Year Four: Annuals, #4

By Black Hare Press

 

The Black Hare Press YEAR FOUR anthology is a cumulation of all the nano-tales published in the Dark Moments online archive, and all the tales published on Patreon during 2022.

As a champion of emerging writers, you'll always find works by debut authors in our publications, as well new pieces from established and best-selling authors. We hope you enjoy the hard work that has been put into these tiny tales.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Hare Press
• Release date: Jan 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223552079

Book preview

Year Four

Dark Moments and Patreons 2022

Various Authors

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Black Hare Press

YEAR FOUR is Copyright © 2023 Black Hare Press

First published in Australia in January 2023 by Black Hare Press

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The authors of the individual stories retain the copyright of the works featured in this anthology.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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All rights reserved.

No part of this production may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

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Editing by S. Jade Path · The Crimson Wordsmith

Cover Design by Dawn Burdett

Internal Formatting by Ben Thomas

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Contents

Also available from Black Hare Press

1.Preface

2.Clowning Around

2. by Blaise Langlois

3.Near Miss

3. by Sophie Wagner

4.Nightmares at the Circus

4. by Liam Hogan

5.The Juggler

5. by Caoimhin Kennedy

6.Spectre Spectacular

6. by James Hancock

7.Tick Tock

7. by M. Vijayaraj

8.The Greatest Show on Earth

8. by Pauline Yates

9.Showtime

9. by Warren Benedetto

10.Day 33

10. by Pauline Yates

11.Honk!

11. by Jeremy Hinkley

12.Work the Crowd

12. by Evan Baughfman

13.A Circus Act to Remember

13. by C.L. Sidell

14.There's One Born Every Minute

14. by James Rumpel

15.The Way to a Man's Heart

15. by Lori Green

16.A Moment of Silence

16. by Andrew Jackson

17.Company

17. by Koh Hee Ja

18.Broken Things

18. by Lillie Franks

19.For You

19. by Jodie Angell

20.He Liked to Watch

20. by Jameson Grey

21.Hellequin Bazaar

21. by Lori Green

22.Sir... Curse...

