Bloody Mary Returns
A Montana Ghost Story
Retold by S.E. Schlosser
My stepmother was vile. I guess most kids think that when their father remarries. But in this case, it was true. She only married Father because he was rich, and she hated children. There were three of us – me (Marie), my middle brother Richard and my youngest brother Charles. We were the price my stepmother Gerta paid for being rich. And we were all that stood between her and inheriting Father's money when he died. So she took steps against us.
She sent my youngest brother Charles away to boarding school overseas. It had a good, scholarly reputation, but it also had the reputation for being a hard school that was full of bullies and strict discipline. Not a place where a delicate child like Charles, who had been sickly as a baby, would thrive. He was miserable there. Somehow, Gerta contrived to keep him there for all but the summer holidays, and when he came home the first year he was pale and thin with dark circles under his eyes that looked like bruises. He cried – he actually cried! – when Father told him he had to go back to the school. But Father didn’t listen to him. Gerta thought it would be good for Charles to go there, and so Charles went.
I did everything I could – encouraging letters and daily phone calls – until Gerta said it was too expensive and restricted calls to five minutes once a month. I even got Father to book me a ticket to Europe so I could visit Charles. Gerta was enraged when she found out. Her blue eyes went so cold it made chills run up my spine, and her pink mouth thinned into a bitter line that bade ill for me since I had dared to interfere. Two days before my plane left for Europe, the school called and told us that Charles had climbed up to the tallest tower and flung himself off. He was dead.
Father was shocked, of course, and Gerta was quietly triumphant. For a few months, Father paid more attention to Richard and myself then he had since our mother died. But Gerta was beautiful and had winning ways about her that soon drew my Father’s attention away. And now that one of her hated step-children was dead, she focused on another. Poor Richard was next.
Richard was a sturdy chap who was about to enter high school, and he was really into sports. He would have thrived at the boarding school that had killed Charles. So Gerta sent him to an arts school instead. He hated it, but Gerta had told Father he had “talent”, so there he went. (You’d think my Father would have learned his lesson with Charles!) But Richard was a survivor, and he grimly practiced piano and violin when he would rather have played soccer and football. But Gerta was clever. She introduced Richard to a couple of high school boys who were everything Richard craved to be – rich, popular, on the football team. And into drugs. Gerta made sure Richard had a very large allowance, and kept increasing it as Richard was drawn deeper and deeper under the influence. Until one day Richard overdosed, and Gerta only had one step-child left. Me.
I was sure (sure!) that Gerta knew Richard was doing drugs in his room that day. She knew he was ill and possibly dying in there. If she’d “found” him even ten minutes sooner, his life would have been saved. So said the doctor, and I believed him. But Father wouldn’t believe me. He was angry whenever I said anything against Gerta, and told me to hold my tongue. Still, I knew I was next, and I was sure that Father would not live long after willing his fortune over to his wife. I decided that if Gerta got too bad, I would run away and live secretly with my aunt in New Jersey until I turned 18.
From the moment Richard’s body was found in his room, I forced myself to be a model child. My homework was done on time, I was polite to Gerta and all her friends, I went on all the family excursions with Gerta and Father – even the dangerous ones like shark-fishing. You can be sure that I took care to be “sea-sick” indoors and stayed away from the edge of the boat. Gerta was clever with her tricks. Everyone thought it was an accident the time we were out shopping and I fell onto the subway in front of an oncoming train. I managed to roll out of the way on time, but it was way too close for comfort.
I had almost decided to run away when my father brought me the sad news that my aunt in New Jersey had died suddenly in her sleep, poisoned by person or persons unknown. I was appalled. How had Gerta known? But she had – I could tell from the smirk on her face.
I went to my room that night and locked myself in to think. I could run away, but the money wouldn’t last long. And I’d need to finish high school or my chances of getting a good job were nil. Besides, Gerta would still be out there somewhere. If she could hire someone to poison my only living relative (besides Father), she could hire someone to kill me, whether I was living at home or not.
There was only one thing I could think of. And it was a terrible thing. A family secret passed down from my Mother’s side for many generations. It involved a witch named Bloody Mary, who had once tried to kill my many times great grandmother and use the child’s blood to make herself young and beautiful forever. The witch had been stopped by the child's father (my many times great grandfather) in the nick of time, and the witch had cursed him as she burned at the stake. Cursed his mirror, and the mirrors of all the men who had condemned her to death at the stake, so that anyone saying her name in front of those mirrors would invoke her vengeful spirit.
