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g
Greenwillow Books
An Imprint ofHapCPublishers
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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Th b a ct. rc t a pp, vt, tabhmt,
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112
one
The charcoal sky spits cold rain as we
umb t a tp at a cad. A bac cat bc thad, ad v a amd caag btt
tha t c u ay pat.
Buy m tagg t th cat, cayg mthg
bt thm. sm. o th m tumb, ad
th bdy bb a hyg ay.
My d Ap gag bhd h ma. T bad yu
ath ddt dg th thg t p ut xu
m a a xu da.
i d hth th pp mag th hu
b cd tght. i thyv appd th dad
th y bat. Thy hud btt.
Th cp cct a cth ma, fmy ad
u t tp th ctag. Thy th cat ad
a cat hudd yad ad tp aga, uccd that
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
122
thy bcg tac. Thy dt ca that hav h-
ag ad caug t d th Dbauchy Dtct.
Th Dbauchy Dtct. Th vy am ma m
hv.
A i tu t Ap, ppad t cmpa abut th
day, a g puhd thugh a day ad t th
tt.
sh cutchg mthg, ad h mgc at tham tm that th cp cct a mag th
day appaac cat b a accdt. oth pp
appa th dayth habtat th hu,
phapad i aad thm bcau t a g
thm a v a cth ma.
A cp cct appach th g. B, iatd hm t huy, but ach havy ttp
m th dad.
Th g ght, ad h act d ha b
hmmd ad ttchd that h am ad g a vb,
but th th a ad th ha ght, t mpb t t
h bmhd ca. Th pp th hu
at h t gv th ma th bud, but h tu aay.
it dt ta much magat t az that h
cadg a baby.
sh a h ac t th a, h my papab.
i cat xpa h i hch dp cdat
ug d h ch a a ad hch a ta.
But i d.
Th g y catch m.
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132
i mthg. Th t mt iv t a day,
bd vagu atcpat tght. Th t th t
thg i at t . Gag ad c, t up
m my tmach.
sh ba y ctact h a yug ma cm
ut hat t th budg; th ha b
batd aay, pbaby dug m u t, ad
th tuctu cvd th cava. H gp thg hud ad cby tu h. i d h
th ath, d h cad th chd th
bud, h jut at t gt th da aay m
hm, t p t m mg a ah that cab v
ad thugh h . Yu dt cv m th
ctag. Yu ctact t, ad th yu d. Qucy, yu a ucy.
i ty t gu th ag th mth. Fm h ptu,
im uppg that h jut a g.
Mayb that hy i cctd t h, bcau
th am ag.
Mayb t th y ctact h tatd. Uuay thy
dt at u.
Th g g a md, cuhg thg, ad
mh i t, v thugh i am uppd t b
umb. A th m ta th baby aay, i a achg
. i at t ttch ut my am, padg, but
i d, Ap mght augh.
My bg t ha. what g th m?
s i b cyg. At at g cy
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
142
ugh t dc th dc bt my ta ad
th a.
Thy t th ty bdy t th cat.
i fch, magg that t ma a ud, v thugh
i ca y ha th umb th caag ad Ap
xapatd gh.
Yu ud th thyd b happy, h ay. My
uc payg a tu t gt d th bd.oth th cty ud b uvab.
i i puhd Ap ad h pag v yd
ut th p caag, th cd g th tt
mght h. i i ppd th ma m h ac, hd
pbaby b dad a cup .
sh dt udtad. sh a ad thAada T ad ha v b th tt. nt
th , t th ha a bc t th t, h i
c vd cmpt da. sh dt , ad
v .
But i cat b mad at Ap. i v h, th
hu h h ma m gt, th pac h h
ta m. Phap h ght, ad th pp hud b
thau t hav m ta th cp m th am.
out th c my y, i tc da hap
cpg m bt t budg. i ta t ,
but thy v tp ut th gm. A a udd
im aad. Th aa ca gt vt, at. Th cp
cct tmp tad ath d, mad th a
ughy patd d cyth, pag thugh had
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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152
ad bac t th ght. Th dgad acctuat th
ca th cad gu ta t cg t th had.
