Birds of a Feather

Struggling with the death of her mother and the callous nature of her father, teenager Mayumi Hisakawa has become bitter and withdrawn. But along comes Ashley, the quirky new girl who is obsessed with birds, and when Mayumi brings her guard down a friendship develops, offering her a glimpse of solace and an escape from her darkness. 

However, the good times are fleeting. Ashley holds a disturbing secret about her home. And in school, the malicious Eloise has chosen to target Ashley, making her school days a living hell. The darkness never truly went away for Mayumi and it continues to prey on her on day by day. Then there is the fatal decision that will haunt Mayumi's life forever.

The length of this short story is 12,073 words (around 40 pages).

Story written by Jacob Cordtz

Cover by Steven Walker