❍ Cultch

[SHIVERS]

"...Howe... nice,
shooting..."
Your head droops.

The bat nudges you once more.
You groan out of protest from your body.
"C'mon. Halfway there."

You struggle to stay upright, Aubrey putting in most of the work to keep you moving.
Following their advice, you do your best to keep talking,
to keep awake.

"Had... bus crash.
painful light, red X... went to... gas station.
That, thing
it... hijacked my heart..."
"Hijacked?"
"Stopped my pulse."
"...hell." They shake their head with a sigh. "Good t' know, I guess."





"What the fuck is... happening...?"
"Hell if I know.
I was helpin' out wi- hey--" They catch you as you topple, straining to get you back in position and continue on.
"...Was. Helpin' out with some U.M.I.R.A. business.
Said they had, reports of somethin' goin' on out here, weren't sure what.
Guess they were right.
...I just got to th' motel last night.
Was asleep this mornin' when shit hit the fan."



You want to listen, but
you can't remember the last time you felt this tired.
















Your eyes close.



"Hey. Hey!
C'mon kid we are ALMOST there!"








You barely feel as they try to shake you awake.





You sleep.






























 

▶ The A Pill
Dan Romer

Lost.

Run aground in fog.

The shore laps at your heels.

You sink ankle deep into muck.


















Lights burn bright overhead.

Falling like stars.

Dotting landscapes you can't fathom.












They take knowable forms.










Street lamps.



Lanterns in tunnels.



Will o' wisps.














One appears along your path.









You don't know if

excavation,
exaltation,
or bright obliteration

awaits you.



But you wish to follow it regardless.













You reach out.


















Movement stops.












Ivy.
Grows at your heels.



Up and around you.





Thorns scrape your hide.

Unfurling you.










A bony claw

climbs the murky depths.




It pulls away the vines.






But it frightens you more.













Your gaze meets glowing eyes below
which have witnessed you already











you--









































 

▶ Jailbird
M. Ward

You awaken to music.

You're frightened and groggy at once, for a few moments,
until you realize you're in a motel room; lights off.

The alarm clock radio next to the bed you're in is playing music.







You can hear rain outside.





The motel room door opens up.
You flinch on instinct, swiveling your head to the door.

"Hey."
Aubrey steps in.






They shut the door behind them, then make their way over
and abruptly unplug the alarm clock from the wall.

The music instantly stops.

"Sorry, thing's been goin' off on its own since I got t' town.
Dunno if it's busted or it's somethin' to do with everythin' else happenin'.
Don't really wanna find out."







The bat rubs their back, and makes their way around to the other bed,
taking a seat.

"How long have I been out?" is all you can think to ask.
"Bout-" The bat checks their watch. "-four n' a half hours.
Probably needed it."
"Oh."






Things are awkward as you sit in silence.


Aubrey looks like they're working up to something.








"Said y'r name was Howe?"
You nod.
"Pronouns?"
"They, I guess." "She for me. Non-binary.


...Look, Howe.
Got things I wanna go over with ya.
So if y' got questions, now's th' time t' ask."