Ap dt tc.
Aythg cud b hdd ud a da ca. ou
dv cu ad tu hapy, ad ay uch pat
th bdy cat. wh i v my hud, th cad
m hav mtd bac t th had.
At at ca gt th u ght.w tu a c, ad u dtat bcm vb.
it a ght dp, a th t cty bc
a a t t th gud at th budg
ctd. Th a ht-a ba td t th tp th
tat budg th aa. Yu cat th ttg,
but vy t ma th cat th dtct.it a fatg mdt that ud t vt
thg ad tav, but that yu ca gt t th pac
h th ba tthd ad yu hav ugh
my, yu ca gt abut dath ad da a
hu.
Yu a m m aay, Ap ay th ma
vc h u h h av a tha xpctd ad
d m gazg ut t th ag a.
i dt hy h ut my cmpay. sh
amatd. im bay av. i ta t pac ad hmp
my p. wh im aa, i ctmpat dath, ty
t ad, but v ay h aythg. i y hav th
attt pa pty, ad Ap hat pty.
what Ap ad i ha a tua, hu puttg
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
162
maup, gtt, a yah gud by .
ou p a patd th pc; md m
tag t that dt m gazg ut t th txc
uh, yu ay th abut t. sh cud ha th
th ay.
Th a that t ha t b m.
Tght gg t b a, h ay happy.
Yu at ad .Pp hp abut th Dbauchy Cub th
tattd ma gt dag m, h thy p
a v ubttut ta m cacd cha cup. ra ta
a mptd; havt had aythg that ya.
Th t cub pa th Mgu. it a
abadd acty. Thy mad bc th, bac hbud ud t ctuct hu. w t d t bud
aythg ut a th abadd budg cap,
th a ay u t by th.
Th t gt t th Mgu ttch aud th
bc. i ca th cd, magg that thy a hpu,
that thy cav adm a th v dpdd
t, but t a aay t ad th xp th
mad ac.
Ap ad i pa th ay quty but v g
d. w a bud th Dbauchy Cub, th pac
th t dtct amd . Mmbhp xcuv.
ou dv t u ut a ay. Th d
umad ad ucd. wh tp t th y, t
cmpty da xcpt a ucc thbbg
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172
d ght that a pat th f. n matt h may
tm cm h, thy t m th cuty. i
u my t v th t th haay, g
m txtu, mthg that dtat t m th
t th f.
Aaby, cm . Ap h y. w mv u
ma ad pac thm vvt bag t p thm a.
B th pagu, th Dbauchy Cub a yp t m. But, vy , th majty th
mmb dd.
Ap ad i a pbatay mmb, pd by
h bth, hm i hav v mt. w t b gb
u mmbhp ut a ght.
Th ay, ad.i catch a gmp my a m ad m. i am
t th p i a th mg. i am bautu, a,
ha, cgt. My bac d ach my a
ad f v th hab ct that i apppatd
m my mth ct. it t a utt i cud a
th tt, but i v t. i mpby th ad a
tt bt mytu.
F a mmt i am mdd cad gu, a
athd bac, ad mth my d vuy.
i a yu a pa c, Ap ta a h
t th xamat m.
i augh. H t a atuy cut abv h .
ou ah chagd h th wpg sc t
cam t th cty. lg t cud hd zg .
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
182
i av th my t aud my g a i tu,
atchg my th m.
Yu tu, baby d.
i th vvty vc t th xamat m.
i i ht th my, i mght admt that th
mmt a hy i cm h, at .
sg tatt cv h am, cmbg up m th
ca h ht t tt aud h that, th dhdd by h tud da ha. i ty t t at
hm. H cud ma m happy. H attt, a ht
admat h y . . . i dt dv happ.
Yu th ut. Bath h. H hd
ut th dvc. A yu ctagu th ?
nt a chac, i hp.oh, th aay a chac. Yu hud b m
cau. H p th d butt that th hadhd
dvc t th a xpd m my ug. Th
a d h had . i hv.
