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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 four rescue animals. She teaches creative writing classes and works part time as an editor/proof reader. Her fiction has been published widely in print anthologies - DeadCades, Women in Horror Annual 2, Trembling with Fear 1 &2, Coffin Bell Journal 1, Stories from Stone, Ellipsis, Rejected ed. Erin Crocker) and in many e-zines, but most often on the Horror Tree site and in Siren’s Call. In 2018 her debut flash fiction collection, Badlands was published by Chapel Town Books. Her most recent publications include pieces in several charity anthologies from Things in the Well, Parallel Universe (Kitchen Sink Gothic 2) and Diabolica Britannica as well as from Gypsum Sound Tales. Her work has been read on BBC Radio, local radio, on several podcasts (e.g. Ladies of Horror), posted on YouTube and placed in competitions.

Alyson Tweets @AlysonFaye2

Alyson has an Amazon Page 


Visit Alyson Faye on the web

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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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Everyone at The Casket is hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020.  We have some great short stories and flash fiction lined up for your delight.  We kick of the year with a story by Lydia Unsworth “The Smallest Boxes” and then for Valentine's we have a story by Dylan Brethour which will also be available as a podcast. Later in the summer we have a new Flash Fiction Summer Collection which will be published online and as podcasts read by Menna Bonsels and Richard Hodder.  We hope you enjoy the stories we have for you and look forward to welcoming you back regularly.

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2021
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
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