2. The Crabby Witch

Chapter 2 The Crabby Witch Soon all the kids had gone inside the haunted hotel. Only Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy were still outside. "I wonder what they're doing in there," Lucy said. "Getting eaten up by the ogre," Nate muttered. "The ogre is still outside," Brian said. "I say we go in right now. I need candy!" "How about you, Nate?" Lucy asked.

Nate looked at the ogre standing in front of the hotel. "Do you think it's really, really scary in there?" he asked. "I hope so!" Brian said. "Probably just average scary," Bradley said. "The adults who planned this wouldn't want to scare us to death!" "Come on, Nate," Brian said. "We're the last ones out here. Those other kids are going to steal the candy and get the prize!" Nate took a deep breath. "Okay, let's do it!" he said. "Awesome!" Brian said, slapping Nate on the back. Nate stood as tall as he could. "Who's afraid of some ogre?" he said. "Not us!" they all yelled. Then they marched toward the hotel entrance. They stopped about ten feet from the ogre. "Can I change my mind again?" Nate whispered. "No!" Brian said. "It does look real," Bradley whispered. Then he laughed. "But ogres aren't real!"

"It's just a costume," Lucy said. The kids walked over to the ogre. "Welcome to the haunted house," the ogre said. Bradley thought he'd heard that deep voice before. "Follow me!" The ogre reached for the door. Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy followed. The door groaned when the ogre pulled it open. The ogre tapped Bradley on the head. "Are you supposed to be a box of laundry soap?" he asked. "N-no," Bradley stuttered. "I'm Mount Rushmore." "Cool," the deep voice said. "Be careful inside." Again, Bradley thought he recognized the voice. "Be careful of what?" Nate asked.

The ogre laughed. "Everything!" He stepped aside. Bradley and his cardboard box waddled through the door. Brian was right behind him, pushing his way in. Lucy was next, and Nate came last. He took very small steps.

The first thing Bradley noticed was the fog. It was like walking into a cloud. Foggy mist was all around them. Bradley could barely see his feet. "Follow the green footprints," the ogre said. Then the door creaked shut, and the kids were alone. "What green footprints?" Bradley whispered. The four kids were standing in the dark. Tiny lights on the ceiling blinked on and off through the mist. "It's so quiet in here!" Bradley whispered. He wondered where all the other kids were. Suddenly a tall witch appeared out of the mist. She shone a light into Bradley's eyes. Bradley gulped. "Where did you come from?" he asked. "From a daaaaarrrrk plaaaace," the witch hissed. Brian and Lucy giggled. Nate moaned. The witch wore a long black dress and a pointy hat. Bradley was sure he saw spiders crawling in her tangled hair. She had a crooked nose, a hairy wart, and gross teeth.

"You're late!" the witch said. She reached a skinny hand toward Bradley. Her fingernails were long and black. "Give me your hand!" "No way!" Bradley said. "Chill out," the witch said. "I just want to take you to the green footprints. Follow me." The four kids followed the witch into the gloomy place. "Um, Miss Witch?" Bradley said. "What happened to the other kids who came in here?" "No questions!" she said, pointing to the floor. "Just follow these footprints!" Then the witch walked away. "Why is she so crabby?" Nate asked. Bradley saw big green footprints on the floor, glowing in the dark.