Elizabeth Fenley

“The Stuff of Which Dreams are Made” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #113

“The Stuff of Which Dreams are Made” by Elizabeth Fenley The morning after the dream, I went to see Sylvie. She was setting up her shop for the day—the kind that sells aromatherapy, crystals, dream catchers, ritual athames, stuff like that. She was behind the counter, rearranging displays with swoops of her flowing, gauzy purple sleeves. Bangles on her wrists reverberating like wind chimes through the glass door. I could hear her humming to herself. Even though the sign said, “We are Currently Closed. The Universe will Open for You When It I...

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“There's Always a Cassandra” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #113

“There’s Always a Cassandra” by Elizabeth Fenley He always apologizes, the Babadook whose name he told me is Ensos, for bringing me the dreams. I ask why he has to bring the dreams at all—and why bring them to me? He says solemnly, “You are now the Cassandra. There must always be one.” He stares at me with vacant eye sockets, his skeletal face stretched tight with thin-sheeted rubbery pale skin. His black top hat, worn, crumpled, dusty though it is, gives him an air of dignity, of reserved poise, even grace. When his long skinless bone...

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“In The Rain Stone Became Flight” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #112

“In the Rain Stone Became Flight” by Elizabeth Fenley In the rain, they awoke. Silent stone sentinels atop the massive building. Azvamenth stretched his wings, wiggled his talons, and yawned, revealing deadly fangs. He looked towards the column on his right. Birsha was waking up too, unfurling her tail and rolling her horned head around in circles. “Ubel, sister.” “Ubel, brother.” Taking flight simultaneously, Azvamenth on two wings, Birsha on six, they sailed to the crenelated tower to meet the others. Tavarius, his wide, thickly mu...

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“Capitol Meteorology: The Cumulonimbus Experience” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #112

“Capitol Meteorology: The Cumulonimbus Experience” by Elizabeth Fenley It was raining in the Science Quadrant. It never rained in the Science Quadrant. It was only supposed to rain in the Agricultural Quadrant. Looking out the window of the breakroom, Dr. Felicia Hughes shook her head in confusion—then immediately reached up to ensure she hadn’t loosened the braided bun she pulled her long, brown, wavy hair tightly into when she worked in the lab. She peered through the thick sheet of heavy rain under grey skies. She c...

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“Dammit, Patterson!” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #112

“Dammit, Patterson!” by Elizabeth Fenley When the screaming started, the smart thing to do would have been to run away. Unfortunately, as I ran toward the noise, I admitted to myself that I am just not that smart. Collins grabbed my arm, “You are not going without me.” I shook his hand off my arm. “Of course not. I might need a human shield.” “Dammit, Patterson!” I heard his boots landing heavily behind me, and then quickly beside me. The next second, he was in front of me. “See? I knew you’d make a great human shield. You already have this ...

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“The Ritual of the Shiwanna for the Sacred Rain” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #112

The Ritual of the Shiwanna for the Sacred Rain by Elizabeth Fenley Blue feathers fall from the sky, as they always do, warning of the first rain of the season. Each cycle of rain is longer than the one before. Some say the Shiwanna are angry. The preparations are immediate, oft-practiced, and still bear the undertone of panic. The mothers are particularly frantic. The elders have decided there are to be four sacrifices this cycle in hopes of appeasing the Cloud People. Those four will be selected before the feathers cease to float to ...

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“The Lightning” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #112

“The Lightning” by Elizabeth Fenley        I drove safely; the lightning had shitty aim. I have to get to my dogs; they might be out in this thunderstorm. My house is going to smell like wet dog. Six wet dogs. Good thing I sent an hour mopping the floor. Gotta remember to dry them off before they jump on the bed. Sarah and Barry tried to convince me to stay at work, wait until the storm passed. Charlie said I had to stay there and eat dinner with them, and then he volunteered his older brother's bed for...

