Beyond the Graveyard

Beyond the Graveyard-Chapter Two: The Plan

Chapter Two: The Plan

When I finally got to our lunch table I was breathing heavily. Everyone looked at me strangely, and then Samantha, my best friend of thirteen years said, "What, did you run a marathon to get here, Melly?" I laughed and shook my head no in between big sips of my fruit punch flavoured Vitamin Water. "Not a marathon exactly, although it does feel like it! Mrs. Sanders kept me back after class." I said, by way of explaining

"Yeah that's what Jenna Gordan said. What on earth were you in trouble for this time smelly Melly?" Sam asked, using her favourite childhood nickname for me, to my total and utter embarrassment.

"I wasn't in trouble," I replied. "I was just feeling really out of it and I guess Mrs. Sanders noticed. No biggie." I shrugged it off.

Having cleared that up I turned towards Paul and said, "So if you want I can show you those pictures now." He started laughing and said, "No need, Sammy here just showed me. And you were right they were hilarious."

"Well, when you lose a bet to one of us you're gonna have to pay up sooner or later." Sam said with a wicked smirk directed at me. I was still smiling back as Sam's little sister, Michelle, came rushing over with Paul's best friend, Bobby, right on her heels. "Hey guys, guess what?" She said a little breathless, but not nearly as much as I was only minutes ago. Without giving anyone time to ask her what she was on about she continued, "Oh, you'll never guess, so I'll just tell you. Last night Bobby and I went bike ridding and we happened to stumble upon this beautiful field," here she paused to take a swig of my drink, "anyway we decided to go exploring. We deserted the bikes and went on foot instead. There are these huge trees everywhere, which is probably why no one we know has ever gone there." She paused looking excited, but before she could continue Sam cut in with, "Oh, Mishy, what on earth are you rambling on about this time?"

"I'm not rambling!" Michelle said while shooting disgusted looks at her sister. "Just listen. So we climb this hill in the field and what do you suppose we find on the other side?" She looked around the table as if begging us to even try and guess. We all shook our heads and shrugged our shoulders. Taking this as a sign to continue Michelle said, "A graveyard!"

"Oooh! A graveyard!" Sam mocked, turning to me and wriggling her fingers. I couldn't help but laugh with her

"I wasn't finished, and if you keep acting like that I will refuse to finish!" said Michelle, crossing her arms over her chest and lifting her head. "And just to let you know it gets much better." She added while looking out the corner of her eye. Seeing if any of us would take the bait.

"Alright Mishy, I'll bite. Give us the rest of your story." I said with a sigh.

"Okay. So, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted? Oh, that's right; so we go walking through this cemetery, you know, looking at the old graves and stuff. But then we see a house, and of course we decided to check it out. As we got closer we saw these signs that said stuff like: 'Beware', 'caution' and 'no trespassing'. Amanda Thomson told us the place is seriously haunted. That's why there's this high fence all around but someone's cut a whole in it that you can squeeze through. We didn't go that far but we're planning to. Tonight actually. And guess what? You're all coming with!" She finished, with a bright smile on her face. Behind her, Bobby was nodding his head vigorously.

"I don't know, Mish. It's our first day back at school and everything. Can't this wait for another night?" Paul asked.

"Paul this might be our only chance. What if they repair the fence? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see inside a real haunted house. Are you're going to pass it up for...what? Homework?" Mishy looked outraged at the thought of it.

"Alright, fine." I said speaking up. "We'll go with you to this supposedly 'haunted' house. But we'll only take a quick peek around the place and then we're leaving. Got it?" I said, directing my words at Michelle.

"Yay! I promise we'll be real quick. In and out." She said, practically leaping out of her chair to hug me.

"Is this alright with you guys?" I asked, looking to Sammy and then Paul. They both nodded they're heads without enthusiasm.

"So we'll meet up tonight at The Spot? Say around 9pm? Does that suit everyone?" asked Mishy, looking around our small group. After a chorus of 'yes' we got back to normal subjects of conversation and there was no more talk about the haunted house until the end of lunch when Mishy, turning to me, said: "Make sure you bring a flash light, it gets pretty dark down there." Then she sauntered off. Great. Well at least I wasn't afraid of the dark any more...or so I had thought.