My Short Stories

Chapter 5

A Silver Bell, A Loud Shriek And A Shy Stranger

My grandma always told me stories. Of all those stories my favourite was about a silver bell.

The story goes like that there is a silver bell somewhere far away in a village. They say that whoever rings that bell turns out to be successful and rich.

I never believed her stories but somehow it sounded  interesting. A bell that could turn you into successful, who wouldn't want that?

But when my grandma died and she left her belongings to me I couldn't believe what I found. There was a book with a map in it.

On the first page of the book was written 'The Silver Bell'. I thought it was some sort of prank, I mean there couldn't be a silver bell in real life.

But curiosity got the best of me and I decided to go find out. It was quite difficult to find the village in the map as it was an old map.

The village was empty. There was no one there. It looked deserted. I decided to roam around a bit. I figured that it was all just a story, if there is such a bell why would the village be empty? Everyone should just use the bell.

I found an old church while walking around aimlessly. I decided to go inside. The interior of the church was beautiful. As I was admiring the beauty I heard a small whisper.

"What are you doing here?" A small girl asked me.

'When did she get here? Was she standing here the whole time?' I thought.

"I am here to find the silver bell." I replied jokingly.

"The silver bell? You shouldn't look for it." She replied again in a whisper. Luckily it was quiet or else I wouldn't have been able to hear her.

"Why do you talk in a whisper? What's your name?" I asked.

"I can't tell you that. Do you really want the silver bell?" She asked.

"Is there such a bell? If there is I would love to have it." I replied.

"Okay, if that's what you want." She replied but there was something off about it. "Follow me."

I walked behind her as she lead me to the attic. As I entered the room I saw the bell on a table. I picked it up and rung it. A loud shriek echoed through the church.

"What was that?" I asked when I noticed that the little girl wasn't there anymore. 'Where did she go?' I thought to myself.

"Excuse me? Hey kid, are you there?" I called. There was no answer. I decided to leave but the door wouldn't open as this place was creeping me out now.

'Oh no no this is not happening right now' I thought as I pushed the door. I kicked it. Nothing happened it won't budge.

Tired I sat down. I took out the book with the map. I was shuffling through the pages when I noticed something written on one page.
   

Don't go in search of the bell but if you do beware of the girl. Don't let greed get the best of you.

'What about the little girl? Am i stuck here?' I panicked thinking this. As I started to look for something to help me get out of here, I found a trunk. I opened it and it was filled with skeletons.