22. by Steven Holding

23.Kiss of Death

23. by Brianna Witte

24.The Other Side of the Cage

24. by Stephen Johnson

25.Pizza's Here

25. by Blair Frison

26.Re-Election

26. by Sophie Wagner

27.Sweet Hearts

27. by Tracy Davidson

28.Trapped

28. by Blen Mesfin

29.Shadow Boy

29. by Jay Seate

30.Twice the Pleasure

30. by Pauline Yates

31.The Ghost of Woo Mon Chew

31. by Mike Rader

32.Making Love Grow

32. by Andreas Flögel

33.Not Her Kink

33. by Collin Yeoh

34.Revenge

34. by Blaise Langlois

35.Vinny's Gift

35. by L.N. Hunter

36.Neighbourly Hospitality

36. by Leah Roemer

37.Behind Blue Eyes

37. by L.J. McLeod

38.Clean Up

38. by Mari Mendoza

39.Spoiled Milk

39. by James Hall

40.Soulmates

40. by Crystal N. Ramos

41.The Horned God

41. by Leanbh Pearson

42.A Night

42. by Caoimhin Kennedy

43.Ovine Revenge

43. by Maggie D. Brace

44.Dearly Departed

44. by Kaitlyn Arnett

45.The Last Victory

45. by Chad Miller

46.Foresight

46. by N.E. Rule

47.Old Christmas Eve

47. by Robyn Fraser

48.Ravenous

48. by M. Vijayaraj

49.Broken Melody

49. by Mike Rader

50.Out of Bacon

50. by Kimberly Rei

51.Cull

51. by Liam Hogan

52.The Gravedigger's Angel

52. by Scotty Sarafian

53.Famine and Feast

53. by David D. West

54.Dressed To Kill

54. by Pauline Yates

55.Golden Boy

55. by Mike Rader

56.Dusty

56. by Shaun Bibo

57.Survey

57. by Liam Hogan

58.The Black Bag of Fun

58. by Tim Law

59.The Hunt

59. by John Merva

60.Pinch

60. by Pauline Yates

61.The Harvester

61. by Alison Kaiser

62.Be My Guest

62. by Stephen Herczeg

63.Family Matters

63. by Sophie Wagner

64.Getting Ready

64. by Matt Krizan

65.She's a Charmer

65. by Lindsey Harrington

66.When the Zips Come A-Calling

66. by L.J. McLeod

67.Scarecrow

67. by Laura Nettles

68.Becoming

68. by Lena Ng

69.Full Moon Night

69. by Andrew Hughes

70.Opening Teeth

70. by Andrew Jackson

71.Puppets and Prey

71. by M.F. Johnson

72.The Manicure

72. by Chad Miller

73.The Legacy Trip

73. by Alison Kaiser

74.What Lives Inside

74. by Taryn George

75.They Awaken

75. by Ryan J.M. Tan

76.Incubator 212

76. by Nicole Little

77.Access To Your Heart

77. by Andreas Flögel

78.Red State Rising

78. by Michael A. Clark

79.Disastrous Intentions

79. by Andrew Kurtz

80.Rat Cuisine

80. by Mike Rader

81.Blueberries and Hearts

81. by Leanbh Pearson

82.The Doom of Man

82. by Kimberly Rei

83.Hunter

83. by Gustavo Bondoni

84.Recess

84. by David Staiger

85.Dinnertime

85. by Victor Nandi

86.Teddy Bear

86. by Kailey Alessi

87.Nightmare

87. by M. Vijayaraj

88.Alterations

88. by Maxwell Marais

89.The House on Beltane Road

89. by Kyle Toucher

90.Tunnel Vision

90. by R. Wayne Gray

91.The Hog

91. by Angela Zimmerman

92.Drip

92. by Shaun Bibo

93.Free Me

93. by Lisa Rodrigues

94.I Only Steal Dogs for the View

94. by Tim Kane

95.By the Light of the Fire

95. by C.L. Sidell

96.The Body Bag

96. by Bernardo Villela

97.Quit Buggin' Me, Man

97. by Jameson Grey

98.The Forest of Teeth and Bones

98. by Leanbh Pearson

99.The Cursed Cave

99. by James Rumpel

100.He Was

100. by Victoria Brun

101.Domovoi

101. by Jean Martin

102.Broken Things

102. by Sophie Wagner

103.Carrion

103. by Liam Hogan

104.Tree Mother

104. by Kai Delmas

105.Friend of the Forest

105. by Tracy Davidson

106.The Recipe

106. by Aisling Campbell

107.The God of Gastropods

107. by Lisa Edwards

108.Nothing Lives Under This Dirt

108. by Eric Clayton

109.The Forest Never Forgets

109. by Andrew Anderson

110.Sandcastle

110. by Gully Novaro

111.Dirty Blvd

111. by Stephen Holding

112.Ready-To-Wear

112. by N.E. Rule

113.Desperate Times

113. by Kimberly Rei

114.Gone Fishing

114. by Pauline Yates

115.There are Worse Things than Death

115. by Stephen Herczeg

116.In Waves

116. by David D. West

117.Under the Bed

117. by Laura Nettles

118.Security Upgrade

118. by Pauline Yates

119.Wormhole

119. by Paul Lonardo

120.Not Again

120. by Karen Thrower

121.Thoroughly Specious Impressions

121. by A.H. Syme

122.Sacred Wood

122. by Tim Law

123.On Scarlet Wings

123. by Evan Baughfman

124.Pink Devils

124. by Tracy Davidson

125.Her Peaceful Valley

125. by Alden Terzo

126.Pink is the new Green

126. by Andreas Flögel

127.Red Feathers

127. by Gully Novaro

128.The Flamboyance of Flamingoes

128. by Bernardo Villela

129.The Flaming-O

129. by M. Vijayaraj

130.Eye of the Beholder

130. by Jay Seate

131.Welcome to Swingers Island

131. by Jacqueline Moran Meyer

132.Evolution of an Apocalypse

132. by Liam Hogan

133.Indulgence

133. by Daniel R. Robichaud

134.Green Man

134. by L.B. Limbrey

135.Blessed Be the Artillery

135. by Bill Bibo Jr.

