If you missed any of the chapters of “THE BOMB IN THE SHED…” here are all the links - CHAPTER 1 - CHAPTER 2 - CHAPTER 3 - CHAPTER 4 - CHAPTER 5
Hi Everyone
I’ve started exploring a new format… FLASH FICTION.
Which is an interesting challenge as you’re trying to tell a story in under 500 words. But that does mean it’s super quick and easy to read. I thought I’d share one with you called THE REDEEMER.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Here you go…
The Redeemer
I came across the abandoned church when I strayed from a nearby hiking trail. It stood on an isolated hill far from the nearest road. The roof was gone, the walls crumbling, the cracked stone floor scattered with the decaying relics of worship. It was the graveyard that fascinated me though. Around one magnificent headstone the long meadow grass had been cleared, its rich veined Italian marble polished and a fresh posey of vibrant blue forget-me-nots left. Who would tend such an old grave and why?
The epitaph was faded but legible.
Death is our enemy, time our redeemer, the night our friend
Sir Alexander Dubois and Lady Marianne Dubois
Died 24th March in the year of our Lord 1200
I felt compelled to research the mystery as soon as I returned home. The church was built on the grounds of a large mansion house destroyed by fire on the 24th of March, taking its owner Dubois and his wife along with it. But the year was 1776, not 1200. How could such a mistake pass unnoticed?
By chance the 24th of March had passed a few days before. I couldn’t help but think of the significance of this and the freshly tended grave. I determined to return on the same day the following year. In the intervening time I learnt all I could about Dubois and returned to explore the church and the ruins of the nearby house frequently. I learnt little from these visits but gained a growing feeling of closeness to Dubois and his story from my proximity to where such tragedy unfolded.
I approached the 24th of March with a mounting sense of apprehension. Would I witness something momentous, or discover the folly of a wasted year? I arrived early and found a comfortable spot to sit and observe Dubois’ headstone, now lost to the meadow grasses once more. Darkness fell and still I waited. I glanced down at my watch just as it turned midnight. When I looked up a woman had appeared, wearing an old fashioned nightdress and carrying a lit candle. She cleared the grass from around the grave, polished the marble and collected the wild flowers to place in front of the headstone. A cough I could no longer contain alerted her to my presence. She looked over, holding the candle high.
I recognised her from my research immediately.
She called out, “Alexander?”
It was Marianne Dubois.
That’s it, hope that was interesting. Any comments or questions let me know.
Jonathan
I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Interesting to hear what you think about short stories…
Sharing the love
If you know anyone else who would like my writing please share…
Or send them this link to Chapter 1 - https://justbeyondordinary.substack.com/p/chapter-1-is-live
Thanks!