Written In Bone: A Collection of Oddities

By Asteria Graves

Have you heard something go bump in the night? Written In Bone is a collection of haunting stories based on true events. The stories inside will have you hiding under your blanket in no time. Inquire inside for spooks and haunts...if you dare. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie Swigart
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224211319

Book preview

Fear the Hearse

M illie! Get in here and help with these dishes. Hollers a Millie’s Mom as she wipes her wet hands on her apron. A ten-year-old red-haired girl is standing in the yard, staring as a funeral procession slowly crawls by. Millie! What in heavens are you doing?

The woman rushes down her front steps and places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. She looks up to see the procession turning into the city cemetery.

Why are the cars going so slow Mama? Mille looks up at her mother and lets out a little giggle.

Hush now. You should never laugh at a hearse. Her mother gives a fearful look to the black vehicle before ushering her daughter inside.

Do not ever laugh as the hearse goes by...

Ten years later...

Mama! I am heading out to meet my friends at Lucille’s.

Millie adjusts her red curls in the mirror. Her lips are as red as rubies and her blue eyes shine in the lamp light. Her mother enters the entry way. She watches her teenage daughter with a soft smile.

Have fun and do not be out too late. Millie rolls her eyes and faces her mother.

I will be back before the streetlights come on. I promise.

Millie hugs her mother then grabs her sweater before dashing out the door. Sneakered feet bounce down the steps as a Chevrolet rolls up to the curb. A small group of teenagers hang from the windows yelling for her to hurry.

Millie rounds the vehicle and jumps in the back seat. The sound of laughter fades away as the car rushes down the street.

For you may be the next to die...

Look, all I’m saying is that we should just walk around for a bit. Mason pops a ketchup covered fry in his mouth. Millie shakes her head and sets her milkshake down.

I have to be home before the—

Before the streetlights, yes we all know, goody-two-shoes. Mason interrupts with an eye roll.

Hey, we can take a walk through the cemetery and still get Millie home in time. Poppy shoots Millie a reassuring smile. Millie returns it before eating some fries.

Well, we better head that way if we plan to do that. Lucas speaks up, his mouth full of food.

Gross! Don’t talk with your mouth full! Poppy nudges his shoulder and laughs. Mason grins and slides out of the booth.

Let’s go then! His friends follow him out of the diner and to his car.

They wrap you up in a big white sheet. From your head down to your feet...

The group of teenagers approach the cemetery entrance in a huddle. The sun is beginning to set, and it casts an eerie glow over the rows of stones. A cool breeze whistles through the tall trees. Millie shivers and pulls her sweater closer.

Why is it so quiet? Poppy huddles closer to Lucas.

Because everyone is dead, duh! Mason smirks and moves along the sidewalk that winds throughout the cemetery. His friends follow reluctantly behind.

The sun sinks lower, and a cool mist begins to creep between the headstones. Millie finds herself wandering down a different path from her friends. Her sneakers step off the concrete and into the dewy grass.

She carefully navigates between the graves as she wanders deeper into the cemetery. The sun finally finishes its descent and darkness overcomes the landscape.

Millie looks around her in confusion. Where were her friends? How did she get this far from them?

Poppy? Lucas?

Fear begins to well in her stomach. Surely, she had not wandered off too far. Maybe if she were quiet, she could hear her friends. She freezes in place, holding her breath as she listens. Not a sound nor a voice can be heard.

Yet, as she begins to step forward, a low humming sound reaches her ears.

They put you in a big black box. And cover you up with dirt and rocks.

The humming grows louder as the darkness is swallowed up by beams of light. Millie spins on her heels to see two headlights pointed directly at her. She raises a hand to shield the light from her eyes.

Hello? Can you turn your headlights off, please?

The humming of the engine grows louder as the vehicle draws closer. Millie waves her arms and begins to back up.

Stop! Please! Can’t you see me?? The vehicle speeds forward. Millie screams and throws her arms up to protect herself. She is swallowed in light before the world returns to darkness again.

All goes well for about a week, then your coffin begins to leak.

Millie wakes up with a gasp. She cannot see a thing. She tries to sit up but her head bangs against something wooden. She lets out a cry and grabs her head in pain.

Where am I?

The dull ache in her skull cannot distract her from her current situation. Her hands reach up and they are met with a smooth