While trudging through the thick snow with her team, Judy Morrison’s mind was in overdrive. For years, she’d been trying to solve the puzzle of the thirteenth day of Christmas, something mankind had mistakenly taken for granted, and was now almost on the verge of solving the riddle.

Everybody thought that Christmas had twelve days, yet why did the twelfth night of Christmas fall on the thirteenth day?

Jonathan, Judy’s boyfriend, had given her twelve gifts: one on each day of the twelve days of Christmas. On the night he gave her gift number eleven, the night of January 4th, Judy had visions that the team were being watched by a mysterious force. As the clock struck midnight, and the twelfth day of Christmas arrived, Judy woke screaming from a terrible nightmare.  

“What’s wrong,” asked Jonathan, rubbing his eyes, as the cold winds battered their tent.

“We’re all going to die on the sixth day of January,” cried Judy.

“What? Don’t be silly. Go back to sleep. It was just a nightmare.”

Several minutes later, Judy found herself counting backwards to December 25th, the first day of Christmas. It still didn’t add up why ‘Twelfth Night’ was on the night of the 6th of January, still over a day away.

The following evening, Jonathan gave Judy the last of his gifts, an engagement ring. Tomorrow, they would celebrate with the rest of their group when they arrived at their final destination, the mysterious village of ‘Twelfth Night,’ alleged to only appeared on January 6th.

As they waited patiently for ‘Twelfth Night’ to appear, Judy Morrison finally solved the riddle. As she turned to Jonathan to reveal the secret of Twelfth Night, the hand of a mysterious force that had been watching them since the first day of Christmas, froze the group in time.

Its secret was safe again from mankind, a species which, one day, it would conquer.

***

Written in response to the Monthly Speculative Fiction Writing Prompt, from Diana, at Myths of the Mirror. Click here for full details.

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68 responses to “The Riddle of Twelfth Night”

  1. Aimer Boyz avatar
    Aimer Boyz

    Really mean aliens, Hugh :)

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Aren’t they always, Aimer? It’s about time we got our own back.

  2. Debbie Bugezia avatar

    Wow! Great story and creepy to think about too. 🤔🤔

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Glad you enjoyed it, Debbie. Don’t think about it too much. I don’t want to give you any nightmares.

      1. Debbie Bugezia avatar

        😂 Hugh, my nightmare is it’s -7° and winds are 20+ mph. That makes the wind chill factor -30° outside in Centerville, Ohio!! Yikes I’m on my way to work soon. Stay warm!

        1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

          I heard about the extreme weather in your part of the world, Debbie. We only need one snowflake to fall on the UK, and the whole country comes to a standstill. Stay safe.

          1. Debbie Bugezia avatar

            😂 thanks after living here all my life you kind of get used to it.

  3. Retirement Reflections avatar

    Brilliant ending, Hugh. Although I do need to remind myself to read your posts in the daytime….not right before I go to sleep! :)

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      I should issue a warning at the beginning of my posts, Donna. I hope you slept well and that the mysterious force from the story didn’t bother you…too much.

  4. John W. Howell avatar

    I have no idea but this was very cool. (no pun intended…well maybe a little.)

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Thanks, John. Your pun fits perfectly.

  5. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar

    Not only do I know very little about 12th Night, Hugh, now I have to wonder more about it! What a great story! Love that image from Pixabay!

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      The riddle of 12th Night falling on Day 13 of Christmas has always had me puzzled, Terri. If you count the 25th Dec as the first day of Christmas, then Jan 5th is the 12th day. It’s either been overlooked by mankind or is a big plot hole in the story of Christmas. Either way, I’m glad you enjoyed my little attempt at trying to find an answer.

  6. willowdot21 avatar

    Excellent as usual 😀😀

  7. Irene avatar

    The image caught my attention first but your story kept me reading to the end. Enjoyed! 😉

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Thank you, Irene. You don’t know how much I love hearing the words ‘your story kept me reading to the end.’ That tells me I got the story right.

      1. Irene avatar

        Yes, the story is great!

  8. Elizabeth avatar

    Great story Hugh! I’ll not guess the secret, I don’t want to be frozen ☃️

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      From what I hear, your part of the world is still frozen, Elizabeth. I hope it has nothing to do with the unknown force from this short story. Stay warm.

      1. Elizabeth avatar

        Yes Hugh, today is supposed to be -35C, I’ve to go out soon. I’ll try not to think about your story! :)

  9. robertawrites235681907 avatar

    A very good story, Hugh. Well done.

  10. […] via The Riddle of Twelfth Night […]

  11. D. Wallace Peach avatar

    Ha! So what’s the secret, Hugh???? Great build up to the mystery that we shall never know… until we’re conquered, of course. Thanks so much for joining in. I closed the prompt on the 24th, but I’m so glad that you went for it anyway. Your stories are great fun as always. :-)

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Apologies for not publishing this until after the closing date, Diana. The story has been in my draft folder for over three weeks waiting for me to come up with a good enough ending that I liked. It only came to me yesterday. I think my creative cogs have been frozen by the plummeting winter temperatures. I wanted to join in with your challenge because I loved the prompt image you gave us.

      1. D. Wallace Peach avatar

        No problem, Hugh. I had over 40 responses, so I’m trying to stick to the deadlines (to keep some control and sanity. Ha ha. But I have you in the roundup tomorrow and I’m sure you’ll get visits :-D I hope you play along again. The Feb prompt is coming up. <3

        1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

          That’s a big success for the first month of the challenge, Diana. I look forward to next months prompt and will promise to stick to deadlines. 😀

  12. Teri Polen avatar

    Enjoyed this, Hugh! I’ve been reading these on Diana’s blog. Loved the ending.

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Thank you, Teri. My entry was after Diana’s deadline, but only because it took me ages to come up with the ending.

  13. watchingthedaisies avatar

    A terrific story Hugh and a very creepy ending.

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Thanks, Brigid. It’s been sat in my draft folder for nearly three weeks with no end. Then, earlier today, the ending came to me. I missed Diana’s deadline to get entries in, but I couldn’t resist publishing it.

  14. Ritu avatar

    Oooh !
    Nope I still have no idea, but I’d rather not know if that’s going to happen 😳

    1. Hugh's Views and News avatar

      Thanks, Ritu. I agree with you.

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