“Are we there yet?” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5n6Al6N2s
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Gretchen McFarlane groaned behind me.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9SonUPBt0
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“I dunno”, I answered.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHnDaJYhHO
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“Are we there yet?346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1vCCsUFAw
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“I dunno”.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L0CKsdg36
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“Are we there yet?”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTXrPsmxkA
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“Oh my gosh, will you please stop?!” I snapped. My hands were gripping each other so hard they hurt. “346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoE1l2CQIW
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We’d been walking for hours through the thick woods outside our sleepy town of Tolpeak, New Hampshire. Or so it seemed at least. The branches twisted overhead, blocking out the sun. And every rustle of leaves made my stomach clench.The trees were getting stranger, taller, darker… almost like they were leaning toward us. Our teacher. Miss Ferguson. said that this would be a quick journey. Ha! What a dumb joke!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rfzOOEikE
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By the way, My name is Betty Jeffres346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzWIfnnlOq
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“Keep moving, everyone,” she called over her shoulder. “We don’t want to fall behind.”
Her voice sounded calm, but there was something tight about it. Something that made my stomach twist.
“Uh… how much farther?” Gretchen whined.
“Not long now,” Miss Ferguson said. glancing at the path ahead. “Just a little farther, and then… you’ll see.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdqxFmDf8b
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“Ugh, I dunno what’s worse!” Gretchen whined. “Chafed feet or camping in a forest that popped straight out of a b-horror movie! I'm pretty sure this place is haunted by at least five thousand werewolves!"346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZh1mwVqhV
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I rolled my eyes. Gretchen always acted so childish! If there was a contest for acting like a baby, Gretchen would win. Hands down.
We followed the narrow path deeper into the woods. But something felt…wrong.
“Wait,” I said, pausing. “This doesn’t look familiar.”
Gretchen squinted at the trees. “Uh… yeah. Didn’t we just pass that huge twisted oak?”
Miss Ferguson frowned, glancing back. “Keep moving. We’re on the right path.”
I frowned. But the trail behind us seemed… gone. The path had vanished, swallowed up by the dark undergrowth.
“Miss Ferguson…” I said, my voice trembling, “I think we’re lost.”
She didn’t answer. Her tight smile faltered. And for the first time, she looked… worried.
“Listen up everyone! I’m sorry to say this…but I think we’re lost”, Fergun said. Her voice was heavy with sadness.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqNbGc211p
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“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!” I said. Facepalming myself.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7OrtvNBay
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Gretchen began to wail like a banshee. Big surprise. Gretchen is the biggest crybaby in the land.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pMLvs6PV7
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“WE’RE GONNA DIE! WE’RE GONNA DIE!! I DON’T WANT TO DIE, I’M TOO YOUNG AND TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE!!!” Gretchen yelled. Tears running down her cheeks like a wild river.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo10Nfcyby
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“Shut up Gretchen! I shouted. Covering my ears. “This isn’t helping!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL8gmO8kLz
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“WE’RE GONNA DIE! WE’RE GONNA DIE!!!” Gretchen continued her super annoying wailing.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74kz7Vvy3T
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“SHUT UP!!!” I yelled. “YOU MAKE MY EARS BLEED!!!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnjOIBooqz
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By now, everyone had started panicking.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgW5Ah9KCd
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“Calm down, calm down everyone!” Miss Ferguson shouted. “I’ll handle this, I’ll check the GPS on my cell phone!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOCHfjJeBY
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She fumbled in her bag. Her hands trembled. She picked up her mobile. She discovered that it was dead. As dead as a cellphone can be.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPvW58LLCl
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“Now it can’t get any wor…!” I said. I was cut off by a huge rain cloud looming above us.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fAdRpo48u
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“Never mind, it CAN get any worse than this!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MrSMdFgAk
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“WE’RE GONNA DIE! WE’RE GONNA DIE!!!” Gretchen screamed.
Lightning forked across the sky. Thunder cracked so loud my teeth rattled.
“Everyone! Under the trees!” Miss Ferguson barked. But her voice was swallowed by the howling wind.
The rain came down in sheets. Soaking us in seconds. The dirt path beneath our feet turned to mud. My sneakers squelched with every step.
Then!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuagZQl3mj
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out of nowhere!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ASl7oTvfR
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The trees parted.
A bridge.
A long, ancient-looking stone bridge stretched out ahead of us, disappearing into a curtain of mist. The stone was slick with moss and carved with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the storm’s light.
Miss Ferguson froze. “This… this wasn’t here before,” she whispered.
“Uh…” I swallowed hard. “Where does it go?”
