Writing Challenge – Page 15 – Hugh's Views & News

The Riddle of Twelfth Night

Published on Jan 29, 2019Dec 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts68 Comments

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 4^th, 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 25^th, the first day of Christmas. It still didn’t add up why ‘Twelfth Night’ was on the night of the 6^th 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.

Five A Day #flashfiction

Published on Nov 27, 2017Dec 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts35 Comments

It was getting harder and harder to get my five a day.

Why had I even come here? It was the worst place I’d ever visited, yet they kept me here because I couldn’t find them anywhere else.

However, time was now running out, and I’d soon have to find another place for my fix.

Maybe I should leave now? Yes, that was probably a good idea.

Then, just as I was about to leave and head for the stars, I heard the cry of the human baby. One last meal, and then I’d leave this almost inhospitable planet.

Written as part of the 99-word Flash Fiction Challenge with the theme of Five a Day, hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.

Choke -#writespiration #flashfiction

Published on Feb 26, 2017Dec 5, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts45 Comments

Sacha Black challenges us to write something using the word ‘choke’ using just 52 words (no more, no less).

Choke – by Hugh W. Roberts

Olive Mackeson had died choking on a cheese and sweet pickle sandwich, shortly after pulling out the choke on the dashboard of her car, as her foot slipped off the clutch, forcing the car into the path of an oncoming truck.

Registration number of the car – K, one, one, L, M, E

Flutter – #writespiration

Published on Feb 7, 2017Dec 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts67 Comments

Sacha Black challenges us to write a story, poem, prompt, or theme, using just 52 words (no more, no less). This week we have to include the following words –

Time, Juice, Stack, Pigeon

Look away now if you’re one of the faint-hearted. I bring you, Flutter.

Their time had come.
Poor things. The odds had been stacked against them. They had no chance, but revenge was sweet.
As the group of pigeons prepared to feast, the first sunset of this new world was spectacular.
Human juice would at last flow. The eyes were the first to be pecked.

Thank you to the great Alfred Hitchcock for getting me through this tough challenge. Yes, I know they are crows and not pigeons in the clip, but pigeons didn’t feature in the movie, The Bird.

Gateway – #writephoto

Published on Sep 19, 2016Dec 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts96 Comments

I write poetry infrequently, but this idea came to me when I saw Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt at Daily Echo.

Before you read the poem, please be assured that I am very well, enjoying life, and haven’t touched a drop…yet.

This is the gateway to heartache

This is the gateway to my soul

This is the gateway to all of me

My thoughts, my secrets, my control.

Don’t enter this gateway

Don’t put a foot inside

For what will wake up and confront you

Will be sadness, my tears, not joy.

Find me a lock and find me the key

So I can protect you from all that is me

Build up a brick wall and pass me on by

So, this gateway to nightmares will no longer horrify.