05: Grave Dancers

The next morning the girls all gathered in the dining room. “Breakfast is served!” Daijah chimed merrily as the groggy faces of her company poured into the small area. “I see we’re all anxious to get started right?” she joked as Karima, Jill and Freedom made a beeline towards the coffee pot.

Leah took a seat at the far end of the table next to Nedra and Nancy grabbed herself a plate of toast and eggs. The girls sat quietly enjoying the meal still all feeling very anxious about what the day held for them and what uncertain plans Daijah had in store.

“So have you hired actors or something to help pull in more scares?” Nancy asked pushing her plate back from her.

“No,” Daijah laughed. “Who has that kind of money? It was tight enough getting 11 women in this house and enough food to last us a month.”

“Well Karima said she saw someone last night lurking outside the window,” Freedom added. “If it wasn’t an actor or some poor Schmo you suckered into this, who was it?”

Daijah shrugged. “Probably one of the neighbors passing by on their way home. Did they say something to you?”

“No,” Karima started. “They didn’t and it wasn’t a neighbor unless he lives in the graveyard. This man was pale, almost ghostly and he didn’t appear friendly one bit.”

“Well I’m sure it was nothing to worry about. But like I told Holley and Liz, the people on this island aren’t exactly sociable. Where did you see him?”

“Outside the window at the upstairs bedroom.”

“Ok that’s impossible unless he was on a ladder, stilts or as tall as I don’t know Abe Lincoln. Are you sure it was a person and not a bird or something?”

“I don’t think you’d believe me even if I told you so let’s just forget it.”

“In speaking of the graveyard,” Jill smiled. “How’s about we check out the one behind the house?” her request was met with a lot of curious and fearful stares and it made her laugh. “Oh come on, Daijah is right, it’s October, it’s Autumn it’s the season to be scared! This will be fun!”

“I’m for it!” Holley said standing. “It’s day out, shouldn’t be so bad right?”

“Count me out.” Lizzy stood and carried her plate to the kitchen. “Daylight or not, it’s too creepy to think about. What if we run into the person Karima saw? No thank you!”

“I’m with her!” Quiana pushed away from the table and started for the living room. “We can hold down the fort here while you girls explore.

“Anyone else want to chicken out?” Kalene asked smiling at the two standing by the door. “We came here for a bit of fun; why not experience what all of that means?”

“What kind of fun could there be in visiting a creepy old graveyard?”

“You never know until you take a look,” Leah smiled.

 “Should we bring the book?” Nedra asked sitting it on the table. “We could maybe read something at nightfall.”

“Don’t have to wait for night, we can always read. That’s the fun thing about it! Well, I guess we should head out right? No need of wasting the day!”

Gale and Ben were young and without fear
a simple little dare is what brought them here
Equipped with flashlights and cases of beer

Silence encased them as they drew close
Creatures occupied this place or so the story goes
the darkened woods is where the monsters rose

They sought to dance on the spirits grave
a task entrusted to only the brave
They pulled up the flowers and stomped around quick
Each gave the tombstone a solid, swift kick

It fell to the ground with a silent thud

leaving an imprint in the thick, soft mud
Part of their mission was done right
the next task for them was to spend the night

“How about a game of hide and seek?”

“It’ll pass the time, I’ll hide, don’t peek.”
Gale rushed behind a tree near the bay
Waiting for Ben to pass her way

She’d plan to jump out and give him a fright
Seeing the fear on his face would be such a sight
she waited and waited for what seemed like a day
Finally she moved, her eyes unable to hide her dismay

“Fine you win!” she said into the sky
“I’m not scared!” she yelled. “Nice try!”
The wind picked up and with them a whisper
“I’ll get you too!” and the air grew crisper

Gale rushed from the woods and to their spot
 she saw an empty grave where a casket lay in rot
she gasped and backed away into something soft
there was the tomb’s resident awake and aloft
“You shouldn’t dance on graves! In peace I rested!”
“Now you shall join me in the dirt we’re crested.”

When the caretaker found them the next day
he didn’t know why their hair was that way
Something took their lives and left marks on their face
but other than the kids, nothing was out of place

Continue ---->