My curiosities
By: Alyssa Hawes
I couldn’t help but wonder why the house across the street was so conserved. I constantly catch myself inspecting the house throughout the window in my bedroom. It has been empty for years. The pristine gray paint chipping off, the aged wooden stairs rotting and windows cracked and shattered. I was laying in bed, unable to sleep. I decided to satisfy my curiosities and adventure to this house. I quickly crept out my front door. The night was dull and silent. Stepping up on to the porch my foot fell through the wood. Carefully pulling out my leg I stood up. Inching closer to the door my heart began to race. I reached forward and grasped the rusted door knob. Surprisingly it was unlocked. I walked in, I stood there dumbfounded; what am I suppose to expect? Trembling further into the house, barely able to see even my own hand, I plunged downward. I landed hard onto my back, coughing and gasping for a breath of air. I was then awakened by the unbearable smells traveling through the air. I ran my hand across the wall. Residue of water and dirt settled onto my fingers. Where am I wondered? A loud buzzing noise began to echo through the tight enclosed room. I heard footsteps on the floor above me. Thinking quickly, I hid behind an old washer and dryer. Able to hear myself breathe, I sat in silence. The lights begin to flicker on, my eyes adjusted to the bright light. I could hear the presence of someone. Their feet splashing in the puddles scattered on the floor. What am I suppose to do?, they were getting closer. Who could it be?, I wondered inconsistently. Should I run back to my house? My head was pondered with questions. The footsteps had stopped. I peeked out and glanced around. That’s when I saw the figure of a tall skinny man. He had short gray hair that was slicked back like if he were from the movie grease. He wore a red and black flannel that had rips and tears up and down the sleeves. As I was looking at the man he stared at me, his eyes wide open. I got up slowly and ran for the stairs to the left side of the room. I glanced back and saw him chasing after me. I wanted to run back to my house, but I was too afraid to stop, so I kept running straight ahead. I began to get that annoying burning pain in my side, I looked back, he was still trembling after me, there was no way I could stop. My sprint has now became a slow jog. I stopped when I ran upon and alley way to catch my breath. “the man?” “where did he go?”. The alley was dark and musty. At the end I saw a shadow lurking. I quickly looked around for somewhere to hide. I stepped aside into a dark corner. He walked slowly inspecting the alley. I pushed my body up against the wall as close as I could. I watched him walk past me. When I saw that he had reached the end of the alley I stepped out and began to walk home. “yes, I did it!” Just when I thought I had won and gotten away, he grabbed my arm tightly. I struggled trying to get myself loose from his strong grip. I felt hopeless. Tears began to well up in the corners of my eyes. “Let me go!” I couldn't help shouting. But I knew that anything I would say, wasn’t going to change his mind. It was over, I had lost. He caught me and there’s no going back.
That happened three years ago today and he still has me hostage. I haven’t seen my family since. I now live in the house that I once was so curious about, but now I am disgusted. I spend day by day looking out at my house, wondering if there will ever be another day that I can go back home, go back and see my family. But I have came to learn that as of right now, he has no intentions of letting me go. My curiosities got me here, and now I can never go back to the life I once to new.
