Highly Commended Story - The Eerie House

“The Eerie House” by Utomobo Oguname, RA International School, Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria, is the Highly Commended story in the junior category of the first biannual Short Story Contest 2019.

Utomobo Oguname is the first of three children in her family. She has a keen interest in learning. She loves art and is also a very good dancer. Lately, she has started learning how to knit/weave various hairstyles and is becoming proficient at it. Utomobo is also a keen Bible student and has been involved in a worldwide Bible educational program aimed at training young and old ones to be excellent public speakers and teachers.

The Eerie House

Ali stood silently, looking at the door. With a slow creaking sound, it opened. Taking a deep breath, Ali walked inside.

Ali started through the living room, she observed something strange – there was a shadowy figure standing at the passage way. As she walked closely, Ali could hear the thunder rumble across the ghostly room.

It was pouring outside in Peach Tree City, Georgia and the more the shadowy figure came closer the more Ali knew something was wrong. It got hold of Ali’s arm and left Ali in a panic. It swooped away and laughed hysterically.

Then there was a doorbell. Ali (still in panic) tiptoed toward the door. The entire house shook as the door opened. And then, in popped a lovely yet euphoric face.

“Ali!” gasped Millie.

“Millie!” replied Ali with a sigh of relief.

“It’s been so long since I saw your lovely face”, Ali replied.

“And it’s been so long since I’ve seen your friendly face”, Millie responded.

They both gave each other a homely hug.

Now Millie had a flawless soul. She had a passion for fashion – a huge one for that matter. She was actually thinking of opening a boutique. Her love for clothes had vastly grown over the years.

Ali on the other side was a very unruffled and faithful soul – she was very religious. Millie was religious too, but Ali took hers to a whole new level.

“What are you doing here anyway?” queried Millie.

“I am not really sure; I just feel that something isn’t right about this house. Hey, by the way were you the person that touched my hand earlier”, asked Ali.

“Well, I was just strolling by and I saw your bicycle parked outside. So I decided to see if you were here. And em… to answer your question, I wasn’t the one who touched you, I just got here like two minutes ago.” answered Millie.

Then a strange vibration passed by. Ali and Millie perceived the door – for that was where the noise came from. Immediately, they both gawked at each other and made a run for it.

They charged through the corridors, slid by the tables & scattered around the house. Yet their efforts were all in vain – the figure still didn’t give up!

“Ali what do we do know?!” screamed Millie.

“I don’t know I can’t come up with everything!” said Ali desperately.

Finally, they both reached the door but there was one slight problem – the door wouldn’t budge! They pushed, pulled, twisted, dragged but the door just wouldn’t open!

“What’s wrong?” yelled Millie looking out for the shadowy figure.

“It just won’t budge!”

“What won’t?”

“The door dummy. What else?”

“Oh no, the figure!” gasped Millie.

“Millie I’m afraid we just have to give in”, said Ali not knowing what to do.

Now they were trapped – finally! The shadowy figure couldn’t take any more chances – its victims have been caught. The two frightened girls hugged each other supportively.

Their cry for help was of no use – for there was neither a word nor a whisper. The vociferous cry started to wear out.

The two friends were never seen or heard of again.

Till this day, nobody could tell what or who the shadowy figure was – for anyone who went in never came out…