Page 7 of Hell Gate

A sharp laugh punches out of me. “Sorry, a what?”

“A gate. A pathway to Hell. The legend marks this cemetery as the spot where the gate is located.”

“Come on.”

“I’m serious. They’re all over the world. This one first earned its reputation during the Revolutionary War. It’s said that the gate is hidden, but can be opened with a ritual to call on it.” Jessica plays with the end of her braid, another proud smile tugging at her lips. “But once it’s opened…your fate is sealed. There’s a demon guarding the gate that claims the soul of anyone who dares to call on it.”

I snort. “So why bother? That sounds like a really shitty deal.”

“That’s the history of the gate.” Violet shrugs. “People come from all over to do it. It’s a test of courage.”

“Have you tried this dumb death gate?” I counter.

She shakes her head, then prompts, “So are you brave enough, Lily?”

“What?”

“Open the gate. We dare you to try it.” Her tone shifts from challenging to simpering. “Unless you’re too scared?”

Everything clicks into place. I purse my lips. This was why they wanted me to come out here. Why they made up all that stuff about the ouija board. Classic mean girl shit. Jessica wanted to ensure the pecking order remains in place with a new girl here. She’s clearly top dog amongst these three.

Part of me wants to tell her to go screw herself, resigned to spending my time in Brim Hills labeled as the uptight bitch who can’t take a joke.

Then there’s the other side of me. The one so tired of always making myself less for others. What—they think they can scare me with this?

The acrid phantom taste of well water in my mouth makes me swallow hard. I’ve survived worse than some made up legend.

Climbing to my feet, I dust off my shorts and stand over Jessica with crossed arms.

“Fine. I’ll open the gate or whatever.” It’s not like anything will actually happen. The legend they told me is total bullshit. “Tell me what I have to do.”

CHAPTERTHREE

LILY

Violet leads us outside after gathering their stuff into Marie’s bag.

“We’ll watch from down there.” Jessica points to the iron gate by the road. “Good luck.”

I narrow my eyes, a bolt of heat simmering in my gut. “If I survive,” I say with air quotes emphasizing what I think of all this, “what will you give me? Don’t think I’m doing this for nothing. I don’t give a shit about what you think of my bravery.”

She considers me for a moment. “A hundred bucks.”

I slide my lips together. Cash would come in handy. My own stash is dwindling from what little I’ve scraped together in savings from my time in Philly. A month won’t be long enough to get a decent job around here. No one wants a flight risk. What she promises will go toward my ticket out of here when my time is up.

“Deal.”

Marie lingers as they start down the hill, dancing between the headstones like fools. “Start at the top of the steps, then descend backwards while counting to thirteen. At the bottom, you go through the archway.”

She hesitates and I grow impatient. “That’s it? What’s supposed to happen next?”

“Once you pass through, it opens the gate to Hell.” She glances out at the cemetery and plays with the zipper on her jacket. “If you see into it, the legend says you’ll die before the night is out. If you survive, then you’ll suffer seven nights of misfortune to drive you to madness. From what I hear, no one has made it to the seventh night without going out of their mind or dying. Either way, the gate will claim what it wants.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. “Ominous.”

“You’ll be fine.” She sounds like she’s reassuring herself rather than me.

“Anyone you know done this?”

---