The Axe Woman of Berrynabor

Sophie Trad, a waitress at the Pie and Duck in Berrynabor, was winding her way around tables taking orders and collecting things to take to the kitchens.

She also tried to listen to the conversations the strange travellers from Venezuela had. Sophie didn't know why the travellers were there except that it had something to do with old Mc Griffin's land. It was told that his house was haunted, that when he died a mad old woman took over his house and never came to the village. As she passed a traveller she heard him saying something about Mc Griffin's house, which made her pause in her way and listen in.

The traveller said "Well if you go there at midnight on a full moon you can see her sitting on that porch on a squeaking swing seat. But you have to be there exactly at midnight because she's only there a few seconds, He was talking to a local at the pub.

"That's just crazy, you're just making it up, said the local.

"No I'm not; if you don't believe me maybe you should come and meet my friend Roger, he had his head chopped off by that mad old woman, the traveller said, "that woman gave him back his head but now he's turned into some kind of foul creature.

The pub was very busy it was filled with the sounds of people talking; the chinking of glasses and the clatter of cutlery as people ate their meals. Despite this Sophie was oblivious to everything, as she was so interested in what the traveller was saying.

"How did she chop off his head? Sophie asked.

"Well she used an axe, but the weird thing was there wasn't any blood. Then she sprinkled some thing on his head and yelled out a spell, said the traveller.

"Then what happened? asked Sophie, she could just picture the woman holding a head in her hand and yelling at it.

"She put his head back on and¦¦¦and, I'm not saying I fear she will come after me and do what she did to Roger to me, said the traveller.

"Oh please, tell me! pleaded Sophie, but he would not say.

"For goodness sake, said Sam Glossop the owner of the pub "none of that can be true, it's just a story so get back to work Sophie before I'm forced to sack you.

"But what if it's true, what if the crazy woman comes here and attacks us, Sophie persisted as she looked out of the window just in case the woman was outside.

"Sophie, just get back to work customers are waiting, said Sam.

"Alright I'm going. Sophie continued working, while thinking that she would go and see if the story was true. She worked until 10:30 when she left the warm cheery pub to go home.

She set out down the dark lane towards the village, with a torch in her hand to light her path. She had walked this route many times, it past Mc Griffin's land. Tonight she felt this fear flooding over her. Thoughts of mad old women chopping heads off filled her mind, which made her fear worse.

Suddenly Sophie felt a hand on her shoulder; she jumped and spun round to find her best friend Rachael Goodberr behind her.

"Oh thank God it's only you Rachael, said Sophie, her heart racing.

"I'm pleased to see you too, Rachael replied sarcastically. "What's up? You're never this jumpy.

"It's just something I heard that's all, replied Sophie.

"It's not another one of those stupid stories about Mc Griffin's land is it? asked Rachael.

"They're not stupid they're true. Why don't you believe them? said Sophie.

"Oh for God's sake Sophie! They're not true! yelled Rachael.

"Then if you don't believe me come with me tonight at midnight to Mc Griffin's house, said Sophie.

"T-to-night, a-a-at mid-ni-night, stammered Rachael.

"Yes tonight. What's wrong? Not scared are you. I thought you didn't believe in the stupid stories, taunted Sophie, even though she was scared herself.

"Alright I'm coming with you, but I have to go home first, said Rachael, trying to sound tough.

"Ok then I'll meet you outside the gate to Mc Griffin's land at 11:50said Sophie. With that said they both parted, Rachael to her cottage and Sophie to the village.

Mc Griffin's land started with a dense dark forest, it then continued with a long field leading up to the house. The house was the size of a small mansion; it was dark and shadowy with big scary windows.

About 50 minutes later Rachael arrived at Mc Griffin's land and was the first one at the gate. She stood trembling with fear, looking around herself every time she heard a noise.

She suddenly heard a very loud bang; she let out a tiny scream. Her eyes looked in all directions, finally resting on her friend Rachael coming towards her.

"Thank God, it's you Rachael, Sophie said, her heart beating like a drum. Rachael didn't answer but kept coming towards her, which was when Sophie realized something was wrong.

As Rachael came closer Sophie saw blood on her head and neck, she also saw this insane look in her eyes. Now Sophie knew what had happened to Rachael. She had been turned into a zombie. Sophie let out a high pitched scream and ran into the woods.

When she was about half way down the path that ran through the forest, she looked back and saw loads of creatures coming after her. She turned and ran faster tripping over tree roots and logs in the process.

Sophie suddenly saw a person walking towards her, she immediately recognized the person as another zombie as it walked just like Rachael. Sophie ran screaming into the trees. She pushed the low hanging tree branches out of her way as she ran, receiving scratches from where the branches hit her.

She finally burst out of the forest and onto the field. Sophie stopped here because she was out of breath. She looked around herself; she saw the great house looming up in front of her. She could just about see the creaking old swing seat but no old woman. Every where she looked, Sophie couldn't see the zombies anywhere which scared her the most.

Sophie suddenly felt this dread come over her when she heard a twig snap behind her. She slowly turned towards the noise and there standing behind her was a very old woman holding a deadly axe in her aged hands. She was wearing a faded grey dress and she had grey matted hair. In her eyes was an evil glint.

"Help! Someone help! Please help, screamed Sophie at the top of her voice.

"No one's going to help you, no one can hear you, said the old woman in her oily old voice. The old woman stepped towards Sophie, madness in her eyes. Sophie watched in horror as the deadly axe was raised high into the air¦¦¦¦¦¦¦

Sophie woke up and saw Rachael standing next to her. Rachael said "come with us Sophie. She then noticed all the zombies around her and Rachael. then all the zombies started walking towards the village with the mad old woman in front with her axe.