All she wants is just one meaningful bond, but with her innate ability to scare people in every way possible, it's almost hopeless to make friends.
Everyone believes she is a living and breathing ghost, and there's nothing she can do about it.
He j...
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Despite the fall season, the sun blazed with an overwhelming intensity that sweater weather was still a long ways away. Much to Blair's dissatisfaction. She loved snuggling up in her oversized hoodies, they were her comfort items.
Yet, the heat claimed the day once again.
She figured this meant her favorite spot to eat lunch probably held a lot of students. She saw this as a perfect opportunity to start a conversation. So, when everyone let her cut in line for today's meal, she rushed out the cafeteria doors with gratitude and conviction.
Her raven-colored hair attracted heat like no other so she made it across the quad quickly so she wouldn't start to sweat. Her destination was only a few steps away and she noticed how desolate it was, despite it being a perfect spot.
It was one of the biggest trees on campus with a wide trunk so leaning against it was ideal. Despite it being autumn, most leaves stuck firm onto the branches. The shade gave no way for light to cross between them, like an umbrella of cool air.
"I guess I'm alone again today." Blair sat down quietly. The grass was soft instead of itching her legs, which is another reason she found the area perfect.
She dug into her food, slightly disappointed that she had no one to talk to... again. She munched politely as birds chirped in and out of the tree.
It was peaceful, yet quite lonely.
Blair just reassured herself that she would make the next person to cross her path her friend. Like she always did.
"Scarecrow!!" A voice bellowed. The sudden shout made Blair flinch, not because of surprise, but because of the nickname.
She knew who it was before she even had to look up. "Hello, Felix." She greeted him when he jogged up to her, falling into a sitting position in front of her.
"How's it hanging?" He took out his own lunch.
She didn't answer his question. "Why scarecrow?"
"Blair Crow. Scarecrow. They rhyme. Plus Blair Witch is unoriginal." He responded bluntly. "You don't like it?"
"I don't know, I've never had a nickname before." Blair's eyes sparkled.
She likes it, Felix celebrated inwardly. He looks up at the tree they sat under, a certain admiration in his expression. "Man, this place is insane." He smiles widely.
Blair looked up as well. "Why?"
"Huh?! You don't know?!" His voice was incredulous.
She gave him a blank stare. He shook his head with silent laughter.
"This tree. It's notorious for being cursed." He points at the bark behind Blair's head. "They say a faculty member hung themselves on that branch the first year this school was built. Supposedly they went crazy because of the students' mistreatment of them. Ever since, if you get near it, you can hear the rope creaking on the branch, the body still swinging. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to move to this school, the number of stories in this town is like no other."
"Woah, I didn't know that. I guess that's why no one comes here to eat." Blair sipped on her drink, a little bit relieved that it was not because of her.
"Yup, I'm surprised you didn't hear about it." Felix picked up a leaf and held it in front of his right eye, his other peering into Blair's soul.
"I don't really have anyone to tell me." She mumbled.
He couldn't find any words to respond to that.
"Was that story a scary fact?" She changes the subjects swiftly.
"Nah. I got a better one." He leans in excitedly. "Ever heard of Goatman's Bridge?"
She shakes her head no.
"Well, it's super haunted, where an entity called the Goatman resides. It's a place where a lot of people do rituals and other satanic shit. So, a lot of negative energy is stored on that bridge." Felix leans back on his hands. "But I won't be talking about the bridge, I'll tell you about the tree."
"Tree?" Blair questions.
"That's right. There's a trail that leads to it. A lot of rituals were done there too. The tree is split in two and kind of resembles a goat's horns. If you thought this tree was cursed-which is really only a theory-the split tree can really only be described as being grown from hell."
"When you go through or touch it, the portal that's there only invites bad luck. So much so that death is a possibility."
Blair chewed on her last strawberry slowly, fascinated with the fact. "Spooky. Sounds like a good movie plot."
"Right? That's what I was thinking! Which is why I want to become a movie director." He holds a hand to his chest. "Someone's gotta bring these stories to life."
Blair's eyes widened with curiosity. She leans in closer to him, making the boy suddenly self-conscious.
"I think you can do it." She tips up one corner of her lips.
He scratches the back of his head. "You think so?"
Her eyes suddenly deflate, her face settling into an empty expression, her body becoming unbelievably still.
Felix's smile fades at her change, goosebumps prickling around his body.
"W-what's wrong?" He asks.
She blinks and very disturbingly says, "Sorry, I thought I heard a creaking sound."
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Edited ✔️
May or may not have been watching Sam and Colby investigating Goatman's bridge while writing this chapter 🙂
