Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Criminal.
Pushed to Kill.
Joe was a loner. Happy in his own company and always keeping himself to himself. I guess years of teasing and bullying, not just from the popular boys in school but girls too caused Joe to think maybe if he were invisible, he wouldn’t be a target. He was wrong!
By Sam Hellier5 years ago in Criminal
SMOLDER
The odor in the air was distinct. Sweet, almost cloying, with undertones of decay, burnt hair and flesh, and gasoline. Kelsie leaned over cautiously, stretching her hand over the smoldering pile behind a large rock, and felt the heat rising, cradling her palm.
By Nerie Dawn5 years ago in Criminal
Brisket, Pork Belly, Ribeye
Anna cradled her head in her palms and l let out a a deep breath she felt she had been holding all day. She could feel the stress slowly eroding that had built up during the dinner rush. I’m so over this. She thought. This job is killing me.
By Stephanie Vigil5 years ago in Criminal
Roots of Crime
Pedro Rodrigues Jr was born on July 17, 1954 in Santa Rita do Sapucaí in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. One of 14 children – 10 boys and 4 girls – Pedro, or Petey as he is still called today, lived with his family in a grass hut made of clay and straw where Pedro Senior would inflict drunken beatings upon his wife Manuela. The only place the children felt safe was outside.
By Luiza Araujo5 years ago in Criminal
Drowning in Grief
There's only one thing in the world I'm afraid of, losing my mother. The mere thought of losing her always gave me goosebumps, a shiver just ran down my spine. I’ve always been quite emotionally dependent on my mom, I simply cannot imagine a world without her. I never wanted to share my grief, I’ve heard it comes like a rhythm. I feel no rhythm in my grief from the death of my father when I was just 13, and now finding out my mother has lung cancer. I had always felt like I lived inside a bubble in which I see my reformed world. Outside the bubble is a world of clatter, inside is the stillness and a silent chime.
By Samrah Ahtsham5 years ago in Criminal
Contemplating the Painful Questions That Haunt Me
The Wind Down in Mexico The warm wind is magic to the soul on these long night walks along the border wall. The international street is deserted except for an occasional border patrol truck parked along the side of the road. The ten- o- clock siren blares down in Mexico creating a symphony with the slow-moving night train.
By VNessa Erlene5 years ago in Criminal
When will being a gang banger stop being cool?????
The neighborhood I grew up in always had gangs around. I have family that use to be down with there gang. Still have some that associate with some of those gangs today. But my family took a look at there lives and asked themselves"what the Fuck am I doing' These so called members claim they are your family and they got your back till the day they die???? Yeah that's why when shit would hit the fan, they are the first to snitch you out, throw you under the bus and get you caught up in jail or prison . Does that still sound cool? Then if you get caught up and get locked away, where them homies that said they would look out for your familia, put money on your commissary icomaccount so you can eat? Shit there long they don't know you. Sadly it be like that. You dont need to be a thug to be a real person. To be a cool person. All these gang bangers nowadays are young ass kids that will not even think twice about pulling up on you and your children while walking home from the store(happened to m)I live in a diverse community in michigan, I grew up in the 90s where it was ok to walk home from school, to walk to the store without needing an adult, to hang out at the park without having to worry if there are gang members out there that are jumping(beating up) some innocent kid. Now that I am an adult and have kids of my own, I worry about my kids just being outside in the front yard because you don't know if something will happen to them so I never let them out of my sight! Its sad and makes me angry. Most these kids that wanna join a gang are having problems at home, whether its a absent parent, its abuse physical or mental. Its peer pressure from friends or older relatives telling them to join . I've seen this happen a bunch of times. I almost lost my spouse to gang violence. Thankfully he survived the stabbing.
By Alyssa Zuniga5 years ago in Criminal
Nerve Endings
Ken and Danny were hired killers and were pretty decent at their job. They were given a name, and they more often than not delivered a body. Obviously, the world of contract killing has its ups and downs, and there were always variables that would come up, but Ken and Danny could handle those instances in a professional manner. This is what made them valuable to their boss.
By Mark Bertolini5 years ago in Criminal
The Thief's Bible
Names, addresses, lock, and safe combinations, you name it, and it had it. The small, black, unassuming notebook was at first a simple curiosity as it just lay in the middle of the street beckoning someone to pick it up, and upon inspection, it was a wonderous treasure.
By Jeremy McLean5 years ago in Criminal
