Rita Logan and the Dark Tower

Chapter 1

The bell tower was not exactly the best place for kids. It should have been locked up tight considering the sinister history of the place, but it seemed the City Council was more interested in catching offenders burning leaves within the city limits than protecting the public from a possible death trap.

Rita Logan and her posse of friends weren’t afraid of unusually creepy town history and threats of grounding. They wanted to solve a mystery, any mystery. And tonight the mystery that drew them was that of the haunted bell tower. Well, at least, it drew Rita, the rest of the gang merely followed her lead.

Rita, the leader of the group, examined the front entrance. She was welcomed by spider webs, and a gust of mildew. The atmosphere fit the history of the Dark Bell Tower. Its past was dark, mysterious and filled with horrors. At least, that was the story handed down from generation to generation. Whether it was true, well that was another story.

“This is such a bad idea,” Kyle Fillmore said, inching up behind Rita and staring up at the castle moldings. Moonlight glinted off something high above his head, and Kyle jumped as if the ancient gargoyle would swoop and eat him at any moment.

“Settle down,” Rita said placing a supportive hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “We all said we wanted to do this. Think of it as a public service. We’ll be able to rid the community of a ghost.”

“We?” Kyle questioned. “We did nothing of the sort. It’s you. You’re the one who drags us into these things -- talks us into these things.” He jumped back as a cat darted out of the darkened doorway and skittered across his feet.

Their other friend, Jordan Langford, was watching the two of them with growing amusement on her face. “Did you happen to notice the plethora of ‘no trespassing’ signs plastered on that chain length fence we passed five minutes ago?” She snapped her gum loudly as she chewed then blew a big pink bubble. The pink almost matched the highlights in her hair.

“Only Rita Logan, would take a warning like that as a welcome,” Kyle said as he looked back at Jordan. Her hair was a little on the scary side. It fit perfectly in with the mood. She had done some sort of spiky thing with her pixie haircut. This was not one of her better looks. Tonight it was sort of Goth-like. He was thankful she didn’t have accessories like a snake tattoo, nose ring and tongue piercing. The dark, blood red lipstick and talon fingernails were enough. She and Rita were as different as night and day. Why they were friends was anyone’s guess.

"Do you really think we're going to get in this way?" Kyle asked skeptically.

"Why not," Rita said. "Have you ever known me not to do something when I set my mind to it?

"Well, there was that one time..." Kyle started.

"Please, don't remind me." Rita said.

"...And the time before that." Kyle continued.

Rita rolled her eyes, but Jordan was the one to speak. "I think she gets the hint, slick."

A cell phone rang startling the youth. Jordan scrambled for her phone inside the mini purse she kept fashioned onto her wrist. It matched her black and pink outfit to a tee. She quickly turned off the ringer that was singing one of the Black Eyed Peas latest hits. The sound seemed to echo throughout the eerie woods where the dark tower was located. The breath of the three doubled as their heartbeats rattled inside their chests from the sudden shock.

“I thought you turned that thing off,” Kyle said in an accusatory voice. “Do you want to get our butts thrown into jail or what?”

“Sorry. I’m expecting a call from George.” She turned away from them both as she placed the pink phone to her ear. “I’ve gotta take this,” she said as she began walking away.

“Ten to one she doesn’t come back at all.” Kyle looked longingly toward Jordan. “And she’s my ride home.”

“I’ll take you home, loverboy.” Rita said as she successfully jimmied the lock. “Wa-la.”

Kyle’s eyes grew round. “Wa-la? No, there’s no wa-la. Wa-la means we have to go inside and I really, really don’t want to go inside.”

“You are such a ‘fraidy cat,” Rita shrugged her shoulders. “Suit yourself. Stay out here if you want to, but I’m going inside to take a peek around for our ghost.”

Rita slipped inside and the door gave a spooky squeak. The sound startled Kyle. He looked around in nervous apprehension, as if suddenly realizing he was outside all alone.

“Wait a minute!” he said with a shout. “I’m not staying out here alone!”

The door had nearly closed when he grabbed the handle and swung it open again.

“I have a feeling I’m going to regret this for the rest of my life.”

Rita sighed and pulled Kyle all the way into the Dark Tower. He let out a slight yelp as the door smartly smacked locked again with he and Rita trapped inside.