136.See You Soon

136. by Jacek Wilkos

137.He Has His Father's Eyes

137. by Warren Benedetto

138.Pretty in Pink

138. by Dawn DeBraal

139.Stargazing

139. by Evan Baughfman

140.Birth of a Nephilim

140. by Laura Nettles

141.Extermination Request at Etherworld Candy Emporium

141. by Jordan Chase-Young

142.Trespassers

142. by Michelle Brett

143.For Every Bear That Ever There Was

143. by Stephen McQuiggan

144.Son of Heaven

144. by Ian Gabriel Loisel

145.Pomegranate

145. by Inez Santiago

146.All Fall Down

146. by Don Money

147.The Destroyer

147. by Tracy Davidson

148.Fallen Angels

148. by Pauline Yates

149.His New Body

149. by Simon Kewin

150.Like Father, Like Son

150. by Kai Delmas

151.The Weight of Alone

151. by Alden Terzo

152.The Witch's Curse

152. by Leanbh Pearson

153.Brain Waves

153. by Laura Nettles

154.Delay Assessment

154. by M.A. Dosser

155.Death by Cake Pop

155. by Jodi Jensen

156.Payload

156. by Ria Rees

157.The Vanishing Payphone

157. by Bernardo Miller-Villela

158.Instructions to My Past Self

158. by Liam Hogan

159.A Zombies’ Guide to Alcoholism

159. by Sophie Wagner

160.Three Sins and a Wish

160. by Kai Delmas

161.Drained

161. by Pauline Yates

162.I Guess Grannie Will Be Fine

162. by Greg Beatty

163.The Cellar

163. by Tracy Davidson

164.The Door

164. by Alden Terzo

165.Joe's Bar

165. by Jodie Angell

166.Season of the Zombie

166. by Shane Sinjun

167.Dyed

167. by Liam Hogan

168.Cover Your Ears

168. by Karen Thrower

169.Birds Just Wanna Have Fun

169. by Lisa H. Owens

170.From the Deep

170. by Michael Stroh

171.Children of Sin

171. by Jasmine Jarvis

172.The Devil's Breath

172. by Pauline Yates

173.Voyage of Their Lives

173. by Chris Tattersall

174.Dust

174. by D.S. Powell

175.Midnight in the Valley of Elah

175. by Scott O'Neill

176.Chow Time

176. by Jessica Brook Johnson

177.The Footnotes of Genesis Origins of a Demigod

177. by Chelsea Pumpkins

178.Stranded

178. by C.J. Carter-Stephenson

179.Amongst My Gold

179. by Caoimhin Kennedy

180.No Time

180. by Eric Farrell

181.Jubilee

181. by Jesse Highsmith

182.Poseidon's Youngest Daughter

182. by Dr Bob Warlock

183.Curse

183. by K.J. Watson

184.Captured in Glass

184. by A.J. Van Belle

185.To Kill a Zombie

185. by M. Vijayaraj

186.Torn Trophy

186. by Fiona M. Jones

187.Arts and Cracks

187. by Scotty Sarafian

188.Beyond the Breaking Point

188. by Matt Krizan

189.Ship in a Bottle

189. by Ria Hill

190.Clarinda

190. by C.L. Sidell

191.Crewed

191. by Liam Hogan

192.Up, Up, Up

192. by Sophie Wagner

193.Eager to Please

193. by James Rumpel

194.Flavour Burst

194. by Julia C. Lewis

195.Cement Shoes

195. by Amelia Weissman

196.A. Eye

196. by M. Vijayaraj

197.Afterwards, the Absolute

197. by Megan Kiekel Anderson

198.Lone Survivor

198. by E.S. Huberty

199.Authentic Learning

199. by Rita Riebel Mitchell

200.Wax

200. by Austin Mooney

201.Captive

201. by Samantha Arthurs

202.On the Positive Side

202. by C.L. Sidell

203.Doors to Manual

203. by Liam Hogan

204.Expert System

204. by Scott O'Neill

205.First Person Present Tense

205. by Pauline Yates

206.Flying Lessons

206. by Andrew Kurtz

207.Broken Back

207. by Phillip Pettit

208.HotBoi752

208. by Jessica Brook Johnson

209.Population Zero

209. by Jameson Grey

