Chapter 2
The Storm
âFive years ago,â the Mayor began, âa terrible storm blew across Grimstock on the darkest day of the year â Midwinter.â
âItâs Midwinter today,â Edgar hissed to Mary.
âThe storm lasted only a few hours, but in that time the town was damaged very badly,â said the Mayor. âTrees fell across roads. Roofs were blown off buildings. Some houses were struck by lightning and caught fire. Ten people died.â
The Mayor went on, âThe worst of the storm hit Wormley Marsh, just outside the town. It was struck by huge bolts of lightning over and over again. That storm is the only thing that could have brought the evil to this town.â
âAnd what evil is that?â asked Mr Blood.
âWell,â the Mayor said, âat first we knew nothing of it. In the year after the storm, we rebuilt the town.
âThe next Midwinter night, many of us came here to the hall. We planned to stay awake through the night. We wanted to think about the people who died in the storm.â
The Mayor went on. âOutside, the night was quiet. But on the stroke of midnight, something in the air changed. A terrible smell blew through the town from the marsh. A few minutes later we heard screaming.â
The Mayor stopped and wiped his brow.
âWe all rushed outside to see what had happened. Two children were being carried off by⦠something. It was⦠It was a horror from hell.â
âYou will need to be more exact than that,â said Mr Blood.
âYes, of course,â said the Mayor. âThe thing that carried the children was some sort of giant. It had arms and legs. It walked like a man. But it was as tall as a house.â
âIt stank of the marsh,â said the Mayor. âIts body seemed to be made of mud. We call it the marsh demon. The children were never seen again.â
âAnd you think this marsh demon will come again?â asked Mr Blood.
âYes sir. It is Midwinter,â said the mayor. âIt takes two children at midnight on Midwinter every year. But this year, our children will not die. You will kill the monster, Mr Blood. And if you do not, it will take your helpers, not our children.â
The mayor looked over Mr Bloodâs shoulder and nodded.
A group of men jumped forward.
Two men pulled Edgar and Mary from their chairs and dragged them away.
Mr Blood shouted, âNo!â
But there was nothing he could do to stop them.
Chapter 3
Prison
Mary and Edgar spent the rest of the day in a cell in the town prison.
They tried to stay calm, but after several hours Mary began to get angry. She shouted through the bars of their cell. She called the guards monsters, cowards and child-killers.
But the guards did not reply. Some of them even laughed at her.
âItâs no good,â said Edgar. âThey donât want to lose more of their children. If anyone gets taken by the marsh demon, they want it to be us.â
âWell, it wonât happen,â said Mary. âMr Blood will have a plan. He always does.â
âLetâs hope so,â said Edgar. âBut where is he?â
Outside, a bell rang eleven times. It was one hour to midnight.
Heavy feet thumped towards the cell. A group of guards opened the cell and walked in. Mary spat at one of the men.
âIâm sorry, miss,â he said. âBut if we donât do this, two of our children will die. Itâs you or them.â
The guards tied their hands behind their backs and walked them out into the night.
As they marched through the town, the streets were empty. No lights shone in windows. Nobody wanted the marsh demon to notice them.
Mr Blood was waiting for the children at the town hall.
âIf you have hurt them,â Mr Blood snarled at the guards, âI will find a way to set the demon on you.â
âWeâre not hurt,â said Mary. âJust get us away from these
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