Haunted
Chapter One
'Forget something, Jess?' Ms Edmunds asked, starting the engine of her 1980's ford. Jess, who had been staring transfixed at Leslie's house, came back to reality. 'No, I'm good.' He said hurriedly. Ms Edmunds shrugged and she steered the car out of the driveway, leaving Jess's house, and Leslie's- behind.
Jess felt slightly guilty that he hadn't mentioned to invite Leslie. But he pushed it away with the exciting and utterly rare prospect at spending the whole day with his music teacher at the Art Gallery in Washington. He had an enormous crush on the pretty woman, and that was the reason why he didn't want Leslie tagging along.
'Leslie will understand. Besides, it's probably not her kind of thing. She'll probably think up an amazing story to tell me when I come back.' Jess convinced himself. Ms Edmunds engaged him in conversation, and Leslie disappeared from his mind.
'Where is he?' Leslie asked aloud, addressing the quiet forest. The creek's waters could be heard rushing along, like a loud musical note. She was sitting on the gnarled roots of the crap apple tree, swinging her legs and twisting a moist leaf through her fingers. PT, her beloved black and white dog, looked up from his sniffing of the undergrowth and barked.
Leslie smiled. She liked to pretend PT could talk. 'His dad might have just set him a long set of chores to do and he won't let him go until he's finished.' Leslie fell silent. She knew how incredibly hard Jack Aarons was on his son. It wasn't fair that Jess had to do all the work while his older sisters were perfectly capable of helping out once in a while.
She listened hard for the next three minutes for Jess. But it soon became evident that Jess was not coming any time soon, so she might as well enter Terabithia on her own.
'Come on, PT!' Leslie called, rising to her feet. PT came scampering to his mistress, and bounded around her feet as she walked to the bank, eager to go. His excitement became infectious and Leslie's tanned face cracked into a wide, beaming smile.
Terabithia…. Her kingdom, the place she had the freedom to be herself.
She picked up PT and nestled him firmly in the left side of her red jacket. She was careful to make sure he was secure, for the creek had swollen dangerously, and if he was to fall, he would surely drown. The very thought gave Leslie's shivers, because apart from Jess, PT was her best friend.
She jumped up onto the log, and almost slipped. The moss-covered bark was damp and slippery.
'The kingdom awaits us!' Leslie said regally, and using a long sturdy stick, she stood on her the tips of her laced boots, and pulled the enchanted rope towards her. As she positioned her hand above the higher knot and was to jump off, a sudden fear took hold of her soul.
Something's not right… but what is it? Leslie glanced around, trying to figure it out. Jess wasn't coming, that's for sure. Was it the rope, then? Leslie inspected the rope. It looked fine, if a little wet. Leslie decided she was just being silly.
After all, Queens weren't supposed to be scared of anything.
Leslie took a deep breath, preparing herself for the flight. She leant back, stretching the rope. She jumped, and swung.
The usual feeling of falling of a cliff then flying overwhelmed Leslie's senses. For the first time since they had found the rope on the crisp autumn day, she looked up and saw the glorious heavens above. Leslie laughed. Swinging on the rope was like sky-diving. It was so fast and exciting, but terrifying at the same time.
Then it happened.
The weakened rope could not bear to hold her weight anymore. The branch groaned, the rope stretched tight, and with it broke clean in half.
Leslie hadn't registered what was going on until she realized she was seeing water, not sky.
No!
Leslie was suddenly effulged in the icy, dark depths, and into Death's welcoming arms….