210.The Android on the Ice

210. by Katherine Sankey

211.Incognito

211. by Kimberly Rei

212.Resembling a Mother

212. by Angela Zimmerman

213.A Burn Which Will Not Heal

213. by Addison Smith

214.Adrift in Death's Grip

214. by Alex Azar

215.Jumping Ship

215. by Evan Baughfman

216.The Cove

216. by Dorian J. Sinnott

217.Christmas Cards

217. by Sheri White

218.Anglerfishing

218. by L.L. Garland

219.The Far Side

219. by Daisy Ravenel

220.Eryne

220. by Julien Junker

221.You Better Watch Out

221. by Matt Krizan

222.Not Real

222. by Sophie Wagner

223./imagine

223. by Lindsay Mansfield

224.Pikass-0

224. by Zack Zagranis

225.A Pony For Christmas

225. by Pauline Yates

226.A Woman's Place

226. by Robert Stahl

227.Slaybells Ring

227. by Dawn DeBraal

228.No-Elf

228. by Kristin Lennox

229.Merry Crashed-Mass

229. by Shawn M. Klimek

230.Zzzzzz

230. by L.N. Hunter

231.Ketrokur

231. by Don Money

232.The Christmas Angel

232. by Tracy Davidson

233.Dear Santa

233. by James Rumpel

234.Crossing the Line

234. by Jameson Grey

235.Candy Cane Surprise

235. by C.L. Sidell

236.Consequences

236. by Mel Andela

237.Coal

237. by David D. West

238.Thrown Out

238. by A. Lily

239.Harmony, Like A Song I’ve Heard

239. by Ben Lockwood

240.Always Watching

240. by Sophie Wagner

241.A Song for Dorian

241. by Carol Ryles

242.Log-in Failure

242. by S. Jade Path

243.Where Does the Time Go?

243. by Thomas J. Griffin

244.Black Hare Press

245.Acknowledgements

Also available from Black Hare Press

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Preface

As we emerge from Year Four, there is a sense of renewal and optimism.

The stories in this edition reflect a journey from darkness into light, mirroring the gradual shift in our world as we start to see the promise of brighter days ahead.

Year Four is a collection of tales that intertwine despair with hope, and turmoil with tranquillity. It showcases the diversity and depth of our writers’ imaginations, and the unwavering support of our readers.

This year, we have not only survived but thrived, finding new ways to connect and share our experiences. This book is a celebration of our journey together, a reminder that even after the darkest night, the sun will rise again.

Love & kisses,

Ben & Dean & the Black Hare Press Team

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Clowning Around

by Blaise Langlois

Ihad been in the tent for most of the afternoon, sticky from the August heat. So far, most of the applicants had been rather underwhelming.

Just then, an awkward looking figure lifted the tent flap and strode over, his oversized black shoes squeaking as he moved. I indicated toward the empty seat in front of me.

His face paint was traditional, and a frown replaced the typical goofy grin—something that just wouldn’t do.

Could you smile for me, please? I sighed.

The clown’s red lips peeled back to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.

You’re hired, I told him.

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Near Miss

by Sophie Wagner

Blindfolded and arms outstretched, he turned to the crowd and asked for a volunteer. No one moved.

After a moment, a clown stepped into the crowd and hauled a sobbing Andrew to his feet.

Please don’t make me, Andrew begged.

