Dear Father,

A letter by Subject 025, as provided by A.W. Gifford
Photography by Eleanor Leonne Bennett

If you’re reading this, I must be dead. Of course, you’ve probably already figured that much out.

I want you to know that this was all your fault. No, I’m not saying that you were a mean father when I was a kid, nor abusive. But you just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

You need to do a better job of hiding things you don’t want people to find, and never tell a child that a room is off limits. That just about guarantees the child will snoop. And yes, that means I went into your study, and discovered the truth behind my existence.

I have a gun and I plan on using it, but please don’t bring me back again. I don’t want to know what a bullet taste like.

To read the rest of this story, check out the Mad Scientist Journal: Winter 2013 collection.

Subject 025, son of Dr. Richard and Laura Newbury, brother of the late Adam New bury, penned the preceding letter upon learning what his father had done. Funeral services will be held at the First Methodist Church this Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the charity of your choosing in Adam’s name.

Many of A. W. Gifford’s story ideas come from the nightmares of his wife, Jennifer. Though she too is a writer of dark fiction, she will never write these stories herself, fearing that if she does, they will come true.

He is the editor of the dark fiction magazine Bête Noire and his work has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines and anthologies.

Though he grew up in the northern suburbs of Detroit, he currently resides outside of Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and daughter.

Eleanor Leonne Bennett is a 16 year old internationally award winning photographer and artist who has won first places with National Geographic, The World Photography Organisation, Nature’s Best Photography, Papworth Trust, Mencap, The Woodland trust and Postal Heritage. Her photography has been published in the Telegraph, The Guardian, BBC News Website and on the cover of books and magazines in the United States and Canada. Her art is globally exhibited , having shown work in London, Paris, Indonesia, Los Angeles, Florida, Washington, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Spain, Germany, Japan, Australia and The Environmental Photographer of the Year Exhibition (2011) amongst many other locations.