A Haunting: Pick Your Path

You are standing at the door of a seriously creepy old house.  Night is approaching, and you have no idea what could possible be inside.  The realization that you are being incredibly stupid hits you and breaks the strong sense of curiosity that you experienced moments before.  Still, you hesitate for a moment as you try peer into the almost impenetrable gloom of the house’s interior. 

Suddenly you feel an icy cold breeze hit you, the source of which is from inside the house!  A rank smell, like rotting vegetation hits your nostrils and the front door slams in your face with an unnaturally strong force.  You hear a ghostly voice in your ear, as if someone is standing just next to you.   The voice is malevolent and raspy, as if not used for many years,  “GET OUT!!”  

You turn on your heel and leap off the porch like it is on fire.  The rotten smell lingers in the air as you tumble to the ground (again) at Carl and Suzie’s feet.  You have a hard time getting back up; your legs feel weak and rubbery.  The twins grab you by the arms and drag you back on the path.  It is fully dark out now, but there is a full moon low in the sky that provides just enough light to help you along.  It’s still pretty hard going though, it suddenly seems like the path is in a lot worse shape in the dark.  As you approach the gate, you see it is still open, one side swaying back and forth with a tortured squeak as the evening breeze blows through it. 

The three of you surge back through the gate, desperate to be free of the woods.    You are the last to get through; your legs still don’t seem to be functioning quite right.   As you pass under the ornate arch, the doors swing shut behind you with what seems like a supernatural force.  The crash of rusty metal makes you stop in your tracks.  You are almost too frightened to run.  Carl turns around at the sound, and can tell just by the look on your face that you did not pull the gate shut.  He grabs you by the arm and roughly pulls you back towards your house.  Finally you burst through the trees into the open air.  You feel a rush of relief as you see your grandmother’s cozy house with the lit porch light casting a friendly glow.

You part ways with the twins without a word.  You run into the house and lock the door tight behind you.  You and the twins NEVER speak of that day, or the events that took place, and you never, ever go in the forest again.

The End