the journal of literature and the arts at saint david ’ s school
As I hurried back to my bedroom , I almost fell to the floor in the hallway . Pain shot through the bottom of my foot . I looked down as I grasped my injured foot and saw a shiny metal object on the floor . I shined the flashlight downwards and the light revealed a silver rattle . Where did it come from ? Was it left by the previous owners or was I hallucinating ? After the pain slightly eased , I bent down to pick up the compact rattle . But my fingers grabbed at the smooth wooden floor . The rattle was no longer there . I moved the flashlight from left to right , only to see the grooves on the hardwood floor . I must have been tired from the day . I decided to head to my bedroom to let sleep take me through the night .
Lying in bed , I heard a door creak , but I thought nothing of it . It was one o ' clock in the morning , and the sun was nowhere to be seen . The pain in my foot still throbbed . I started wearily dozing . Until I heard a light giggle from a baby .
I rose with a jolt , looking around in the pitch black , thinking it was only a dream . Returning to bed and resting my eyes , my body eased back into sleep .
The laughter of a baby suddenly echoed throughout my house . Instinctively , I hid under the covers , body shaking , goosebumps popping . My quavering voice shouted , “ Hello ?” Only silence answered back .
Then , I heard the creaking of the floorboards outside my room , gradually becoming louder , every second , every step . There was a sudden pause . An eerie silence followed . My heart pounded loudly until the doorknob in my room creaked as it turned .
~ Camden M .
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