Issue 1: Hundred-Word Halloween

Welcome to this, our first issue of The Were-Traveler, where weird little stories find a home. So… A little about the format. The Issue posts (like this one) will serve as an anchor for all the contributing posts. You can read what you want by clicking on the story links. Once you get the idea [...]

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A Love of Very Tiny Tales

Drabbles. Why do they matter? They’re too hard to write, you say. They’re not, I argue back. And they matter because they’re cool. Just listen to any episode of The Drabblecast and you’ll get addicted to the Drabble of the Day. What the foamy feck is a drabble? It’s a short story, boiled down to [...]

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Three Jack-O-Lanterns, by Daniel Ritter

Every year it’s the same. Harvest comes in, jack-o-lanterns go out. We all get one each to hollow out and to put a candle in. Janey always saws around the top and then scoops out the junk. Mackenzie always starts shaping the mouth first. I always go for the eyes. It’s messy, sure, but it’s [...]

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Hunted, by Larry Kollar

He ran through the darkened halls, looking behind him on occasion. No way out, his footsteps told him. Every room was a dead end. His father’s voice came to him from so long ago: This dabbling in the occult will end badly! Yes. His body feared only death… his mind feared what lay beyond. Bursting into the great room, [...]

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Transplant, by David Little

Roger regained consciousness at 2am. At first he felt nothing, which he thought was due to the anaesthetic. Slowly, feeling returned to his feet and worked its way up. “And how are you today, Mr Gold?” the doctor asked, his smiling face hoving into view. Roger tried to speak but couldn’t. He felt his mouth [...]

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The Trick and the Treat, by Helen Howell

Lily tapped on the door to the old Mansion. She clutched Bozo, her clown doll. A monster lives there, the other kids said. That didn’t stop her. She had Bozo to protect her. The door creaked open. “Trick or Treat.” No one appeared. Lilly leaned forward and looked in. Soft hands clasped her throat, she [...]

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Hospitality, by David Little

“Help yourself to any of the food. We have sandwiches, sausage rolls and even vol-au-vents. Those are the most popular you know?” Gillian nodded. “And of course, there’s a free bar.” For the first time she noticed how flamboyant Kenneth was. It suited him. Perhaps it was a good thing that she came to help [...]

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Grin, by Daniel Ritter

I had to keep coughing to keep my mouth clear enough to breathe; my nose too stuffy. She didn’t seem to struggle as much, show any pain, as she shoved each of my teeth into the holes where hers had been. Her smile was hitchy and catchy, to keep the pegs from falling out, smiling [...]

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Unfinished Business, by Maria Kelly

“I’m coming back for you,” the man said to the crowded courtroom, eyes locked on Bobby’s eight-year old form. “When you all growed up.” Bobby shivered. The man had murdered his family while Bobby hid, terrified. Years later, Bobby watched as guards led the murderer into Sparky’s waiting embrace. He wanted his nightmares to die [...]

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The Unseen, by Larry Kollar

“What does it look like?” “Nobody knows. That’s why it’s called The Unseen.” Suresh shrugged. “Somebody’s had to see it. If it even exists.” “Oh sure, people see it. Right before it kills ‘em.” “That makes sense. Or… what if it looks human and walks among us?” He waggled his fingers. “Maybe people see it [...]

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