If Only I Had Listened

• Nisha Koya, Grade 6, Richard Johnson Anglican School
• Short Story
• 2016

Excellence Award in the 'Word Zone 2016' competition

“Got to keep running, got to keep running,” I whispered to myself. I hid behind an old, wooden house, which seemed to be slightly tilted to the left. I saw multiple lights pass by. Trying not to be seen, I entered the house through an open, back door that had one of its window smashed.
Inside, everything seemed to be made of wood, besides the cutlery and picture frames. A small, white piece of paper was on the table. Since I was slightly bored, I started to pretend that I was the one and only ‘Sherlock Holmes’. I turned the piece over and the two words I read, made me slightly worried. ‘LEAVE NOW’.
Thinking that it was a hoax, I ignored the warning. I wanted to continue my investigation of the gloomy dark home. All the windows were blocked by wooden boards. Whoever lived here obviously didn’t want any visitors. There was a staircase leading to another floor but it seemed like it was about to give way at any moment.
My eyes followed the creaky slabs of wood up until an open door seemed to be quite obvious. There was something giving light in the room. Letting curiosity get the better of me, I decided to check it out. I placed my large shoe onto the first step. I leaned forward. A massive creaking noise came from under my foot. I was 100% sure that someone had heard me. With my heart beating at one hundred miles per hour, I hurried up the stairs.
I looked to the side to see what else there was to find. It was what I was expecting which was a dark hallway with shut, crumbling doors and a chair to the side yet there was something else. A faint figure was standing smack bang in the middle of the hall. It was tall and hazy.
Thinking it was just my imagination, I continued my journey into the lit up room. The source of the sunset glow was a skinny candle. Nothing had scared me out, yet. Just when I thought I was ok, I saw a rocking chair in the corner doing exactly what it was made to do. Rock.
I took a step back, almost losing my balance. This time another creaking noise was made but it wasn’t coming from me. The figure I had seen in the hallway had gotten closer, way too close.
I wanted to run, I had to run, but I couldn’t. Fear had overwhelmed me and I was frozen. I was practically glued to the floor. The door from where I had entered had been shut. I remembered the note on the table. If only I had listened!
Instantly I was tearing up. “Please, please, let me be!” I was begging for my life to a ghost who didn’t care. I was overwhelmed by an ice-cold wind and then everything went blank, the rest is all a blur.