Countdown

A Halloween drabble

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Ten is when the veil grows thin.

It reminds us of the fate everyone solely shares - but how do other numbers show up, this month? Where is our Halloween countdown?

Nine lives are given to a cat: black as midnight, of course, with emerald eyes.

Eight are the legs of a spider.

There are, it is said, seven revenants in the mountain village… six graves.

Five spots brand the poisonous mushroom.

Four feet unfurl a famous spell, but three are the witches who sing it.

Two means a partner for the Skeleton Ball.

One destination awaits us all.

Memento mori.

---

Thanks for reading…

…and a big welcome to explorers old and new!

First, a special shout-out to

A.C. Cargill, Author

for collecting many stories of this season in the ‘Team Halloween’ compilation. Thank you, A.C.!

On the eve of All Hallows Eve, I’ve thrown in as many spooky images as possible, this week. Some are real (spiders’ legs), some are folklore (cats having nine lives), and some are fiction (the seven revenants… it’s probably a common trope, but this version is my own take on the idea).

Also, I’ve been in such a Shakespearean mood, recently. I couldn’t resist a reference! ‘Four feet’ simply acknowledges that he wrote his famous ‘Double, double, toil and trouble’ song¹ in tetrameter.

Whatever you celebrate (or not), this week, I hope you have a wonderful time 😎

This drabble is Top in Fiction (Issue #17)! Image by Erica Drayton

Next Time:

Back to normal - with a tarot tale

Part of Exploring the Eyrie will always be free - but if you enjoyed your fictional escape, please consider a paid subscription. There are three options:

1. Yearly: £35 (under £3 a month).

2. Monthly: £5 (x12 months = £60 a year).

3. Founding: £80 (suggested).

What you’ll get: every story, every week(end) - straight to your inbox.

I’m currently revamping the Eyrie. Things may look different, or even behind, for a little while.

For now, then, you can simply pledge a future subscription. You won’t be charged until I enable payments (starting in 2024).

Thank you for exploring the Eyrie.

---

Copyright © E.A. Colquitt 2024

1. Macbeth, 4.1.