The story had gotten mixed up over the years, as it was passed down first in their village and then all over the country. These days, school kids everywhere scared themselves silly chanting Bloody Mary’s name in front of darkened mirrors during sleepover parties, and nothing happened to them. So no one really believed in the curse. Of course, no one knew the real story of Bloody Mary. That was a deep secret handed down by the villagers of long ago. But I was a direct descendant, and I knew how to summon the witch. You had to use a mirror owned by someone in the direct blood-line of one of the original families that lived in Bloody Mary’s village. And the witch's name must be spoken by candlelight a certain number of times in their native tongue.
It was an evil thing to do, I knew. But it was the only way to save my life. It was either Gerta or me. If I didn’t fight back, I was dead. So I took my hard earned money and went out to a specialty store to buy hand-dipped, beeswax candles. Black ones. I followed my mother’s directions carefully, placing them at certain intervals around the living room so that they reflected in the huge mirror behind the couch. Then I lit each one, speaking the spell passed down in my mother’s family. And I waited. Father was away on a business trip, and Gerta was out at a party with her latest boyfriend. She came home late, and scolded me for staying up to study. Her voice was playful and light – I hated that voice. It made her sound like she was nice. But there was also a note of suspicion underlying her words, and she stared hard at the flickering black candles.
“Holding a séance, little Marie?” she asked, emphasizing the word little, knowing I hated when she called me that.
“I just like working by candlelight,” I said mendaciously, turning a page in my text book.
Gerta frowned. “You know, little Marie, I think it’s time we had a talk,” she said, walking over to the mirror behind the couch and primping her hair.
“Yes,” I said softly. “We should. You killed my brothers. And my aunt. But I won’t let you kill me.”
Gerta laughed. “As if you stood a chance against me!” she said, fluffing her long blond hair up behind her shoulders.
I spoke the name of Bloody Mary in the native tongue of my ancestors. Once. Twice. Three times. Inside the mirror, the image of Gerta burst into flames, and another face looked out. It was the malevolent face of a twisted old crone, ruined with age, and altogether evil. I ducked behind the chair as Gerta gave a scream of sheer terror, her eyes fixed on the witch. As I watched from my hiding place, heat burst forth from the mirror, blistering her beautiful alabaster skin. I could hear the flames roaring as the witch laughed evilly and held out her arms toward my step mother.
“Gerta,” crooned Bloody Mary. “Come to me, Gerta.”
And she took my step mother into her arms.
Gerta’s terrified scream was suddenly cut off. The flames disappeared as suddenly as they had come. When I peeked out from behind the couch, Gerta and Bloody Mary were gone.
I called Father at his hotel the next morning to tell him that Gerta hadn’t slept at home. (Well, it was true!) He wasn’t pleased. He called a few of her friends from his hotel room, and quickly discovered she had been carrying on with another man. With several, if the truth be known. Father hated infidelity. He flew home at once to confront Gerta, but she was still missing; presumed run away with one of her flames.
Somehow, Father managed to divorce Gerta without ever trying to find her. And since she had no family in the area except us, everyone accepted the cover story, and no one ever tried to locate her. Gerta was gone for good. And Father and I were safe at last.
You can read more ghost stories in Spooky Campfire Tales, by S.E. Schlosser.
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Comments
this story was GREAT! i liked it a lot i liked how he stood up for himself n i liked also were he kills Gerta i love it! its scary too! AAHHHHHH!! =)
Posted by: Sophia | October 17, 2008 10:24 AM
that story was great and it was scary too but i still liked it
Posted by: kendra | October 22, 2008 12:55 PM
LOL good story!!!!!
Posted by: charlotte | October 25, 2008 10:32 AM
This wasn't scary at all!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rachel | October 25, 2008 12:37 PM
wow so there is the real story greta got killed yay
Posted by: linda | October 25, 2008 06:57 PM
This story was really good. It was kinda scary.
Posted by: marie | October 26, 2008 08:00 AM
OMG I LOVED IT AND IT WAS NOT SCARY
Posted by: sarah | October 26, 2008 05:04 PM
Iloved the story.can youmake a second one
Posted by: Anthony | October 26, 2008 05:15 PM
This story was like so awesome!It was scary and exciting,too.We loved it.I hated when Gerta killed her two brothers.:(
It had a nice beging and ending.:)peace!
Posted by: emily n kynnan | October 26, 2008 07:16 PM
a really scary story and it will be brillant to read on hallwoween night
Posted by: rachel | October 27, 2008 03:55 AM
i didnt read the story but its good!!
