Legend of Witchtrot Road - By E.J. Stevens Page 0,3

asked.

Could this get any worse? I didn’t want any more connections to Salem or witches.

“You know, the Salem Witch Trials?” Katie asked. For a moment she looked at me like I was crazy, but when I nodded that I knew what the Salem Witch Trials were, she continued on. “When they came to take this guy away he offered to show them a shortcut through the woods. During the night a storm came out of nowhere and the thunder and lightning scared the horses of the constables. They claimed the man cal ed upon the devil to create the unnatural storm, and used it as further evidence of witchcraft. The road where this happened is now cal ed Witchtrot Road.”

“What happened when they reached Salem?” I asked.

“He was found guilty and hanged,” Katie said. “His ghost has haunted Witchtrot Road and cursed travelers ever since.”

*****

My head was pounding with a smel impression induced headache and I had missed my lunch break with Emma and Cal. On my way to class, I texted each of them apologizing for missing lunch and promised to make it up to them after school. Looks like I’ll be treating for burritos at Mr. Green Genes again.

“Hey, Witch!” Jay Freeman yel ed.

I knew he meant me. “Witch” was the nasty nickname that the J-team, Jay Freeman and Jared Zempter, had given me freshman year after they blamed me for Jared fal ing on his face in gym class. They claimed I had put a spel on him and that I cast this hex using my evil eye pendant. That’s what an al black wardrobe and some cool bling wil get you from the J-team. They don’t like anyone who’s a nonconformist, though neither of them could spel the word. Unfortunately, being bright wasn’t a prerequisite for cruelty. Jay and Jared went out of their way to make certain students’ lives miserable. I was one of the unlucky ones.

Ugh. This was real y not helping my headache, which was starting to feel like demons were trying to claw their way out of my head…through my eyes.

“What now?” I asked, rol ing my eyes and immediately wishing that I hadn’t. I had to dig my fingernails into my palm to keep from whimpering. Never show any signs of weakness in front of the J-Team. Not if you want to survive high school.

“What now?” Jay asked sarcastical y. “What do you think, Freakazoid? Students are dying, that’s what’s what.”

“Yeah, I heard,” I said, staring him in the eye. It was a difficult thing to achieve, since Jay was like six feet tal and I was barely five-one, even with my awesome purple boots on, but I was determined not to back down from a thug like Jay. “In fact, the entire school heard when principal Anderson made the announcement this morning. What does it have to do with me?”

I was losing patience and having to hold my breath, since Jay had leant in threateningly and was now close enough that I could smel the tuna sandwich he had for lunch. So gross.

“Like you don’t know,” he snarled.

“Actual y, I have no idea,” I said. “We’re done here. I have to get to class”

I started walking toward class, but Jared, the other half of the J-team, blocked my path. I should have known that Jay wouldn’t have threatened me without back-up.

“You’re not going anywhere, Witch,” Jared said, grabbing the strap of my backpack.

This was bad. Really, really bad. While Jay and I had talked, the hal way had cleared of other students. Everyone else had gone to class.

Al except for Cal, who stepped confidently out of the shadows like a knight in shining armor.

“Yes, she is,” said Cal.

Cal looked calm and unthreatening with his hands hanging loosely at his sides, but I knew him wel enough to know that he was at his most dangerous. Well, for his human form anyway. Cal may have looked relaxed, but he was actual y coiled to spring in any direction with supernatural speed and strength.

Jay and Jared smirked, seeing only a new victim to torment. They didn’t know that Cal was in incredible shape and had the advantage of his werewolf abilities. He was also real y ticked off. Not good.

Jared pul ed me closer and Jay sneered, taking one step closer to Cal.

“Wel , wel , if it isn’t the witch-loving hippie,” Jay said.

“Let her go,” Cal growled.

He was staring at Jared, who stil held the strap of my backpack in his