No one answered. Even Gretchen stopped her annoying crying.
That’s when we heard it! Low, guttural growls from beneath the bridge!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGev8OGZ5T9
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTh5DkFBKA
Then I saw them! Ogres. TWO ugly ogres!
Their skin was the color of swamp muck, glistening in the rain. Each one had arms as thick as tree trunks and teeth like broken gravestones. Their yellow eyes glowed in the dark, staring right at us.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvSV7Ht0dX
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Gretchen whimpered. Her knees wobbled like jelly. Her face turned chalk white. I swear she almost fainted.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4oeEuujoQ
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My knees wobbled too.
One of the ogres scratched his belly and grinned. The other licked his cracked lips.
“Well, well, well” the first ogre rumbled, his voice growling like thunder. “Look what’s wandered into our woods.”
“Children,” the second one hissed. “Soft, tasty children.”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcy68SYkow
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“Who should we eat first?” the first ogre hissed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPQ4EH2QwQ
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“Let’s start with the fat one over there!”, the other ogre said and pointed at me.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW7BmKPkux
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“Who you callin’ fat?!” I shouted angrily. “I’m not fat, I’m just big-boned!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8ZsZR10m5
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“Nice Eric Cartman impression!" Fenella Ziegler laughed. “You sounded just like him!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOtg4Ma7zu
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Miss Ferguson approached the ogre. She looked very brave. More brave than she usually looked.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHxPpbqTqh
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“Keep your filthy hands away from the kids! I won’t let you hurt them!”, she roared.
The ogres laughed. A booming, stomach-churning laugh that shook the bridge.
Then, faster than I thought possible, one of them scooped her up like a rag doll.
“NO!” we screamed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8CXDt2amq
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“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! PUT ME DOWN, PUT ME DOWN AT ONCE!!!” Miss Ferguson shouted.
She wriggled and kicked, but it was useless. The ogre opened his massive jaws. His shark-like teeth glistened.
And just like that. Miss Ferguson was gone.
Chomp! Chomp! Crunch! Crunch!
The ogre belched. Loudly.
“Needs salt,” he muttered.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlAnlXVobP
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The ogre wiped his mouth with the back of his slimy hand.
“Delicious,” he growled. “But not enough.”
His glowing yellow eyes slid over the rest of us.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NCZ6gktLa
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“Now, how about the rest of you?”, he said. bearing his terrifying teeth.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfWaPrQHx5
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Gretchen began crying again. Big surprise I know.
“Don’t eat me! PLEASE don’t eat me!” Gretchen wailed.
The second ogre grinned, showing rows of jagged teeth. “Oh, we’ll eat you. All of you. Unless…”
“Unless you answer our riddles” the first one finished. He leaned closer, his hot, rancid breath washing over me. “Three riddles. Each of you. Answer them all, and you may cross our bridge.”
“And if we don’t?” Riley whispered.
The ogre’s grin widened. He tapped his teeth with one claw.
“Then you’ll end up just like your teacher.”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeJzcSpRq6
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Fenella loved riddles. All her life revolved around them. Guess who stepped up to the ogres first? I think you already know the answer. If you don’t… Well, you’re dumber than you look!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqWcDj5BgB
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“Lemme go first! There’s no riddle in the world that I dunno the answer to!”, Fenella shouted346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLSaRym2Li
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The ogres smiled. Bearing their shark-teeth again.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjNvU7Ewxm
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“As you wish, how many particles does pi have?” the ogre said.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6qT4YWSRZ
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Fenella froze. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
“I… I… uh… Five hundred?" she stammered.
The ogre snorted. “Wrong answer.”
Before anyone could react, the other ogre scooped her up. She screamed, but it was cut short as she disappeared into the ogre’s gaping maw.
“Fenella!” we all yelled.
The ogres laughed. “Next?” one hissed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTwJhqcUQf
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Gretchen approached the ogre. Her face was still chalk white. Her legs still wobbling like jelly.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHFm0sGBic
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“Soooo, the brunette with the pink bow wants to have a go?” The ogre sneered. “Very well, how many particles does pi have?”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlrEpJRlfc
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Gretchen gulped. Fear shook her from head to toe. And then… Well, urine ran down her legs. Literally. I wrinkled my nose.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj92iUC8S9P
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“T…T….T…T…Ten?” she stammered. A puddle of pee had formed underneath her shoes. “Please….Pleas…please…Please, don’t hurt me!!!” she sobbed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pK9pfgl7u
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The ogres grinned.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPGhxAwD5w
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“Sorry little girl, we don’t care about your childish feelings, now you’re nothing but our dinner!”, the ogre boomed. He scooped her up. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUowGCNAjs
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“PLEASE, DON’T EAT ME!!!” Gretchen wailed. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYe6DBFLaV
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Gretchen flailed and kicked, but the ogre’s massive hands were too strong.
