Graveyard Diaries #3: How Not to be Killed by a Zombie
Barry found the À ashlight in a second drawer He checked it The beam was getting weak so he changed the batteries He patted Lucy on the head Are you over that scare now he asked I’m going back out You relax Lucy followed him down the stairs She was a mutt mostly a mix of Labrador and hound Her hair was the color of cream There was a golden streak along her spine It went all the way to the tip of her tail In the kitchen Lucy went straight to her leash She pointed at it with her nose and looked up at Barry Then she whined Didn’t you just walk her asked Barry’s mother Less than an hour ago Barry said Looks like she wants to go again his Fine with me Barry said I was going mom said out anyway 8
When they got outside Barry knelt next to Lucy I thought you were scared he said I’m going back by the chapel Are you sure you want to come Lucy started pulling heading for the cemetery Barry followed Marsh eld Grove was the biggest of the four cemeteries in town The Bannons lived right by the entrance Barry had friends who lived on the edges of each of the other graveyards They often got together to talk about scary things they’d seen or heard Several times they’d fought ghosts or other spirits They called their group the Zombie Hunters Barry’s friend Mitch lived next to Evergreen Cemetery It was swampy and had thick bushes Stan lived at the edge of Hilltop Cemetery Amy lived near Stan And Jared’s house was next to Woodland Cemetery Because there were so many cemeteries 9
the town of Marsh eld was also known as Graveyard City There was a stiff breeze this evening It rattled the branches of the trees No leaves were out yet The trees were just beginning to show the rst signs of new buds There had been snow on the ground just a few days before It had melted in a hurry on one warm day Tonight it was cool again Lucy kept her head down snif ng every inch of the trail They walked this way at least twice every day Each trip seemed new to Lucy There was always a new smell It was nearly spring so the ground was thawing That brought many old smells too Barry thought he heard a girl’s voice calling It sounded like it called for Lucy Just the wind he thought The trees were tall and thick Even on a sunny day these patches of woods were dark At night like this you couldn’t see 10
far at all Lucy stopped and leaned toward a spot on the hill She touched it with her nose I guess a mouse crossed that spot huh Barry said Or maybe a bird landed there Barry heard the girl’s voice again He was sure she said Lucy Lucy kept snif ng and pulling But when Barry turned toward the chapel she stopped It’s okay Barry said We won’t get too close Lucy stayed right at his side as they climbed the hill The simple chapel was square and made of stones It had been empty for years The door and windows were boarded up The sun never shined on the chapel because of the very tall pine trees There were a few dozen graves in a shaded spot behind the chapel All were 11
