They nicknamed it 'Christmas Island' after the notorious isle off the coast of Australia that had been used to quarantine people centuries ago. An area the size of Wyoming, shrouded in winter. No one knew how long the lockdown would last. Food and medicine parcels were parachuted in, but supplies were dwindling. Paranoia abounded. A … Continue reading QUARANTINE
The man sat by the frozen river. The ground was covered in frost, the sky was clear and the air crisp. Covered only by a thin sheet, the cold did not seem to penetrate his skin. He did not shiver or rub heat into his limbs, he only sat in perfect stillness and solitude. The … Continue reading THE WATCHER
The first snow of the winter arrived. He looked out at the path and the fields, transformed, covered in a smooth white cowling. This might be the last time he would see such a sight, the pure untrodden blanket, but he'd thought that every winter for the last decade and still he soldiered on. Each … Continue reading HIS DAILY PERAMBLE
Agnes loves Christmas. As soon as they finish forking out a small mountain of sweets to the trick-or-treaters at Halloween, Agnes starts her Christmas build-up. It starts small. A few 'extra' items in the supermarket shop: a decoration here; a little snack food there. Then wrapping paper, cards, presents. Before November is out, Archie is … Continue reading FIRST SNOW
Trudging through the cold night, the last remnants of the winter snow on the ground, she finally saw the lights glowing from the windows ahead. Above her the familiar turrets of the castle loomed. Four years since she had been taken by the crusaders. How she had changed since then, no longer the innocent thirteen … Continue reading THE TURRETS OF HOME