Yu jy th m tha yu hud, h ay ty.
H put my bd t m t mach. it ha
cc pat ad a tt ba b, but im ay
cta that t dt tt aythg bd cduty.
Yt th u ay h pm h dut aay ma
m bv that h iv ctactd aythg,
ad i bath at tha ma. nvu.
what h d im ctamatd? w h at
m th ctmpt? kc m ut t th tt?
Th th y pac th cty h a a
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192
thut u ma. At hm u vat a ma
thy dt bg ctamat m th cty.
H t ud b a ut t uggt yu d t t
th a. Thy y t u t th tt m at a
tm, thugh. H ca b u that th mmb
at cty ud by da?
l yu ca th , that. Ty t
tay that ay. H dm m th a av h had.oh, ad xt tm yu hud a th v y tu.
itd btt yu tha t d yu d.
A h tu aay, i a my had tad hm thut
mag t. i h tadg c, i ud hav
tuchd hm.
i v tuch pp.nt pup. lucy, h dt my tatu
had th xp my ac.
i t th cub thugh a cuta v bad. i
mag mtm that thy ma a bautu ud
h i mv thugh thm, but i hav v had v
th tt c. it th ccy th pac ha
pd t th uhg.
Ap hat atd m. w pptuay ad
d ach th th maz m. sh ad i jy
u tm h dt ay.
Th budg v t ta, avag th pat
t. it a but t hu apatmt, but a
th m a cctd by g haay ad ha-p
d.
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1102
Th y ctat, th ay that yu ca t that yu
t th cub ad havt add t m th
budg, that th a ptat a dag
vy m. sm thm a cavd t uhg,
m a dpayd ga ca, but vyh a
atchd by d y.
i m m Pa capt cv th f, ad
th m thy a axd t th a, th tmuf ud t abb th ct tbacc pum
m. Th upp f hu bdd ba;
m d th b th ccut, ad ath
ha vum dtag xua act that i v damd
xtd. i b, but i td t gavtat tad th
f, h th muc.i mv m m t m. Th pac a aay
cdd, d th bd, mufd cvat,
ccaa dacg, ad v m g da
c. Ap ad i a a m th y ma h
hav jd th cub.
Hu tc by, ad i t. Th magc t h
m tght. i cat gt aay m th havy g
bg m. i at t bd , t b m bd
my, m h pat mthg ct ad
ubvv ad xctg.
A guy g m. H th ad bd, ag
a t-ma utt, da pat, a bu ht buttd
t th xt-t-at butt. H dt t th m
d th at tt, h a g, accmpad by a
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1112
vt, gg abut ucd. H ay mthg t
m, but i cat ha hm. i p ag.
H m t th m ahm.
G ta at th fct a da m d
th m.
i puh pat thm t th chamb bhd. A g t
t jab a hgh h t my t. i jump bac, ad dt
mt h y; dt at h t h th mam c.
H hut th d bhd u. D th cub a
d ad ma ud h thy c. s thc
that yu cat ha hat happ bhd thm.
what d yu at? h a a amud vc. H
-auac ma hm m d tha h . imgug that h ud b a tudt at th uvty,
t t p.
obv. it hat i am aay g .
what a ptty g yu tyg t gt?
A ptty g m, th my ca ga ad
my ubmhd b hath.
H dt aythg abut m.
D yu hav hat i at t?
H pduc a v yg.
i dubt yu hat yu at, h mutt a
vc that ca m h. A amatu. i g a hap
but ag, dtmd t gt hat i d t dat
t ad ay th mt that mght ty t cp . im
t a amatu.
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1122
i y th yg.
Buy ght? i a.
i dt uuay ha.
i had hm m b. H bay gac at thm
b h hv th my t h pct. H yb
a bd; thy ma hm pptuay upd.
i hd ut my am t hm. D t.
Dt yu at t hat th thg?n.
i ddt th h cud m upd. Th
bd yb tgu m.
whatv h yg, t cd, ad th d
bu aud m.
wh d yu at t g?Bac t th vt. i at t ha g abut
ucd.
H augh.
