Secret of Haunted Bog

By BBH McChiller

Second book in the fun, spooky middle grade series, Monster Moon. From the moment AJ and his friends, Emily Peralta and Freddy 'Hangman' Gallows, step off the train in Old Chinatown, AJ’s sixth sense kicks in--an omen of looming danger!

A mysterious fortune teller warns AJ and his friends of vile forces and impending doom, until the Day of the Jewel. AJ should have listened.

A shadowy stranger lurks in the crowded alleyways and spooks AJ by slipping him a bizarre card with a threatening message. Is it a joke or are AJ and his friends being stalked by a man in black?

In a twist of events, AJ and Freddy end up lost in a dark and marshy bog, where they are surrounded by thick fog, creepy sounds, bizarre creatures, and ghostly apparitions.

In the depths of the creepy bog, they stumble upon a missing girl and horrifying evidence of toxic pollution. But somebody doesn't want them to escape. Who? Why?

Can AJ and his Zombuddies work together to uncover the secret of the haunted bog? Will they come out alive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BBH McChiller
• Release date: Sep 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465892195

BBH McChiller

BBH McChiller is the creation of the minds of three authors: Lynn Kelley worked as a court reporter for 25 years while she and her husband, George, raised their four little monsters. Her story, "The Jobo Tree" won her Highlights for Children's Author of the Month Award. She authored a picture book, Merry as a Cricket (WhipperSnapper Books), an ebook, Trio of Haunting Tales – Spooky Short Stories, a chapter book due for publication in 2012, Curse of the Double Digits, and is currently working on a young adult novel. She tries to keep her overactive imagination in check and is a big scaredy cat who's afraid to watch horror movies. She lives in Southern California. Check out her website at www.lynnkelleyauthor.com and her LynnKelleyAuthor channel on YouTube. Kathryn Sant loves adventure anywhere in the world, and the more off the beaten path, the better. Over the years she has encountered bats in caves, alligators in swamps, wolves and bears in Alaska, parrots and macaws in the jungle, sidewinders in the sand dunes, llamas in the Andes mountains, and caribou in the Arctic, but never any monsters. Of all monsters, she would most like to write about the Yeti. She really enjoys working on the Monster Moon series and someday would like to see AJ and Emily come face-to-face with the Yeti. She has previously published a middle grade adventure, Desert Chase (Scholastic Books), and is currently working on two new middle grade novels. Most of the time she lives peacefully in Southern California with her three dogs. Maria Toth lives in Southern California with her husband and their two spoiled dogs, Jack and Sally. Her favorite holiday is Halloween. She enjoys haunting bookstores in search of ghostly tales to share with her Reading Buddies at local schools. On any given day, you may find her reading epitaphs at historic graveyards. Maria has a background in journalism. She edited the kids’ pages at the San Bernardino County Sun. Several of her children’s stories have been published in the Los Angeles Times. Her middle grade historical fiction novel, Butterfly Hollow, will debut as an ebook in 2012. She is currently working on a book about the R.M.S. Titanic. About the Illustrator - Greg Martin: Greg Martin is a freelance illustrator who grew up on a constant diet of cartoons. His animation creations have been used by studios such as Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers, and Marvel Productions where he was key designer in the animation department. He is a graduate of the Art Center of College of Design in Pasadena, California. Mr. Martin currently resides in Colorado. Visit his website at: www.greg-martin.com

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The train whistle blew.

Next stop, New Raven, Historic Old Chinatown, the conductor called out.

AJ Zantony pressed his nose against the train window. His breath fogged up the glass. He winced. There’s the bog. Every time he’d visited Uncle Harrison in New Raven, he’d heard ghost stories about the haunted wetlands.

The train’s wheels clanked and slowed, then stopped at the Old Chinatown depot. Peeling circus posters and faded advertisements in Chinese hung from the cracked brick walls of abandoned factories.

Our stop, dearies. Aunt Zsofia stood and rubbed her lower back. I hope Dr. Fu’s acupuncture works.

AJ stepped quickly into the aisle so he could help his Aunt Zsofia get off the train.

His good friends, Emily Peralta and Freddy Hang- man Gallows, squeezed in behind them.

It was a pleasant ride in the old choo-choo, wasn’t it? Aunt Zsofia chirped, as she and AJ stepped onto the depot platform. Emily and Freddy jumped off after them.

A woman wearing a press pass approached Aunt Z. "Hi, my name is Chao Yi. I’m a reporter from the Dragon News. What brings you to Old Chinatown today?"

Oh, a newspaper reporter. Aunt Z struck a movie star pose and batted her eyelashes. Well….

