The Green Lady

• Kara Kelly, Grade 6, St Mary's Anglican Girls' School -
• Short Story
• 2018

Excellence Award in the 'Write Along 2018' competition

I was sitting at my desk, pouring my words onto the blank page. I was trying to record the recent past events. It was terrifying!

The moon was full, and the wind was cold. It was another Halloween in Crathes, Scotland and I celebrated, as I often did, by watching some spooky films. But this year was different than the rest. I was alone. My parents were away on business, and my friends were camping with their families. I was watching a Scottish movie about a castle in my town called Crathes Castle. This place was supposed to be haunted by a spirit called the Green Lady. She spent her nights creeping around in a green dress and scaring the living daylights out of anyone who dared to enter the castle.

I was intrigued, as most teenagers are. I had been to Crathes Castle as a kid, but I did not dare go near the dark haunted towers. They were covered with thick green vines, almost as to keep people from entering. I wasn’t scared anymore though. It was Halloween after all, and I was just a carefree 16-year-old looking for adventure. I hopped in my mini cooper and made my way to the Castle. I didn’t see many people on the street. Most trick or treaters had gone home, belly aches in tow.

I drove up the long, bumpy hill towards the fortress. I stepped out of my car and noticed a thick fog creeping low through the trees. I reached into my warm hoodie pocket and took out my flashlight. I scanned the area. Looked safe enough! I pushed my way through the thick bushes and vines towards the Castle tower. I twisted the handle on the old, creaky door and it opened. I hesitantly walked in and looked around the dusty, stale room. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind me. I franticly pulled on the door. It was stuck. Heart pounding, I slowly walked towards the hallway.

A cold chill went through my veins. There, on the stairs, was the Green Lady! I screamed and ran to the door but when I looked back, she was gone! I then heard very familiar giggles coming from upstairs. My two foolish, and mischief-maker friends came thundering down, one of them wearing an old, velvet green dress. They got me! They knew I had plans to go to the castle and pretended to go camping so they could trick me. No better time for a trick than on Halloween. However, I would have preferred a treat. Once we all stopped laughing, we made our way through the cool, foggy night and back to my car. As we drove off, something caught my eye in the rear-view mirror. My blood ran cold again. It was the haunting image of the Green Lady floating a foot above the ground and glaring at me in anger.

Since that day, we never stepped foot on the Crathes castle grounds again.