A av th m i tp v th thhd. H
put h had my am.
i hp yu d hat yu d, h ay, ad ud
h ma t.
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1132
two
Darkness. We eat in it, talk in it, we sleep
humd da, appd bat. Th vay ugh ght th bamt, t yu tuy
at t .
it yu mv, my t bth, F, t m. H
vc t, ht tat. i im damg,
but i dt ca. i tay h a g a i ca.
sy. i ta at th qua th bad. Th
tudyg th pc; thy dt pa t m. i hav
tatgy, but i at bady t p up th hm, t
m mag ttamt by pvdg a chag.
i mv th at.
H ptdg that my pbm mpy a ac
umat. i tuch th vy ght th my gtp.
Fath cm ut h abaty ad ta h
ggg.
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1142
i ay ady uch?
w aay ady uch. it ba up th
mty u day. w hm t th tch,
h ca pvd gd a tacd t th cg.
Fath pu mthg t a b ad put t t th
tam v.
i dt th t i ty t a hm.
Th a ud cacg xp, ad th ga bubdagg abv u g da.
n pt xg t, t h im c t a
bathugh. Fath ay th ptty much vy day.
im havg pach, F ay. Pvd pach
a gd cd. H t agy at Fath tag u
udgud. F t pg h pm ad dappag day d t gd
hat. F t v mad at Mth t atg t
v h th u.
i v pach, i ay, bcau F bg ut th
bt m. Da ad ght, Fath ca u.
im ucy, u ath ay. Bd th patt
chd. H vc hag, ad th muy ght i
th i ta h y. H g pat m, at F.
Th a c at th d, ad th t hvd
ad ad a ma tad abv u, huttd by th
ght hg thugh a t d that havt
tppd thugh ag.
D. wth, th ma ay. My , h ha th
ctag, but h hat dd. . . . it b v a mth.
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1152
H mut b g. i yu gt c yu d. evy
th.
Gv m yu add, Fath t th ma. i
cm at, h th mth h t md thm. s
Mth cmg a vt. That pa F. Th
ma att h add, h vc ad tady. A
h vd thugh much h that thg ca
ay bth hm aym.w tu t th chbad th ja pach
ad t .
it t yu mv, F ay. Aaby?
i gac up at hm, t h tatd yt. i h
ay th huma, th tay patt? But i cat
hm. Th humdty thc, ad th at dm. i ta my y. H cam vc at, but i
cat qut, cat qut . . . .
Ad that h i a up.
oh, Gd, hm i uppd t cay yu? Ap
vc a. Th cd a ht m ad i az that
utd. it ag. out th cub, p a. i
my bg t pac, t bcau i ca, but bcau
iv b pgammd t a th ab ctag. i
put my had up, th dgd pca uac my
ma, ad gh th . iv th thg g
that i g t.
i ty t cu bac up. sp dcut m, ad th
upha a bautu thg. Cd a ht th bttm
my t. wh a my h?
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1162
Yu hud b cau, m ay. it t a
t b ut at ght.
i d t gt h hm, Ap ay. Th t h
vc md m, t xacty th t tm mt,
but th ay h t th ty. sh th h avd
my . w hav guad. w b pcty a.
i t t th guad ag h, th h
h pag t?im d t th puh at Ap caag.
Tha yu hp, h ay.
i dubt t b th at tm. Th vvt vc hd
a ht amumt ad a ht mthg . H
a v ad d t my ac. My dtat
t h my y cu h. Th tatt, thda ha. My hat pd up. i th . . . i th . . . ca
a p hat tp h y vt ya d? i
upp that i d a apat, my ath ca put m bac
tgth aga.
Yu ucy th tm, baby d. it t hd
ut, thugh. luc v d.
Y. im th ucy . it mthg i v gt.
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1172
thr e e
Irest my cheek against the coolness of
th ga d. i hav b h g that my ch gd, v h i tuch t th my aady cd
g. Cud th d at, i gaz thugh th
d. But im t g ut, im g . Th
a t pthu at th tp Aada T. w
v Pthu B. Th tam achtct h dgd
th pac catd a uh gad bt th uxuuy
apptd apatmt. A d ed.
sc d t my b, i ta t th thc tpca
pat . iv b dy havg a mg.
