Shadows in the Night: Different Shadows

Different kinds of dark shadows seemed to flit about in every direction on a cold, eerie October night.

Tracey and his older brother, Bradley, cautiously approached an old house several miles from home. Rumors had been circulating about this old house being haunted. Everyone had laughed at first, but Bradley and Tracey decided to check it out after hearing the sheriff’s account of his experience earlier that week.

“We could investigate it,” Bradley had suggested.

The sheriff had laughed at them.

“Stay away from there! That’s not a safe place for children to play.”

That night, as soon as their parents were asleep, Bradley and Tracey tiptoed outside. As they headed down the gravel road towards the old house, dark shadows seemed to jump out at them.

“I don’t like shadows in the night,” Tracey said, with a quivering voice.

From a distance, they could see what appeared to be different shadows inside the house too, unlike anything either of them had ever seen before.

“See, even that old house has its own shadows,” replied Bradley. He saw the frightened look on his brother’s face. “You scared?”

“Not me.” Tracey lied, tightening his hood. “I’m shivering because I am cold.”  

 “Something is not right!” said Bradley, as they approached the iron gate.

“Look,” whispered Tracey. “That weird shadow looks like someone dancing.”

“It can’t be. No one lives here.”

“What is that then?”

“I don’t know, but I am curious. Be quiet. Don’t move one inch!” ordered Bradley. “I’ll find out what they are.”

“Don't leave me,” Tracey pleaded but it was too late, as Brad disappeared into the darkness of the night. 

“Help!” screamed Tracey inwardly. He felt frozen in time, like a statue standing guard at the gate.

Gaining entrance to the old house, through an open, cellar window appeared to be easy for Bradley, as he was not very big. As he looked back, Tracey seemed to become another dark shadow.

“Do I really want to do this?”

Bradley was beginning to have second thoughts.

“I have to go in. If I don’t, I will never know the truth.”