LN Alberts

   Published in The Landshark Literary Review from the University of Mississippi by LN Alberts “Tiger! What have you done?” the old woman said. She flailed her pale, wrinkled hands at him as she tutted and fussed about the blood splattered on the floor. “You’re a menace!”             He admired the freshly mauled mouse at her feet. Pest control fell under his purview and provided him the opportunity to honor his patron. This mouse proved particularly challenging as it adapted to his tactics on the fly. Tiger almost regretted killing it and ending the chase. Almost. Victory outweighed respect in the end, as it should.             Most mice scurried about mindlessly. They took the obvious escape routes and offered only a mild distraction. He generally allowed his prey a little time to prove themselves, but it always ended the same way. An energetic pounce to catch them off-guard, extended claws to immobilize them, and sharp teeth to sever the spinal cord. The perfect combination e

  by LN Alberts “She won’t even recognize me,” Robert told his reflection. He squinted at the small, square mirror behind the sink while he turned his chin to the side. His fingers roughed up his scruffy beard to expose the gray patches that seeped through the brown. Robert frowned at the evidence of his wasted time. Perhaps it was time for a fresh shave to symbolize his fresh start. The light overhead flickered as he smeared shaving cream over his cheeks and chin. One stripe at a time, he scraped away the mask he’d worn from the moment he stepped foot on Parchman Farm. He credited his grizzled appearance to the long days he spent cultivating crops in penance at Mississippi’s state penitentiary. It was a drastic change from the beautiful home he’d inherited in Vicksburg. That historic old house was the first family heirloom to fall victim to his crimes, but certainly wasn’t the last. The antique cars and every single book in his parents’ meticulously curated library followed su