My mth t th m, ad thugh i dt tu
my had t at h, i hat h dg. sh
gg h had, th d ht had that h
a pppmt .
A patt t t m. Fu typ cac,
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1182
ad ut . . . , a a. i ub th chd ga
btt at agat my ac, avg ta cy
cdat ac my chb ad d my
c.
Th a mvmt th gad catch my y. Th
guy m at ght, th h gav m th v
yg, tadg th h had h pct,
atchg m.But that mpb.
wh th d gt uh ad humd ad th da
tatd mutpyg, th Aada T cd th
patcua gad, bcd v th d ad ad
vythg th mta.
i t up, but my tmach dt th uddmvmt. i quz my y hut.
expv pum gag m.
Aaby?
Mth put h had my had. wh hd
th ca, h tayd h at th Aada T t
pay th pa. H muc camd th ch pp h
thy gud ut thy dyg t. wh thy
dtd m th th wpg sc, thy
th thm ut t th tt. i p my y.
st . . .
i at t cu up h am ad cg t h, ad
that ma m tha th dug that my bdy
tyg t xp.
Th d pg.
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1192
why d yu d th t yu? h hp. sh
b ut th cad th d tab ad cv m
th a qut. lght cm thugh th d, bth
m th utd ad m th gad, hch mpty
.
sm hu at, my ath cm t th m.
H ha d ad h ma puhd up tp h
had.i at yu t a th m, Aaby, h ay.
H a m th mayb tc a . it th y
tm h ay my am. i hm t ap ut
h daydam ad mmb that h t ha a chd.
H put h cat ad hd ut m. i quz my
y hut a mmt, gg th at vtg qua, ad hm.
A tp ut th vat, a appachd by
Pc Pp guad, hd t p my ath
a. w a that u ctt a u gatt
at. Ad u mt dagu ap. Th a a
t cha at th pc pd a acty t ma-
pduc th ma. n h t pd t
hp. Pp patd ga th d budg.
Science haS triumphed. Science haS failed. Aay
tgth, th cd tatmt ctadctg th t.
Th am dppg d pat ud dag cyth
th pagu-tc hu.
Th cty a a mdg hap ubb, ad yt
pp cpt ut dug th ght t put mag
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1202
th d capg budg h th t th
ppuac pt pacuy dd quty.
it ay mthg abut huma atu, Fath ad.
But h v had h tptatat at, t
th m.
wh a yu gg, D. wth? th guad a.
im tag a a th my daught, h ay.
w aag a ct.Jut a m. w at gg a. Fath ty th
mthg h pct, gd.
w at th y h thy a ambd. Th
a pat a duty. Th a th t d.
Th t guad p th d ad th th th
pad ut, ag bd u. Thy cay ht da a gu, ady t ptct Fath m ay that,
ma bat. n matt hat catu pp a
th dad ght, th cty, vc m y t
b cad ut by m.
Th hpyad p aga, Fath t
cvata.
i t? Th a bath quaty t my vc
that m h dt m mght tpt a
xctmt.
wh i a a chd, h F a av, vd
t a d t th hab. Th aa a buy th, a
gat pagat th a g th hp. Fath
t t ad hm h; i dt h ca hp
hm.
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1212
Th hab dt . Db tt th h,
ad th bacd hu hp th bay. Th mb
dtyd mt thm. Th wpg sc mght
hav b pad m a pag, m dt h
avd va hp.
Th day th hm u a dt pt, ath
uth, t avd th dvatat.
i catch my bath. Th at ught gam th ht ma th a, h a utttg a hy
tamhp.
sh cad thDiscovery, Fath ay.
Th at tm a hp cam t th hab, i a t
ya d. U th tam-ppd hp t
u, t had a ta mat ad havy cava a. it mghtvcm m ayh.
i mmb h th pag hud ah,
axu th d ath ud th t. Thy
mdt d that achd th a, hgh
ca, g v. wh i a vy yug
uch tctv cthg, v th hat umm.
