In the eerie woods

Crack. As the thunder and lightning lashed out like a whip tormenting its victims, I desperately searched for the rest of my class. I did not understand how the weather could have changed so quickly: the sky looked like a battlefield, bloody and wounded. Suddenly, I heard rustling next to me, I shuddered, not wanting to think about the mysteries of this haunted forest. Overhead, I noticed something crouching on a branch. Hands shaking, I grasped the edge of my hood as if that could protect me from whatever was hiding in the murky darkness. As I crept closer to a tree, I saw a crow perching on one of the thin, eerie branches. I told myself that this could just be a coincidence, just any bird, it certainly didn’t mean… death?

Telling myself to look away from the crow, my gaze landed upon a strange building. It was covered in grey, dirty stone and had sculptures of griffins and wolves. A large mahogany door creaked open, its hinges wailing like a banshee. The darkness inside dared me to look away, and the trees bent over the entrance, their thin arms forming an ominous arch over the doorway. The sky wore a sinister cloak; each stitch filled with misery. Compelled, I inched towards the mysterious door. Knocking tentatively, I stepped inside. It was like I was a magnet drawn to something or someone inside. “Hello?” I called, my heartbeat running a marathon.

Suddenly, a light snapped on, banishing the darkness.

Gasping, I fingered the stone wall on which portraits hung, swaying creepily as though pushed by an invisible hand.

One of the paintings looked eerily like my grandma, and it took me back in time.

I was at the funeral, my mother and father weeping quietly, my grandfather mourning in his silent way. As I gazed at the coffin, I thought about the eulogy the priest had said, it was probably what he said to everyone, but to me my grandmother was more. Deeper, kinder, smarter than anyone. She had died still mourning the loss of her only son, my uncle. My memories of her were happy, joyful, full of love and laughter.

Crash. I jumped. Startled, my eyes widened when I saw what had made the sound. Perching calmly, by a piece of broken glass, the crow from the woods glared at me, as if accusing me of disturbing it.

Breaking away from the raven’s evil power, I gulped and treaded on the first step of a towering, menacing staircase. The moon seemed to cast eerie shadows on the creaking steps and the crow squawked angrily behind me, mocking me at my fear.

What if the staircase collapses? What am I even doing here? Why is my grandma’s portrait on the wall? Doesn’t broken glass mean 7 years of bad luck?

What seemed like hours and millions of questions later, I dared to look up. Shuddering, I glanced around at the threadbare carpet, the shattered windows. What happened here? I inched closer towards one of the scratched, dusty doors. Each step seemed to take a century. My breath slowed. My heart beat like a crazy drum.

Suddenly the temperature dropped. I glanced up, my senses alerted of something there. Something at the end of the corridor. Shuffling closer and closer…