Don’t worry, he never misses, the clown replied.

He dragged him to centre stage, tied him to a board, then stepped back and handed the blindfolded man a knife.

Quickly, he spun around, then let the knife fly from his hand. With a thud, it stuck in Andrew’s heart. Not missing a beat, the carny folk descended upon their meal.

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Nightmares at the Circus

by Liam Hogan

There was no net. There was no audience, either. Not a live one, anyway. Just corpses, staring up into the big top.

If Sally didn’t make it to the waiting arms of the other trapeze artist, no one would gasp as she fell screaming through the air, no one would rush to help as she lay broken on the packed dirt.

She screwed up her nerve. They were in sync: now was the time. She leapt. For a moment, she feared she’d fallen short. But the hands were there. Sally grasped them, relieved.

Skeletal arms broke free and plummeted down with her.

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The Juggler

by Caoimhin Kennedy

The urge to piss led him behind the tent. He unzipped and released.

Footsteps forced a halt to his relief.

He turned and there the Juggler stood. Three balls tossed through the air. The roar of the crowd beyond the tent walls exploded.

The juggler stepped from the shadows, his face appearing in the moonlight. Pale, bloodied, savage, evil.

It was then he realised the Jugglers’ tools were not balls, but skulls.

One swipe of the Juggler’s claws separated the head from the body.

His bladder let the remaining liquid free as the Juggler feasted to collect his fourth ball.

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Spectre Spectacular

by James Hancock

We came to town at night. Cries of wild steeds broke the silence as a line of covered wagons brought hidden mysteries for a special performance. Word spread fast, and with the black tent erected, guests lined up for the evening’s show.

Spectre Spectacular. This was no ordinary circus, and if anyone told you they’d seen its kind before... they lied.

The twisted mimes danced through the waiting audience and set a tone of terror. Uncomfortable laughter stopped, a chill rolled in, and shapes leapt from the shadows.

Through the cacophony of screams and panic, the demons drank their fill.

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Tick Tock

by M. Vijayaraj

The contorted body was lifeless, yet warm. Hollow eyes, horrified visage. Tick tock , a portent of doom. The mirthful laughter seemed a distant memory. The ‘Ringmaster’ promised a unique experience. Yet now she trembled, whip in hand. Sixty seconds. Soon, the oblivious soul entered. She glanced back at the body. Hers . Desperation coiled the whip about his fragile neck. Edges crudely tightened, his agonised gasps and frothing pleas were hushed. She awoke in her body, unscathed. The asphyxiated body laid by her side and a new ringmaster waited with sixty seconds to claim his own victim for salvation. Tick tock.

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The Greatest Show on Earth

by Pauline Yates

Teaching a monkey how to strike a match was a clever trick. It required the use of electric shocks to his fingers, but when he lights the ring of fire for the Bengal tigers to jump through, the crowd applauds me as the greatest animal trainer in the circus’s history.

However, I underestimated the monkey’s cleverness. He can also wield a whip. Biting it from my hand, he directs one tiger to herd me from the left, another from the right. The third tiger crouches beyond the flaming ring, mouth open, fangs dripping saliva, waiting for my leap of death.

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Showtime

by Warren Benedetto

Deke woke from a dream of his life before the circus. He had been roaming under the endless Montana sky. A blinding light shone from above. A watery, gurgling voice spoke.

This one.

Then, darkness.

Deke’s eyes fluttered open. He was in a box of frosted glass, naked and cold. The lid opened. He squinted up at his captor, at its four tentacled arms, its translucent head, its singular yellow eye. Deke had learned that the least painful option was to simply comply. Perform his routine. Entertain the crowd. Survive another day.

His captor spoke. Its voice was liquid.

Showtime.

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Day 33

by Pauline Yates

The sun didn’t rise again today. I knew it wouldn’t. Last word on the street was them folks at NASA made an error in their calculations and that damned solar cloud that blocks the sun won’t clear for another thirty days. That was eight days ago. I don’t know what the word is now. The streets are no-go zone since those big knobs in Washington diverted our electricity to the Safe Zones. National security, they said. They also said they’d send in the army to transport us out, but I ain’t seen no army trucks. Ain’t seen no one. No lights. No cars. No moon. No stars. Nothing but pitch black.