But th ctag chagd a that, ad tad t
bcam cay t h a much a pb.
Pach ducd th ah, ayg ud
a b dtyd, v a dd hat a t t
dty.
i mag that th h dmbad that day had
t ut m m dtat h t d hp. what thy
ud a a mb that t thm apat b thy
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1222
hat a happg. F ad i atchd, hd.
Mth a th h cam g u. w
adg thugh bac ay, cyg.
Th dama pud Fath m h ab. H ad that
th cty had g mad, ad mut t g utd aga
ut th da had b ctad. Hdg at
uuua. Pp quaatd thmv ca ad
attc. sm am fd. F ad i had th adutpdct, huhd vc, that thy ud d th
t, th d byd.
Th gd, Fath hp , gtug t th
gamg hp, th Discovery. Th t gd thg iv
a g tm. i v hag th hp h vc.
w hat t th t th d.Th d that uf my ha m at, ad
ht abd cm ad g.
i i dt v at Fath, i ca mag that F
tadg bd m. i cud my t th t
mdtatv tat that mtm btt tha bv.
But Fath chc h pct atch ad th pu m
ag; a a udd h a huy. H dt a
qut. H tppd bg ttd m a g
tm ag.
w a bac tad th pphy th d cty.
Th pat t a tt hgh tha th t, ad th
budg a ta. Fay-ta t ad p. scuty
c th da t p pp thut ma
ut ad aay. out ght ad aay m u a.
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1232
w hadg tad th bhp. it th at
th cty, ad Fath ma a pgmag t t at at
c a , t hat tau pp hav uathd
th attc ad ca. Th guad a accutmd t
cmg h. Thy gath a cc utd th d,
ag agat th a.
Th ppt gt Fath by am h i ad
up ad d havy da tm. i b thhv, but a i tu a c, i Fath tadg
bt t m. o thm cap Fath had, ad
th put h had qucy h pct. im u
that mthg pad bt thm. Th yug ma
m atchg ad ta bac at m thugh thc
yga, h xp udy.i tp bac a pac, vu abut th mtg.
suddy th bhp mu, th t m
ath ad damp. i my dtat.
Bx b t a th ppt d, but m
thm a mdy. ny xcavatd m m ttg
ca. i pc up a ma vum pty h i at
Fath.
wthut mag t, i gac bac t h h
pag t th yug ma. n h cappg hm
th bac. Th m hav th ctt, but
a th ctt bd Fath a hd up Pc
Pp cat, bhd thc t a ad bad
d, th ptct.
i put d th b ad a t th d. Fath
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1242
cm t th t th t ad ma a pucha,
ad th a utd. F a mmt im bdd by
th ga m th ttg u; t b vg.
Th day ha pad a bu, may th. A my
y adjut, i ca th ay. ou guad tad tgth,
ag agat a a, mg. Abv u, ac p ut
dty d. T chd pay utd a ha-p
d. Ad th a g had that my y catptat.
Fath put h had my am, a h ca t that
i am at a, but h d thg t cmt
m. Ad h ma t t xpa. i ty t th
a ay t a hat h gtt vvd th, but t a
ht a bac t th Aada T ad my had achg. w av th guad th bby, ad th d up
t u f t. Fath ach t h vcat.
i thught yu mght th, h ay.
it th ath-bud b pm. eth h
tcd h t a th t b i ud
tau.
Fath im tadg th th my am t
xtdd, tyg t d a ay t a hat gg
thut atg th vat attdat that Fath may
b cmmttg ta, h ach th tp f.
Th gdd d d bac, ad th Ap, tappg
h t. sh hat atg.
Yu hav t cm th m, h ay. sh ag
a d ct, ad h ha pd atuy tp h
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1252
had ad dcatd th hy bac ath.
i tu, ady t t h that im t dd gg
ut, that i dt hav th gy, ad Fath p aay.
iv t my chac t qut hm.
ett b th. Ap h cuu i am
abut h bth. i hm gttg m t th
cub.
i dt . . . . i gtu tad Pthu B.i dubt h tay at th cub g. w d t
huy.
