“Lost Friend”

by Aditri Pasumarti, 4th Grade 2nd Place Winner

 

Dark storm clouds dimmed the sun, and May was making her way home after school through the forest trail, while playing with her favorite necklace. She stopped when a knocked down tree blocked her path, and she took a turn. Minutes later, she found an old abandoned house. I’ve never seen anything like it! she thought. The house had molding wood, which was dark and purple like a witch’s robe. Something made her want to go inside, like it was calling her. 

She made her way into the house through the black stone doors. SMACK! The door slammed shut behind her. “Is… anyone here?” she whispered. In front of her were 4 hallways with turns and doors, like a maze. 

“Mayyyyyy…” the wind spoke. Her face turned pale. She knew the voice. 

“J-Jake?” she said out loud. 

As if it were alive, the wind whispered back, “Come…”.

“JAKE!” she screamed, running toward the voice, past rooms filled with blood and bones. “JAKE, ARE YOU HERE?!” she cried. Suddenly, a room in front of her began to glow. The door was marked with a large red ‘X’. BANG! BANG! The door started to crack. Her feet froze. 

“May!” A voice from behind her called out. She turned around, shocked.

“Jake?” she whispered. In front of her was her best friend, the one that died years ago. She held on to the necklace he gave her, the day before he died. Tears came down as she ran to hug him.

“There’s no time,” he warned. “You shouldn’t be here—”

The door burst open. A massive beast, eyes glowing red, and claws dripping blood, crawled out.

“RUN!” Jake yelled. They sprinted through the maze. The beast growled and on all fours, started to chase them. 

“ What is all of this, I thought you were dea-” 

“Now is not the time May!” 

The beast got closer and closer. Just then, they took a turn right, and they hit a dead end. 

“Jake…” May said, her eyes wide with fear. Turning around, they looked up. The beast was staring down with saliva dripping from its mouth. Before May could think, the beast grabbed Jake by his shirt.

“NOOO!” May yelled and jumped to grab Jake’s hand.

“ NO, RUN AND SAVE YOURSELF!” Jake yelled back at her as he fought to escape the beast. Hearing this, the beast reached for May. 

“AAAAAA!” she screamed. She squeezed her eyes shut and jumped backwards. The claws reached her just enough to scratch her neck. Instead, they reached Jake. A horrifying scream escaped from his mouth. Silence. 

May sat up in bed, shaking and covered in sweat. Just a dream, she told herself. Jake has been dead for years. Beep. Beep. 3:00 a.m. She walked to her window. In it, she saw her reflection and gasped. Her necklace was gone. A scar was on her neck where the beast had scratched her. Outside, something moved, a shadow, chewing on something. Or maybe… it was someone.