One Shot Stories

XXXXIIII ~ Hanging Tree

    It happens every year. Same time, same place, every year. Someone gets hung at the hanging tree. We don't know who does it but, it has to stop.

"Hey! Amarilys! Hold on a second." A voice calls behind me.

    I turn and see a boy running up to me. He doubles over.

''Hi, I'm Coran. i write for the schools paper? yeah so I'm here to ask you about the Hanging Tree."

    I sigh. That's all people talk about since its started.

"What about it?" I say, looking anywhere but him.
"What do you think about it?"

    I finally look at Coran. What a basic question.

"It's awful." I say simply.

    He nods and scribbles it down.

"Have you ever been there?"
"No."
"Would you like to go?"

    I raise my eyebrows.

"Why?"
"Hey, you cant ask questions."

    Rolling my eyes, I huff.

"Not if I don't have too."
"Lastly, would you like to come with me to the tree?"

    Okay, this guy is insane.

"No." I say immediately.

    Coran sighs.

"I need someone to pose in front of the tree so I can have a picture for the article. Can you do it?"
"No."
"What if it was for money?" He asks slyly.

    I look him up and down.

"How much?" I say nonchalantly.
"Ah, no questions, remember?"

    I squint at him.

"Fine."

    A smile passes over his face. I watch as he turns on his heel.

"Friday the 13th okay?" He calls over his shoulder.

    I wish it occurred to that that was the date. I guess I just brushed it off that it was going to be dated for the memorial.

     Friday came quickly- quicker than I thought. I stand under the infamous tree, shivering in the November chill. Coran comes into view an begins setting up. He instructs me to get up on the branch and look down. He puts a rope around my neck, saying it was a prop. It was that time that I chose to spin on him.

    It was then I became the one dangling from the Hanging Tree.

•••

I have a new book I'm working on! It's the one that's coming out after this! I'm really excited for this one and I hope this one will be more successful. I hope you guys go and read it when I publish it!