A Halloween Dream

Written By: Zehra Nasirali
Date: 24th October, 1996

 

Black and dismal with a towering, pointed roof added a dreary look to the haunted castle.  Still, but crooked trees made a whistling sound as it camouflaged the castle in between.  Across the drawn out trees the courtyard appeared, the grass remained un-mowed, withering with age.  The ancestral abode appeared like a pop-up book showing a dark atmosphere of a place uninhabited for centuries.

            The giant door with its Edwardian design was probably a treasure at one time, but over decades, weeds and creepers grew through every vacant crevice.  As I appeared before it, a creaking sound noised as if I was expected.  The gates made way for a passage and I entered.  Darkness enveloped me, but luckily I was prepared with a torch and a box of matches.

            I ventured forward.  The howling noise and the crackling sound of crickets made the whole experience feel like I was lost in time, and speaking of time the clocks were all standstill at the midnight hour.  I took small steps into the vast room of what seemed to be like the living room with large chairs and the table covered in white linen.  At the corner of my eye I noticed a movement other than that of my trembling body, a rocking chair seemed like it was rocking.  This was something like a movie, and I was the bait.  I motioned hurriedly to a fireplace and with such haste I tripped and hit a lever.  Suddenly, two doors slid open to make way to a steep staircase. I started descending with cobwebs at every corner.  I brushed them off my face and finally landed in a grave.  It read ‘Rest in pieces!’ and below were my initials.  I saw all I needed to see.  I started running but from somewhere the melodious lines of unmanned piano scared me even more stiffly.  Panic struck, like a turkey on Thanksgiving, I felt a large hand grab me profusely.  It was my mom waking me up for trick and treating.  There was a sigh of relief as I awoke; lucky it was just a dream or more like a nightmare.

 

Teacher’s Comments: Excellent description!

 

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