Today I thought I’d share a couple of things with you for Halloween. The first is a flash fiction – Soul Stealers. I hope you enjoy it.
He forces his eyes to stay open. Why did he even agree to this? But if he hadn’t and if it was true, what then? He trys to concentrate on the muffled thunder and thrashing waves.
‘It’s just an old wives’ tale,’ the villagers told him, but the white witch in the woods told him the truth.
He hauls himself up from the armchair, opens the French doors and glances at the illuminated sky as he breathes in the ocean air. A full moon. Suddenly, a strange presence takes hold of him. He shivers.
The phone rings. He makes his way over to the cabinet, perches on the bed, and picks up. ‘Hi, darling, yes, I’ll be home in the morning. Love you too.’ He returns the handpiece to its cradle. Exhausted and shivery, he lies down and pulls the quilt over himself. Just for a few minutes. But when his eyelids droop, he shoots up to a sitting position. No, I mustn’t sleep. Only a few more hours and he’ll be free from danger. He just needs to make it through until morning.
‘Your family is cursed,’ the witch had told him. ‘On All Hallows Eve, your thirtieth birthday, there will be a full moon. If you sleep your soul will be taken. However, if you spend this night at Blackwood Castle and do not sleep until first light then the curse will be broken.’
He lies back down. Once again his eyelids creep shut. The presence becomes stronger so he pinches his arm to help him stay awake. His eyes now wide open, he stares up at the ceiling. ‘You’re not stealing my soul.’ He laps up the humming waves from outside.
Will he get through this? Will he manage to survive? His family need him. He must survive.
He rolls off the bed, circles the room, and glimpses at the hands on his watch. Just a couple more hours. He can do this. His eyes burn for sleep. His body’s limp with fatigue. Dreams beg him to succumb.
The devil’s army waits. He must break this curse.
One more hour until dawn. He’s nearly there. He yawns. Weariness forces him to lie down on the bed, but he won’t sleep. He won’t…
