Holiday Horrors

By Manta Press

Inside the pages of this book await stories of some of your favorite holidays. Only these aren't your average "spending time with grandma and grandpa" stories. No, my friends, these stories are a bit...different. You will find ghosts, mythical creatures, and a video game that, once you start playing, you better win if you have any hopes of seein

• Language: English
• Publisher: Manta Press
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958370063

Book preview

1

The sudden downpour of rain ended as quickly as it began, leaving Seth chilled to the bone. The cold March wind tore at his face. It poked him like a thousand needles, turning his face a bright shade of red as he slammed on the brakes, sending his bike skidding to a stop in the middle of a giant puddle. Water splashed up and onto Owen’s legs. Owen had brought his own bike to a stop and was gazing up into the now blue sky. 

Sorry, man, Seth told Owen, who ignored him and kept his gaze in the air. Seth followed it and saw the most brilliant rainbow that he had ever seen. Every color was vibrant and looked to be close enough to touch if he just stretched his arms over his head far enough. 

No problem, Owen replied, taking his eyes from the sky. I’m already soaking wet. Do you see that rainbow? I’ve never seen one like that before. And on Saint Patrick’s Day, of all days to see one. He turned his focus back to the sky. 

Yeah, what are the odds that we’d see such a beautiful rainbow on Saint Patrick’s Day? Seth echoed, sharing in his friend’s amazement. 

Oh boy, a rainbow, Andy said, skidding his bike to a stop beside them. He jumped right into the puddle, splashing both Seth’s and Owen’s already-dripping pant legs. How long are you two going to stare at it? Like you’ve never seen one before.

Seth pulled his gaze from the sky as Holly and Avery caught up to them and stopped their bikes, avoiding the large puddle.

It’s magical, Holly remarked. 

I bet we could find a pot of gold at the end, Avery chimed in. She was breathing heavily from the long trek through the rain. Maybe it’s even guarded over by a leprechaun who grants wishes. 

You’re such a dork, Avery, Andy sneered. He kicked at the puddle of water. There is no such thing as magic or leprechauns. That’s just a bunch of junk in fairy tales.

Well, there is only one way to find out, Seth said with a smile. Who wants to hunt down a leprechaun and find his pot of gold? 

I’m in! Holly yelled and climbed back onto her bike. 

Of course, you’re in, Andy said. You’d follow your boyfriend anywhere. 

You’re just jealous, Andy, Avery said, following Holly’s lead and climbing back onto her bike. I’m in. Maybe the leprechaun will grant us wishes too.

That’s a genie, stupid.

Stuff it, Andy, Seth said before taking off. He heard the group behind him huffing and puffing as they followed him onto Lisbon Street. If you don’t want to come on an adventure with us, then you don’t have to!

The rainbow seemed to grow brighter the closer they came to the end. Seth peddled harder, spraying water up from the pavement. Moments later, he pulled his bike into the parking lot of an old, abandoned laundromat that hadn’t been used for as long as he could remember. Broken glass from the windows crunched under his tires as he came to a stop. His friends pulled up beside him, and they all gazed at where the rainbow seemed to end. 

The Spring Grove Cemetery. 

Well, what are you waiting for, oh fearless leader, Andy chuckled as he stared across the street at the graveyard. 

I don’t want to go in there, Holly whined. You heard the stories about that place too? 

The rainbow seemed to pulse with anticipation as the group hesitated to cross the street.

It’s going to fade soon, and then how will you find your leprechaun and gold? Andy asked getting no closer to the graveyard. 

Andy’s right, Seth told the group. It’s going to fade soon if we don’t hurry.

Andy being right, Avery teased. That’s something I never thought I’d hear someone say.

Seth chuckled and climbed off his bike. He propped it against the wall of the laundromat and stopped at the edge of the road, staring off into the distance. The rainbow curved from the sky and seemed to end right behind a headstone shaped like an angel. 

I bet that is the stone that Billy Amos used to play hide and seek behind, Andy said. His mouth had gone dry, making it hard to swallow. 

Billy Amos is just an urban legend someone made up on the internet, Seth said. 

Wait, who’s Billy Amos? What are you guys talking about? Avery asked as she leaned her bike against the wall. 

Oh yeah, Holly said, gesturing to Avery. She hasn’t lived in town that long. She doesn’t know the story.

Seth started telling a quick version of the story. The legend goes that a young boy back in the late 1800s was playing in the cemetery for some weird reason. 

Maybe he was chasing some stupid rainbow looking for leprechauns like us, Andy interrupted. 

Seth glared at Andy before continuing. The little boy, who was like only six or seven years old, was playing in the cemetery and somehow got hit by a car and killed. Now people say they see his ghost hiding behind gravestones like he’s playing hide and seek. Some think he is waiting for his mother to come and find him. They were supposed to live somewhere on this road overlooking the cemetery. Seth looked around as if he would see the mother of the boy peering out of one window. 

