A Horror / Tragic Story

by Jun Li

I opened the door, to my horror, a few skeletons lay there,

chained on the wall.

Okay, time to recap. I and my friends, Jack and Peter, were

playing around an old, abandoned mansion. We were told that
no one was allowed to enter. However, curiosity overcame us
and we picked the lock, granting us entrance into the sacred lair
of the unknown.

At the sight of the skeletons, the three of us were completely

stunned. Our jaw hung wide open for a few minutes before we
came back to our senses. My sixth sense told me that
something was about to go wrong, so I urged the other two to
back out of the mansion.

Dont be such a chicken, said Jack, with a shaky voice.

Arent you scared too? I challenged him.

Yes, but we might never get the chance to explore here again if
we leave now.

All right, but we leave as soon as the first sign of danger

shows.

We ventured deeper into the mansion. The design looked like

some sort of torture room, or a prison. Even though I was afraid,
I was eager to discover more. Throughout the lair, we did not
lose sight of skeletons or spider webs. These were at every
corner, at every turn. The occasional howls from a distance
made the hair on our backs stand up straight. We finally arrived
at a long hallway. Jack picked up a piece of wood and lighted it
up with his lighter. The flame seared at first, but after it
simmered down, I was able to see the walls clearly. There were
ancient writings, the kind we usually see in an Egyptian grave
robber movie. As the expert in history, Jack tried his best to
decipher the carvings. Meanwhile, Peter leaned towards the wall
to catch his breath. At that very moment, a cold chill went down
my spine.

Watch out! I shouted.

Before he could react, that portion of the wall he was leaning

against flipped, trapping him on the other side. All he could let
out was a loud shriek and he vanished behind the walls. I
pounded against the wall, shouting his name. Only then did I
know what real terror felt like. However, the chance of rescuing
him was bleak. I sank to the ground, desolated and hopeless.

Lets get out of here, we have to inform the adults! suggested

Jack.

I got to my feet swiftly and both of us sped through the building.

My heart was racing. I knew that danger may be waiting at the
next corner. I could hear blood pounding in my ears. Wait, was
that a creak I heard? Uh-oh, I thought to myself. The ceiling
began to crumble. My sub-consciousness took over. I sprang
forward and tackled Jack. Both of us fell to the ground. Just as I

thought that trouble was out of the way, the burning piece of
wood slipped out of his hand and landed in a pile of grease. Fire
started spreading like mad. I struggled to get up.

Come on, theres not much time left! I screamed as I turned

towards the exit.

Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

In a split second, my head turned 180 degrees. A gigantic

marble pillar fell on Jack. I mustered all the strength from every
single cell in my body, trying to lift it up, to no avail. My eyes
were watery. I was completely out of ideas.

Save yourself, leave me, please, muttered Jack, with a weak

tone.

This was certainly a tough decision for me. All the moments we
had spent together flashed through my mind. How could I leave
him now? As the fire was close to sealing my only exit, I knew
that I had to be rational. I dived for my escape route.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as the mansion erupted into

flames behind me.