In “Kushtuka” by Mathilda Zeller, Tapeesa is pressured by her mother to have a wealthy man's child for financial gain. Consequently, she feels disconnected from her heritage and trapped in a toxic relationship with Hank Ferryman. During a tense dinner party, she witnesses a violent supernatural creature—a kushtuka—slaughtering the guests. She narrowly escapes with her grandfather’s spear and an ulu. With the help of her friend Pana, they confront and kill Hank's deranged son, Buck. The story ends with Tapeesa resolving to honor her heritage by returning the stolen artifacts to their rightful place.
“White Hills” by Rebecca Roanhorse follows Marissa—an outsider in her wealthy husband's controlling family. She suffers a traumatic miscarriage during a tense confrontation with her mother-in-law, Elayne, who reveals Marissa's Native American ancestry with disdain. Andrew, Marissa’s husband, coldly admits he never wanted children. Elayne demands Marissa sever a finger to "purge" her heritage or lose everything. Determined to secure her place in the elite society of White Hills, Marissa complies.
In “Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth” by Conley Lyons, Joey finds himself in an abusive relationship with Cam, who intrudes on his life and asserts control. Despite initial attraction and loneliness, Joey becomes increasingly uneasy as Cam's manipulative obsession with collecting human teeth becomes apparent. Recalling his grandpa's lessons on toughness, Joey decides to confront Cam. The confrontation turns physical as Joey overpowers Cam.
The protagonist in “Wingless” by Marcie R. Rendon observes Punk—a boy living in the same foster home—as he cruelly removes wings from flies. Despite their separate living conditions, the two connect during a tumultuous event involving their abusive foster mother. Punk's secretive acts of defiance offer solace to the protagonist as they culminate in a shocking act of rebellion against their oppressor.
"Quantum" by Nick Medina follows Amber Cloud and Dave Blackburn as they navigate the challenges of raising their two sons, Sammy and Grayson. Amber grapples with societal and tribal expectations, financial disparities, and the legacy of her community, especially in the wake of the death of Big John. Amidst these struggles, Amber seeks to ensure her sons' connection to their Native heritage even as she faces difficult choices and moral dilemmas.
“Hunger” by Phoenix Boudreau involves an insatiable entity known as the Wehtigo, which preys on the modern people after the Other People erased its stories. It possesses an Empty man at a party as it targets a People woman named Summer. However, Summer and another girl named Rain use sacred medicines to trap and banish the Wehtigo. Despite the temporary victory, the Wehtigo regroups among the stars to hunt again.
In "Tick Talk" by Cherie Dimaline, Son navigates a journey from city to countryside after his mother's passing, reluctantly returning to his estranged father's home. His father's death leads Son to confront his past and present, which concludes in a harrowing battle with a bloodthirsty tick. This visceral encounter prompts a recognition of the need to confront one's fears and memories.
The story "The Ones Who Killed Us" by Brandon Hobson depicts a haunting tale of vengeance and justice. The narrative unfolds as the spirits of those who were killed witness the return of their murderers to their town. Despite initial plans for revenge, the murderers unexpectedly welcome them, which leads to confusion and disbelief. However, as the night progresses, the spirits enact their vengeance with the help of their missing women resulting in brutal consequences for the murderers.
In “Snakes Are Born in the Dark” by D. H. Trujillo, Peter, Maddie, and Adam hike in the Four Corners desert. Adam disrespectfully damages ancient petroglyphs causing a confrontation. As tensions rise, strange events unfold: Adam gives birth to a snake, claims it as his child, and sustains an injury. They struggle to comprehend the bizarre occurrences while attempting to find their way back to safety.
“Before I Go” by Norris Black follows Keira as she visits the site where her fiancé, Davey, died. She grapples with grief and has a disturbing dream of him. Later, she encounters a mysterious woman who warns her about summoning the dead. Keira encounters a supernatural entity, the Night Mother, who offers to bring Davey back. However, when Davey's broken corpse emerges, Keira is horrified and falls off a cliff. As she slips into unconsciousness, she finds comfort in the warmth of her memories before passing away.
In “Night in the Chrysalis” by Tiffany Morris, Cece moves into a new house and experiences unsettling phenomena, including a mysterious singing voice and disturbing visions. She recalls childhood memories of dolls and learns about an indigenous term, "apsute'gan." As the night progresses, Cece's reality blurs as she confronts a terrifying entity within the house. In a surreal climax, she battles against the forces trying to transform her into a doll.
“Behind Colin’s Eyes” by Shane Hawk follows Colin and his father as they hunt elk together in a remote area. Strange occurrences begin when they encounter something ominous in their backyard. It leads to a series of bizarre events, including mutilated animals, unexplained physical changes in Colin, and eerie voices in his head. Eventually, an otherworldly force takes control of Colin’s body as his father unknowingly drives them to a secluded destination.
