Short Story: A Murder of Crows
This story was previously published on Dread Imaginings. As the contract has expired and the story is no longer on that site, I am making it available here for you to read. It is also included in my short story collection Dead Elise & other stories, also available for free on this site.
I
The first in the series of strange events that Dana would come to think of as ‘omens’ was the most mundane. It was, for that, no less disturbing.
She was walking to the corner store, one July morning, when she saw a seagull across the street, feasting on the innards of a dead crow. It had ripped the bird’s stomach open and was dragging out the guts in long, thin strips of bloody viscera.
Continue reading “Short Story: A Murder of Crows”The Gathering: Four Tales of the Unexplainable
I – THE GATHERING
At a recent gathering—at which four life-long friends had a rare chance to meet and talk of their divergent lives over a game of cards—the conversation turned, by gradual degrees, to a discussion of the esoteric.
Continue reading “The Gathering: Four Tales of the Unexplainable”Short Story: Beneath the Arctic
~This story was first published in DEEP SEA: A Journey into Cosmic Horror~
Two days have passed since I escaped the caverns. At least, I think it’s been two days. We’re so far north that the night is endless this time of year. There is no sun, only shades of black and dark blue, and the near-perfect white strip of shore. Exhausted as I am, I haven’t slept in all that time.
Continue reading “Short Story: Beneath the Arctic”Short Story: Dead Elise
~Happy Halloween! In honour of the holiday, please enjoy this: the titular story from my short horror story collection Dead Elise & Other Stories, which you can download an e-copy of for free ~
It’s easy to grow familiar with the dead. They have become such a ubiquitous part of our culture. Death is cheap these days. It has lost its power to command our fear. Our grief, sure—but our horror? Rarely that.
Some even romanticize the dead, and all things Death. At least, they romanticize their own conception of Death, though it is seldom an accurate one.
Elise did that. My poor Elise. How she loved her notion of the dead.
Continue reading “Short Story: Dead Elise”Short Story: The Erebus Plant
~This story is part of my short horror story collection Dead Elise & Other Stories, which you can download an e-copy of for free ~
September 12
Midnight
Somwýr Estate, Study
I return from the excavation site empty-handed and disheartened. Where Mr. Wallace promised ancient secrets, we found only dusty ruins.
Empty ruins, after half a fortune wasted!
The only thing of note we found was one chamber, sealed despite the years, that held a curious thing: a living garden of immense plants, sustained because the room was somehow filled with moist, fresh air.
Continue reading “Short Story: The Erebus Plant”Short Story: One Cup to the Dead Already
~If you haven’t already, consider downloading a free copy of my collection Dead Elise & Other Stories~
Jean-Charles’s palm was slick with sweat around the rapier hilt. He looked at Léandre, desperately hoping that his friend would step in and interrupt the duel before it started. He had always been able to get Jean-Charles out of trouble before.
Continue reading “Short Story: One Cup to the Dead Already”Short Story: Polaroid
~If you haven’t already, consider downloading a free copy of my collection Dead Elise & Other Stories~
‘What the hell is all this?’ Jack asked.
Continue reading “Short Story: Polaroid”A poem about summer
New Story Out: His Embrace
“Though he had made no sound in coming, she knew he had appeared. His very scent enveloped her, musky and warm like an intoxicating drink. She shut her eyes, surrendering herself to his embrace.”
Dear all,
Go read my gothic flash fiction story ‘His Embrace’ over on Love Letters to Poe. It’s a quick, free read, and it might just be my favorite of the stories I’ve had published so far.
– Emma.
The works of Emerentia Gundersen 