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The Casket of Fictional Delights

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Timeslip

by Alyson Faye

Flash Fiction Curious, Historic

The crow lands beside me, head cocked, watching me scrape and undress the layers on the stones. Three years out of uni. and working for free this summer for the Prof. It’s a dream come true. I’m soaking wet, freezing cold, blue-lipped, but my spirit soars daily.

“Each stone has its own story, Roman soldiers lived here with their families. Some never left. Imagine being buried within these ruined walls, in this bleak windswept country miles from your home’s sunny, verdant shores.” the Prof. told us.

Dusk drapes the stones in violet hues and I smell frying bacon from the camp site. Time to pack up.

In the distance I hear thunder or horses’ hooves pounding; the riders returning with supplies. Up here time can slip – you can easily lose track. I hear feet behind me, a medley of voices, women’s, children’s, blending with the click of knuckle bones. The air smells coppery, a pig is roasting on the spit and the women mill around, hands full of amphora and kettles.

“Welcome. Come join us.” Curious fingers pluck at my jeans, touch my short cropped hair. I close my eyes and enjoy the wind on my cheeks. A warm hand presses a small round object into my palm and closes my fingers.

“A present,” the whisper tickles my ear.

The crow flaps away with a raucous “Caw, Caw”, startling me. The sun has fled and night beckons.

Turning I head towards the camp’s lanterns. In their light I inspect the small, round hardness nestling in my palm. A pottery bead, snake skin pattern, faded blues and greens. Triumphant I hold it aloft.  My fellow archaeologists gather around. Agog.

“Vanessa’s jewel,” pronounces the Prof. staring at me. My cheeks flush.

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About Alyson Faye

Alyson lives in West Yorkshire, UK with her husband, teen son and rescue animals. Her fiction and poetry has been published in a range of anthologies, (Diabolica Britannica/Daughters of Darkness) on the Horror Tree, several Siren's Call editions, in Page and Spine, by Demain Press (The Lost Girl/Night of the Rider), in Trickster’s Treats 4, on Sylvia e zine and The World of Myth. Last year she had stories out with Kandisha Press, Space and Time's July magazine and Brigid’s Gate Press’, Were-Tales anthology. Her work has been read on BBC Radio, local radio, on several podcasts (Ladies of Horror and The Night's End) and placed in several competitions. She works as an editor for a UK indie press and tutors. She swims, sings and is often to be found roaming the moor with her Lab cross, Roxy.

Alyson Tweets @AlysonFaye2

She co-runs the indie horror press, Black Angel, with Stephanie Ellis Black Angel Press

Alyson has an Amazon Page

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3 responses to “Timeslip”

  • Joy Morris says:
    July 19, 2019 at 9:47 am

    I liked this story- it is very evocative of the area around Hadrian’s Wall.

    Reply
    • Alyson Faye says:
      July 21, 2019 at 3:25 pm

      thank you Joy appreciate your comments Aly

      Reply
  • Melissa says:
    July 23, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    This is a great story and very atmospheric.

    Reply

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2022
Stories © various authors
Editing by Joanna Sterling & Alyson Faye
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton
Other photography by Rosie Marks
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