The Hanging Hill

77

The leering crone was wearing an antique black dress with poofy sleeves and a high collar.

“So,” she croaked. “You must be the two children! The chosen ones!”

Zack and Meghan shot each other a quick glance.

“Chosen for what?” asked Zack.

“To set us free!”

“Actually,” said Meghan, “I’m just here to do a show. It’s called Curiosity Cat. Oh, by the way, I’m Meghan McKenna. Who the heck are you?”

Zack couldn’t believe how cool Meghan was, getting sassy with a ghost.

“Lilly Pruett!”

“Who?” said Meghan, totally unimpressed.

“Oh, I’ve heard what you children say about me while skipping rope.” She swung her hatchet. Zack could see patches of dry blood on its dented blade. “Lilly Pruett, said she didn’t do it, she was lying and everybody knew it!”

The hatchet was weeping blood now, splattering red droplets against the walls as she swung it back and forth like a grisly pendulum.

Meghan and Zack weren’t giggling anymore.

Lilly Pruett, however, was cackling.

“Lilly Pruett had six babies, chopped them up to make some gravy. When the kids were good and dead, she found their father and chopped off his head!”

Meghan looked at Zack.

Zack looked at Meghan.

They both yelled it at the same time: “Run!”