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Beyond the Legend
Beware the Hat Man
“Claire shrieked and squirmed, viciously scraping the ground with every ounce of strength.”
I continued the creepy narrative, enjoying my brother’s holy shit expression. “The icy grip around her ankles ripped her across the terrain, his nails sunk into her skin like needles. Psychotic laughter echoed through the air as she struggled and kicked. Glancing up around the brim of his hat, Claire could see an opening between the trees. A lone windowless cabin emerged atop a grassy hill. Just as she thought her fate was sealed, her hand fell on an angular stone. Gripping it, she silenced her screams and waited for the ride to be over. He had to let his guard down sometime.”
I closed the book of urban legends, watching Chet’s mouth quiver and his eyes grow wide as saucers. Shit, he’ll be sleeping on my floor tonight.
“Keep going,” Chet pleaded, putting on his definition of a poker face. In the light of the afternoon, he loved horror stories. As soon as night fell, he would jump at every sound and turn on every light in the house.
“Sorry dude, but I don’t want you having nightmares,” I knew I went too far this time. That’s what happens when I’m left to babysit my baby preteen brother. Our parents were away for the weekend and it was up to me to play the parent.
“I won’t, I swear. It’s just a legend and that story is not even true.”
“That’s what you said when we watched Nightmare on Elm Street. Until you grow tougher skin, stay away from scary stuff. Find a hobby.”
“Can I stay up a little later and watch SpongeBob?” He quickly changed the subject.
“I don’t care, just be in bed before midnight.” I was a cool big sister, but I also knew this was my last chance to make things right with my parents. Over the past two months, my grades slipped and I took up smoking. Well, actually I finally got caught in the girls’ bathroom during gym class. I also began cutting cheer practice to hang out with Louis, an alum. Yeah, he was three years ahead of me, a former weed dealer and extreme womanizer, but he always had tickets to any music group I wanted to see.
The man worked in mysterious ways to get what he wanted. This included impressing the pants off of me. After all…
