Scary Mary

By Erin Lee

Scary Mary

A YA Paranormal Horror Novel

Fifteen-year-old Joyce West only ever wanted to be a singer. To be really good, her instructor had told her, she needed to practice six days a week without fail.

"Never break the schedule."

"Treat it like a vow."

With dreams of being on "The Voice," Joyce spent her weekday afternoons practicing with the chorus. On Sundays, she shared her talents as lead singer in the church choir.

It was on Saturdays, the only day she didn't rehearse, where things were a little less than routine. Instead, every Saturday night, Joyce spent her evenings talking to a secret friend named Mary.

Mary, who once had big dreams too, confessed only to Joyce the mystery behind her horrific death.

"I promise you."

"I'll never tell."

The only best friend Joyce ever had, Joyce was determined to give Mary her voice without breaking their vow of secrecy.

It was a goal that could only lead to one thing…

Danger.

"You can never tell."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crazy Ink
• Release date: Nov 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386436775

Erin Lee

Erin Lee lives in Queensland, Australia and has been working with children for over 25 years. She has worked in both long day care and primary school settings and has a passion for inclusive education and helping all children find joy in learning. Erin has three children of her own and says they have helped contribute ideas and themes towards her quirky writing style. Her experience working in the classroom has motivated her to write books that bring joy to little readers, but also resource educators to help teach fundamental skills to children, such as being safe, respectful learners.

Book preview

International Bestselling Author

ERIN LEE

Copyright © 2018 by ERIN LEE

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

Crazy Ink

www.crazyink.org

www.authorerinlee.com

Edits by Rita Delude and Samantha Talarico

Proofing and story inspiration by Shelby West

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Formatting by Crazy Ink

Scary Mary/Erin Lee—1st ed.

For Joyce.

Never give up your dreams.

I’ll see you on ‘The Voice.’

‘Wow’ the world!

Also for Hannah, who is finally old enough to read some of her crazy aunt’s words.

Warning: This book contains light horror intended for older young adult audiences. It also contains dark elements that might not be suitable for some audiences. If you have trouble with nightmares or aren’t sure, please ask a parent or trusted adult to read this book or book description on the next page first and let you know whether or not it is appropriate.

Happy reading and watch out for the ghosts.

Scary Mary

A YA Paranormal Horror Novel

Fifteen-year-old Joyce West only ever wanted to be a singer. To be really good, her instructor had told her, she needed to practice six days a week without fail.

Never break the schedule.

Treat it like a vow.

With dreams of being on the television show ‘The Voice,’ Joyce spent her weekday afternoons practicing with the chorus. On Sundays, she shared her talents as lead singer in the church choir.

It was on Saturdays, the only day she didn’t rehearse, where things were a little less than routine. Instead, every Saturday night, Joyce spent her evenings talking to a secret friend named Mary.

Mary, who once had big dreams too, confessed only to Joyce the mystery behind her horrific death.

I promise you.

I’ll never tell.

The only best friend Joyce ever had, Joyce was determined to give Mary her own voice without breaking their vow of secrecy.

It was a goal that could only lead to one thing...

Danger.

You can never tell.

Part one

Joyce

CHAPTER ONE

Hello, Joyce

Joyce

Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:32 p.m.

"H ello, Joyce."

Her voice is bold. Baritone. Much too deep for a kid my age. Mr. Finley would put her with the boys in the back row. It’s not normal how she bellows. She’d never get a solo. Not even in the Christmas concert, where they give everyone an important role.  I cover my ears with both hands. We aren’t doing this again. Not unless she lets me see her. I’m not falling for it like last week, where she kept me up all night throwing pillows around my room with Crazy Girl to prove to me she was only invisible but as real as me. She’ll just say she’s naked; blaming her ghostly translucency on the line between the living and the dead and stupid things like science and matter. She won’t let me see. Some best friend she is. Nope. Don’t fall for that either. She’s not a friend. She’s scary. White powder on her face and a messy job of lipstick won’t cut it. She just wants to get a rise out of you. Ignore her. Eventually she’ll go away and pick on another kid. You have enough problems, Joyce.

Have you missed me? She asks.

No. Go away! I’m not crazy! I’m not doing this. Get a life. Or a death. Or something. Just leave me alone.

I pick up my flute and consider practicing for the Christmas concert. Sure, it’s still a few months away, but anything is better than another Saturday night with Scary Mary. It’s better than thinking about what the kids from my old school are doing too. Anything for distraction. Dammit, Mom. Why did you let the nightmares get to you? We could have stayed in our old neighborhood where things weren’t so strange. This lunatic would not be haunting me!

You didn’t miss me, Joyce?

I ignore her.

She’s been haunting me for months. No one believes me. My parents tell me I’m creative and that I have a wild imagination. They say I should pray harder and let my worries sit at the doors of the church. To them, prayer solves everything. I’m not sure what, exactly. It’s not like God’s been listening, and Mom spends more time than not freaking out about the little things. It is what it is, I guess. My parents are stuck in their ways. I hate it.

For months, I tried to reason with them. Now, because they won’t listen, I just do my own thing and rarely ever talk about it. If it wasn’t for the choir, the only activity we can afford now, I’m not sure I’d be going to church at all these days. That place is scary too. Lately, anyway, with the stories Mary has been telling me. At least our church doesn’t smell like dead bodies and stale soot. It could be worse. It could be like Mary’s grandmother’s.

Scary Mary isn’t all that bad. I’m doing my best to make peace with her visits. At least she keeps me company. I get lonely sometimes. And she, with a much more vivid imagination than mine, does tell fabulous ghost stories. At least, that’s how I like to think of them. The idea that a dead girl with an empty grave-on-reserve at a cemetery called Rolling Hills just down the road comes to visit me on Saturday nights in my bedroom just seems, well, a little far-fetched. But what isn’t? Nothing’s been right since Mom flipped out and made us move to this silly little town.

"Why didn’t you miss me? Is this any way to treat your best friend? Why do you always ignore me?" She persists.

And Dad calls me whiney? She’s ridiculous! My best ghost friend thinks I’m not listening. Shocking. Hey, idiot. You can hear my thoughts. You know I can’t escape. Just go away! You’re bugging me again.

That I ignore her regularly is so far from the truth it infuriates me. In reality, I listen to every stinking word she whispers at me. But listening is