The Grandfather Clock
The old grandfather clock in the hall stands silent, as it has for many years. Hands paused permanently at two minutes to midnight.
That’s when it happened. And those hands bear silent witness to those awful events, all those years ago.
I’ve grown up with it, and just as my parents did with me, my kids are told to go look at the clock whenever they’ve misbehaved.
It’s a solemn reminder to them of the penalties of naughtiness.
There’s no truth to the story of course, my parents made it up, but it doesn’t half keep the kids in check!
Category: Guest Authors
Lisa – Empty Click
TOAST
The house felt empty when the first responders forced the door but found Paul unconscious on the kitchen floor. They fired up the defibrillator; heard the click that signaled it was ready, then waited for the green light.
“Clear!”
Paul’s body jerked but was unresponsive. The room filled with Ambulance Staff, Police, Family. A toaster, tethered by its plug, was hanging off the side; his Mum put back in its place. The job got harder the smaller the room became but they continued well after they needed to.
No one ever noticed the screwdriver that had rolled under the cooker.
Serendipidy – Mister Right
He always had to be Mr Right.
Always holding the moral high ground, always the one to win an argument, never one to back down or give way.
He was arrogant, uncompromising and incapable of admitting defeat.
It was these qualities that attracted me to him.
Don’t misunderstand me; it wasn’t that I like those sort of character traits – no, I loathe them with a passion, but he was precisely the sort of person that I love to put firmly in their place.
And that place, was six feet underground.
You really can’t say I was in the wrong.
Right?
Lisa – Him
Him
He was a charismatic man; I don’t think I fancied him not at first anyway. I’d always been a plain girl but there I felt special, like I stood out. It was how he treated people. He held your attention while he spoke; he didn’t look anywhere else. He put you at ease.
It didn’t matter what he was saying: even explaining the old plumbing he had us all enthralled.
I trusted and respected him. I never felt he’d given me any reason to doubt him, ridiculous isn’t it when he’d kept me and the others imprisoned in his basement?
Stations by Lisa
Numbers
Back at the Station Polly’s empty seat dominates the room.
Her colleagues are all thinking the worst and it spurs them on daily. There are daffodils in a milk bottle on the filing cabinet
They had to bring in another cork board for the photos of the ten missing boys. The fifteen girls in the basement were on the original board along with photos of the two dead girls.
Excitingly the murderer has just slipped up and is only hours away from getting caught. Unfortunately it’s going to take the police a while to realise the murderer isn’t the kidnapper.
Lisa – Position
A Chat
We talk seriously when we get back. I thought I’d smelled an open fire and I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I’d seen him watching behind the door. I wonder if I’m just enjoying recounting my adventure.
We all agree, we’re in an odd position. We’re prisoners, his prisoners but actually we’re all in an unlocked basement just because we don’t know what’ll happen if we leave.
I’m sure, at the start. He HAD locked the door. I want to talk about the other girls, the bodies that have been found, but I can’t.
A lot is left unsaid.
An Unlocked Door by Lisa
An Unlocked Door by Lisa
He’s not locked the door.
Maybe he never has, we all stare at it wearing the same expression- an odd, hopeful scared face. None of us want to make the first move because what if it’s a trick. It has to be. He didn’t answer when I‘d asked if we could leave the basement.
Why has he got us here anyway?
Where are we?
I notice a movement behind the crack in the door panel. He’s there watching, waiting. I mouth this to the others and we sit wide eyed and rigid.
Things were better when the door was locked.
Some girl I met online/Hopeless – Serendipidy
He didn’t realise I was within earshot when his mates asked him how we’d got together.
“Oh, just some girl I met online. You know me, hopeless romantic!”
“Hopeless, yes” countered one of the girls, “romantic? No! You’re only after one thing, and once she gives in, you’ll dump her. You always do!”
So, that was his plan? Well, we’d see about that.
I checked inside my purse and smiled at the glint of my favourite knife, ready for action.
Perhaps tonight I’d give in.
And boy, would he ever regret meeting that girl online, when I’d finished with him!
Norval Joe – Superhero
The two dark knights pushed Billbert and Sabrina into the parking lot.”
Sabrina leaned to him. “You say you’re a superhero. Why don’t you save us?”
“You’re right,” Billbert said. “Take my hand.”
As soon as her fingers touched his, Billbert leapt into the air and whisked Sabrina away to safety.
Only, they didn’t go anywhere.
The boy sneered, showing his dark yellow teeth. “We’re from the guild of the Dark Knights. You can’t use magic when we’re around.”
Billbert grumbled. “It’s not magic. It’s a super power.”
The girl scoffed. “Call it what you want. Now. Come with us.”
Norval Joe – Robot
Billbert squeezed the little koala toy and took it off his shirt. “So. Someone is after me? Let me guess, it’s an army of robot koala bears, and this little guy is my only protection.”
Sabrina’s face went bright red. “Don’t be silly. This isn’t some science fiction space opera. This is about magic. Now, put that back on so you will be protected.”
Billbert folded his arms. “Okay, then. Who’s looking for me?”
Sabrina headed toward their home room. “You have to remember this battle has been going on for centuries. They’re called, The guild of the black knights.”