No supplies either. Every shop in town’s been looted. When the sun didn’t rise that first day, people panicked. Funny thing, panic. People go for stuff they don’t need. Like televisions. The electronics shop down the road got hit the second night. Gangs smashed clean through the windows. Saw one kid carting a screen that wouldn’t even fit through my front door. Bet he wishes he grabbed a crate of potato crisps instead. Can’t eat a television. Nothing to watch either, even if the power was on. Everything’s gone real quiet. There’s not even static on my radio.

But I got my own problems. Yeah, I stocked up. Be a fool if I didn’t. When I heard there was a run on supplies, I took myself down to Al’s Grocer and grabbed some tinned food. Since then, I pilfered a few more things. Got a box of chocolate cookies and a packet of pasta, even though eating it dry hurts my teeth. I’d boil it if I had gas, but the bottle was near empty and once everything went to shit, couldn’t get no gas. Still got some water. It rained the other day, and I put out my cooking pots. Had to guard them in case the gangs showed their colours, but got enough to fill the sink. Saw Dotty across the street do the same thing, but I ain’t seen her since. Maybe her kids came to collect her. Or maybe she’s holed up inside her housing commission room like I am.

Which reminds me. I thought I was the only one left in my building, but I swear I heard a gunshot from across the hall. Could have imagined it. Been getting headaches of late and they damn pound like a jackhammer inside my head. But that shot’s got me thinking. The bloke who moved in—Larry or Larenzo or Lazza, something like that—he has a grandkid. Pretty thing, with blonde ringlets and blue eyes and a smile so bright no cloud would block her shine. I’ve seen Larry since she visited, but not since it turned dark, and not since that gunshot. Suppose I should have thought to check if he needed anything, but I’m so used to only looking out for myself, I don’t stop to think that other folks might need help. I guess I thought he left when things got bad. Made his way to the Safe Zone, wherever the hell that is. But that shot sounded awful dead-like. I’d better check on him. Better me finding his body than his grandkiddy.

I got keys. Been in this building longer than my teeth and there’s always someone who locks themselves out. You could say I’m the unofficial caretaker, but if I was that, I’d know if Larry was home or not. Bastard better not be dead. Don’t need no ringlets and blue eyes haunting my last days because I didn’t look out for her granddaddy. Don’t need no dead-stink either.

Feels weird lighting a candle when my clock says it’s midday. Should probably keep the flame lit because I’m down to my last box of matches. Got plenty of candles. Grabbed two packets during the last storm season. Had no use for them until now. Maybe Larry has matches. And candles. And food. I finished my last tin of carrots this morning. Hadn’t thought until now what I’ll eat for dinner. Food. Water. Bullets in the gun. Maybe that’s why I’m checking on Larry.

Feels weird unlocking Larry’s door without asking. I’d knock, but the silence in the hall screams of Desperate and Hopelessness and the game they play gives me the willies. When the candle throws my shadow up the wall, I jump clean across the hallway. Gotta be more careful. My old knees won’t stand for shenanigans like that.

When I open Larry’s door, Death creeps out. Its icy breath tickles my neck and takes me back to the days when I was an orderly in a hospital. It ain’t the death-breath that frightens me. I’ve seen dead bodies before. It’s the shuffle of the cards that gets the jeepers under my skin. Draw a good hand? I escape with my life. Draw a dud hand? Better find Larry.

His room mirrors mine. Small living area. Bathroom. Bedroom. Kitchenette. A three-seated couch takes up most of his living space. My couch only has two seats. Lucky bastard. He can stretch his legs right out if he wants. His kitchen is a mess, though. Both bowls of the double-sink have the plugs stuck in the drain hole, but the sinks are bone dry. Empty packets and