CONTENTS:

Prose –

GUARDIAN OF THE GODS // Tobi Ogundiran – 5765 words

Ashâke, a young acolyte struggling with her purpose in the gods’ temple, is upended by a griot’s forbidden song.

UNIFORM // Errick Nunnally – 5549 words

As a veteran of the Mechanized Corps, Patrick flounders for a connection with a society that refuses to see the man hidden within the war machine—until the day he meets an inquisitive five-and-a-half-year-old on the train.

A TERMINAL KIND OF LOVE // Veronica Henry – 3041 words

When a brilliant coder is screwed over by her underhanded ex, unleashing a virus that will burn their bleeding edge tech from existence is precisely the right thing to do—unless he comes to his senses. Love is…complicated.

YOUR ROVER IS HERE // LP Kindred – 3415 words

Ahmad is just out here trying to hit his rideshare bonus and keep his landlord off his back long enough to finish his writing assignment. But when his latest fare has the gall to start chanting evil invocations in his back seat, Ahmad must ignite his Jinn magic despite the rules against it.

Poetry –

ZOMBIE OF PALMARES // Woody Dismukes

AUTOLYSIS AFTER MENTOR PURSUES ME WHILE IN A RELATIONSHIP // Jacqui Swift