Posted by: abigail | October 27, 2008 10:12 AM
Story was good
Posted by: Tyler | October 27, 2008 11:33 AM
i liked it a lot i know how the stepmoms can be because stepdads are like that too. she neede that because of all the harm she made.
Posted by: maria mata | October 27, 2008 01:48 PM
wow nice
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 04:18 PM
its ok not that scary more boring at the end
Posted by: beshoy | October 27, 2008 06:29 PM
I love your scary stories
Posted by: valerie cain | October 27, 2008 08:53 PM
OMG! i ♥ this! it iz so0o0o0 co0l! nice storii!!
Posted by: SKittLz | October 28, 2008 07:38 AM
this storie was good and very scary i mean a step mom killing her kids 4 money that was kinda origanil but the end was great
Posted by: kyrstin | October 28, 2008 11:39 AM
Hey! OMG your story was fantastic i loved it i think all the people that read it think that too.
Posted by: dayana | October 28, 2008 06:27 PM
that was wicked and wierd at the same time but i still liked it but although it was not scary lol
Posted by: karina gutierrez | October 28, 2008 08:23 PM
hi
Posted by: ryan | October 29, 2008 04:47 AM
Hi~ I am korean..
I am finding scary story
Posted by: 장주은julia | October 29, 2008 07:20 AM
this wasnt scary!! it was good tho...but not scary in the least little bit
Posted by: Matt | October 29, 2008 09:49 AM
this story is really great it realy keep me in ♥
Posted by: kota | October 29, 2008 12:31 PM
loved it
Posted by: Alvin Ha | October 29, 2008 12:38 PM
This story is great i love it
Posted by: kiki | October 29, 2008 12:47 PM
that was a good story
Posted by: ariana | October 29, 2008 12:54 PM
Omg - Fabulous! Could be a bit more scary though! Im glad Greta died =]
Posted by: hyjuk | October 29, 2008 01:30 PM
is this a true story and it is quite scary!!!
Posted by: ikra | October 29, 2008 01:32 PM
I'am not scared of one scary movie nor story
Posted by: Anonymous | October 29, 2008 01:45 PM
that bloddy mary story was interesting but not to scary!i would like to hear it at night. but not just any night. a dark, scary,starless,and stormy night. i would like to scare the crap out of some of my friends. ye hehehehehe. mwa ha ha ha!!!
Posted by: lauren | October 29, 2008 01:52 PM
The story is so good! I am having some friends round for a halloween party and I am going to tell them the stiory!
Posted by: Katy | October 30, 2008 04:22 AM
I really liked it. Except it wasn't that scary. It's perfect, actually. Scared my cousin a lot. You should make a second one, and probably scarier and more... intense. Saddening at the part where in the brothers died.
Posted by: emcee | October 30, 2008 05:25 AM
awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Posted by: tyieshia | October 30, 2008 08:20 AM
i love bloody mary it is very scary. but i dont care
Posted by: ripley haney | October 30, 2008 09:13 AM
SCARYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Posted by: jess | October 30, 2008 10:00 AM
omg this srory was really good it wasnt that scary though. :) :) :) :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Georgia | October 30, 2008 11:15 AM
I thought this story was so strange not scary but strange.
Posted by: Steven | October 30, 2008 12:21 PM
i love this story
Posted by: kayleigh | October 30, 2008 02:13 PM
this was wack
Posted by: kayla | October 30, 2008 02:16 PM
this is a good story. but it wasn't as scary as i thought it was
Posted by: Ashanti | October 30, 2008 02:19 PM
i ve heard about the whole bloody mary thing but its weird how saying it in the mirror and everyone will actually do it but nothing will happen but they will say it did. The story was great because it tells the truth about everyhting. It was sad that charles commited suicide because of gerta. its a good thing she was gone.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 30, 2008 02:44 PM
this story was REALY SCARY
Posted by: ??????? | October 30, 2008 06:16 PM
wow. that was a great story! cant wiat to read another
Posted by: kayla | October 30, 2008 06:20 PM
lol this is sooooo funny i am telling my friends 2morro!!! :) ♥
Posted by: ♥ sami ♥ xoxo | October 30, 2008 09:04 PM
this story was GREAT but not scary at all try to make it scarier
Posted by: ??????? | October 30, 2008 11:42 PM
I loved this story especially at the end when she bursts into flames :-)
Posted by: Ellie Jones | October 31, 2008 05:12 AM
cool
Posted by: kiki | October 31, 2008 07:21 AM
That wasn't scary
Posted by: ?????????????????????? | October 31, 2008 07:43 AM
omg this story is good but def not scary
Posted by: kia lepeuir | October 31, 2008 08:10 AM
this is scary
Posted by: equan hayes | October 31, 2008 08:19 AM
kewlll
Posted by: Anonymous | October 31, 2008 08:48 AM
this story is good but not so scary
Posted by: KABRINA BROWN | October 31, 2008 09:32 AM
this wasnt scary but it was cool to read but kinda boring so to speak
Posted by: ???????? | October 31, 2008 10:47 AM
IT WAS REALLY GOOD I LIKED IT IT WAS THE FIRST STORY I READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH
Posted by: miranda | October 31, 2008 10:48 AM
THIS STORY WAS A GREAT STORY WHO EVER WROTE THIS KEEP WRITING STORYS LIKE THIS AND U WILL HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.***
Posted by: JAQUELINE GARCIA | October 31, 2008 10:51 AM
this story was nice.....
