This is the end of Part 1. If you haven’t met Sarah Shepherd yet, read the whole conversation. To learn more about Sarah’s story and what happens with Marcus, continue on Google Maps, River Hill, Part 2.
#rvrhl
www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/e...
Many say Mary is the ghost of River Hill. Most who tell her story or one of the many versions of it that are passed around in local lore, do not know her full name or her full story. If you are one of those, start with River Hill, Part 1.
Or reply with your own version below.
#rvrhl #rvrhlmary
If you have read "River Hill: A Ghost Story, Parts 1-3" and choose to end the story with Marcus on Bluesky, please reply to this post and use the hashtags #rvrhl #rvrhlmarcus
If you haven't read all three parts, go back and read them!
#interactivefiction
bsky.app/profile/kdun...
If you have read "River Hill: A Ghost Story, Parts 1-3" and choose to end the story with Rose on Bluesky, please reply to this post and use the hashtags #rvrhl #rvrhlrose
If you haven't read all three parts, go back and read them!
#interactivefiction #fiction #fictionsky
bsky.app/profile/kdun...
If you have read "River Hill: A Ghost Story, Parts 1-3" and choose to end the story with Mary on Bluesky, please reply to this post and use the hashtags #rvrhl #rvrhlmary
If you haven't read all three parts, go back and read them!
#interactivefiction #fiction #fictionsky
bsky.app/profile/kdun...
If you have read "River Hill: A Ghost Story, Parts 1-3" and choose to end the story with the Tramp on Bluesky, please reply to this post and use the hashtags #rvrhl #rvrhltramp
If you haven't read all three parts, go back and read them!
#interactivefiction #fiction #fictionsky
Her friends from home stopped messaging her once school started and their lives got back to normal. She didn’t even want to make friends with the girls at her new school. They were so superficial and cliquish. She didn’t know what this Marcus kid wanted, but she was bored.
#rvrhl
Sarah thought she knew which tree the kid was talking about, and she thought it was kind of cute he’d sent her a note and not a text or Snap, but then no one knew how to connect with her here.
#rvrhl
She crammed it in her backpack so she wouldn’t get in trouble, but when she unfolded it later she saw there was a note: “Priscilla—You probably hate me or think I’m a creep. I’m not dangerous or anything. Promise. Meet me at the tree across the wooden bridge. 7:30. Marcus”
#rvrhl
The next day, she hung around by her locker long enough that she was almost late to Math. She was hoping to avoid the kid that way. But when she sat in her chair, she noticed a piece of notebook paper folded up like a clumsy attempt at an origami frog.
#rvrhl
But one day in the hall between fourth and fifth periods, she heard a familiar voice call out “Priscilla, wait up!” She didn’t have to look to know who it was, but fortunately Math class was right there. She dashed in and slipped into her desk, keeping her head down.
#rvrhl
After this, she started wearing dark lipstick and eye liner, which she applied in the restroom at school so her mother wouldn’t know. She just wanted everyone to leave her alone so she could make it through her last years of high school unnoticed and escape to Mizzou.
#rvrhl #blueskylit #Mizzou
There were worse things than talking to a guy from school who was crazy enough to swim in the Tombigbee river where there were probably leeches and catfish and god knows what brain eating bacteria. Back in St. Louis she had friends with swimming pools. Here life was nuts.
#rvrhl #digitallit #skylit
As she reached the gravel parking lot, she heard the sound of water sloshing and knew he was getting out. She sped up but stumbled.
“Have a nice trip, Priscilla!” she heard him yell.
“That’s not my name!” she shouted back.
“Whatever! Miss Priss!”
He was laughing.
#rvrhl
She couldn’t believe she’d been drawn into even a brief conversation with this kid. She guessed she’d been staring at him, but he was pretty brash to talk to her that way. It was creepy. On the other hand, it was kind of nice compared to how the other kids ignored her.
#rvrhl
“I don’t have a suit!” she shouted as if they were having a logical conversation. He dog paddled about ten yards from one of the bridge pylons.
“Me neither!” he laughed, then shouted “I’m wearing running shorts!” when she turned her back.
She laughed but kept walking.
#rvrhl
“Hell, nah,” he yelled back. “That sign’s for sissies and tourists! Which are you?”
“Neither, fortunately, but that river smells nasty. How can you swim in it?”
“Just ran five miles. I don’t care,” he yelled back. “Feels good! Come on in! You can shower later.”
#rvrhl #dialogue
You should see the story if you click on the a post.
If that doesn't work for you, click on the hashtag #rvrhl
(this post is not part of the story)
Bridge across river with white sign with red lettering reading "Swift Current Swift At Your Own Risk."
As he swam closer, she thought she recognized the kid from math class, so when he yelled out that she should come in, she just laughed and yelled back, "Are you crazy? Isn’t it dangerous?” Right where she was standing, there was a red sign that warned of “Swift Current.”
#rvrhl
She actually had met a boy, but not a boyfriend. It was in September. School had started weeks ago, but the temps weren’t getting cooler yet. She was under the old bridge, when she thought she saw a head in the water. It was dusk, the guy was Black, so it was hard to tell.
#rvrhl
When her dad jokingly said she was meeting her “boyfriend," she just rolled her eyes like he was being crazy. But really, she didn’t mind if he believed it. She just didn’t want them to worry about her and she didn’t want them prying into what she was doing at night.
#rvrhl #shortstory
After a while, she made up a story about meeting some kids at one of the concerts at the Riverwalk. Her mother just nodded and said that’s nice. Then she claimed to meet friends at the new pie shop that opened up on main street, but she really just walked around by herself.
#rvrhl #riverwalk
Sarah started telling her parents she was going for a run at night so she’d have an excuse to go out. Even though she’d never been a runner, they didn’t seem surprised. It was like she didn’t really exist, they were so wrapped up in their own new lives.
#rvrhl
From the visitor’s center downtown, she got a historic walking tour brochure, and she began to learn the names of some of the houses. None of the houses in the suburb she was from had names. These all had histories, but the brochure focused on their architectural features.
#rvrhl #fictionsky
So even though it was August and the heat and humidity made her sweat as soon as she was half a block from her door, she slipped out nearly every night, just to walk around.
#rvrhl #amwriting #moonlight
Southern belles, hoop skirts—no one really wore them, but they acted like they did—and church were not things Sarah had ever thought she’d have to deal with. But she did like history, and she did like exploring. At least it was better than listening to her parents argue.
#rvrhl
Sarah could have sympathized with her mom, but more than anything they just fought, so it was better to lie low. Her mom, who wasn’t used to not working, was trying to find a job of her own and trying to make friends. She even joined a church and wanted the family to go.
#rvrhl
Sarah didn’t hate her parents like a lot of her friends, but since they moved there was a lot of tension. Her dad was working longer shifts and her mom was having difficulties adjusting to their new town.
#rvrhl
Words like antebellum and Victorian weren't ones Sarah had ever given a flying F about in St. Louis, but since moving to Columbus, she had taken to walking around at night. It was really too hot to do anything but sweat, but it still beat staying inside with the ‘rents. #rvrhl
Sarah's family had moved into a small modern rental house in the historic downtown. Their house was nothing much, but around them were homes with signs in the yard to say how old they were. Some were antebellum mansions and others were more modest Victorians.
#rvrhl #fictionsky
