Screaming Dreams

Medea's Children by Lee Loan

Two hundred and thirty light years from Earth...

Extract

Anya watched the creature crawl across the dry, cracked earth, a trail of thick mucus staining the reddish-brown soil behind it. Finally, its strength gave out. It rolled slowly onto its back and stared up at her. Hatred glistened in its wet, reptilian eyes.

She had fired only once, but by now she knew exactly where to hit them. The creature’s innards were leaking from the gaping hole in its torso, its organs already beginning to liquefy. It would not be long for this one. She had to be quick.

She holstered her pistol, her long leather coat snapping noisily in the buffeting wind, and crouched down close to it. But not too close.

“Where is my child?” she said, her voice flat, emotionless. “What have you done with my son?”

The creature tried to form a sneer but its body failed it. The muscles beneath the bark-like skin of its face were softening, its gimlet eyes sinking into the sockets.

“Where is my boy?” she said hurriedly, a vain last attempt.

The creature stopped trembling and its head lolled to one side. For a few moments, there was a steady gurgling sound from its throat, and then silence.

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Cover art by Steve Upham

PDF : 210x148mm : 21 pages

Published 2009

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About the Author

Lee Moan lives on the south coast of England with his wife and four children. His stories have appeared in numerous print and online publications, most recently in the final issue of Whispers of Wickedness, Murky Depths, Jupiter SF, Arkham Tales and the Permuted Press anthology Best New Tales of the Apocalypse. His novella, The Hotel Galileo, is due to be published by Wolfsinger Press, Summer 2009.

Author's Website : http://leemoan.blogspot.com

About the Artist

Steve Upham enjoys all things creative, including drawing, painting, digital art, photography and much more. He has been running his own craft workshop for over ten years, but continues to create artwork on a freelance basis. He is also the editor/publisher at Screaming Dreams of course!