The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Craggy Maggie
by Sonora Taylor

No trip to the beautiful gloom of New England is complete without visiting the Craggy Maggie! Named for a spinster who lived at the top of the mountain, Craggy Maggie State Park has been bewitching visitors since 1694.

Come in the morning and hear the gentle twitter of birds as you walk along the narrow paths. Ignore the cracking noises–they may sound like bone, but it’s just a few early-riser animals making their way through the forest!

If you’re not an early bird, there’s always high noon. You’d never know it was noon, though, because these mountains haven’t seen the sun since Craggy Maggie suffered an unfortunate bout of sunburn (according to the town, at least) that led to her death. Get up close to the fog that calls these mountains home and you may hear gentle whispers begging you to come even closer. The mountain is so inviting!

Of course, dusk is the favored time to visit if you’re a local. If you make it to the top of the mountain, you’ll see Craggy Maggie’s old shack, left abandoned since she was taken–rather, since she left, in 1692. Rumor has it if you go as the sun sets behind the fog, you’ll see a single candle alight in the window.

It’s not a rumor. I put it there.

Please help me.

Maggie blames me for the sins of the town. She says I will burn.

I cannot leave.

Please come inside, please help, please–

Visit Craggy Maggie! You’ll have a cragtacular time!

Fiction © Copyright Sonora Taylor
Image courtesy of  Pixabay.com

More from Sonora Taylor:

Seeing Things

Abby Gillman has discovered that with growing up, there comes a lot of blood. But nothing prepares her for the trail of blood she sees in the hallway after class – or the ghost she finds crammed inside an abandoned locker.

No one believes Abby, of course. She’s only seeing things. As much as Abby wants to be believed, what she wants more is to know why she can suddenly see the dead. Unfortunately, they won’t tell her. In fact, none of them will speak to her. At all.

Abby leaves for her annual summer visit to her uncle’s house with tons of questions. The visit will give her answers the ghosts won’t – but she may not like what she finds out.

Available on Amazon!