Wasilla Public Library youth writing contest draws lots of creative tales from the crypt

WASILLA — Creative and scarily inspired youth of all ages participated in The Wasilla Public Library’s annual Spooky Writing Contest.

“We were really pleased with the turnout,” Wasilla Library youth services librarian Sara Saxton said.

There were 89 spooky story submissions this year, according to Saxton. She said this was a noticeable increase from last year, encouraging them to keep this community-focused program going.

“We have more people participating, and more interaction from some of the schools who’ve been really supportive and nice to work with and excited to get more opportunities for their students,” Saxton said.

Saxton said they started the Spooky Writing Contest last year as another extension of their overall mission to foster community interaction, boost local literacy, and create youth development opportunities.

“It’s another program that grew out of the need to connect with our community in other ways besides just being here at the library,” Saxton said. “We found that everybody loves a contest and if we can get creative with it and use some of those seasonal markers for people to connect with, it kind of shows kids that, ‘hey, maybe I can write a scary story,’ or ‘I’ve great ideas, maybe I can be the winner.’ As a parent, I know that finding ways to get your kids to do something academic can be a real challenge, so by using our platform here at the library, we like to find more ways to engage kids with literacy.”

Saxton said that she really enjoys the chance to read the variety of stories and ideas kids come up with.

“I will say that from sixth grade up, it was pretty much a blood bath this year. There was a lot of gore. When I said spooky they took it to mean deadly,” Saxton said with a laugh.

On top of being a fun exercise for participants and the judges, the writing contest serves as an outlet for local youth creativity while encouraging critical thought.

“We definitely had a few teachers that made this a class project and kids who did with their librarians at school… to kind of provide something different to get their creative juices flowing,” Saxton said. “I like to see the kids’ creatively but I also love to see how they’re growing and progressing academically by writing these stories, learning how to write conversations, learning how to use punctuation, or not use it. As somebody who spends a lot of time with books and writing, it’s always fun to see all those levels of growth as kids explore their own creativity and attempt to write it down.”

The Spooky Writing Contest stories are available for public view in the Wasilla Library’s children section. The winner received various awards, including some terrifyingly tasty treats.

Saxton said they’re continuing to offer virtual storytime sessions and curbside service on top of their usual onsite operations.

“We’re busy. There’s lots of people coming in to use the computers. Our circulation numbers continue to be high. People need and use the library,” Saxton said.

For more information about the Wasilla Public Library, visit cityofwasilla.com/services/departments/library.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com

Wasilla Public Library is pleased to present the winning stories and poems from “Once Upon a Spooky Night,” our recent writing contest for young writers in the Mat-Su Valley. These are the works that stood out from the rest, complete with their original spelling and punctuation.

1st Grade – Tesla Pacheco

“Forest Friends”

Once upon a time there was a boy named Rowen. He stole and stole and stole and stole. No matter what he kept stealing. Then, one day when he was in the woods he got lost. He was trying to find his way out when he saw a unicorn with a very sharp horn. There was blood dripping down the horn into its mouth. This evil unicorn kills children who are bad and love to steal. The unicorn ran towards him. Rowen screamed at the top of his lungs. The unicorn cut off his head and put it on his horn to scare other children from stealing. So you better behave or the unicorn will come for you!

2nd Grade – Logan Halcomb

“The Skeleton Pirate”

Once there were two teenagers who were fearless and not even afraid of a skeleton pirate. They heard there was a skeleton pirate so they went to the Haunted Harbor to find it. They climbed aboard the ship to find the normal pirate stuff and a pile of old bones. There was a hat on a barrel and a treasure chest full of pirate-loving treasure. As they climbed aboard the pile of bones turned into a skeleton pirate. As the bones flew together the pirate hat flew on top of the skeleton’s head to make the skeleton pirate. The skeleton pirate walked towards them and demanded they take a piece of treasure. So they each took a piece and then froze and turned to stone when they picked up the treasure. The treasure was cursed! The skeleton took a torch off the wall of the ship, walked over to the barrel, took off the lid and lit the bombs inside. He put the lid back on and slowly walked into the shadows. As the dynamite blew up he was gone. He had escaped. The teenagers were blown up in their form of stone. The end.

2nd Grade – Aizen Kelly

“Halloween”

Cat’s meow,

ghosts trick,

Kids treat,

dogs howl,

pumpkins smile

Its 10-31

Boo!

