Second Place

Something's Burning on Salem Hill

by
Brittnay Mitchell

When you think of Salem, Massachusetts, you think of Halloween. But when you think of Salem, Iowa, you think... well, nothing (maybe corn). Tonight you will hear (or read) a tale that will make your body have chills until next Monday!

"Man, I thought school would last forever!" Caroline Cruton said, walking out of school relieved. "Yeah, and thank God it's Halloween vacation," said Tim Gepod excitedly. You see, in Salem, Iowa, there is something called Halloween vacation, which lasted for five days (lucky kids). Halloween was on a Thursday this year.

Suddenly, Jill Fumara blurted out, "I can't believe your Grandpa Zack is letting us stay at his farm on Salem Hill!" Her twin brother, Jack, also blurted out, "I'm going to' eat all the apples off his tree." Caroline laughed. "Oh yeah, and my grandpa has an awesome Halloween story to tell us, too." "Nah ah, really?!" said Tim with a smile, eyes bright and wide. Caroline nodded and said, "We'll all meet at the pizzeria in the square, OK?" Everyone else nodded. "I'm cool with that," said Tim, acting cool.

The next morning, every one met on time packed and ready to go to Caroline's grandfather's farm. "Finally, the day has come!" shouted Tim. "We're going to the farm!" Caroline smiled. "All right gang, let's go to the farm!"

Later in the afternoon, when they reached Salem Hill, Caroline, Jack, Jill, and Tim all jumped out of the car and giving Grandpa Zack a big hug. "Wow, it must have been a while!" said Zack. "Looks like all you missed me, am I right?" Caroline smiled and said, "Grandpa, you're awesome!" Caroline was tall and skinny like her Grandpa Zack, but he always wore overalls and a straw hat (typical farmer). His gray hair was tossed every which way and his skin was slightly wrinkled.

For the rest of the day, the kids played in the pasture with the cattle. But when the sun started to go down, they went into the house and gathered around the fireplace. "Wow, I can't wait for the story to start!" Caroline said excitedly. Just then, Zack came in and sat in his rocking chair and smoked his forever-year old black pipe. After a few puffs, he started the story in a spooky voice:

"One night in 1898, a man named Sylus B. Connors lived peacefully in this here house on Salem Hill with his wife, mother and brother. He had a deep, dark secret of burning people, but couldn't hold it in any longer. So on Halloween night, Sylus exploded with rage and killed his wife, mother, and brother. After doing this, he placed their bodies on the farm, poured oil all over them and the farm, and lit the oil on fire! Then Sylus killed himself so he wasn't to go to jail.

"On every Halloween night, the ghost of Sylus B. Connors lurks around Salem Hill, looking for people to burn. And the only way he can be destroyed is if, at midnight, you throw ashes at his ghostly head." Zack took a few puffs of his pipe and looked at the kids with a smirk. Jack, Jill, Caroline and Tim were all in shock, with their jaws dropped and eyes wide. "That was the scariest story I have ever heard," said Caroline. "Is that really true?" Zack puffed his pipe replying, "true as the deep blue."

That night, when everyone went to bed, Jill lay on her bed, wide-eyed and afraid. She turned over and shook Caroline saying, "Caroline, Caroline, wake up, I can't sleep." Caroline rolled over half-awake and asked, "What's wrong? Why can't you sleep?" Jill held her quilt close and said, "Well, I keep hearing noises outside the window from the pasture. I'm getting scared!" Caroline shook her head. "It's probably just the wind blowing through a tree that's all." As Caroline rolled back over to go to sleep, Jill nodded her head in agreement. Moments later, she heard another noise and was sure it wasn't the wind.

"Caroline, get up! I think the noise was that Siren G. whatever guy from your grandpa's story!" she said, shaking Caroline. "Shut up and go to sleep, Jill!" groaned Caroline. "It was a bunch of mumbo-jumbo... or is it?"

Bright and early the next morning, everyone got chores to do around the farm. Caroline fed the pigs, Jack fed the chickens and geese, Jill brushed, washed, and fed the horses, and Tim milked the cows. Well, Tim was supposed to milk the cows. Everything was fine until he got to the barn, then came back into the house screaming, his face white as the paper I'm typing on. "Th-the c-c-cows! T-t-th-..." "Spit it out, man!" yelled Jack, trying to stop Tim from shaking. "Th-their b-burnt to the g-ground!" Tim cried. Zack nearly fainted when he heard the news.

