Arrow Rock Literary Journal

Lindenwood University

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Category: Fiction – 18th Edition

Fiction pieces from the 18th edition of Arrow Rock

  • Hell Hounds — Linda Ross Award Winning Short Story 2026 — Parker Coyne

    “Alright, listen,” Cayson started. “You guys failed to evacuate the neighborhood when the alerts went out, there’s nothing we can do about that now.” Vince was leaning against a wall of the wallpapered-living room, arms crossed and jaw set, his eyes scanning the people piled into the living room. Their eyes were wide and trained…

  • Held Under — by Kay Copeland

    They dressed her in a robe of linen. The women gathered around, twirling strands of her hair with songs of praise on their tongues. The men prepared the sacred scene, the soft spray of the hose heard from the other side of the door. The people congregated to watch. Amazement—such a precocious girl, succumbing to…

  • What Happens Down Under — by Lexi Wallis

    Content Warning: some depictions of animal harm When Mira was seven, she watched a crab die on the shore. The waves pounded against the sand, trapping the crab in a hopeless cycle. Its arms and legs flailed helplessly, trying to escape the sea’s wrath. It twitched until its body was nothing but a lifeless shell.…

  • Bora The Unicorn — by Marvin Mezera

    Content Warning: Some depictions of blood and violence It was inevitable, the fight I mean, but I’ve never been a fan of Unicorn politics. This is stupid. I stepped out of the tree line and onto the beach, my boots sinking into the chilled, mudded sand. The deep green and blues of the forest blended…

  • Baby Names — by Andrew Rashleigh

    “What about Spencer?” “No.” “Okay. How about Ethan?” “How about no?” “Um, John?” “Even you don’t want to name him John.” I take a deep breath. We’ve been at this for several minutes now and she hasn’t eventaken her eyes off her book. She grabs her glass of lemonade and takes a slow drink from…