Th vat pat atchg u cuuy. Ap
hd up my bag, tumphat. Yu dt d aythg
. i tuc th b t my pu ad c my am
v my cht a dcd. sh ad m thugh thbby t h dcuu tam caag.
Th caag a mav a a a mtty, a
gt m h uc. Th cvyac ha a tactab
that ca b cd h th ath bad th
a t u h ha, ad t patd ht th gd
ay, mthg a ay pc ud tav abut
. excpt that a amd guad dv t ad t guad
d up t. i th bac th a by h put ca
t th uac that hat th at tam.
Thy ay that th ctt h catd th thg
b up a tut Pc Pp cat, but i dt
t tu. st, hav t hav m ay t gt
aud c th pagu d a th h.
Th vg gay but t ay. Ap augh. lav
7/31/2019 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1262
th tp p. i th d, ad i da bat t ad
my ha.
Bat. Thy bught t ty t cta u
mqut pbm. Th ctt dd mthg, mad
thm bgg, th b ud hd m mqut.
Th bat caught th vu m th mqut, but
thy ddt d. Thy jut cay th da. n
pa t th pp h cay th da pby mth. evy uppd t
thm ght. Bth th dad bat ad th pp.
Th mtay gv ad bgg th bd
bat.
Ap had m h fa, ad i ta a g d.
im t aad bat, i ay.w bth augh, but t udt b uy t
dg ad t tgth. w a pag thugh
th u hat ud t b a butg cty, but t
ay jut a mumt t u dad.
sm ha patd ag bac tt th d
a budg. i ta t ma thm ut. lifeiSSacred.
deathiSevenmoreSo. i ta at th tt, ugy ad
pdd, ad th Ap gap ad hv m ad
t th uphty.
wth a du thud, a c am t th vvt at
h my had a jut tg. Th guad my t
a h mut ad ht ath, hattg t
mda.
Ap m ha tha iv v h. Td.
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1272
sh pc up th t t, ag a h had ad jaggd,
ad dp t t th tt. w bth c at th ud
t ma. Th am ud t ud hav mad t ht a
ma th b my ac. i pp at t th
t at u, th htag thm. Th cty
cumbg t bt that ca b ud a ammut,
ayh, aytm.
Ap guad ca th aa, h h dv adjuth ma ad accat.
i gu i jut avd yu aga, h ay ay.
i gu h dd.
Th t tm i mt Ap, i a tadg th my
t bay v th dg th th Aada
T. l tha t ya ag.n v cam t th , but h ad up t
m ad ad, what a yu dg?
i a upd that i ad hty.
imagg hat t ud b t jump.
sh aughd. it a quttay Ap, but at
th tm i a hcd. i had td t hd my ucda
thught m vy, ad th g a aughg!
i yu, h ad. i had th a a g vg
th pc d apatmt. i d yu t hp m bad
my ha. sh t h hat ad hd m h ha,
hch a ha badd ad ha . H mth had
gtt t du t h t. Dt jump ght ,
ay?
Th caag tp t th cub. Ap xcam
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1282
v a catchd pac th gd a b pcdg
t th umad d.
i th dathy qut th xamat m, i c
at my fct. im qut ad muy, t th t g
h bg a pac th.
i at pag t cm h tght, i mutt.
Yt h yu a, h ay. H cmmtta,
th happy ad t m. nt dappvg. ntxacty.
Yt h had m t g at my at a h hp
m tad. i ud ath tay ad ta t hm, but h
aady tug t admt ath mmb. it dt
matt. n matt h much i at t pa t hm, i
a i hav thg thh t ay.Ap ha tcd th ay i at hm.
it t bad yu t that v cbacy, h ay
a i av th xamat m.
it t a v cbacy.
it much m tha that. it th ay that i hav t
v my . i dt hav a chc.
T bad, h pat, tappg h t h
xpv h.
w a thugh th t f, pg t m
at m. Ap tp t gt a d, ad th
a bac thugh th am m, g t a th
c ad v th ta. i ca a ha. Ap
ha bd ha that h ght th m juc th
umm. s i mag h bth mght av h.
