Pryor's Hill (solo)

[Dracosius]

The journey from their countryside estate to the jungle was only a couple of hours long. However the seeming inexhaustible energy and endless questions of two 5-year-old boys made it seem inexorably longer. Jasmine was relieved when she saw the trading post up ahead. As they neared it, AJ looked out the window and pointed inquisitively to a cabin on a hill.

“Daddy, what's that over there?”

Both parents looked, but it was Jasmine who answered, “That is called Pryor's Hill and you are not go there, any of you.” Her tone had become serious as she answered the next question in her children's eyes, “It's an extremely dangerous place that even adults avoid.”

“But why, Momma?”

“Perhaps I'll tell you the story when you're older, Siela. For now, that it's dangerous will have to suffice.”

“But – “

“Enough, Zevernus!”

The children drew back in surprised silence. Their mother almost never raised her voice, let alone used one of the twins' proper first names, especially over curious questions. She sighed at the look in their faces, “I'm sorry. Let's talk about something else. For instance, did you know there's a bird sanctuary in the jungle? It's full of all kinds of brightly colored birds. Some them are even as big as you boys!”

As the chatter turned to what they'd get to see and do while visiting Nana, Zerith watched Pryor's Hill as they finished passing it. For a moment he thought he saw something in the broken down cabin on top, but quickly dismissed it as a trick of the eyes. Today was supposed to be a day of fun and happiness. It would not do to bring himself down with thoughts of ghost stories.

The remainder of the journey to the jungle village passed quickly and they soon found themselves in Nana’s house. The children had been turned loose to join the other village children and Zerith and Jasmine walked arm in arm as they chatted with her adopted mother. Elsewhere the children had gathered to listen to one little boy telling a story.

“Do you believe in ghosts?” he asked his audience in a hushed voice. The children had gathered under a makeshift tent of branches and leaves piled thickly so the inside was dark with a single candle for light.

“Of course not!” ZJ scoffed.

The other children chimed in with similar statements of disbelief. The storyteller chuckled at their responses.

“Well you should! Everyone knows about the hill just outside the jungle, right? Well, they say it’s haunted! Anyone that goes there never comes back!”

AJ looked at him confused, “Why not? It’s just a hill.”

“Because Pryor kills them, of course! Listen and I’ll tell you the story of Pryor and how his hill came to be haunted… Many, many years ago there lived a man named Pryor...”