Description

Miru scales a vat. Perching on the edge of the lidless rim, Miru plunges a dirty rebar into the mash digging for a bite to eat.

The wind picks up. The tang of rot and trash slap Miru in the face. Miru slips, scrambles, nearly falls into the vat's gaping mouth. Catching the rim, Miru dangles.

A scream pierces the air.

The sound of a beast.

Miru slithers down and chooses to go hunting. Real meat over artificial vat proteins. Killing over starving to death. Moving over waiting to die.

A good choice or just the only one?

Rei Rosenquist writes the Broken Circle stories from a dark place, holding a black hope close to a faintly beating heart. These stories bring you a gritty speculative future so hollow it will leave you hunting, squinting, begging for light.

A Writers of the Future Silver Honorable Mention Award-winnng short story in approximately 4000 words.