The Haunted Orphanage
Sukriti Mandal, 11 years
It was a restless and eerie midnight, the kind often described in horror stories. Ron, a lively 11-year-old orphan boy, couldn’t sleep no matter how hard he tried. Thirsty, he tiptoed across the room, only to trip and tumble onto the bed of his best friend, Fred Wormwood, waking him with a start.
‘Who is it? Fred startled.
‘It’s me, Ron! An’ keep your voice down! Ron hissed, explaining his midnight wanderings. Suddenly, they heard a faint sound of boots coming through the window, and driven by curiosity, adventurous duo crept to the garden, where they nervously approached a man in a white shirt standing in the shadows. “Excuse me Sir but who are you?” Ron asked timidly.
“Mr. Patil” the man replied, letting out a spine-chilling laugh. “And your names, boys?”
“Fred Wormwood” stammered Fred.
“Ron Burns” Ron added cautiously.
“Ron Burns and Fred Wormwood, you two are very intelligent” said Mr. Patil. “The school director’s great grandfather, an officer in the Indian Independence War, killed me and my entire family. Now I walk as a restless sprit.”
Ron and Fred were horrified to hear this. Mr. Patil continued “My only objective to come here is to treat the director and all the children of this orphanage as the officer had treated me and my family. See you two again tomorrow.” Saying this Mr. Patil disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The next morning Ron and Fred told everyone except their director about Mr. Patil. Everyone started trembling with fear and shock. Ron told them, “That man is coming tonight. We must empty the school and move to an open area. Then when the spirit has done its business, we shall run back to our school and inform the authorities.’’ They all agreed with him.
Night came. Fred and Ron gathered all their friends and led them to the woods. They all waited there packed together as sardines.
By now, the director had noticed that there were no children in the orphanage. So he put on his slippers and went to investigate about this matter. He went to the school grounds.
Meanwhile Mr. Patil’s spirit had reached the grounds. He saw the director of the school coming toward him. He pulled out his right hand. The director was shocked to see him. Before he could say anything, a jet of purple light set out from Mr. Patil’s outstretched hand and hit the director. After a few horrible moments, Mr. Patil and the director’s body vanished into thin air.
The children of the orphanage were watching this. They did not make a single noise for a couple of minutes. It was Fred who found his tongue first and he said that they must go back to the school premises and call the authorities. They did so.
The people from the authorities arrived and they interviewed Ron and Fred and this incident made the news.
Meanwhile, the government appointed a wise person to take the place of the director. St. Brutus School and Orphanage stayed normal and peaceful ever after.
By: SUKRITI MANDAL
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