3rd Grade – Amiah Clements

Most days Celeste would go for a long walk out on the bay, because she lived close to the ocean. Sometimes, when her parents weren’t home, she wouldn’t go to the bay because of the mysterious town myth. Mainly, the fishermen would say that every Halloween the Ocean Ghost would jump out of the water and swallow the boats passing through. Celeste had heard many tales of fishermen going deep out to the ocean to catch the Ocean Ghost…but never returning. The only fisherman that claimed he saw the Ocean Ghost and survived, said that the myths are real. Yet he tried to stop people from going out to catch the Ocean Ghost. Celeste was friends with the fisherman. He was nice and when her parents were gone on a work trip to another town, he would sometimes take her out to get ice cream so that he could tell her stories about the Ocean Ghost. His wife had passed but he never said how. He seemed old enough to have grandkids, but Celeste never asked. Each time Celeste visited the fisherman, she learned something new. Recently, Celeste learned that the Ocean Ghost wasn’t really a ghost…that’s just what the town’s people called it.

Celeste’s house wasn’t far from school and her parents were both at work, so she decided to walk home instead of riding on the school bus. She walked along the rocky bay shore. Her family didn’t really celebrate Halloween very much, but she would still buy herself some candy on the way home.

“I wonder if I throw some candy in the water, an animal will come and get it?” Celeste asked herself. She knew that it probably wouldn’t happen, but she threw some candy in the water anyway. When all the sudden…something much larger than an average shark come up out of the water. It had extra giant fins. It was about the size of a baby whale. When it opened its mouth and grunted she could see that it had tiny teeth that looked like they might be just starting to grow. It was weird and a little frightening.

“Whoa… what are you?” Celeste continued, “and what’s your name big guy…or girl?” Celeste asked not expecting an answer. The creature moaned.

“Is it John? How about Johnny? No… okay fine. Is it Crystal?”

The creature started flopping around and stopped moaning. “Okay, I guess we’ll settle with Crystal, then.”

A couple minutes later the creature started moaning again, “Are you hurt?” Celeste asked.

She climbed to a large rock to get closer to it and saw that the creature had a spear dug deep into its side.

“Oh, no! You are hurt!” Celeste said… “Stay here while I go get help!”

She ran over to the old fisherman that had seen the Ocean Ghost. He was the only fisherman that she trusted. “The myth is real! I think I found an Ocean Ghost in the bay area, and it has a spear in its side! Please help!”

The fisherman didn’t seem very surprised, but then a worried look appeared on his face. “We need to go now!” he explained.

The fisherman grabbed a backpack and started rushing out the door.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Celeste asked.

“The other fishermen will find it! I bet that’s the reason that it has a spear in its side! We have to get it out of here!” The fisherman said.

They ran as fast as they could back to Crystal.

A couple of hours later, Celeste arrived back at the bay with the old fisherman. “Crystal! Where are you?!” Celeste called.

Then Crystal came from behind the rock under the water. “There you are! I was hoping you’d still be here!”

“We are goanna have to come in the water with you, okay.” Celeste jumped inside of the water. “Cold, cold, cold! So cold!” Celeste said. Crystal grunted as she tried to pull out the spear. Crystal did the loudest roar Celeste had ever heard, in fact, it was so loud that Celeste had to cover her ears. “I’m sorry, but I can’t get it out.”

She asked the fisherman to help pull it out.

“Why did you choose the name Crystal?” The fisherman asked. “Well, it was either that, John, or Johnny. And I’ve always liked the name Crystal, and she seemed to like the name too.”

The fisherman helped Celeste get the spear out of Crystal’s side and they cleaned the wound. She hugged the Ocean Ghost to give it comfort.

The fisherman said, “I never told you this as I had forgotten over the years, but the Ocean Ghost is really a megalodon! And I have seen bigger ones than this… way bigger!” I am guessing it is probably a baby!”

“I’m afraid we may have to put her in the zoo until she heals…either that or we may have to put her down…” The fisherman said.

“No!” Celeste shot back. “But will the zoo put her down?” Celeste said calmer.

“That might be,” said the fisherman.

”We can keep her at my place! My place is right next to another private bay that she can swim in! My parents are barely home, so that won’t be a problem, and my dad caught a bunch of silver salmon a couple of days ago!” Celeste said excitedly.

“That just might work!” The fisherman was also starting to get excited. “One problem… how do we get her to your house?” he said.

