The story takes place in southern Alabama along the Tensaw River in the year 1852, twenty years after the Indian Creek massacre of1832. Rose lives a very sheltered life until she reaches the age of twelve when her adventures begin.
In this first story, Rose meets Mrs. Stone and thinks she is a witch seeking to make a ghoul. She needs virgin blood, her blood. She screams to her mother, and her teacher, but no one will listen.