AJ adjusted his backpack and looked around. A ghostly mist crossed the platform and sent icy shivers up his spine. His sixth sense kicked in. Like every other Zantony, it was a family curse, warning him that something otherworldly was about to happen.

His eyes followed the wisp of fog as it floated and curled around a lamppost and faded away. He stared at the spot where it had disappeared, and the corner of his eye caught sight of a poster.

A flyer, picturing a girl, was taped to the lamppost. Both English and Chinese writing framed the bottom edge of her photo. He walked over for a closer look. A missing person poster, he thought. She looks sad.

What is it? Freddy asked, pushing up his glasses.

AJ jumped. Before he could answer, he felt his backpack wiggling. He peeked over his shoulder. The flap popped up and Vlad poked his head out.

Do you have to take that rat everywhere you go? Freddy asked.

Awk, scallywag! He be keepin’ his pirate promise to me. Vlad held his snout high in the air, sniffed, and ducked back into AJ’s pack.

Freddy shook his head. I still can’t believe that rat talks.

Pretty cool, huh? Emily added.

No dilly-dallying, Aunt Zsofia called to them. Can’t miss my appointment. It’s at three o’clock.

The train depot clock said two-thirteen.

Wow! Freddy’s eyes widened. He pointed to the entrance to Old Chinatown.

A bright red arch, topped with three pagodas, soared across Main Street. An enormous lion guarded each side of the archway.

Get a load of those monster claws, Freddy said. How would you like to have that cat scratch your back? He ran over to the lion statue and rubbed his back against its paws.

Those cats remind me of the gargoyles on top of Zala Manor, AJ said.

Actually, those are Chinese guardian lions, which have strong mythic powers, Emily rattled off. They’re called Fu lions.

I wonder if they are related to Dr. Fu. Aunt Zsofia giggled. He’s so nice and he’s such a miracle worker. I know he’ll make my back feel better.

Traditionally, Fu lions stand in front of entrances to palaces, temples, and tombs, Emily rambled. They’re always in pairs. The male plays with a globe and the female has her paw on her cub.

Freddy elbowed AJ. Is Brainiac for real? Where does she come up with all this stuff?

Her dad’s an archeologist.

My dad has dug up lots of pottery shards in China, Emily bragged. Some have those same lions painted on them. His rare finds are exhibited in museums around the world.

La-de-da, Freddy said. My dad buries them and your dad digs them up.

Freddy’s dad owns the funeral home, AJ explained to Emily since she was new to Craggy Cove.

Before they passed through the entrance, AJ rubbed the globe under the lion’s paw for good luck. So did Emily and Aunt Z. On the other side of the archway, there was an open air marketplace and a fountain. A large tiger statue spewed water into a pool where people tossed pennies and made wishes.

A man selling gold and silver coins from his vending cart motioned to them. Come, see my old money.

Aunt Zsofia led them through the bustling plaza. They passed a man in a silky black robe with a black cap and a gray braid down his back. His skin was crinkled like parchment paper.

Wow, he must be a thousand years old, Freddy said.

A thin mustache hung all the way to the old man’s chest, blowing like threads in the breeze. Fortunes, fortunes. He rattled a can of wooden sticks. Under his bamboo umbrella swung a bird cage with a mockingbird perched inside. Fortunes, the old man called again.

Fortunes, fortunes, the mockingbird mimicked.

The old fortune teller shuffled around his cart and into the crowd, shaking his can of sticks. He approached Aunt Zsofia.

AJ had a creepy feeling. Please, Aunt Z, don’t talk to him.

I really do love fortunes. Maybe after my acupuncture appointment, Aunt Zsofia said. Oh, look, bracelets. She veered off toward a table covered with rows of jewelry and scarves. Emily went with her.

Suddenly, the fortune teller grabbed Freddy by the arm. Ouch. Freddy pulled back. I don’t want my fortune. The old man tightened his grip and didn’t let go.

You heard him, mister, AJ said. He doesn’t want his fortune told.

The fortune teller’s unblinking gray eyes fixed on both AJ and Freddy. AJ got a cold-stone feeling in his gut.

The old man shook his finger in their faces. Beware, death’s shadow looms over you.

CHAPTER TWO

The fortune teller released his grip on Freddy. Reaching into the pocket of his robe, the old man pulled out a scroll of paper the size of an eggroll, tied in a black ribbon. He shoved it into Freddy’s hand and mumbled something in Chinese.

What is it? AJ asked.

Freddy shrugged. Got me.

The fortune teller tapped a crooked finger on the scroll. Declaw tiger’s paw, he warned in a gravelly voice.

