When Darkness Falls A cloud of dust and sharp stones flew up as the bikes skidded on the dirt road. The sky was illuminated with a fluorescent, tangerine sunset and wispy clouds. The sun was raging and the girls were slippery with sweat.
Kirsty leapt of her bike and grinned as she spotted something in the near distance. Her short, jet black hair was glistening in the sun and her green eyes shone like emeralds. Kirsty placed her helmet on her bike with her olive hands.
Maya carefully got off her bike, resting it by a dead tree. Maya’s was wearing a pink- hat and her long blond hair sat neatly in a bun on her head.
“What is it?” asked Maya. “Why did we stop?”
The girls had been riding home from school when Kirsty had suddenly stopped.
“Look May, it’s the old prison!” Kirsty ran towards the ancient, abandoned prison.
“You seriously aren’t going in there, are you?” Maya shuddered. “Haven’t you heard, that place is haunted at night!”
“Exactly,” said Kirsty. “At night! We’ll be out before it gets dark”.
“But Kirsty...”
Kirsty had escaped into the brick building before Maya could complain so she hesitantly ran off after her.
Inside the prison it smelt like rotting fish, it was quite dark and the floor was like walking on ice. A dripping tap echoed through the building and some bricks had been knocked out of place in the wall. It was cooler inside. Outside it was like a sauna.
“Kirst, our parents are gonna be really worried,” complained Maya.
“Look May, we won’t stay long all right? But if you really want to go then go,”
Maya sighed and followed after Kirsty.
“Let’s play!” cried Kirsty. “You be the criminal and I’ll be the guard.”
The two girls giggled and strutted about as they played prisoners.
“You’re not getting any food tonight Missy! Now give me ten push-ups!”
Suddenly a gust of wind blew in from a shattered window and the door behind them jammed shut.
The girls looked at each other in horror. Maya ran to the door frantically trying to pull it open. The two friends pulled on the door until their arms felt like logs of solid concrete.
The girls sat on the cold, concrete floor, exhausted and speechless.
“Shoot,” cried Maya suddenly, “It’s nearly dark!”
As the sun set and nightfall approached, all that could be heard was the dripping tap and noisy cicadas who sounded as if they were having a massive party.
A glowing object appeared from down the hallway. There was a clattering of rushed steps. A tall man appeared from the shadows, approaching the girls with a lantern and a face that looked like it hadn’t slept in years. Hairs stood up on the back of Maya and Kirsty’s neck.
“Keep it down will ya!” he bellowed. The man was dressed in a peculiar manner, a black buttoned t-shirt and sailors cap.
“Sir, please help us! We’re jammed in!” cried Maya.
“You must be very loopy if ya think I’m gonna let you criminals out.”
The girls looked at each other puzzled.
Kirsty leapt out of her skin as she felt a cold hand being placed on her shoulder.
Both girls screamed as a madman who was laughing hysterically tried to reach into their pockets. The man had appeared from the neighbouring cell and looked exactly like an evil scientist. At that moment a loud chorus of wails and cries broke out of each jail cell. The girls then noticed three guards brushing their bommey-knockers along the rusted poles.
The two friends huddled together shivering like wrecks. They were so frightened; it was as if it was still the 1920’s, when the jail was actually running.
All of a sudden a cloud of dust filled the air and everything went quiet. The girls looked up, nothing was there and the door was open!
Kirsty and Maya, both speechless, shuffled to the door and ran like maniacs back to their bikes.
When the girls arrived home both their parents were waiting for them looking worried. After they had explained the whole story and they were left alone Kirsty looked hard at Maya. “Well May, the big question is, were they real, or not?”
- By Camille Chorley and copyright of Camille Chorley!!!!
