“The Sleepover Horror”

by Hajar Deriane, 7th Grade 3rd Place Winner

 

On October 30th, three friends decided to have a spooky sleepover at Ally’s house.

“Spooky story time!” Ally said excitedly.

“Bettt!” Joy exclaimed.

Ally turned off the lights, turned on a flashlight, and sat crisscrossed with them, aiming it under her face to cast a creepy shadow.

“Once upon a spooky night,” Ally began, “a girl named Sarah got dared to sneak into the haunted house down the street. She accepted but never came back. Her friends waited, minutes turned to hours, they called the police, and then BOOM! Found her body on the second floor, bones cracked, eyes gone, mouth open, jaw twisted! And the scariest part? It was based on a real story-”

They all jumped as the door opened. The lights flicked on.

Ally’s mom stood there. “What did I say about that story? Not true! Don’t scare your friends.”

“Sorry, Mom..” Ally muttered.

Her mom sighed. “That’s enough scary stuff. No more candy or staying up late.”

“Got it, Mom.”

When she left, Ally smirked. “Guys… you know what’s better than sleeping?”

Sophia and Joy looked at each other, then back at Ally.

Ally smiled like the Grinch.

“I don’t like that smile.” Joy muttered.

“Let’s visit the haunted house! Just a quick second!”

“Hecks no!” Sophia snapped.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Ally pleaded.

“You won’t die,” Ally added nervously. “The story isn’t real… probably.”

“Fine!” Sophia groaned.

They climbed out the window, and ran through the chilly night until the haunted house loomed ahead.

Ally entered first, screamed, then burst out laughing.

“Everything’s fine! Come in!” she said.

They explored the dusty rooms until a glass cup suddenly fell in the kitchen.

“Probably the wind,” Ally said.

Joy frowned. “We’re in a house, idiot. There’s no wind!”

“…Whatever..” Ally muttered.

Then Sophia’s eyes blinked rapidly. The lights flickered, lamps buzzed, and the air turned icy cold. Joy’s voice trembled. “Uh, Sophia? Stop messing around.”

But Sophia didn’t answer.

She started levitating

“WHAT THE—” Ally began.

“FUDGE ON THE CHOCOLATE CAKE?!” Joy shouted.

“Sophia, stop! You’re scaring us!” Ally cried.

Sophia’s limbs twisted at sharp angles, her hair stood up, and her jaw hung sideways as her eyes rolled back.

Both girls screamed and bolted out of the house, sprinting toward Ally’s home.

“Wait—what about Sophia?!” Joy yelled.

“I don’t care! That’s not Sophia! She’s possessed or something!” Ally shouted.

“This was your idea!”

“Sorry! I didn’t know the story was true!”

They stopped, panting, the night silent.

…

Joy whispered, “We have to do something…”

…

The end..?

(Inspired by Stranger Things)