Celeste didn’t want to say it because then she would have to do it and then she would be freezing cold, but it just blurted out.

“I could ride it.”

Eventually, the fisherman let Celeste ride Crystal back to her place. He could not believe that it worked.

They made it back to the bay beside Celeste’s house. “That was amazing!” Celeste said worked up and ready to do it again…

Three months later, when her dad found out about her and Crystal, he was excited and when her mom found out she practically fainted! Celeste had grown close with Crystal, and it was hard to see her leave. Each year, the 7 days before Halloween, Celeste returns to visit the same bay where they met. She throws some candy in the water, always wondering if Crystal will come back. Some years she is lucky! And most years, she wonders if she will get a visit from her megalodon friend, which would either be a trick-or-treat…!

THE END

4th Grade – Bella Atkinson

“Pumpkin Chaos”

Callie was walking to school like any other day, but today she was extra excited. Today she got to help kindergartners carve pumpkins for Halloween. When Callie got to school she opened her locker.

“AHHHH!” Callie yelled.

Her locker had been filled with eye balls and green slime.

“Haha” Callie heard her best friend Mia Laughing,

“GOT YOU!” Mia said.

“Very funny Mia” Callie said laughing a bit. “Very funny”.

Today is going to be a good day Callie thought to herself with a smile.

Mia and Callie walked into the classroom together and Callie immediately asked the teacher what time they would carve the pumpkins.

“Actually now” her teacher answered.

The class walked to the kindergarten classroom and as they entered they were handed a paper with a name of one of the kindergarten students on it. Callie got Railey, Callie called Railey’s name and Railey raised her hand. Callie walked over to her.

“OK! What would you like to carve on your pumpkin?” Callie asked.

“A witch” Railey answered immediately.

Callie and Railey got to carving. When Callie and Railey finished Callie asked to get some water.

“Sure” the teacher said.

Callie was only gone for two minutes but when she got back she could not believe what she saw. She blinked a couple of times and rubbed her eyes. She wasn’t hallucinating. What happened while she was gone?

Callie looked at the classroom, there were zombies, vampires, black cats, ghosts and witches. Callie realized that everyone had turned into the thing that they had carved onto their pumpkins. Running to the classrooms throughout the school, Callie could tell that she was the only human left.

The next second Callie heard a deep groan, she immediately snapped her head to look behind her. She saw lots of monsters coming her way. Callie looked around and made a break for the bathroom. Locking the door she ran into the bathroom stall on the end as no one ever used that one. She felt relieved when she saw a window because she was finally going to get out, but it had hundreds of spiders surrounding it. Still Callie stepped onto the toilet seat and tried to open the window but it wouldn’t budge. She didn’t know what to do now, she was running out of time.

The next second Callie felt a cool breeze enter the bathroom. Callie saw fog and was so scared that all she could do was tuck into the corner and close her eyes tight. The next second Callie was a witch. She left the bathroom and joined her fellow creatures. No one ever entered the school again and no human has ever come out.

5th Grade – Jasper Petal

“GOLEM”

I step into the car. I’m looking forward to school.

I have no idea what tomorrow is going to be like. Things will be unusual tomorrow too we are moving to a different house.

When we arrive at school I see nothing but a few kids were dashing around from door to door.

Then I see.

The world spins, my eyes turn black, and the world turns dim. Into ruins.

I see my school in ashes as in a black, withered state.

Over where the sign used to be, a half metal pole was standing in its place.

Over where the pickup line used to be, a few chunks of concrete were standing on a pile of dirt.

An eerie feeling flows slowly through my body.

Then I hear a moan. “waughhh”.

I see a rock fly up into the sky of blue. “waughhh”. I hear it again, but this time a little more distant. Nearly scared to death, I cant shift my eyes away from the horizon.

Again. I hear it. This time even closer. It gets closer, I step farther.

Now I can pretty much see it.

Long arms and a black and red head

At first I guessed it might be a car. Then it comes closer.

Then I realize.

It is a golem. I have heard stories of golems, but I never thought they were real.

Just when I least expect it, a rock flies through the dry air and hits my head.

When I wake up from my blackout, I end up by a black figure.

Then my vision clears up. I see a kid standing in the dim light. “Quick! Wake up!” he whispers loudly.

“follow me” I have no idea what happened but somehow I ended up still alive. I follow him.

