Writers of the Future Volume 38, 2 Award-Winning stories

Agatha's Monster

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Azure Arther is a native of Flint, Michigan, who resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, son, and Blazion the Betta fish. Azure began writing at a young age, and while her inspiration began with Grimm fairy tale stories and the Sleepover Friends, much of her current style has been heavily influenced by Octavia Butler and Henry James.She is obsessed with literature and has found that her passions are evenly distributed between writing, teaching, parenting, and reading books with her son. Azure's stories and poems have appeared or are forthcoming in more than a dozen publications, but Writers of the Future is her first professional sale.About "Agatha's Monster," Azure says, "Agatha began with some random questions. One day, I found myself wondering: what if monsters were born out of trauma? What would the world look like? How would humanity stay safe? Thus, Agatha came to life as a Hunter, a mage, a regular person with basic needs and worries. The ride Agatha and her monsters go on surprised me at times, and every rewrite shifted the narrative just enough to keep me, and hopefully future readers, guessing about what would happen next. The ending actually surprised me, too, and I feel it is one of my best-written endings thus far."To find out more about Azure, visit her site at azurearther.com.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Zaine Lodhi was born in 1999 in the seaside tourist town of Sarasota, Florida. He feels as if his path as an illustrator was predestined—he has known the trajectory of his life since childhood. Zaine was surrounded by incredible fantasy art from a young age, collecting Magic: The Gathering cards and whatever comics he could get his hands on. The art of Frank Frazetta, Alex Ross, and Gerald Brom were pivotal in his stylistic development.Zaine is currently studying illustration with a visual development (concept art) focus at Ringling College of Art and Design. He placed the most importance on programs that value an unwavering work ethic and emphasize preparation for the workforce.He has a strong classical painting background fostered by professors who specialize in figure and landscape painting. He combines traditional painting and drawing skill sets with his visual library to produce concept art for games and film. Currently, he is a student freelance illustrator looking to join a studio and make a mark in the video game industry upon graduation.To see more of his work, go to: www.artstation.com/zainel/albums/2636349. 

"Hung-greee." Martin growled the word in my ear, drawing out the last syllable. I rolled over and batted at him. He scuttled out of reach and squatted on the other pillow, his tail lashing. "Hung-greee."

"Mouse?" I asked, not bothering to open my eyes.

"No mouse," Martin rasped. He whined. "No mouse left. Hung-greee."

"You can't be this alert when Mom comes." I sat up and yawned. The sun was rising, its beginning rays embellishing the shaded spots outside.

Martin crept across the patchwork quilt, hesitant, because I am not a morning person, but determined. He reached out a clawed hand to tap my arm, his four digits splayed, haunches ready to bolt back. When I didn't snap at him, he wrapped his small fingers around two of mine. I smiled slightly and asked, "What about a cat?"

"Permission?" Martin perked up, the short, fuzzy tufts of black feathers around his ears dancing. His breath, always slightly foul, wafted between us, but I was used to it.

"Sure. Get the one that keeps taking a dump in the front yard." I grabbed his scaly, clawed hand, and looked him straight in his round, yellow eyes. "Do. Not. Get. Caught."

"No get caught." Martin nodded, his large mouth already beginning to drool. He smiled, multiple rows of pointed teeth glinting in the faint light and widened his gaze, an attempt to look serious. "Return to Agatha. No get caught."