Just in time for Halloween, the Tri-City News is publishing the winners of the annual Scary Story contest.
The competition is hosted by the Coquitlam, Port Moody and Terry Fox public libraries.
Staff from each submitted their short lists for the two age categories — 15-18 and 11-14 — with the winners determined by freelance journalist and editor, Richard Dal Monte, a former editor of the Tri-City News.
We’ll publish two stories — one from each age category — a day, with the two top stories appearing on Halloween day.
First up is 14-year-old Lillian Lu from Coquitlam, who finished third in the 11-14 category.
Witch
Lillian Lu
“Burn her!” the villagers chant, pumping their fists into the air, faces filled with savage rage. I look at their raised blades and see my fearful brown eyes reflected upon them. Gripped by desperation, I use the sharp edge of the wooden frame to saw at the bonds on my wrist. Pain slithers up my arms like a snake being descaled, but I continue to saw away. When my bonds finally slip away, I immediately sprint towards the forest, the only place that might be safe. Villagers cower at the mist as those who got lost in it never returned.
I run through the misty, dark forest and the shouts start to fade. The trees lean over and watch as I stumble over my torn, bloody crimson dress. My heart stutters, my head pounds, and my hand starts to shake. I want to rest but a gust of cold wind makes me freeze. I whirl and see a young girl approaching, her hand reaching out. I see her eyes. Her eyes burn like incinerators of the soul, glowing like a river of flowing Ichor.
Without saying another word, the girl turns and walks away. Stunned, I start to follow but when I try to reach out for her, there is nothing there. A large lake appears through the mist, and I feel a swell of relief. As I near the edge of the lake, I feel a hand dig into my back and push me into the water.
Immediately, I know something is wrong. The water was too warm and dark, and a blanket wrapped around me, pulling me deeper.
A cold, bony hand clutches my ankles and yanks me further down. My eyes flash open. I stare down at whatever is pulling me and see the same keen yellow eyes staring up at me, its spectral face twisted into a wretched grin. The creature has long and spiky claws that could penetrate my bones. Its lower body resembles a snake with jagged black scales that has patches with nothing at all as if something ripped it off. Two claws sink into my leg, drawing blood. I scream soundlessly and try to swim upwards but as I get close to the top, its tail curls around my right arm, trapping me. I look up desperately, running out of air. A blurry silhouette of the girl flickers above me.
She kneels down. The monster yanks me. She reaches out a hand. I take it.
Then, with unnatural strength, she pulls me out of the water. The monster thrashes, trying to hold on but its claws rip out of my skin. I shriek in pain on the shore and the girl smiles at me. I suddenly realize that I don’t feel pain anymore. I don’t feel anymore. I look into the water and
see my reflection. Reflected are my yellow eyes, a ghost of what it once was. I turn and look at the girl.
I reach out a hand.
