LOCKDOWN FANTASY #4
Fantasy stories for LOCKDOWN.
LOCKDOWN FANTASY #5
Fantasy stories for LOCKDOWN.
LOCKDOWN FANTASY #6
Fantasy stories for LOCKDOWN.
Blame it on El Trauco
by Ximena Escobar
Knowing the fate befalling virgins in the forest, Mirén never sent her daughter for firewood. Therefore, her husband’s claim that she’d been taken by El Trauco, met her suspicion.
Although the ugly dwarf was to blame for every fatherless child in Chiloé, something about her daughter’s eyes told of a far uglier monster. El Trauco’s victims slept unaware through his attacks, but her daughter hadn’t since held her mother’s gaze and couldn’t lose a painful frown.
When the child was born, bearing a hideous singular eyebrow like her husband’s, Mirén gripped his axe, splitting his head—and monobrow—in two.
Ximena Escobar
Ximena is writing short stories and poetry. Originally from Chile, she is the author of a translation into Spanish of the Broadway Musical “The Wizard of OZ” (2011), and of an original adaptation of the same, “Navidad en OZ” (2018). Having started a family in the UK in 2005, it took her a while to feel confident enough to write in English, despite speaking it since childhood. In the meantime, she ran her own business teaching extra-curricular Spanish in primary schools and telling ‘traditional stories with a twist’ in schools and festivals, with “Pie in the Sky Storytellers”. Though her degree in Arts & Communication Science/TV & Media set her aspirations on writing for the screen, she has, since resuming writing in 2018, devoted her time to poetry, short stories and micro fiction. Whilst her first literary novel waits to be written, she is enjoying every minute of this exploration through different forms and genres. Ximena lives in Nottingham with her husband, three children, two rabbits and a hamster.
Next Time, Take the Stairs
by Nicole Little
My new job has phenomenal perks: travel, luxury accommodations; no expense spared. So the booking at this creaky old London hotel surprises me, I’ll admit.
Late for a meeting, I hop on the empty elevator; impatiently check my watch as the slow descent halts several floors down. The group waiting there shuffle their feet, glance at me awkwardly, but no one makes a move to get on. As the doors whisper shut, I hear a woman mutter something that chills me to my core:
“Why are there so many people on that bloody lift?”
But…I’m alone.
Aren’t I?
Nicole Little
Nicole Little is an award winning short story writer living in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Her work has appeared in eight anthologies in the past year. In her spare time, Nicole has either a pen in her hand or her nose in a book. She is married with two daughters.
McKenzie Richardson
McKenzie Richardson lives in Milwaukee, WI. She enjoys writing is various forms, especially when it involves incorporating elements of dark fantasy and fairy tale twists. Her poetry and short stories have been featured in multiple anthologies through Eerie River Publishing, Dragon Soul Press, and Dreaming Spirit Press to name a few. In addition, she has published a poetry collaboration with Casey Renee Kiser, 433 Lighted Way. Her stand-alone middle-grade fantasy novel, Heartstrings, is available on Amazon.