“How far are we going?” Jamie asked.
“Just a little farther, I promise it’s worth it.”
It was late October and the air was frigid causing the girls to shiver as they walked deeper into the woods.
“This better not be another one of your stupid “pranks” I’m still grounded from the food fight.”
“Watching Mrs. Mertz face when the potato flew across the cafeteria was worth the 3 month detention.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Lighten up. We’re almost there.”
As the girls climbed a steep hill covered in roots and bramble, the amber leaves crunched under their feet. “Grab this.” Monica said. As she pointed to what appeared like a root protruding from the hill.
Jamie gripped it and pulled herself until the root snapped, releasing a ooze that looked like a thick red sap. Scurrying up the rest of the way she wiped the sap on her shirt leaving a blood red streak on her new fall sweater.
“My moms gunna kill…” She was cut off by her own surprise. “What is it?”
Standing bull-legged Monica said “Who knows! But I found it last night and couldn’t wait to show you.”
Monica examined the object. Sticks made a cone shape that bled into a scarecrow looking figure with a beast’s skull for a helm. Roots protruded from the sides of the wooden beast as makeshift arms.
“Is it…” Jamie cut herself off. “Wait, last night?”
“In my dream. I came to this exact spot. That’s how I knew it was here.”
Jamie turned around looking down the hill it was clear what the hill was made of now. Bodies piled to the sky made a perfect spot for an effigy.
Jamie turned pale as a ghost. That’s when she felt the swift smack to the temple.
The smell of smoke started her awake but the rope kept her from moving. As the flames licked her face she saw Monica standing at the bottom of the hill and with her, four women all in red hoods chanting.
Even with a ragged cloth stuffed deep in her mouth Jamie tried to scream. The muffled noise was drowned out by chanting.
The women chanted incantations in languages dead to time as the fire engulfed the effigy.
Monica looked to the hooded woman to her right. “You did very good.”
Monica smiled. “See you next year.”
Lorne Bronstein