The Legend of the Red Ghost — Michael L. Williams

"As quickly as I emerged from the bushes I turned and there, running toward us on the dirt road, was the most gruesome creature I had ever seen in my life. The creature was red and looked to be 10 to 12 feet tall and ran on four legs. On his back sat a human skeleton. Behind him sat the large, red setting sun. It looked as if the monster was riding out of the sun. The skeleton's jaw was agape as if he were laughing at us, jeering at us, striking fear into our hearts. The creature careened toward us at a frightening pace. I was almost frozen in fear. 'Run, Joseph, run ' I screamed. I reached over and grabbed the frightened boy with one hand and began to pull him along behind me as quickly as my legs would carry me. We ran back into the woods. The twigs and branches of the bushes and trees snapped as we plunged into the forest. The briars and thorns tore at our clothes and our flesh. Joseph emitted a scream. "Run faster " he shouted. "It's right behind us " The thunderous hooves got louder as the creature picked up speed and bore down on us." The Legend of the Red Ghost is inspired by actual events as told by 16-year-old Kip Young. Kip craves adventure and an escape from the uneventful life in a frontier boom town. Kip's life is anything but ideyllic. His younger brother, Charlie, suffers a congenital heart defect that threatens his life. One evening, a strange creature appears in the countryside terrorizing the townsfolk. It was described as running on four legs and covered with red fur. Most ominous of all was the spectral rider that sat on its back. Witnesses described a human skeleton that brandished a sword. Charlie soon becomes convinced the monster, known as "the Red Ghost," is the incarnation of Death itself. Charlie overhears several townsfolk discussing the monster. They refer to it as one of the seven horsemen of the Apocalypse. Others refer to it as the devil's stead. Certain he is going to die, Charlie becomes depressed. Kip decides to track down the creature to discover its true origin and protect his brother.