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The wind whistled as the frightened man ran through the forest, trying to escape his doom, a young girl watching. Horse hooves thundered on the soft mud behind him--getting closer. The man looked over his shoulder as he ran from the horror coming behind him. Suddenly, there was silence. The man's face became clear to the girl, there was something familiar to it. The man turned his face to the girl, pleading for help. It was Masbeth's! The girl looked at him, took his hand and ran through the woods. She led him to a lake as hooves were heard behind them. As she looked into the water, the girl reconized her own face. It was Ivy and she turned as she heard metal scraping metal as a sword was drawn. She screamed as she saw the Headless Horseman and watched-still screaming-as the blade was swung and swiftly cut off Ichabod's head. The Horseman turned toward her, lifted his blade and---
"IVY!" A male voice cried, shaking her. "WAKE UP!"
"What?" Ivy looked into the worried eyes of her father. "What happened?"
"You were screaming." Katrina stepped into view. "Are you all right, my darling?"
"Yes, Mother." Ivy said, holding her hand to her forehead. She looked around the room. It was still night, she had only been in bed for a few hours. The floor creaked at the door and the entire family looked and saw Henry, still dressed in a black suit he had borrowed from Ichabod for dinner.
"I heard screaming." He explained. "I wanted to make sure everything was all right."
"Everything is under control now, Master Van Geller." Ichabod said. "She's all right."
"Very good." Henry said. "Call me if I can do anything for you. You've been so very kind."
"We shall," Katrina said. "Thank you, Master Van Geller."
Henry bowed and left. Ivy caught her breath, gasping. Where had that horrible dream come from? Her father had solved the case of the Horseman years ago. She jumped slightly at her father's touch on her shoulder.
"Are you all right?" He asked.
"I'm fine. I just had a nightmare." She smiled to reassure her parents.
"They're just dreams." Katrina said.
"I'll be okay now." Ivy laid back down under the blankets. She closed her eyes and pretended to go to sleep as she heard her parent's retreating steps and heard her door close. Her eyes popped back open. She wouldn't sleep again tonight.
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The next morning as Katrina prepared breakfast, Ivy saw a carriage drive up to the door and a man in a black coat step out. She hurried to get dressed as she heard the door knocker hit the solid oak of the door. She pulled on one of the several suits she owned, her black knee-high riding boots, and ran downstairs. Katrina was shaking the man's hand. They all turned as Ivy came down, breathless.
"Ah, Ivy." Ichabod said. "Master Taiel, my daughter, Ivy."
"Pleased to meet you sir." Ivy said, offering her hand.
"Pleasure's all mine." Mr. Taiel said, shocked that this man allowed his daughter to wear a suit. "Master Crane, we need your assistance. It seems a body was found last night, beheaded."
Ichabod looked concerned. "Of course. Ivy," He said, turning to her. "Would you care to come?"
"Of course, Father."
"Excuse me for saying so, Master Crane," Mr. Taiel said. "Is it proper for your daughter to assist with constable work?"
"Ah, yes it is." Ichabod said, beaming a little. "Ivy has the best eye for clues and the best mind for solving problems than any constable I've met."
"I see." Mr. Taiel said. "Then we shall be glad to have you."
"I will be glad to assist in any way I can." Ivy walked out the door. "I'll be taking Midnight, Father."
"Of course, Ivy." Ichabod said. "Master Taiel, shall we go?"
"Certainly." Mr. Taiel said, walking toward the carriage. "Will your daughter not be coming in the carriage?"
"No, she likes to take her horse when she's solving problems. It allows her to cover more ground, as she likes to say." Ichabod said as he climbed into the carriage.
"I see." Mr. Taiel climbed in across from Ichabod, and told the driver to start.
It seemed to take hours to saddle Midnight, but it was only a few moments. Without delay, Ivy jumped into the saddle and was galloping beside the carriage. She waved to Ichabod, who laughed and waved back. When they arrived in the woods, Ivy dismounted and led her horse to constables standing and talking.
"Excuse me, sirs," She said. "May I inquire as to where the body was found?"
"This is no matter for young ladies," The constables said.
"I'm Ivy Crane, daughter of Constable Ichabod Crane. He has given me permission to be here."
"Oh, that's different." The constable said. "My name is Master Smith. The body was found here." He said, leading and pointing the way.
Ivy bent to examine the ground as her father's carriage pulled up and he stepped out. She spotted horse shoeprints and followed them, slowly at first, then mounted her horse again. She followed the tracks further into the woods, and to the tree where she had saved Henry. The tracks stopped at the trunk and she dismounted. There were footprints and as she looked at the trunk, she saw that there was an opening. She cautiously looked around in the trunk and stuck her hand in. Ivy felt something stringy, tightened her fingers around it, and pulled it out. It was a severed head, with spots of rotting flesh falling off of it. She dropped it and spun around as she heard a voice behind her.
"So you've found it, have you?" A man's voice said. And he unsheathed his sword and raised it.
Ivy couldn't do anything else but scream, so that's what she did.
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Henry had followed Ivy into the woods. He was worried about her when he had heard about the killing. He knew that it wasn't safe to be alone in the woods. Henry heard the scream from Ivy and also a man's voice. He ran as fast as he could. In the distance, he heard footsteps as they ran behind him. Henry reached Ivy first, but unfortunately too late. He ran for the man as he saw the gleam of light on the sword's blade as it was lowered quickly. Then Ivy's scream was silenced, and Henry heard a sickening thud on the ground.
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HA! HOW'S THAT FOR A CLIFFIE?
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