die on Your Feet has been published by Antipodean SF. The story is about a group of survivors huddling close to the ground to avoid whatever is lurking in the fog just overhead. It’s an allegory about what happens to people who deny the reality of their situation, despite all the evidence telling them they are wrong.

Content warning: mild gore

If you were to ask me to list the Top Ways I Might Die Someday, “decapitation in a Safeway parking lot” wouldn’t have been at the top of the list.

What a difference a couple of days makes.

by Warren Benedetto

“Influenced” published in the Femme Fatale Flashes anthology

My psychological horror story Influenced has been published in the Femme Fatale Flashes anthology by Wicked Shadow Press. It’s a story about blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, and what happens when your dreams finally come true. 

Content warning: stalking

The stranger passes his purchases over the Home Depot self-checkout scanner. Sweat glistens on his round face.

Trash bags. Duct tape. Hammer. Bleach. Scrub brush. Hacksaw. Plastic tarp.

He pays with cash.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “A Perfect Fit” on Chilling Tales for Dark Nights

The full-cast audio production of my psychological horror story A Perfect Fit is now available for free on the Chilling Tales for Dark Nights podcast. It’s the story of a middle-aged woman who will do anything to maintain her youthful appearance.

The story starts at around the 21:00 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

“Arrivals at Hope Station Have Been Indefinitely Postponed” published by Stupefying Stories

In honor of President’s Day, my dark sci-fi story Arrival at Hope Station Have Been Indefinitely Postponed has been published by Stupefying Stories. It’s framed as an urgent announcement on an interdimensional travel platform. Any resemblance to the unfolding disaster in American politics is purely coincidental.

Attention, Travelers. Due to circumstances entirely within our control—but beyond our collective will to change—all arrivals at Hope Station have been indefinitely postponed, and the Station is now closed. Travelers entering the Station should abandon Hope and proceed to the exits immediately.

by Warren Benedetto

“Me, a Hero” published in FABLE: An Anthology of Horror, Suspense & the Supernatural

My psychological horror story Me, a Hero has been published in FABLE: An Anthology of Horror, Suspense & the Supernatural by Aurelia Leo. It’s a story about a man who joins the search for a missing girl in hopes of making an appearance on the local evening news.

The story is also available as an audio production by Chilling Tales for Dark Nights.

Content warning: stalking (implied)

Since the girl disappeared, some of her friends had turned her regular table in the corner of the coffee shop into a makeshift shrine, with a large 8×10 photo, plus a few flowers, candles, and even a teddy bear. A hand-made sign reading “Have you seen me?” was affixed to the wall above the table.

“Yes,” I thought as I paid for my coffee this morning. “Plenty of times.”

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “No Bones, Just Skin” on the Scary Stories Told in the Dark podcast

The audio production of my cryptid horror story No Bones, Just Skin has been published by Scary Stories Told in the Dark, a podcast by Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. It’s about a brother and sister who have a terrifying encounter with an abúhukü, a rainforest demon known for dissolving the bones of its prey and leaving the empty skin behind.

Content warning: gore

My story is the first in the episode, starting around the 5:00 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

“Dragonsbreath” published in Dragon Gems (Winter 2024)

My modern dark fantasy story Dragonsbreath has been published in the Winter 2024 Dragon Gems anthology by Water Dragon Publishing.

It’s the story of a teen forced to wear a fireproof mask to protect himself and others from a power he can’t control.

This story is an odd one for me: a little bit fantasy, a little bit horror, and a little bit (gasp!) romance. 

Content warning: mild gore

The woman’s head lurched forward as her SUV slowed to a jarring stop, its bumper only inches from the police car parked sideways across her lane. Half a dozen emergency vehicles crowded the street ahead of her. There were police cars. Fire trucks. An ambulance.

The woman watched with mounting horror as a pair of paramedics lifted a gurney out of the ambulance and began wheeling it up the driveway of a nearby house.

Her house.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Coherence” on Tall Tale TV

The audio production of my short sci-fi story Coherence is now available on Tall Tale TV. It’s the story of a synthetic assigned to replace an elderly widow’s deceased husband, and what happens when it refuses to replicate the bitter resentments of a loveless marriage.

Tall Tale TV previously produced my post-apocalyptic horror story Close Your Eyes, which is also available for free.

by Warren Benedetto

“A Perfect Fit” published in Shooter Literary Magazine

My psychological horror story A Perfect Fit has been published in The Unknown, Issue #17 of Shooter Literary Magazine. It’s the story of a middle-aged woman who will do anything to maintain her youthful appearance.

I stepped back to admire Poppy’s frame, noting the slight swelling of her hips and the fine vertical lines above her upper lip. The ghost of a gray hair peeked out from the bangs she had added to hide her creased forehead.

“Poppy! Look at you!” I gushed. “How are you so perfect?”