Freaky, Freddy said as he and AJ backed away from the old soothsayer.

Are you going to open it? AJ asked, dreading what might be inside.

Emily trotted over. What did you buy? A fortune?

No, the fortune teller shoved it into Freddy’s hand, AJ said.

Freddy unrolled the scroll, and read it:

"The restless dead seeks justice

in the tigers’ den.

Death’s prowl smells foul.

Evil claws defile

nature’s laws.

Thus, vile forces rule

until the Day of the Jewel."

AJ looked over his shoulder at the fortune teller. Not another riddle.

Oh, no. Emily snatched the scroll from Freddy. Shoulder to shoulder, AJ and Emily hunched over the paper.

Give it back. That old geezer handed it to ME. Freddy whipped a can of fart spray out of his backpack and aimed it at Emily.

AJ pushed Freddy’s arm down. Cut it out, you two. Be serious. So, what do you think the riddle means?

Yoo-hoo, Aunt Zsofia called from a fan vendor. Chop, chop. Let’s get going. My appointment.

Freddy jerked the scroll away from Emily, bumping a nearby cart where wontons bubbled in a vat of oil.

Hey, watch it, you goofball! the vendor snapped, steadying his cart. This is hot grease.

Sorry. Freddy peered into the steaming vat. His stomach grumbled. Those look good.

Vlad popped out of AJ’s backpack and crawled down to the sidewalk. Awk! Mmmmm. His whiskers twitched. Be those wontons me smells?

Aunt Zsofia turned around and flung her arms in the air. Rat! Dirty rat! she shrieked.

Vendors poured out of their stalls, swinging their brooms. Vlad scrambled into the street, zigzagging back toward the train station. Out of nowhere, a large black bird dive-bombed toward Vlad.

Caw-caw-caw!

Vlad, watch out! A raven! AJ shouted.

The rat squeaked as the raven lifted him into the air. Their dark shadow passed over AJ’s head.

Vlad! He leaped and grabbed for the rat’s tail and missed. Oh, no!

Vlad wriggled loose and dropped to the ground. He scampered away, leaving a trail of blood.

Eeeeeeck! Aunt Zsofia howled. A bloody rat!

Emily gasped and ran after Vlad. Save him, AJ.

Aunt Zsofia wobbled and grabbed hold of a trash bin. I feel faint. She waved a fan she’d just bought.

The raven circled overhead, extended its claws, then swooped down toward Vlad. The rat darted in between shopkeepers’ carts, dodging the bird’s talons.

Don’t let the raven hurt him, AJ, Emily shouted. I’ll stay here with your aunt.

C’mon, we’ve got to save him. AJ forced his legs into motion and tore down the street after Vlad.

AJ, come back, Aunt Zsofia yelled. You can explore later. My appointment. I can’t be late.

Run, Vlad, get away! AJ yelled as he and Freddy raced after him.

The raven shrieked and soared, chasing the rat.

Vlad evaded the raven as he scurried across the plaza and into the mist blowing in from the coast. It was a deadly game of bird and rat all the way to the train station.

AJ and Freddy bounded up the platform steps.

With the raven on his tail, Vlad disappeared over the train tracks and into the bog.

AJ leaped off the platform and screeched to a stop at the tracks. His shoulders dropped. We’ve lost him.

"Caw-caw," the raven shrieked from somewhere beyond the row of abandoned factories. Caw-caw-caw!

The raven, AJ shouted. He and Freddy chased its calls up the embankment and over the tracks. Ahead, a wire fence blocked them from entering the dense forest of the bog. A weathered sign nailed to a post read:

DANGER! KEEP OUT

HIGH VOLTAGE

The wires buzzed like a frenzy of bees. Careful, Freddy warned. An electric fence. It’ll fry us.

AJ stepped back, cupped his hands around his mouth, and hollered, Vlad! Vlad! Where are you?

CHAPTER THREE

Vlaaaaaaad!" AJ screamed again.

Clumps of sea grass rustled around the buzzing fence. Fingers of ocean fog creeped through the tree line. The salty mist swirled around AJ and Freddy, wrapping them like Egyptian mummies, then it disappeared with a gust of wind.

C’mon. AJ motioned to Freddy. "We have to find Vlad."

Dude, are you crazy? Freddy spit at the electric wires.

Zzzzzth. Zzzzzth.

The wires snapped, sparked, and sizzled. No way, we’ll get zapped. Vlad will find his way back. Rats have rat radar, don’t they?

But what if he’s hurt? You saw the trail of blood. I can’t leave him out here alone. He might bleed to death.

I thought you said he’s immortal.

"He’s not