Grade 11 - During a silightly depressing period i attempted to write something creepy. I think i'll stick to the lovey dovey stuff instead. Anyway this was a prolouge for a story i never bothered to continue.

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I watched as the limp body was drawn away in the dim light of the lantern.  The pungent smell had seeped its way through the cracks in the window. This wasn’t the first time someone hadn’t made it. Actually it was becoming quite the norm. I was never meant to see any of this but I was drawn to it and fascinated by the form of life, and the by lack of it.

There was a creek from the floor boards outside my room. I soundlessly slipped under the covers of my quilt and waited. Someone paused outside my room only momentarily. There was a flicker of a candle seeping through under the door. It wavered a little more before the light sound of metal scraped across the surface of the hall table outside. I watched as the silver door handle twisted slowly unlatching the door. I closed my eyes as light came flooding in, casting ominous shadows across the room.

“Are you awake Miss Cordell?” the voice of the maid rang out breaking the fragile silence. I kept my eyes shut, hoping to be left alone. The door creaked again letting the darkness return to my chamber. As soon as she was gone I ran back to the window. The cart was gone and the smell of rotting flesh had deluded with the air. Above the rooves and smoking chimney tops there glowed the half moon. It was a dull silver colour not the golden yellow I had been looking for.  Rolling up the sleeves of my night gown I smiled at the paleness of my arm. What torture and delight each scare had brought me. Somewhere down the stairs the old grandfather clock started ringing. Counting each count I got to eleven. Father would be turning in for bed soon. He had been working rather late in the recent weeks.

Standing there watching the puffs of smoke escalate from the chimneys, a vicious shiver ran up my spine. I could hear the screams of mother from all those years ago. Not wanting to dwell on that moment I returned  to bed and waited for the morn.