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The Haunting Secret
#WritcoStoryPrompt29
I ran all the way home from the ground. The older boys had beaten me up good but I still had the strength to run as far as I could from them.
I knew my mother would be the next one to thrash me for getting beaten up, which was ironical, if you know what I mean. But I had no choice. I couldn't tell her the real reason the boys picked on me.
As I burst through the front door, my heart pounding like a drum, I froze at the sight of my mother waiting in the living room. Her eyes narrowed, and I could already feel the sting of her disappointment. Before she could say a word, I blurted out, "I fell, Mom. I tripped while playing." It was a lie, but one I hoped would spare me another round of scolding. Her skeptical gaze lingered on my bruised face, but she said nothing, merely nodding towards the bathroom, signaling me to clean up.
Once in the bathroom, I locked the door and turned on the faucet, letting the water drown out my shaky breaths. I examined my reflection, tracing the fresh bruises on my cheek, wincing as I touched the tender skin. Today wasn't the first time those boys had cornered me, and I knew it wouldn't be the last. They had their reasons, and I had mine for not fighting back.
The truth was, they had stumbled upon something they shouldn't have—a secret I'd kept hidden in the deepest corners of my life. A secret that could change everything if it ever came to light. I had to find a way to keep them quiet, to ensure they never spoke a word of it to anyone.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me from my thoughts. It was a message from an unknown number: "We know what you did. Meet us at the old factory tonight, or everyone else will know too." My heart skipped a beat, dread pooling in my stomach. The old factory was a place of nightmares, abandoned and rumored to be haunted. But I had no choice. If I didn't go, my secret would be exposed.
As night fell, I slipped out of the house, careful not to alert my mother. The streets were eerily quiet, each shadow seeming to reach out and grab at me as I made my way to the factory. The building loomed ahead, its windows shattered and walls scarred with graffiti. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
The air was thick with dust and decay. I could hear whispers echoing through the halls, mocking and sinister. My heart thudded in my chest as I ventured deeper, my footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. Suddenly, a flashlight beam cut through the darkness, blinding me.
"You came," a voice sneered. It was the leader of the group, flanked by his cronies. "We weren't sure you'd have the guts."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you want?"
He chuckled, a cold, cruel sound. "It's simple. You do what we say, and your secret stays safe. If not..." He trailed off, letting the threat hang in the air.
Panic clawed at me, but I knew I couldn't let them control me. I had to turn the tables, somehow. My eyes flicked to the rusting machinery around us, an idea forming. I just needed to act fast, before they realized what I was planning.
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, I lunged for the nearest lever, yanking it down. The machinery roared to life, gears grinding and chains clanking. The noise was deafening, and in the confusion, I ducked out of sight, weaving through the shadows.
The boys shouted, their flashlights swinging wildly as they tried to find me. But I was already moving, slipping through a gap in the wall and out into the night. As I ran, I could hear the factory settling back into silence, the darkness swallowing their threats.
I didn't stop until I was far away, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. I knew this wasn't over, that they'd come for me again. But for now, I'd bought myself time—time to figure out how to protect my secret and keep them at bay.
And maybe, just maybe, time to find an ally who could help me turn the tide for good.© Mohtasham Usmani
I ran all the way home from the ground. The older boys had beaten me up good but I still had the strength to run as far as I could from them.
I knew my mother would be the next one to thrash me for getting beaten up, which was ironical, if you know what I mean. But I had no choice. I couldn't tell her the real reason the boys picked on me.
As I burst through the front door, my heart pounding like a drum, I froze at the sight of my mother waiting in the living room. Her eyes narrowed, and I could already feel the sting of her disappointment. Before she could say a word, I blurted out, "I fell, Mom. I tripped while playing." It was a lie, but one I hoped would spare me another round of scolding. Her skeptical gaze lingered on my bruised face, but she said nothing, merely nodding towards the bathroom, signaling me to clean up.
Once in the bathroom, I locked the door and turned on the faucet, letting the water drown out my shaky breaths. I examined my reflection, tracing the fresh bruises on my cheek, wincing as I touched the tender skin. Today wasn't the first time those boys had cornered me, and I knew it wouldn't be the last. They had their reasons, and I had mine for not fighting back.
The truth was, they had stumbled upon something they shouldn't have—a secret I'd kept hidden in the deepest corners of my life. A secret that could change everything if it ever came to light. I had to find a way to keep them quiet, to ensure they never spoke a word of it to anyone.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me from my thoughts. It was a message from an unknown number: "We know what you did. Meet us at the old factory tonight, or everyone else will know too." My heart skipped a beat, dread pooling in my stomach. The old factory was a place of nightmares, abandoned and rumored to be haunted. But I had no choice. If I didn't go, my secret would be exposed.
As night fell, I slipped out of the house, careful not to alert my mother. The streets were eerily quiet, each shadow seeming to reach out and grab at me as I made my way to the factory. The building loomed ahead, its windows shattered and walls scarred with graffiti. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
The air was thick with dust and decay. I could hear whispers echoing through the halls, mocking and sinister. My heart thudded in my chest as I ventured deeper, my footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. Suddenly, a flashlight beam cut through the darkness, blinding me.
"You came," a voice sneered. It was the leader of the group, flanked by his cronies. "We weren't sure you'd have the guts."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you want?"
He chuckled, a cold, cruel sound. "It's simple. You do what we say, and your secret stays safe. If not..." He trailed off, letting the threat hang in the air.
Panic clawed at me, but I knew I couldn't let them control me. I had to turn the tables, somehow. My eyes flicked to the rusting machinery around us, an idea forming. I just needed to act fast, before they realized what I was planning.
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, I lunged for the nearest lever, yanking it down. The machinery roared to life, gears grinding and chains clanking. The noise was deafening, and in the confusion, I ducked out of sight, weaving through the shadows.
The boys shouted, their flashlights swinging wildly as they tried to find me. But I was already moving, slipping through a gap in the wall and out into the night. As I ran, I could hear the factory settling back into silence, the darkness swallowing their threats.
I didn't stop until I was far away, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. I knew this wasn't over, that they'd come for me again. But for now, I'd bought myself time—time to figure out how to protect my secret and keep them at bay.
And maybe, just maybe, time to find an ally who could help me turn the tide for good.© Mohtasham Usmani