"Oh my goodness!" shouted Zack. "The ghost of Sylus B. Connors is back to haunt the farm!" Jill jumped up, frightened. "The ghost? Caroline, I told you I heard something last night! Why didn't you listen to me?!" Caroline was stunned, not able to say anything. Jack, trying to eat his waffles, said, "well, guys. I personally think we should go out and get that ghost." Everyone turned and looked at him like he had four heads and a horn. Jack stopped eating and said, "Or we could just pretend I didn't say anything. Either way is fine with me."

Zack, holding his head, nodded his head saying, "No, Jack. No, I think... I think your right. We need to get rid of that ghost! My cows were my only source of real business! That ghost has caused enough trouble for everyone already. He needs to be stopped."

All four kids just looked sick about the whole ordeal. "Grandpa, we... we can't get rid of a ghost who has an overpowering over us. We could all easily be killed--" Then Tim interrupted, "No, Caroline. No, we can do this. We may be young, and Grandpa Zack may be old, but we can get rid of this thing no matter what it takes! What do we need, ashes? No problem! We can retrieve ashes from his pipe, or the urns of the people the died here from the parlor! Tomorrow is Halloween night, and we have plent of time to plan! Guys, we can do this, and we are gonna' do it! Are you with me?!"

Everyone sat there worried. "I'm in," said Jack. Jill and Caroline looked over at him, and Jill stood up. "Me, too. Count me in." Everyone looked over at Caroline, waiting for her to stand up. Caroline rolled her eyes, sick to her stomach, and stood up saying, "OK, I'm in. But if we die I'm gonna' kill you!" everyone laughed at her nonsense statement, but Caroline didn't understand why.

Both day and night went by quickly, and the plan was set for Halloween. The ashes from the urns were set up and in place, and everyone knew their "battle stations." Zack was pleased with the children's cooperation and commitment. "Good job, kids. This ghost is as good as gone." Everyone smiled, with the exception of Caroline. She had a feeling something bad was going to happen.

Finally, Halloween night arrived and everyone put on their warmest clothing. The moon was full and the air was cold and crisp. It was the coldest night ever, which freaked everyone out more than they had been. "OK, kids, are you ready to get that darn ghost?" asked Zack. The children nodded and split up to their stations. Nervous and cold, Jill went deep into the wooded pasture to the highest tree. Jack went to the barn and hid at the top behind piles of hay. Caroline was hidden in the bomb shelter, and Tim was upstairs in the house.

Hours went by before they heard a ghostly moan. Everyone, scared and breathing heavily, looked around for the ghost. The moans grew louder and louder, heading towards Jill. Jill started breathing heavily and shaking. When she shook, so did the leaves of the tree, which made noise that shouldn't have been made. She grasped onto a branch, trying to hold back her shaking. When she grabbed the branch, she looked over and saw a tall, skinny figure that was bright and transparent slowly gliding her way down the dark path, groaning.

"Please stop shaking, please stop shaking," Jill whispered to herself, but nothing could control her. She started to shake more with the sight of the ghost, and the leaves started to fall from the tree. The ghost looked around with an evil glare in his eyes. He looked up and saw Jill, his eyes glaring red and his groans growing louder. The ghost started sailing slowly up towards Jill, who let out a shrilling scream.

" Jill! " screamed Carloine. She, Tim, and Jack jumped from their hiding places and ran towards the woods with flashlights and ashes. "Jill! Jill!" screamed the three, racing through the dark woods and following the deep groans and shrilling screams. Reaching Jill's tree, they looked up and around, seeing no one or nothing. "Oh my goodness, guys, where is Jill?!" shouted Tim. "We've got to find her!"

A while later they see a horrible sight, Jill in a cage over a giant fire hanging by a rope. Right next to her is the ghost, looking mean as ever.

"Let Jill go, You giant night-light!" Shrieked Jack

"Yah, like im going to give in that easy, please," The ghost shouts.

"Now prepare to say bye-bye to your little friend."

"OH, NO YOU DON'T!!!" Caroline screams as she throws the ashes on the ghost's head.

"NOOOO I'M MELTING, MELTINGGGG!" Screams the ghost as he melts into green gooze.

"YAHOO," Everyone shouts.

"We did it."

As Jill comes out of the cage, she gives Caroline a titanic hug.

"Thank you, Thank, you!" She cries.

As all the kids were walking down the hill, Tim noticed a strange looking grave stone.

"Hay what's that say?" Tim said.

Now the children walk over and read it, Then they screamed and ran home.

The grave stone said:

Sylus (Zack) B. Conners
Born: 1830
Died: 1898
R.I.P.

The End
(Or is it?)