This Puzzle Has a Hook for a Hand

[storypaint]

Title: This Puzzle Has a Hook for a Hand
Length: 194 words
Prompt: Professor Layton (Anon) Fan Meme: A Professor Layton scary story.
Pairing: Layton and Luke gen
Other: dialogue-fic
Excerpt: "Scary stories! You have to tell scary stories around a campfire. It's practically a rule."

"So, here we are, Luke. The wilderness."

"Do you hear all of the night animals? It's so cool!"

"Indeed."

"...Professor, I just had a thought."

"Yes, my boy?"

"We have a campfire, we have a tent, and we have the woods. We just need one more thing for the perfect camping experience."

"What's that?"

"Scary stories! You have to tell scary stories around a campfire. It's practically a rule."

"A rule, hmm?"

"Tell a story, Professor!"

"...Well, all right. There was once an archaeologist and his apprentice..."

****

"Professor, it's not a scary story because there's an unsolvable puzzle."

"Oh? I rather thought so."

"Fine, I'll tell one. There once was a girl who wore a yellow ribbon around her neck--"

"--So her head didn't fall off?"

"You're not suppoed to spoil it! That ruins the fun!"

"Quite right, I'm sorry. Go on."

"No, that's no good now. Okay, how about this one? There was a young couple that parked on the side of the road--"

"--And met the hook-handed man?"

"..."

"Er, sorry."

"...Fine. There once was a man who picked up a young girl hitchhiking--"

"--Who turned out to be a ghost hitchhiker?"

"...Professor, I'm going to bed."

"What about your story?"

"Just... never mind."