Hannah-Beast (Dark Corners Collection, #1)

by Jennifer McMahon

Every year since she was in third grade, Erin had asked to go as Hannah-beast. She’d seen the older kids doing it, a handful each year, and she’d heard the stories. How the real Hannah-beast came back each year at Halloween, came back with a box of matches in her pocket, so you better look out, better be careful, better hope you didn’t run into her. She was a crazy ghost girl, Hannah-beast was. She’d killed in life and she’d kill again in death, given half a chance. But the stories were just that: stories. Myths with pieces of truth hidden inside.

But the stories were just that: stories. Myths with pieces of truth hidden inside.

And Hannah bared her teeth and growled. The lady pulled her dog inside, slammed the door in their faces. The girls all laughed loud and shrieking laughs. “You’re the real thing, Hannah-beast,” Katie said, twirling around her like Hannah was the sun and she was just a little planet trying to get warm.

If you spend enough time blocking something out, built sturdy enough walls around it, then it’s almost like it didn’t happen.

“Aren’t you coming?” she called. “We’ll meet you at the end.” “But how will I know what to do?” “Just follow the clues,” Katie said. “You can do it!” “Yeah, you can do anything!” shouted Mel. “You’re Hannah-beast!”

It was Hannah’s face. Hello, Manda Panda. Long time no see.

“Benjamin and Brian were sleeping in the hayloft. They do it every Halloween.”

They’d had no idea the Caldwell boys were sleeping up in the hayloft. The plan was to make people think Hannah had burned down the barn. Get her in a little trouble. Not have the whole town think she was a murderer. Not to be murderers themselves.

Girls like that, they’re going straight to hell. You stay away from them unless you want to get burned.

Hannah looped the rope around her neck over the rainbow wig, over the pink boa. She heard the girls’ voices in her head as she jumped off the wall—Hannah-beast takes flight!—swinging, flying, legs dangling over the floor. Say boo!

“No!” Amanda cried, the word a wailing sob. “No, no, nooo!” Erin looked so surprised, so puzzled, as she reached down and touched the knife, like she couldn’t believe it was real. Amanda could see traces of cat whiskers beneath the blue face paint. “Mom?”