“be quiet” he says softly. I follow him into a big long tube. An eerie light glows out of the holes as I walk through the long black tube. He then hands me a book, “read this” he says.

I take the book. “don’t read it yet. Read it when we get to where we’re going.”

I keep crawling, and I hear that same moan I’ve heard before.

“Be quiet, Don’t let the Marsla hear you.” “Marsla?!” I reply. “Yes, a Marsla is a type of Golem.

I keep crawling through the tube. “We are here now.”

I arrive at an underground chamber. There is a chair, a chandelier, and a bed.

My name is Felnaden, The Moaning up there you heard was a Marsla. A Marsla is a Darkness type golem. I woke up in the morning like you did, but things didn’t seem the same, I have no idea what happened either.”

“Read the book, it will give you my advice how to stay safe from the golem”

I take the book from my waist, it says:

Golem notes:About the golem. This type of golem can see anything on its level of sight.

EX: if you are standing on the surface the golem can see you anywhere. If you are underground the golem can not see you

This golem is approximately 6 feet tall and looks black.

How to stay safe. Stay either in an elevated area or an underground area.When you hear the moan never look the way the moan is coming fromIf the golem spots you try to mock it’s moan

‘Is all of this true?’ I wonder in my head. “Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you, there is a sowrd in a haunted place that can kill the golem. I don’t know where that is, but the place is scary.”

“change of topic, you want to sleep in the bed tonight?” “sure”, I reply.

“well then see you tomorrow.”

My Dream:

I was standing in the middle of a scary mansion. I hear moans and the sounds of screaming.

Bravely, I slam open the mansions door. A pale white figure jumps out of the door.

I wake up. Felnaden is still asleep lying on the floor. I get up out of bed.

Then I see a light on top of Felnaden’s desk.

I walk over to his desk. I see plans. Plans titled Saving The World

I then see an airplane on his planning papers. I got it! He was trying to get an airplane to go to the mansion! I wake Felnaden up. “what do you want…” he groans. “Your trying to get a plane Felnaden.”

“Yes, I know”, he groans. “I like your plan. Lets do it today!” I say.

“No. I’m not doing it.” He denies.

I then think of doing it myself.

I crawl through the black tube as before, also I find a passage that leads to the airport. I peek up. No one is up there. I then spot an airplane, dashing inside it I look at the controls. I remember how before my dad owned an airplane. I copied his fingers with the controls of the plane. Before I knew it I was up in the air. Then Felnaden’s book falls out of my waist. It falls open to another page.

The mansion lies east of my hut.

I have directions now. I head east from where I’ve been. Then I see the mansion.

Following my dad’s fingers I land.

I step into the mansion’s door. I hear no moans like in my dream. Then in one door I see light.

I walk into the room. The sword! It was so easy to get!

Then out of nowhere, it looks like shadows are piling up to form Marsla. It strikes at me with an arm. Luckily, I jump back and hit it with the sword. Then I strike it on the head. I hear a big long moan. I was victorious! I killed Marsla! Now I just need to tell Felnaden the good news.

The End

5th Grade – Elizabeth Kadatskiy

“Everything Is Okay”

Once upon a time there was a cute couple named Mary ad Jeff they were the cutest couple ever; they also had a girl named Annebell. Once they were invited to a party, and their friend’s has a boy named Seth. And Seth told Annebell to go to the … basement. And Annebell asked “why?” Seth said nervously “umm well my train is down there.” “Otay” said Annebell. But as they got near the basement Annebell said ” why don’t you bring the train up here, anyway it looks dark down there.” Seth smiled nervously and Annebell knew he was hiding something but decided to follow him and Seth said “ Well the noise drives my mom crazy and we have light down there.” As they went inside the basement the door slammed shut Annebell started to panic while Seth looked like he was ready to faint then he looked like he remembered something and Seth said “Oh my mom put this thing on the door that when you open it, it closes so the rat don’t go in the house no let’s turn on the light.” Annebell looked around and asked “ where’s your train?” “ dunno” said Seth “ but I will find it” but as he turned on the light switch it turned on and then off, Seth frowned “ looks like we will play in my room and Annebell started to relax cause as she knows Seth he always likes to play tricks especially in the dark, as Annebell opened the door as Seth found this train but as he touched it a green pale hand got Seth!! His last words were “help”as the door closed and this time it didn’t open.

