The group stood waiting under the trees. Around them the sky dimmed to an ombre sunset. The mother rocked her daughter, staring at the sea.

This time, surely, the boat would come for them.

The two brothers and father scanned the bleeding horizon.

In the distance, their town burned red.

Alyson lives in the UK with her family including her rescue animals. She works as a tutor/editor. Her dark stories have appeared often on the Horror Tree, and varied anthologies, most recently ‘Night Frights’, ‘Were Tales’ and ‘Don’t Break the Oath’. She’s often roaming the moors with her Labrador, Roxy.