Inside, the bus was filled with the sounds of chatter, laughter, and the faint hum of the radio. Sophie, Max, and Jonah sat together near the back, tired but happy after a long week of camp. The scent of campfire still lingered in their clothes, and the excitement of being away from home hadn't quite worn off yet.
"That last night was awesome," Jonah said, stretching his legs out in the narrow space. "I mean, except for that creepy campfire story."
Max, always the skeptic, smirked. "The one about Lizzie Greenteeth? Please, it's just some dumb ghost story to scare kids."
Sophie nodded, though she still felt a chill when she thought about it. "Yeah, but it was spooky. I mean, the way they described her—dragging kids into the swamp, all green and slimy? That stuff stays with you."
Jonah leaned in, lowering his voice. "Do you really think there's a swamp witch out there? Like, for real?"
Before Sophie could answer, Max scoffed. "Jonah, there’s no such thing as swamp witches. Especially not one named Lizzie Greenteeth. It’s all made-up. How can anyone actually believe that story?"
Still, as much as Max tried to sound tough, Sophie could see him glancing out the window at the trees and shadows passing by. The camp had been close to the swamp, and now, on the way home, they couldn’t help but think about how close they had been to the place Lizzie supposedly haunted.
"You never know," Sophie said with a shrug. "There are a lot of stories about people going missing in those swamps."
Jonah’s eyes widened. "What if it’s true? What if she’s still out there, waiting to—"
"Waiting to do what?" a voice interrupted.
Sophie, Max, and Jonah all turned. Sitting in the row behind them were Trent and Logan, two boys who had spent most of the camp week picking on them. They grinned at the group, their eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Listening to your little ghost stories, huh?" Trent sneered, leaning over the back of their seat. "You scared of Lizzie Greenteeth or something?"
Sophie frowned. "It’s none of your business."
Logan snickered. "You believe in that junk, huh? A swamp witch who comes after little campers? Sounds like a baby story to me."
Max rolled his eyes. "We don’t believe it. We’re just talking."
Trent’s grin widened. "Well, maybe you should. Maybe Lizzie’s real, and she’ll come for you tonight."
"Leave us alone, Trent," Sophie said, her voice steady, though she felt a twinge of unease.
"Or what?" Trent asked, nudging Logan. "You’re gonna call Lizzie to help you?"
Logan laughed. "Hey, maybe we’ll dress up like her and scare you for real! You wouldn’t know what hit you."
Sophie glared at them, but they turned back to their seats, still laughing. Jonah slumped in his seat, clearly unsettled. "Great. Now they’re gonna be on our case all week."
"Ignore them," Max said, trying to sound tough. "They’re just trying to mess with us."
But Sophie couldn’t shake the feeling that Trent and Logan’s words were more than just talk. As the bus turned a sharp corner, the woods outside seemed to grow darker, the trees thicker. Sophie stared out the window, her reflection blending with the shadowy trees. Somewhere, deep in the back of her mind, she wondered: What if the stories about Lizzie Greenteeth weren’t just stories?
YOU ARE READING
the legend of Lizzie greenteeth
General Fiction: "Some legends never die... and some are waiting to be found." On their way home from summer camp, three friends-Sophie, Max, and Jonah-hear the eerie legend of Lizzie Greenteeth, a swamp witch said to drag children into the murky waters. When two...
