Scary Stuff

Just Your Typical Haunted House.... Part 6

       "You?" I asked in disbelief. "But... how did you..."
        MK laughed. It was a sound that I had enjoyed before, but now it gave me chills. "Have you figured it out yet?"
        I had. "It wasn't your father. It was always you."
        "Yes. I attacked him, and he fought back. He cut off my arms because, even after I was dead, I kept coming. It was the only way he could get me to stop. My mother had it wrong." She sneered. "And I got to her, too."
        "Why?" I was stalling.
        "I want to live forever, Zeke! That's all I've ever wanted. You could stay here with me, be immortal. I meant what I said. I miss having friends. There's nothing left for you out there."
        I admit, I actually considered it. But...
        "If I stayed, how would I be immortal?"
        MK waved her hand dismissively. "A few little boys here and there should be enough."
        I felt sick. And then I had an idea. I'd read somewhere that restless spirits were connected to their places of death. Take that away, and they had no anchor, nothing to keep them in the dimension of the living. The chances of my plan working were pretty slim, but I had to try.
        I started pacing, pretending to think about it, and drew nearer and nearer to my sleeping bag. It had a pocket on the side where I kept my emergency camping supplies. Including a cigarette lighter.
        I got there, still asking questions, and then sat down on it like I was overwhelmed. I didn't even have to fake it. Stealthily I wriggled my hand into the pocket and got the lighter into my palm. I drew it out, eyes on MK. I clicked the button and held the flame to the side of the sleeping bag.
        Suddenly MK shrieked, and I knew I'd been discovered. Frantically I held the flame to the floor, and I noticed the smoke for the first time. I had been right- this old house was a huge pile of dry, dead wood. The flames were already up the walls and across the doorway. I wasn't making it out of this one.
Beams began falling from the ceiling, and MK continued to shriek. It was working! I was afraid to be burned alive, but I didn't have to wait long before the air became unbreathable, and I blacked out.
        As my eyes were closing, I had one last, sad thought. My family would never know what happened to me. But MK would never hurt anyone ever again. It was worth it.