Then…Snap!
She disappeared into his gaping mouth. A muffled scream, a thud, and then… silence.
The ogre smacked his lips together.
“Delicious!” he declared, licking the corners of his mouth.
The second ogre chuckled. “Needs more salt next time.”
A puddle of Gretchen’s fear (and something else) shimmered on the wet stones beneath us.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADhjK2BF2W
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One by one. The ogres feasted on my classmates. I heard ‘em scream. I heard ‘em cry. I heard ‘em pleading for their lives. I saw ‘em gettin’ shredded to bits. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP71sl5BeP
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It was horrifying.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM0Z2opofS
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It was terrible.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrstkoUlAYG
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Absolutely terrible.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A20z06p5n
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Then it was my turn. Life sucks sometimes. I know.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U857KXt1B
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“Now…It’s YOUR turn fatso!” one of the ogres boomed and pointed at me.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE6aI7YRLR
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“The name’s Tracy Brown!” I snapped. “Call me fat ONE MORE TIME and I’ll go medieval on your butts!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXOkOQ2Jm
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“Answer this: How many particles does pi have?” The first ogre boomed.
My brain did a weird little flip. Pi? Particles? Why would a number have particles? I swallowed. My heart hammered so loud I could hear it in my teeth.
“Infinite,” I said. My voice sounded small. “Pi’s decimal goes on forever. It doesn’t stop.”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZa6dmjVXK
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The ogres huddled together, whispering in low, guttural voices. They tapped their teeth. They poked each other in the ribs. Finally, one of them shrugged.
“Huh. Fine,” he grunted. “One down. Two to go.”
The second ogre frowned. “Next riddle,” he said. “346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbPJDwAUK7
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My mind raced. A towel. A towel, a towel, a towel, say it, Tracy, just say it.
“Towel,” I blurted. “A towel.”
The ogres’ yellow eyes narrowed. Then, oddly, the second ogre clapped both massive hands together. “Okay,” he said. “You’re smart.”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKbgsmWBy9
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“Yeeees!” I yelled happily.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7lV3dpJfX
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“Final riddle, Challenge us to do something impossible, something we can't do!"346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz86YKPwJm
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I smirked. I knew just what to do. My smirk grew bigger. Then I farted. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tztNQXkiE
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Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfffffffffffffft!!!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXniiE3xpZM
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“Alright, I challenge you to catch my fart and paint it green!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr26cKaMpA
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The ogres blinked. Then roared with confusion and outrage. “Impossible!” one bellowed.
“Exactly!” I shouted. “You can’t do it. I WIN!!!”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQgm9caMw4
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The ogre sighed in disappointment.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01CiJEFhhI
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“You’re allowed to pass. We won’t eat you” The ogres muttered.
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I strutted across the bridge, laughing and waving at the ogres. “So long, suckers!” I shouted.
But then… the stones beneath my feet shivered.
I froze. The carvings glowed brighter, pulsating like tiny, angry eyes. The bridge groaned, a low, grinding, bone-chilling sound.
“What the…?!” I whispered.
The arches above twisted slowly, like fingers reaching for me. The bridge itself was alive. It shuddered, and the mist swirled around me, thick and suffocating.
I tried to run, but the stones shifted under my feet, forming ridges and valleys that slowed me down. The bridge was indeed alive!
A deep, rumbling voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
“Who dares cross me… and MOCK the ogres?”
I gulped. My victory, my fart, my clever riddles, they all felt meaningless now.
Somehow… somehow I had to make it to the other side.
I ran. I jumped. I scrambled, praying that this ancient, living bridge would let me survive…346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUSF2FdKdn
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But it didn’t.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm14blyJzdA
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And now…I’m no longer alive. Just a ghost, forever wandering the bridge, waiting for the next unlucky kids to cross.
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Afterword:
Answer… Or Be Eaten! was inspired by the spine-tingling worlds of R. L. Stine's Goosebumps-books and Betsy Haynes’ Bone Chillers-series. From the eerie forests of Tolpeak, New Hampshire, to the terrifyingly alive bridge and its monstrous guardians, this story blends suspense, dark humor, and a touch of the impossible, just like the tales that made us stay up late reading under the covers.
May this short story remind you that even when you think you’ve outsmarted the monsters… the real horror might be waiting in the shadows, or under your very feet346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbcDyloH8r
and then Add to home screen.