but i still dont blieve in bloody marry even if every body around me do!
cauz ite heck...........its just for fun????????
that what i think about.....
Posted by: invisible woman | October 31, 2008 10:56 AM
this story was nice.....
but i still dont blieve in bloody marry even if every body around me do!
cauz ite heck...........its just for fun????????
that what i think about..... :)
Posted by: invisible woman | October 31, 2008 10:57 AM
It was the best story ever especially reading it at night in the dark room. Now that would be scary.=)=)=)=)Bloody Mary rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 31, 2008 11:42 AM
thiz waz a gud story but it waz not scary nd i wondered if Bloody Mary iz real Happy Halloween kidz
Posted by: cinthia | October 31, 2008 12:23 PM
thys story wuz straight but not so scary to me
Posted by: NiNA | October 31, 2008 01:14 PM
THAT WAS SO NOT SCARY I HAVE HEARD BETTER ONE'S THAN THAT...!!!
Posted by: Brianna | October 31, 2008 02:22 PM
this story is not scary.
But is it true?
Posted by: devin | October 31, 2008 03:07 PM
omg this was the best story but i mean a mother killing her kids for money. cant wait 2 tell peopleeeeee about it they will be AMAZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 | October 31, 2008 03:28 PM
Hey this story is a great story but I think you should leave Bloody Mary in the story for a little longer
Posted by: Anonymous | October 31, 2008 03:37 PM
wow this story is scary.i cant wait to read another one and see what happends
Posted by: katti | October 31, 2008 03:50 PM
it was kinda scary but i think it was fake.
Posted by: lindsey | October 31, 2008 05:10 PM
WOW this is very scary ILOVE IT♥ forreals.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 31, 2008 05:15 PM
omg!! that was a good story but not that scarry but still it was sooo awsome i♥it
Posted by: anna smith | October 31, 2008 05:15 PM
It was pretty good. i thought it was scary but i've heard scarier
Posted by: Claire | November 1, 2008 01:13 PM
wow this is a great story but i didn't understand it without reading the origanal bloody mary!
Posted by: dylan | November 1, 2008 09:04 PM
Good story do u write professcionally?u should publish that!lol i like it!keep the stories comin
Posted by: claudia | November 2, 2008 10:17 PM
omg that was good but it needs a little more scare..it was too sad
Posted by: Brittany | November 3, 2008 02:03 PM
that is so cool i lv it
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2008 12:45 PM
this story was like so awsome you should write another 1 . yea/
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2008 01:14 PM
cool i am 9year old and veeery scaaaaared!!
Posted by: Anonymous | November 5, 2008 03:24 PM
i would freak if i was marie maybe faint or have like a total breakdown
Posted by: shaquesha miller | November 6, 2008 10:46 AM
i am 11 that is not scary
Posted by: robbie | November 7, 2008 12:37 PM
it was good
Posted by: Anonymous | November 7, 2008 11:03 PM
the last story was also good but this was not so scary nothing scares me
Posted by: Anonymous | November 8, 2008 01:01 PM
this story was..... terific i am only 8 and im not scared of her but her other name is daedly mary............ by faryal
Posted by: faryal | November 8, 2008 03:15 PM
♥im 5 years odl and i read the story all by myslef and it's not scary at all!♥
Posted by: emely | November 8, 2008 07:19 PM
wow,that was way crazy,loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by: ashley | November 8, 2008 07:35 PM
that waz cool !it wazent scary
Posted by: ashley treadwell | November 8, 2008 07:40 PM
OMG I LOVED THIS STORY,it was so cool and interesting
Posted by: stefany | November 8, 2008 08:23 PM
i am 10 thatwasn't scary at all!