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“The Orb and the Peacock Feather” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

The Orb and the Peacock Feather         by Elizabeth Fenley “Are you an angel?” The luminescent woman hovering a few inches off the ground smiled. “No, I am not an angel.” Tara frowned, uncertain. “Then, what are you? Or am I dreaming?” “You aren’t dreaming, Tara.” Tara stepped back on the grass of the deserted field she’d never seen before. She’d been on the crowded sidewalk on her way to school. This was beyond creepy. “How do you know my name? Where the hell am I? How the fuck did you---” The...

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“Following in Underground Footsteps” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

Following in Underground Footsteps    by Elizabeth Fenley “Prodigal”           Both of my mothers know I am a criminal. An Enemy of The Capitol. If caught, I will be executed. One of my sisters knows, but the youngest has embraced The Capitol Doctrine. She and her husband raise their children to accept propaganda as the truth. “Athena” We agreed not to talk about it, my mothers and I. Too dangerous. I walk with one foot on each side of the divide between The Capitol a...

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“So Little Virgin Blood” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

So Little Virgin Blood                                        By Elizabeth Fenley The newborn babies are easy to silence while I drink their blood from their savaged necks until I feel it go sour as their hearts stop beating. I stuff tiny bodies into a red box attached to the wall in this too bright room. I am able to suck three dry this time ...

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“Team Lucifer: Let's All Go to Hell” by Elizabeth Fenley

Team Luficer: Let’s All Go to Hell             Elizabeth Fenley I work for Lucifer—well, we do, an assorted group of us. Different backgrounds, unique skillsets, synergy, teamwork, and all that. You gotta give us points for embracing diversity. Even though you’re already judging what we do. That’s ok. It’s complicated, like most things in life—and death. See, Lucifer’s a pretty lonely guy. He gets a bad reputation, by dozens of names in who knows how many religions, cultures, whatev...

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“There’s Always Time for Temptation” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #110

There’s Always Time for Temptation We have plenty of time. And I have plenty of work to do. Then we have plenty of time. There’s no “we” here. Fine, “I” have plenty of time. Deep breath. Ignore it. I’m in your purse. Shut up. I’m right here, right up here in the cabinet. Leave me alone. I’m working. It’ll only take a second. You know you want to. I’m ignoring you. No, you’re not. Inbox: 121 Unread Emails Overnight. Corporate Email Hell. In a six hospital health care system with an email addiction, everyone is cr...

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“A Road Trip with a Special Passenger” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #110

A Road Trip with a Special Passenger    Elizabeth Fenley I see the red mist of the hongaek around the car as the endlessly flat Texas landscape blurs together through the passenger seat window. He’s driving too fast, with his usual attitude that rules are for everyone else, weaving through traffic without signaling. I stopped commenting on that years ago. But, with the hongaek hovering, I wonder…. “You gonna pout the whole fuckin’ way? Cry like a little bitch?” I take a slow, quiet breath. “I’m not pouting. I’m not cryin...

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“An Unusual Hitchhiker on an Uncommon Path ” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #110

An Unusual Hitchhiker on an Uncommon Path           Elizabeth Fenley Serdwynne slowed Loki to a walk when she caught sight of a figure trudging alongside the dirt road. Instinctively, she pushed her cloak back over the hilt of her sword and pulled her hood off to scan the landscape for others. Loki remained steady, unspooked. The stretching time of the gloaming cast uncertainty on her surroundings. As Loki slowly closed the distance between Serdwynne and the stranger, she observed its di...

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“Running on the Road of the Lost to the Road of the Found” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #110

"Are you going to sneak around my garage all night, or were you planning to break in?” Shit. I was being so careful. Now I’m standing in ankle deep snow, freezing. I hold my breath and slowly raise my hands. “I was just looking for a place to get out of the snow. I wasn’t going to steal anything, I swear.” A flashlight beam shines around my shadow. “Turn around slowly.”  He must be a cop or military. He’s gonna turn me in. “Yes, sir,” hoping to buy some leniency.  A long silence. I hold my breath. He takes several long stri...

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