A Ghost Story… by Harry 7MS

The wind shrieked menacingly through the gloomy trees’ long tendrils, like a bellowing king, shouting in fury. Shadows slowly crept up on the terrified, disorganised boys, like a satanic midnight wolf sneaking up on its unknowing prey. Sam and James, two thirteen year old boys, had been walking through the ancient wood for hours, utterly drenched by the harsh rain, from the intense storm still raging on.  That’s when the old, mountainous trees began to slowly clear out and the panic-stricken, almost hopeless, boys spotted the colossal silhouette, perched on a rocky hill, like a pitch black raven perched on a branch…

It was a crumbling, wooden, dark mansion – the front was lined with large, eerie, oval windows, completely smothered in dust. Sharp, squat, rusty metal poles stuck out of the roof, slightly wonky because of the enormous, powerful storm.  Old wooden planks protruded in some places, and parts of it were going green; this place was abandoned and it had been for a long time.

Yet inside, it looked a warm, welcoming, jolly old place, almost luring in the two boys. Although they were slightly apprehensive, Sam and James were so relieved to find a house, and so desperate to get out of the rain, they barely noticed that they were slowly trudging towards the front door. They wanted to go inside. They needed to go inside! So they approached the heavy door, and heaving it aside, crept in.

As Sam swiftly lit a candle, which he placed on the floor, James slammed the door shut behind them.

“Finally, shelter!” gasped James, breathing heavily as he leant against the huge door. A long, obvious, white wire connected a tiny switch to a huge old light bulb hanging just above the next room

The light slowly flickered on as Sam quickly flicked the switch. The light, even though dim, illuminated the room, revealing it was swamped with sticky, white cobwebs. The two poor, innocent boys, looked at each other and slowly gulped – they had no choice.

Clutching each other’s shivering shoulders, Sam and James speedily marched to the other side of the room, only to find a humungous spiral staircase. The entire staircase was constructed of wood, but over the many years out in the desolate woods, it had become tired and decrepit. That’s when they heard it.

Terrified, they listened – a horrifying wail echoed down the stairs. The boys weren’t sure why (maybe curiosity or a sudden burst of courage) but they both began to walk up the staircase in eerie unison. A chill ran down both boys’ spines as another, louder moan echoed down the stairs. Both boys heaved a huge sigh as they got to the top, as they saw a tiny, tortoiseshell kitten, trapped under a plank of wood.

“Phew!” sighed James, lifting the plank off the injured kitten.  He sat, calmed, stroking the kitten. But something else had caught Sam’s attention. An ancient, framed painting was pinned to the wall in a room ahead of them, of a bearded, Victorian man.

Both boys now apprehensively crept into the mysterious room – a library! Every wall was covered in bookcases, and shelves were lined with malevolent busts.

Suddenly, the door slammed and a screech roared loudly out of the painting. Sam’s own thoughts flashed before his eyes. This was not a warm, welcoming, jolly old place! It was a sick, Victorian madhouse! Both boys kicked and slammed at the door, tears slowly rolling down their faces.

Ten years later…

“As you can see, the house is massive!” spoke the estate agent, guiding the wealthy couple around the house.  But he had spotted something very strange.  In the middle of a wall, in a massive library, sat a painting of a sinister Victorian man.  Also, beside him stood two modern-looking boys, petrified and weeping.