Posted by: Ryan | November 9, 2008 09:19 AM
booooo
Posted by: Anonymous | November 12, 2008 04:23 PM
how can you print this i want to scare my friends?!
Posted by: Anonymous | November 13, 2008 02:44 PM
omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | November 13, 2008 07:24 PM
wow that was very scary they should do an even scarier one whooooohoooo was tat fun n cool
Posted by: mia | November 14, 2008 06:27 PM
it was kinda scary at the end
Posted by: carly seely | November 14, 2008 10:44 PM
that was a great story! even though it wasnt scary!!!!!
Posted by: jessica | November 15, 2008 09:57 PM
that total rock it so cool how you use the old bloody mary to get revenged
Posted by: kim mahoney | November 15, 2008 10:10 PM
it was really coooooooooooooool
Posted by: gyhjgj | November 15, 2008 10:14 PM
it was so scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: dylan spittle | November 16, 2008 11:06 AM
wow nice read it during skool awsome and scary
Posted by: katherine valenzuela | November 19, 2008 11:59 AM
that story wuz so stupid i dont believe in that stuff ya digg
Posted by: meechie | November 19, 2008 02:18 PM
it is a cool story but is is also scary!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: leah | November 19, 2008 10:32 PM
I think this story not scary
Posted by: chareeneysha | November 20, 2008 03:39 AM
wow is so not true
Posted by: melissa | November 20, 2008 02:46 PM
it was scary cause i tried bloody mary in the room and i saw her spirt why dont u try it.!
Posted by: mary brown | November 21, 2008 09:20 PM
I liked this story. Is it true?
Posted by: miranda | November 22, 2008 01:27 PM
luv it this story is soooooo coooooool!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | November 22, 2008 03:28 PM
Hey I love this stuff I'm so intrested in this stuff please make some more!!!:}
Posted by: bubbles | November 24, 2008 10:32 AM
great story
Posted by: Anonymous | November 24, 2008 01:12 PM
The story was good but it wasnt scary at all... sorry
Posted by: anonymous | November 25, 2008 03:49 PM
omg ilovvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it
Posted by: Amornrat | November 25, 2008 08:47 PM
it was nice and scary
Posted by: mansoor | November 26, 2008 05:25 AM
this was so cool
Posted by: nmm | November 28, 2008 11:07 AM
ey i loved it, make another 1, this 1 iz like SO cool =D ♥^__^♥
Posted by: Monsoon | November 29, 2008 08:12 PM
this was one of my fave!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sanya | November 30, 2008 09:53 AM
dear whoever u r,
have u ever played a game with the real B.M.If not y?
Posted by: carissa | November 30, 2008 06:43 PM
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lovvvvvveddddddddd it alot
Posted by: Anonymous | December 3, 2008 01:01 AM
OMG IS THAT STORY REALLY REAL? I WAS SO SCARED WHEN I WAS READING IT SO WAS MY FAMILY X JODIE HOUGHTON
Posted by: jodie | December 6, 2008 07:16 PM
Good Story!!! Bloody Marys Creepy!!!
Posted by: Chrissyp7@gmail.com | December 10, 2008 04:05 PM
I loved the story
Posted by: Dianne rojas | December 10, 2008 07:14 PM
omg really scary i shared it with my class due to been a teacher
Posted by: georgina | December 12, 2008 05:26 AM
I loved this story and it was so profound and very nail-biting. Thanks for killing Gerta...she deserved it, that no good, rotten stepmother!
Posted by: Anonymous | December 13, 2008 11:09 AM
since i looooooooooooove scary stories i love this story
Posted by: esme | December 15, 2008 07:55 PM
That story was so cool and scary because BM (Bloody Mary) came out of the mirror!!!
From Lillie!
P.S:I can see ghosts but ssshhh that's a secret!!!!!
Posted by: Lillie | December 18, 2008 08:32 PM
i think i got goose bumps
Posted by: Anonymous | December 20, 2008 12:37 AM
i like the story,its great!
Posted by: justine | December 21, 2008 09:40 PM
It was a awsome stori I just wished richard and charles didnt have to die
Posted by: Mr.chill | December 22, 2008 10:15 PM
AWESOME
Posted by: Scott | December 26, 2008 08:56 AM
I do not think this is scary and I am 9 years old!
Posted by: McKenna | December 28, 2008 09:29 AM
i'm only 12, and that story, isn't even scary at all!psh, ha! even my little 7 year old cousin wouldn't even be scared-at all!
Posted by: Anonymous | December 30, 2008 03:34 PM