Hindered Souls: Dark Tales for Dark Nights

Hindered Souls is a collection of twenty-five stories from twenty-one of the brightest emerging authors from all around the world. The stories within are surreal, mind bending and soul wrenching.

With tales by: Gary Buller; Jeremy Joseph Light; M.R. Tapia; Marie Anderson; Christine Makepeace; Craig Bullock; Kevin M. Folliard; Joseph Benedict; Raven McAllister; Robert Allen Lupton; Theresa Braun; Jeff Dosser; Bekki Pate; William Marchese; Wondra Vanian; Mileva Anastasiasou; Gareth Gray; DJ Tyrer; Sarah Gribble; Kristyl Gravina; Brian Hamilton

From Sarah Gribble's "Beast":

The chubby kid spots a butterfly and crashes through the brush, his arms held high, fat jiggling as he executes a series of small hops in an attempt to pluck the poor creature from the sky.  His troop is moving away without him, the scout master’s droning voice fading into the distance. The giggling boy doesn’t notice, nor does his troop notice his absence. Not surprising, given what I’ve observed over the past hour or so. He’s spent most of the hike dawdling, not speaking to anyone. He’s clearly the weak link in the herd.

My stomach growls and I move closer, ever so slowly. It wouldn’t do to alert him to his situation. Not yet.

I size him up. He’s not the best prey—mostly fat, I’m sure—but beggars can’t be choosers. I can’t bring myself to eat one more slimy fish from that stagnant, stinking pond.