S H O RT S TO R I E S F R O M T H E G LO B A L C LA S S R O O M |
2014
The interior of the house burned her eyes as she entered. A hideous chandelier hung swinging on a purple ceiling
above her, coated in deceased flies and moths. It was built from what appeared to be rotten sticks and leaves that
occasionally fluttered to the floor. The paint on each wall was chipping away, revealing bright yellow under a faded
pitch-black. The house conveyed that it had been neglected for years.
‘It needs a little work, but I believe it could be great, don’t you?’ Her mother stood beside her. There was no response.
She merely gaped at the ghastly sight before her.
‘You’ll begin to like it.’ Her mother nudged past her, ruffling her dark brown hair as she went into the kitchen ahead.
Finally, after about five minutes of motionless staring, she allowed herself to move. As she slid her toes forward, she
heard a booming thud that reverberated off the repellent walls, causing her to cease her movements once again.
The noise lingered in the air, pounding in her ears, consequently making her head throb violently. It was as if the
booming noise shook the whole structure of the house.
‘What was that sound? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? What happened?’ Alice, her mother, charged into the
room and began inspecting Becca for any injuries while clutching her arm.
‘I’m fine.’ She shook herself free of her panicked mother’s grip. In response to this, the paranoia was swept from
Alice’s face and replaced with confusion. What could have made that booming noise?
Just then, a blood-curdling howl, like the squealing of a boiling teapot, poured out of the cupboard under the stairs.
The girl dropped to the floor, her hands clenching her ears. The scream made every light on the ceiling flicker
ferociously until they blew sparks, making it as black as pitch inside the house. The only source of light was the eerie
glow that illuminated from under the door of the cupboard that the squeal had come from. But not only was there
a light, but an ominous shadow also protruded from the cupboard … It resembled the sinister shape of a hunched
figure; contorted and misshapen. Then, it started. Soft, menacing laughter.
As it echoed throughout the house, the shadow began to grow larger and larger until it consumed the entire
residence.
‘Mom,’ her mother heard her daughter’s voice, however it was not the voice she recognized. It was as if her daughter
had struggled for air, for she had called for her mother in a whisper. In response to this, Alice tilted her chin down
to the floor where her daughter had collapsed.
‘Becca!’ Her mother crumbled to the ground next to her daughter, who was fighting for breath. She was choking.
The silhouette had engulfed the child, winding its black tendrils around her fragile neck.
As Becca’s mother strived to wrench the wicked shadow off her helpless daughter, the groaning of an opening door
caused it to release its grip on its own. Gagging and panting, Becca and her mother watched in bewilderment and
fear as the shadow slithered back through the cupboard door like a cowardly snake.
‘What. Was. That?’ questioned Becca, filling her lungs in between each word. Her mother simply shook her head,
gazing in the direction in which the silhouette had crawled.
Once she caught her breath, attentively, Becca pulled herself to her feet and began