Death it self

Annebell stated to panic but then she remembered that Seth always played pranks on people but Annebell go so scared she started to cry and bang on the door and then Annebell heard a voice “ Don’t be scared” but Annebell said “whos there?” Although Annebell thought that that person was crazy to say “don’t be scared” in a basement, in the dark, and alone. And then Annebell felt something go thro her as she looked at her stomach a kinfe and blook a lot of blood not the kind of blood when you fall of a bike but the one when you cut your self with a knife as she barly turned with all the pain she expected to see a monster but she saw the least expected person it was …Seth she pulled out the knife screaming in pain when she looked Seth and he hardly looked like Seth. His eyes looked like they were gold and red and she knew he was controlled his skin was black as coal although he had a santa hat that looked like it was going to fall any and he had Christmas ornaments on his hair and clothes, Annebell would have laugh if he wasn’t that scary and if she didn’t have that much pain,then she heard a voice but it wasn’t Seth’s it sounded old and and dark but as she heard that voice and looked at Seth she realized that it was in her head. It said “ turn around ”. It said she regretted listening to it because she saw something she never wanted to see. It was a ball that looked so ugly that she felt like throwing up but she knew that it would just get mad and kill her and she said ” who are you and what have you done with Seth?” “ who him?” asked the doll. “ Oh you mean my servant, you see about a year ago this boy had problems,he broke vases, ruined couches, and always made a mess and back then i was young i was a handsome and brave his mom loved me very and alway put me in a place where he could but this time she did not hide me good enough and he found me and broke off my head and now ,look at me all old and ugly…”yeah right you are so ugly no wonder seth’s mom never puts you on the tree” thought Annebell. So you see I told the boy that now if he wants to live, every year he has to bring a replacement. So you see my child… guess you’re not lucky today welcome to my collection !!! And he turned a bunch of coats and Annebell saw a lot of kids hanging “by” said the doll “ Or should i say die die.” Annebell felt like she was being choked but the thing said “oh don’t worry you won’t die but you will feel horrible pain” And he was right Annebell ‘s neck felt so sore that dying would be a better option. This went on for days, weeks, and months. Annebell though about escaping, until she heard a creek and saw a little bit of light through the coats. And Annebell saw Seth and another little girl that seemed scared. And then Seth looked at her direction and gave her an evil grin. Annebell wanted to warn her and scream and say get out of here!! But the girl asked the girl asked “sooo where’s your train?” Seth said “ don’t worry i’ll find it and the girl said “Seth i’m scared”. And Seth looked at Annebell and said “don’t worry everything … is okay.

6th Grade – Jack Christopherson

“The Search for Zu-ek”

It was a dark and stormy night. Ten adventurers were searching for the Lost City of Zu-ek (rumored to grant anyone any wish… if they made it that is) They huddles around the campfire and roasted wild boar. After they are, they went to sleep. It was a long night full of tossing and turning; and when they woke up, they soon realized that one of them was missing. They looked and looked and looked and looked, but they could not find him anywhere. Soon, they had to move on without him.

As they ventured through the deep jungle, they heard a horrible scream from the back of their group. When they looked back, there was blood dripping from a tree, so they looked up to see where it was coming from. They saw the corpse of one of the nine remaining adventurers hanging upside down with his head torn off. The men were horrified, but they had to keep going if they were to find the City of Zu-ek. As the adventurers continued on their quest, another one of their party seemed to just fall over dead, but on closer inspection they realized his heart had exploded leaving a gaping hole in his chest.

Over and over, as they searched for the lost city, members of the group died horrible deaths until there were only three left: John, Carter, and Jim. These remaining three knew Zu-ek couldn’t be much further; after all, this was the twenty-eighth day of traveling. They decided to check their bearings in the jungle by climbing a tree, so they drew straws to see who would go. John drew the shortest straw, so he had to climb the tree.

When he got to the top, he saw an amazing view of the jungle stretching on and on to the horizon. A few miles to the west he saw a tower rising just over the canopy of the jungle. As John climbed down, he yelled to his companions that they were close. The other two looked up at the sound of his voices and breathed a sigh of relief for they had feared that the monster (or whatever it was that killed the others) had gotten him. But when he was halfway down the tree, the shadowy figure of a monster stared down at them from the foliage above John. It was a dark, black silhouette of a monstrous beast and all they could see with any detail was its eyes. They were terrifying red eyes full of hate. It seemed from that look that it hated every living creature. There was no doubting that this was a thing of evil.

