Tag / short-fiction

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.

by Warren Benedetto

“From Below” published in Apocalyptales: The End is Nigh

My post-apocalyptic eco-horror story From Below has been published in Apocalyptales: The End is Nigh by Wicked Shadow Press.

In the flooded remains of Old Manhattan, the wealthy stay dry and well-fed in their penthouses, while everyone else is left to fend for themselves against the unseen horrors lurking just below the surface.

The boy from the boat—the one who had spoken to him only minutes earlier—was at the window, pounding on the glass. His face was a mask of pure terror. Panicked, the boy looked over his shoulder, then down at Jeremy. He screamed, his lips forming two words that Jeremy easily understood, even through the thick, soundproof glass.

“Help me!”

by Warren Benedetto

“Things Are Looking Up” published by 7th-Circle Pyrite

My short horror story Things Are Looking Up has been published by 7th-Circle Pyrite. After a man and his wife are in a fatal car accident, the man decides he will do anything to see his wife one more time.

She’s so close, I can practically touch her. The only thing between us is a few feet of freshly-turned earth.

All I have to do is dig.

by Warren Benedetto

“They Say Crows Can Remember Faces” published in A Coven of Witches

My short horror story They Say Crows Can Remember Faces has been published in A Coven of Witches by West Avenue Publishing. When a bully kills one of Ava’s favorite crows, he quickly learns that some birds never forget a face. 

Content warning: bullying, animal death, mild gore

The stone hit Ava in the back of the head. She stumbled and fell, spilling her schoolbooks out of her arms and onto the dirt road in front of her. Gravel dug into her palms as she threw out her hands to break her fall. Her knees skidded painfully across the ground.

“Have a nice trip!” a boy’s voice called out from behind her, to a chorus of laughter. “See you next fall!”

by Warren Benedetto

“One Last Step” published in Dark Matter Magazine

My post-apocalyptic horror story One Last Step has been published in the Halloween Special Edition of Dark Matter Magazine. It’s a story about a little girl stalked by an unseen shadow-thing across a post-apocalyptic landscape.

“Will it hurt?” I watched my father roll the sewing needle between his fingers, its tip glowing orange-red in the heat of the flame. My eyes welled with tears.

“Just a little,” he replied.

by Warren Benedetto

“A Thing of Beauty” published in Beautiful Darkness 2

My body horror story A Thing of Beauty has been published in Beautiful Darkness 2 by Dragon Soul Press.

Interesting scientific fact: the memories of a traumatic event can persist through a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly, despite the near-total liquefaction of its body.

The same goes for people too.

Content warning: sexual assault (implied), bullying, gore

The body hanging from the ceiling began to writhe, straining against the inside of the translucent, teardrop-shaped sac in which it was encased. The sac stretched and distended, pressing outwards in all directions as the figure inside struggled to break free.