In “Heart-shaped Clock” by Kelli Jo Ford, Joseph grapples with the family history, particularly his strained relationship with his brother and his mother's favoritism. After a series of unfortunate events, including a robbery and a confrontation with his brother, Joseph reflects on his troubled past and the pain it has caused him. In a moment of clarity, he rescues a litter of puppies and finds relief in caring for them. However, when his brother confronts him, Joseph's pent-up anger and frustration erupts.
Richard Van Camp’s “Scariest. Story. Ever” is a story about a narrator vying for the Scariest Story Ever Award. The protagonist seeks a terrifying tale from Uncle Mike who recounts how a community's transformation was tied to a request from Aunt Irena. She asked the children to clean their rooms, then their yards, and finally, to bring their parents to hear a story. This task led to a town-wide cleanup and restored pride. Aunt Irena's ominous request hinted at a story that could change everything.
In “Human Eaters” by Royce K. Young Wolf, the narrator shares stories with two boys about beings that exist beyond human perception. She warns them of "human eaters" and spirits that haunt those who break vows. As they sit by the fire, the narrator explains how these creatures prey on those who stray from the old ways. The boys listen as they learn about the consequences of forgetting their heritage and the importance of respecting ancient traditions.
“The Longest Street in the World” by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. follows Johnny Lee Junior—a realtor on a cold Chicago street. After surviving a brick attack, he encounters a supernatural figure named Louis. Together, they dispose of a robber's body. Throughout, they discuss their existence and their role in the neighborhood.
In “Dead Owls” by Mona Susan Power, Amy spends her summers with her Aunt Phyllis in Bismarck, North Dakota. They bond over outings and movies including a horror film that leaves Aunt Phyllis visibly shaken. As Amy starts feeling watched at night, she learns about Aunt Phyllis's past love—a Japanese-American who tragically took his own life during WWII. Amy experiences eerie encounters including a dream where she meets General Custer's widow who attacks her. Waking with injuries, Amy finds comfort in Aunt Phyllis's care and discovers an origami crane.
The narrator in “The Prepper” by Morgan Talty narrates his story of growing up on a reservation where he felt different and disconnected. His upbringing instilled in him a sense of preparation for an impending apocalypse. Morgan's paranoia intensifies as he becomes convinced that a zombie outbreak is imminent. He spends his inheritance on stockpiling weapons and supplies while fortifying his grandfather's camp. When his grandfather asks for a mercy killing to avoid becoming one of the undead, Morgan complies.
“Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning” by Kate Hart tells the intertwined stories of Uncle Robert and his nephew Gregory. Robert survives a near-fatal electrocution but meets his mysterious end years later. Gregory spends his life searching for peace and meaning after Robert's death as he embraces his role as a guide for lost souls.
In "Sundays" by David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Thomas Bear Nose grapples with traumatic memories of abuse by Father Raubvogel. Despite struggling with PTSD triggered by his wife's death, Thomas decides to confront his abuser. When he visits Raubvogel's home, he finds an elderly man who claims not to remember him or the abuse. Thomas leaves without closure unsure if he has found the right man.
“Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected” by Carson Faust follows Callum, a queer man from Ridgeville, South Carolina, who is killed by the wife of one of his lovers. His siblings—Della and Kemly—decide to bring him back to life with the help of their estranged auntie, Ina. They gather earth from the Edisto River and mix it with Callum's ashes to reconstruct his body. Luckily, they succeed and Callum is reborn.
Set in Germany in 1968, "Night Moves" by Andrea L. Rogers entails four American servicemen who find themselves in a tense situation at a tavern. They later encounter trouble on their way back to the base, which ends in a deadly encounter with a creature that turns out to be a transformed man. The experience leaves them shaken and haunted by the reality of killing someone.
In "Capgras" by Tommy Orange, the narrator experiences a disconcerting flight to Paris haunted by the idea of Capgras's delusion. The protagonist, Tom, contends with feelings of displacement and detachment from his family, which is exacerbated by a mysterious lump on his back. Throughout the story, he navigates misunderstandings with journalists and ultimately confronts his identity crisis.
In "The Scientist’s Horror Story" by Darcie Little Badger, Dr. Anders Lilley entertains his colleagues—Bets and Harmoni—with a tale about a mysterious illness linked to an abandoned ghost town. He describes investigating the town with his cousin Archie and encountering a private investigator, Samuel Bart Rodgers. The story concludes with the revelation that the illness was caused by the ghost of the missing girl seeking revenge for her defaced portrait. However, the tale turns out to be a fabrication by Anders.
"Collections" by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala follows Meg as she attends a party at her professor's house discovering a disturbing collection of human heads mounted on the walls. Despite her discomfort, Meg feels compelled to stay due to fear of jeopardizing her future. As her professor manipulates and intimidates her, Meg realizes that her academic aspirations may come at a cost too high to bear.
“Limbs” by Waubgeshig Rice is set in late-nineteenth-century Ontario, Makwa. An Anishinaabe guide leads a fur trader named Carter through the rugged terrain. Carter plans to exploit the land for profit causing tension between them. After a violent confrontation, Carter brutally mutilates Makwa but he meets a gruesome end himself when nature exacts revenge. Makwa awaits rescue knowing his family will come looking for him.