Wow, Avery said, her eyes wide with astonishment. Have any of you ever seen Billy?

Of course not, Seth answered. It’s just a story.

Wait, how come you believe in leprechauns and magic, but the ghost of a little, dead boy can’t be true? Andy asked. 

We better hurry before the rainbow fades away, Seth answered, ignoring Andy. Who’s coming with me? 

I’m going, ghost boy or not, Avery said as she started across the street. I want to find a leprechaun and a magical pot of gold.

2

T his is stupid, Avery heard Andy mumble from behind her as she made her way across the street to the entrance of the Spring Grove Cemetery. Above her, the sun was setting, turning the sky different shades of purples and pinks while the rainbow still shined. It seemed to glow, leading her on her way. 

Avery stopped at the thin chain that blocked cars from entering the graveyard after dark, and with a quick look behind her, saw her friends crossing the street behind her. She ducked under the chain, trespassing for the first time in her life. Guilt weighed on her, but she also felt a freedom she had never felt before. Goosebumps popped out of her skin as a chill climbed up her spine. With a smile, she stopped just beyond the threshold of the cemetery and turned to face the group. 

From the back of the group, Owen whined, My mom is going to ground me so hard if she finds out we did this.

She won’t find out if we hurry, Seth replied. He ducked his head under the chain and waited next to Avery. 

Come on, this way, Avery said, and started down the dirt drive that led deeper into the cemetery. As she walked, her eyes darted back and forth, searching every gravestone for the ghost boy. Her body trembled just thinking about seeing him. But she had to keep going—they had to find the pot of gold or the leprechaun. She needed him to grant her wishes. 

Just one wish. 

Avery checked the sky once again and saw the rainbow wasn’t fading with the coming dusk. If anything, it grew brighter as the moon poked its face out from behind a cloud. The rainbow curved down, ending just out of sight beyond the hill. She picked up her pace and could hear the shuffling of feet behind her, her friends trying to keep up. She didn’t risk turning around, fearing she would see the ghost of little Billy Amos instead of her friends. 

A few minutes later, the road curved around a bend to the right, but the rainbow ended at the doorway of a crumbling mausoleum. 

This must be it, Seth said, stopping next to Avery. He put his hand through the rainbow. It painted his skin in all different colors! 

How is that even possible? Owen wondered, coming closer to Seth as he placed his hand in and out of the colors. 

It’s magic, Avery answered, pushing a strand of black hair from her face. 

This is stupid, Andy said. I can’t believe you followed this dumb rainbow all the way here. Now my old man is going to be super mad when I’m late getting home. 

Hey, nobody said you had to come, Owen squeaked. 

Avery met Seth’s eyes, surprised that Owen had stood up to Andy. He usually took whatever the bigger boy dished out without a peep. 

Do we have to go inside? Holly asked.

I bet the pot of gold or the leprechaun is hiding in the tomb, Seth said with a tremble in his voice. 

I’m not going in there! Andy called. 

Are you afraid, Andy? Owen taunted. Chicken?

I’m not scared of anything, especially no grave. The dead can’t hurt me. This is just stupid. There is no such thing as magic or leprechauns, or any of this nonsense. 

Then let’s go in, Owen said, and took a step in front of Avery and Seth. 

Avery stepped back and watched as Owen grabbed the handle to the door of the mausoleum and pulled. The door held tight. There wasn’t a lock anywhere that Avery could see, but Owen still struggled with the stone structure. 

Here, let me try, Seth said, grabbing hold of the handle with Owen. Together, they pulled, and the stone slowly moved away from the building, a cloud of dust puffing out as it did. Avery coughed as the boys pulled the door open farther. 

The inside of the mausoleum was dark. Avery couldn’t see past the threshold. The only light came from the end of the rainbow that came through the doorway and ended inside the small chamber. From beside her, Seth turned the light from his cell phone on and aimed it at the inky blackness. The small cone of light didn’t relieve the dark, but seemed to be swallowed by it.

As Avery was about to step forward and enter the chamber, a noise came from behind her.

She stopped in her tracks. What was that? she asked in alarm, spinning around to face the darkening cemetery. She scanned the field, but all she saw were shadows dancing behind every tree and headstone. 

Probably a squirrel, Owen said, scanning the darkness. 

Just then, a shadow darker than the growing night darted out from behind a stone. It was only a few feet tall—and quick. It disappeared as fast as it appeared. 

That was no squirrel, Owen said, his voice shaking. He rushed through the small door of the mausoleum. 

Avery and the rest of the group followed him, and Seth pulled the door almost closed, leaving it open only wide enough to see out. 

Was it… Billy? Andy asked, cradling his face with his hands. 

Let’s just find the pot of gold and get out of here, Seth said. He turned away from the door and walked farther into the small room. He brought his phone up and held it out to shine the light around the room. A thick layer of dirt covered the room from being undisturbed for