They tried to warn John of the approaching danger, but were too late as a horrific scene opened up before them. The monster opened its mouth and swallowed John, the tree, and all. At that point, Jim and Carter ran in a panic trying to get as far away from what could only be described as a nightmare. As they ran, Jim looked over at Carter and saw a dark “tentacle” grab him and yank him back toward the gaping maw of the beast that was chasing them.

Abruptly, Jim ran into a clearing, but then realized it wasn’t a clearing at all. In front of him stood the steps leading to the entrance of a city covered in jungle vines. This was it – it was the lost City of Zu-ek! He had found it! But his victory was short-lived as he began to race up the city steps. He was almost to the entrance when a “tentacle” wrapped firmly around his middle! Jim gripped the inside of the arch, but he just wasn’t strong enough against the awesome power of the beast. He watched as his fingers slid across the stone, agonizingly losing his grip. He screamed as he was pulled away into the jungle never to be seen again.

7th Grade – Ava Clements

Beware the monster rising

Its glowing red eyes are hypnotizing

As darkness creeps into night

You are overwhelmed with fright

Something will knock on your door

With an intensity you cannot ignore

Don’t step too close

Or you’ll vanish as if a ghost

Run from the peril

This beast is feral

It is worse than the monster under your bed

It is the very thing that you dread

The wind howls, the lighting cracks

There is no hiding from its attacks

I have warned you, now, there is no way of timing

For I have told you, the monster is rising…

8th Grade – Daphne Christopherson

“The First Adventure of Skar Stansberry: SpookHunt for Hire”

Skar looked on in horror; the Twixt had struck her home! What else could explain her Aunt Suon’s sudden disappearance, and the faint smell of sulfur and vanilla? “How could this be,” Skar thought. She had heard of the Twixt strikes, who hadn’t? It always struck suddenly, without any warning, affecting a whole building at a time. Any living thing inside the building when it struck disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only the faint smell of sulfur and vanilla. That scent filled Skar’s nostrils now as she looked at the bathroom, the last place she had seen her aunt.

She had been about to run outside to check the mailbox when Aunt Suon had called down to her; “If you need me dear, I’ll be in the bathroom giving Froo-Froo her bath.” Skar had yelled something noncommittal back, then left. And when she got back it was too late. Her aunt had been taken by the Twixt, and now she was alone.

Skar’s eyes narrowed, it looked like the shower curtain was… moving? Hastily, she shoved it aside and there, wet and shivering, was Aunt Suon’s pet rabbit; Froo-Froo. “What are you doing here?” Skar blurted in surprise, as she scooped up Froo-Froo and started drying her off with a towel. “Aren’t you supposed to be disappeared like Aunt Suon?” She was babbling now, not sure how to take the shock of Suon being there one moment, but the next just… gone. After Froo-Froo was dry, Skar set her down on the ground, then sat down beside her. “What am I going to do,” Skar moaned. “Where will I live without Aunt Suon, how will I eat!”

She glanced down at Froo-Froo then stared, her eyes widening in shock. Froo-Froo was moving, but not in a natural way. It almost looked like she was being pulled by something. “What the…” Skar muttered to herself as she followed Froo-Froo across the bathroom floor. Froo-Froo kept going: down the stairs, through the living room, and out the front door.

Outside the sun was just starting to set, turning the sky and rusty orange color. Skar blinked in amazement; it had been late afternoon when she’d discovered that Aunt Suon had disappeared. She must have been in the bathroom longer than she had thought. A raindrop shook her out of her reverie; with a start she realized that Froo-Froo was already halfway across the yard! Skar hurried after Froo-Froo, as the rabbit started hopping into the woods…

As the sun set, the woods grew darker and gloomier. Skar continued following Froo-Froo, though with greater and greater caution, as her unease grew. Something was not right in these woods’ Skar could sense it with every passing step. Suddenly, they came into a clearing. Skar wisely stopped just behind the tree line. Froo-Froo kept on hopping before stopping neatly in with a line of other rabbits. There must have been hundreds of rabbits, all lined up perfectly in rows. Skar shivered, all of this felt erie and unnatural. Something was very, very wrong.

Skar slipped behind a tree and waited. She knew something important was about to happen; the wood was charged with the energy of anticipation. Suddenly, everything went unnaturally still; the very air itself seemed to freeze around her. Then, in unison all of the rabbits turned towards a lone stump near the center of the clearing.

