It was a cold autumn day, cloudy and overcast, with the wind whistling through the already bare trees, as the students exited the high school. Fall had come far earlier than usual, and the days leading up to Halloween were chilly and hinting at winter. Bradley, August, Betty, and Harry walked out the doors and down the stairs leading to the buses.
“Did you hear about the mansion on the hill being renovated?” Betty asked curiously.
“Yeah, there’s stories about it being haunted!” Bradley responded, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes.
“I kinda want to go in and see for myself,” Harry admitted, his face red.
“Let’s go tonight! Everyone will be asleep, so we won’t get caught.” August exclaimed, pushing her glasses up her nose and her brunette hair falling around her face . As they went home, Bradley thought, This is going to be awesome!
“To the mansion!” The four teens cheered as they made their way to the top of the hill and entered the mansion. The old black doors creaked open, and they found themselves in a long hallway filled with doors.
“Which door should we open first?” August asked nervously. They looked around, and realized that Harold was missing.
“Did.. he go in a door without us?” Betty exclaimed. Everyone groaned, and they went into the door closest to them. All of a sudden, a group of bats came screeching through, and they ducked. August shrieked, and as suddenly as they came, the bats vanished. Bradley glanced toward August, only to see that she and Betty were gone, the only trace being August’s glasses lying crooked on the floor.
“Betty?” he called out, looking around. “August?” No one answered. Bradley stumbled out of the room, feeling like he had just jumped into an icy lake, scared and wanting to go home. He tripped,and felt a rush of cold air as the floor rushed up to meet him. Then, the mansion vanished, and he found himself in his bed, shaking like a leaf, and realized it was all a dream.
THE END
Abigail Morrissey, Age 13
Grade 8