4

4

Edna knew who they all were, of course. She’d known each of them, very well indeed, once upon a time.

Seven times, she’d fallen in love. Seven times, her heart had broken.

It was a strange feeling, being near these people again. Especially as they were all here together, in the same place. This had never happened before.

Surveying the assembled group, her eyes devoured every inch of every one of them quickly as she moved along the line, shuffling on one slippered foot to the next, and grunting slightly as she acknowledged their features. Her wispy, silver hairs danced as she moved, and with her hooked nose, the little old lady sniffed impolitely at her guests.
It intrigued her to see how alike they all were, despite their varied upbringings and their assorted gene pools. But it was the eyes that pleased her the most – they each had her eyes. Bright green apertures that nobody could ever forget.

There was a time when people commented on Edna’s eyes. They called them rare, exquisite – mesmerising, even. Men had been drawn in by her eyes, and this was often their undoing.
But now, few people ever got close to Edna, living as she did in isolation on the cliff side. There had been no visitors to for years. Until today.

So, what had prompted Edna Fossell to lure her seven estranged children to Purgatory? What indeed.
And what had ensured that they would all obey the summons? Perhaps therein lies the greater mystery.