Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve

softly to the raven. She stroked its silky black head. “What’s your name?”
    â€œROK,” the raven croaked.
    â€œRok? Your name is Rok?” said Annie.
    â€œROK! ROK!” croaked the raven.
    â€œSee, I told you,” Jack said to Teddy.
    â€œRok, they were afraid of you for some reason,” Annie said.
    Rok made soft, bell-like sounds: “CRONG? CRONG?”
    â€œYes, that’s why they knocked you out of the sky,” said Annie. “One of your tail feathers is bent. But your wings don’t seem hurt.”
    Rok fluttered his long black wings. He took a few feeble steps.
    â€œGo on, Rok,” Annie coaxed. “You can do it.”
    The raven flapped his wings again. “QUORK!” he croaked.
    He lifted off the ground.
    â€œGreat!” said Annie, clapping.
    Rok flapped his wings. He glided up into the twilight. He swooped with ease back down to Annie. “CAW! CAW!” he called, as if thanking her.
    â€œBe careful, Rok!” Annie shouted.
    They all waved as the raven sailed off into the sky.
    Annie smiled at Jack and Teddy. “He was really nice,” she said.
    â€œIndeed he was,” said Teddy. “I think your gentle words were healing to him.”
    â€œI wonder why the people here are so afraid of ravens,” said Annie.
    â€œYeah,” said Jack. “And what was that stuff about ghosts?”
    â€œGhosts?” said Teddy. He smiled. “You needn’t fear ghosts if you’re with me.”
    Jack shrugged. “I’m not really afraid,” he said.
    â€œNot afraid?” said a feeble voice.
    Jack, Annie, and Teddy whirled around.
    An old woman stood in the dark doorway of a cottage. She leaned forward. In a cracked voice, she said:
Where is the girl

who spins wool into thread?

Where are the boys

who play chess before bed?

Where is the hound

who waits to be fed?
    The old woman stared at them with a fearful look in her eyes. Then she stepped back into her cottage and closed her door.
    A shiver went up Jack’s spine. “That was strange,” he said.

    â€œShe must have been old Maggie, who worked at the castle,” said Annie. “I wonder what she was talking about.”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Teddy. Then he grinned. “But she was good at rhyming, eh?”
    Jack nodded. “Indeed she was,” he said softly.
    â€œLet’s hurry along!” said Teddy. “Night comes fast upon us!”
    Leaving the cottages behind, the three hurried on in the gathering dark. They left the village and followed the path through the woods.
    Teddy held up his lantern to light their way. The wind blew the branches of the trees, making them whisper in the chilly autumn night.
    When they finally came out of the woods, they all gasped in wonder.
    â€œOh, man,” said Jack.
    Towering before them in the moonlight were the walls of a huge stone castle.

Demo version limitation

“A HHH !” yelled Teddy.
    â€œ AHHH !” yelled Jack.
    â€œ AHHH !” yelled Annie.
    Still screaming, they all ran toward the door. The bone came after them.
    Teddy led the way as they tore through the archway and scrambled up the winding staircase.
    Jack looked behind them.
    â€œIt’s still coming!” he shrieked.
    â€œ AHHH !” they all screamed again.

    On the next landing, Teddy charged into a nearby room.
    â€œMake haste!” he yelled.
    He pulled Jack and Annie into the room and slammed the door behind them. Out of breath, they all leaned against the door, panting and trembling.
    â€œSafe—” Teddy gasped. “Safe from the bone!” Then he started laughing.
    Jack laughed, too. He laughed out of sheer terror. He couldn’t stop.
    â€œListen, guys! Listen!” said Annie. “I hear a noise!”
    Teddy stopped laughing. Jack clapped his hand over his mouth. He listened. He heard a faint clicking sound, but he couldn’t see anything.
    Teddy used the fire from his lantern to light torches near the door. Then they all looked about.
    â€œLooks like a nursery,” said Teddy.
    The torchlight showed a kids’ room. The room had three small beds. Wooden toys were scattered across the floor. A long white curtain fluttered from an open window.
    The clicking noise seemed to be coming from a dark corner.
    â€œWhat
is
that?” whispered Annie. She started toward the noise.
    Jack and Teddy followed her. Teddy held up his lantern.