Echoing Walls

• Kareena Wang, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2022

I closed my workbook for the final time. And crawled onto my bed. I pulled out my phone. And started sending my final message to Ella and I crawled in bed.

I heard heavy footsteps, each pound at the rattling gust off the wind. My heart was beating as fast as a stopwatch. The footsteps became closer. Then it stopped but instead the shadows loomed in my room. I heard more pounding. They were coming. Or whatever was coming.

I braced myself. The noise stopped again. The wind howled louder. I can almost hear a clear voice in these echoing walls. I heard the creaks on the door, buried myself inside the blankets not knowing what would happen. The shadow faded out of sight. I felt a shiver run down my spine sending me to the spot in the deepest and darkest part of the ocean.

Could this be it? Or is it ghost? Ghosts aren’t alive and they only come from story books. A little figure. My heart was beating like a drum. I heard nothing now but the mutters and the mumbles in this world as if my hearing turned it down.

Sounds echoed. Could this be? Ghosts from the haunted house at the end of my street. The rain became heavier and I could hear as every drop plummeted down the ground. I heard the creaking of the door again. To see a clear shadow. I looked to see a mini figure coming closer, I threw a blanket over me. The creaking of the door was louder. Then I heard a loud screech and the metal clanging on the door. A person holding a knife? I jumped in horror as the door opened with a crash. It was a small figure and I felt the whole world crash onto me.

“Hullo,” I heard a small peep.

Fear was trembling inside me. The shadow loomed. Wait I thought. Would a mass murderer say hello to its victim? Whatever the person is, his voice sounds like my brother’s. I looked at the shadow closer.

“Ian?” I whispered.

The little figure climbed closer. I grabbed my phone and turned on the torch. My brother climbed up.

“So it is you,” I said angrily.

I pulled him beside me and pulled the blankets over. I played on my pillow. Maybe this day wasn’t that bad. Or whatever my exam is tomorrow. I’ll get it over and done with.