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American Short Fiction

Publishing exquisite fiction since 1991.

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Joy Baglio

Belly of the Beast

Joy Baglio
Belly of the Beast

It’s Saturday night, and the beast has swallowed my husband. One minute he was there, the next, gone—just a shout, half smothered, as the creature engulfed him. I didn’t see the actual swallowing. I arrived seconds later, in time to see the wolfish thing licking its jowls. It’s not like anything you’ve ever seen: Eyes small and black like papaya seeds. Hispid hair covering its limbs. Claws like small sickles. Tongue: long and leathery. I would have attacked it, grabbed a fire iron or my … [Read more...] about Belly of the Beast

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