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1292
Jut ett. H pbaby ud mpac m
mptat t b. sh dd d ad hdg
a cd . H ch a vy p.
shud th th f? wh d yu
th h mght b?
Tp f, mayb. H m attactd t b tha
h t m. H a dgac t th amy. sh u
th d dgac. Th a h t v th u that h ha th cag. H a pt, v a gat th
th att ad t. Thy t a th ma.
Thy ay t ay t d yug a g a thy cd
th huma cdt, cd hat ha happd t u.
H t day ad ght ad ta dug t ty t ma
hm m aa.sh h y.
i th hy Ap hat pty? im vu, uddy,
at th ppct mtg h bth, bcau thg
cud acat m m tha hat h ha jut ad.
H ad h ud b h?
Yu ud hm. sh at m a mmt.
Ad i upct hd yu. But yu d yah.
sh puh m t a vat bd h ad ach
t h bag. H. sh ma m gtty tu
my ch. i xpct t t b gtty, but t ght ad
amy. Th hat u ctt cat h Mth
natu t t u a. Th h p my bag ad
bg appyg a yah. im upd that h
had a tady ugh.
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
1302
n yu ptty. ev ett tc sh
tp pag ad dp my bag, pg d ptc
ad a btt pum.
T m hav paud th day t th m. i
g cd. Thy a mmb th cub m b th
pagu, ad a td t avd thm.
But that t h Ap tcd. sh tag ac
th m at a yug ma h ag agat th ba.i at c that t t h bth; th h
gv hm t ftatu. H a tad u ad h
tad up.
sh dt t hp m pc up th ctt
my pu. it t mthg h ud v th t d.
sh mg, g up at hm m ud hyah. wh i chc, th d gtm hav
pad .
Ad th th yug ma t u. sh
hm h had b ayg v h hud t m,
w h. ett cat cmpa. H d u h
at. w mght a hav m u.
Mayb h ght. it hy cm h. T gt.
T hav u.
i atch h m a h puh bac h ha. i u
d hadt mpdd, hd b mad by , pby
a ad a mth. itad h ut a ght th
chap. My mth dappv th bhav, but
h cat tp Ap d.
Ad Mth t p m m jg Ap
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1312
bcau Ap amy ha cct. Ap cam that
h uc, th pc, cazy. H v utd th cty
a mdva cat that h had hppd h, t by
t, m sctad b th pagu ht. H ct
vythg, cudg th mtay. w d hat h ay.
im t u h t happd.
Ap ath a th may b, but h dd, ad
h ad h mth v a Aada TPthu A. H mth d bady a day, ad
Ap tag th Dbauchy Dtct. H
guy had h a ta ga ad th m .
i ta t but dt d. smthg abut hm catch
my attt. nt hm, xacty, but th ay Ap tat
g hm.iv v d ay. i mad a v t avd th
thg that F v xpc. it dt uuay
bth m. Ap ay that bcau i dt hat
im mg, but pa m vy my.
Ap yd a pup. H a a bu a bu.
Thy a g th th y cd tght, th
cct ma mthg.
i t my ga a d tab ad ad thugh th
cub. rt.
i Ap at, pad ac a vvt cha. sh
had m hac a m ch h t
th c, t ht tha h t th hu,
ad th th mb h ay cd th t
dccy.
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b e t h a n y G r i f f i n
Mayb t dt matt. sh mad h
atca; t ay t a xt t thg bcau
at a pp ay g.
Th c ha mtd my abadd ga th d
tab. i pc t up, ad h h dt acdg
m, i d th ctt qucy ad a aay, up th
ta t a f th dy cad gam. But im t
th md t b aud happ. T cap, i duc ta qut m. wh my y adjut, i t pp at a
tab, payg ch by cadght. Thy at ad
a humd bamt, but my cht ctct ayay.
wud yu t pay? m a. H ha bd
ha that gam th cadt m.
n, , im t gd at tatgy. . . . Th icgz hm.