The Carving Ghost

3rd Place, 5th Grade

by Lauren Barnes, Thomas County Middle School

“C’mon! Don’t be a scaredy cat!.” My friend yelled at me. “It’s not even scary, it’s just an old house. Plus, the rumors are fake about The Carving Ghost.” “If you say so.” I responded back. We entered the creaky old house that our entire school had been talking about since September, and it’s currently October. When I saw an old staircase, I felt an unnerving chill go up my back. As we ran up it, I swore I felt something behind me whispering, “get out…” “See, what did I tell y- AHH!!!” My friend exclaimed in pain. I could see a black-ish figure carving out something on my friend’s back. She was stuck in a standing position, and she couldn’t move a muscle. We ran into an old moldy room as fast as we could when she was free from the ghosts grip. She told me to read what had been carved. It read, “Run children, away away. But you will always be my prey.” She froze as I read her the horrid sentence written on her back. We noticed an antique portrait of an elderly woman as soon as her eyes came to life. She spoke and told us of a secret passageway to escape this horror house. We were directed to pull a secret lever in the library that disclosed a hidden pathway. We followed her direction, and pulled the lever. The Carving Ghost stood before us, and lunged towards us. The only thing we could do was hope. We joined hands and chanted, “Our hope can defeat evil.” Suddenly, the Ghost started fading away before our eyes. We couldn’t believe that worked! We ran down the passageway that led us to the exit. I bust the door open, and we ran for our lives. When we were a far distance away, I could see the house fading away. Nothing but ash was left, and all the souls were free from The Carving Ghost.