A rabbit climbed to the top of the stump. But it wasn’t a normal rabbit, it darkened everywhere around it, like a malevolent shadow it cast everywhere. Skar shuddered involuntarily at the darkness she felt roiling all around her. She peeked around the tree, and for the first time clearly saw the rabbit on the stump.

It had pure black fur; like blackness incarnate, and evil red eyes with no hint of a pupil. Then, it started speaking. Skar shuddered at the horrible screeching sound that issued out of its mouth. After a moment though, when she got used to the sound; the ear-rending scream began to sound like words. Skar realized she could understand some of what it was saying, not very much though, mostly just words in between. It was saying something, “Once we — — enough energy — — the h--- — we stole, we’ll -- — — finish — — plan!” Skar had heard enough, it seemed that this unnatural rabbit was responsible for the Twixt. She had to stop this!

While the rabbit babbled on in the background, Skar crept stealthily from tree to tree. She knew what she had to do; she had to put an end to this here and now, stop this evil rabbit from taking any more people. She fingered the pocket knife she alway kept with her for emergencies. She was now directly behind the rabbit. The darkness around her was stronger than ever, threatening to drag her down in despair.

Skar steeled herself. Before she could have any second thoughts she lunged, her knife blade bared, at the evil rabbit. Her blade struck true. The dark rabbit let out a screech filled with pain and evil as the knife struck its heart. Then it violently dissipated into black tendrils of smoke that arced towards the sky, and vanished into the blackness.

Skat suddenly felt exhausted. Tiredly, she trudged across the clearing, picked up Froo-Froo, and finally went home.

The End

8th Grade – Jackson Evans

“Once Upon a Spooky Night”

(Disclaimer, this a very fictional story, the author’s note in the beginning is to build suspense, I felt I should add this for you youngins out there. With that out of the way, enjoy!)

Author’s note

The following story was found on a phone that was inside an abandoned cabin, the following story may very well be false, but as of yet there has been no concrete evidence to show the story is truthful, or deceitful. Although the parents of the child in this story have been located and informed of the story on the phone, they are yet to be interviewed. Anyway, please enjoy the story.

I still hear the screaming outside, I don’t know how much more time I have, I am writing this in the hopes that I can get my story straight in my mind. Maybe if I apologize the screams will stop, maybe they can forgive, but I already know, they will never forget, never. My mom, my poor mom, she didn’t deserve what I said to her before I left the house, she didn’t deserve anything I said. It’s also my dad’s fault though, he shouldn’t have left, he always knew mom was too weak to defend herself. The homestead was always comfy. Mom handled the farm, chickens, goats, pigs, carrots, peas, squash, even apples and watermelon. The homestead was one story besides a small loft where I spent all my time reading or studying. Mom even put a satellite dish up just so I could do school online. gosh, she did so much for me and what did I do in return? I yelled at her. I HIT her. how could I have been so stupid, so evil. But it was this night my mom finally snapped. No one needs to hear the details of what happened after that, my mind is already blocking out what happened. I am really happy I left before I could do any more to her. Only that one time she raised her voice was enough for me to say and do all that? I probably deserve what the screaming thing outside wants to do to me. Anyway, after storming out I jumped on my snow machine and gunned it down through the forest. Snow machines always calm me down, the rumble like a sleeping giant from the snow machine itself, and the cold wind blowing across my body. I was only wearing pajamas but I always loved the cold. Eventually things changed. The forest became different, very different. The trees became much thicker, the night sky that was once gray became red, blood red, the same colour that came from my mom’s nose only around ten minutes earlier. Worst of all the screams, the screams that I still hear now. They started as whispers, then became louder and louder, screams of the purest agony! The screams ripped through my ears and punctured my brain like knives! However loud the screams became there was always something familiar about them. My mother, the same screams that pierce the night right now, were the same voice as my mother. Maybe that’s why they pain me so much to hear. Eventually I had enough. I threw myself off the snow machine and ran. I ran for probably an hour or so, yet the screams doggedly followed my wherever I went. Another strange occurrence was many animals started appearing, all on their hind legs, with bright red eyes. Eyes that followed me wherever I went. When I was close to collapsing from exhaustion I finally found this cabin, the one I am in now, the one in which I will die. I can hear It pounding on the door. That was the sound of the door being ripped off its hinges and hitting the floor. The footsteps I hear are so heavy the breathing too. I’m sorry Mom. I am so sorry.