Creeped

• Nairi Kalenderian, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2019

The feeling of not being alone surrounded me in the air as I approached the house. I went past the naked trees with their long fingers in a grabbing motion, looking like they were ready to pounce. The grass, dead and dark, the sky grey and roaring with thunder and flashing lightning filled the night sky. The mist rose high making it impossible to see, as I cautiously stepped over the muddy ground through the fog a house stood there in front of me, like it was sleeping with one eye open. For a window lit up and glooming in the darkness.
As I pushed the gate aside it creaked loudly and made an annoying noise, causing a group of crows to fly out of the trees nearby and squawk about, almost tipping me over.
Spooked, I heard a noise coming from behind. I cautiously turned around and saw the entrance of the house, which I came through. I looked around eagerly trying to find my friend.
"Lily?" I called out wearily. I looked around nervous, like something was about to jump out and grab me. "Um... Lily? Are you there?" I asked. Thinking this must be a joke, she was probably hiding and sooner or later is going to run out and say “Gotcha!”
But I was wrong. I stood there for what felt like half an hour, searching in the darkness with my eyes. I decided to move on because she might be in the house. I crept forward slowly, watching my every step and looking at my surroundings. The house drew nearer and I ended up at the bottom of the stairs. The wind blew through my hair and sent a shiver down my spine, the hairs at the back of my neck stood on end and goosebumps rose all over my arms and legs.
The door stood open like a mouth waiting for its prisoner to come in and swallow me whole. As I tiptoed up the staircase and into the house, I could feel eyes everywhere, watching and waiting. It was pitch black, I was like an elephant walking on those floorboards, every step I made a sound. Suddenly, creaking and shuffling noises blew in my ears and I froze. Having the temptation to draw my eyes away, but I couldn't help but stare at the pair of red and white eyes shooting a painful look at me.