5th October - Dan Freedman

[WP Central]

I don’t believe in ghosts. Never have done. I reckon people make them up because their lives are so boring that they just want to believe that something else, something mysterious, something you can’t explain exists out there.

I mean – think about it properly for a second…ghosts…really? Do me a favour!

So that’s what I think. No way. Can’t be. But I need to tell you a story because I just can’t get it out my mind. I’m hoping that maybe, if I tell you, you can explain it to me. Because, at the moment, I just can’t work it out.

It’s something that happened to my friend Duncan. I wasn’t with him at the time. No one was. But he’s my best mate and he swore on his mum’s life that it was true. You don’t lie about stuff like that. It just ain’t right.

Ever since Dunc told me the story. I can’t think about anything else. It’s in my head ALL this time. And every time I imagine it, my body starts to slowly shake…

[Anita Vine]

Well, I suppose it was our fault for watching ‘The Exorcist’ in the first place. We were all just having a laugh – watching films late on a Saturday night is meant to be fun, right? After the Butterkist popcorn had been devoured and the 2 litre bottle of Coke was dry, we – Leon, Aidan, Charlie, Luke and Anna and I - all went home and left Duncan to do whatever he does at midnight in his house. He says that after we all went home he pulled out the old Ouija board his granddad had given him; you know, to contact him when he had gone. He ain’t religious or anything, but he still did all the things to keep him safe: you know; Holy water, incense, candle. Everything went wrong when he asked if there was anything he needn’t worry about. It told him everything he didn’t want to know. Must of scared the hell out of him, I mean, who wants to know how and when they’re gonna die? I’m sure he didn’t mean to, I’m sure it was the spur of the moment that made him do it. You read all the stupid blogs on websites, all of them say you need to say ‘Goodbye’ and close it properly and stuff. He sort of flipped and smashed it shut. He knew he’d done wrong the moment he did it, because the planchette, you know, the heart shaped pointer, started moving in a figure of eight. He can’t remember anything, he says, apart from the icy cold on his face as he fell to the floor, and that when he woke up, his nails were broken, his hands stained with deep red blood. Deep, bloody gouges in his face stung like flames as he looked up and saw the Devil’s number burnt clearly on the white-washed wall: 666.....

Charlotte and Lidija

[WP Central]

I don’t know what to think! I mean, he is my friend but every time I turn a corner, there’s something there and my messed up brain is giving me warnings, warnings that if you look, if you go there you’re done. I don’t feel safe at all. That idiot shouldn’t have told me that story. Am I sure he’s telling the truth? Whenever I go out I don’t feel safe. I mean I have watched loads of scary movies and they haven’t scared me but this is a whole new level. I’m not even talking to anyone, I’m going crazy. I shouldn’t believe it but I just can’t get it out of my mind. Now I’m sweating, shaking and I feel like I’m in the vows of hell.
I have bad dreams and sometimes in my dreams I can see ghosts coming towards me trying to grab me and do some really terrible things to me. They say to me, ‘let me out’ in a voice like a chainsaw, so scary, so evil, trying to get me. I’m going to Duncan’s house to sort this out.
‘Where are you going’? ‘What was that? It sounded like…

By Ahmad and Adeel, Langley Grammar

[Janet Rothwell]

We really enjoyed this experience, as we got to let out our imagination and creativity.
By Ahmad and Adeel

[John Iona]

...Really long nails scratching at the peeling wood of a table, I don't know what it was but it was by far the worst noise I had ever heard. No matter what happens, I know that I don't want to hear that noise again! I crept up the daunting stairs, my heart was pumping, so loud, so fast.Then I gingerly crept into my bathroom where the ear-piercing noise was coming from, I flung open the shower curtain to find nothing there.

As I looked up in horror, I felt a cold breeze trickle down my back,sounds of clattering bones came closer and closer. I fell to the ground with my hands over my ears; I couldn't bear it anymore. I closed my eyes hoping to wake up as if it was all a horrile dream. I opened my eyes and looked up on the mirror that hung high up on the wall to see a shadowy figure standing bold and still; like he was waiting to pounce. I sprinted back down the stairs to tell somebody, but nobody was there.

Suddenly, I felt somebody touch me on the neck then they moved to my mouth, I felt the scream dying in my throat. Then blackness took over...

By Imogen Carter and Kamira Samuel
Oasis Academy Enfield

[Ian Winterton]

… Duncan.’

I looked behind me, to the left and the right. Nobody was there. The trees at the side of the street rustled in the breeze. I shivered with fear. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

I carried on walking for a few metres. Then I heard the voice again.

‘Help me… help me…’ The voice was faint but it was definitely Duncan. ‘Dan, look behind you. Dan – look.’

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I froze in the middle of the street. I was paralysed with fear. It was only ten seconds but it felt like a year to me. The voice spoke again:

‘Dan. Look behind you.’

It was stronger this time. It still sounded like Duncan. But it wasn’t friendly. Was it really Duncan?

I took a deep breath. My head slowly turned towards the voice.

It was Duncan. It was definitely Duncan. But there was something different about him.
He had the scratches from before all over his face. He was wearing the same clothes but with red stains down the front. His hair was falling out – it reminded of news reports about cancer patients. His skin was pale. One of his ears was hanging off, held on by two threads of skin. The nails on his fingers were green and yellow and long. His left eye was bulging, twice as big as normal, and bloodshot. His right eye looked normal at first, but looking closer, I saw that there was the face of the Devil.

I screamed and turned and ran away...

By Mark and George, Manchester

[Margie Godwin]

While I was running, I mysteriously was tripped by what I think was one of the devil’s workers. Last thing I remembered was a shrill scream, and then I blacked out. I was awoken with someone calling my name. It sounded like my dead grandfather telling me to run….run far, far away because the devil was after me. I opened my eyes, and there I saw Duncan. But it wasn’t Duncan. It was the devil dressed as Duncan. As soon as I stood up, Duncan, Duncan screamed, and a black mist was flowing out of his mouth. Duncan fell to the road, dead. The black mist formed into a human-like form. I wasn’t sure what it was, until it spoke. I soon realized it was the devil. I screamed and ran away. Thank you Lord that I did not fall this time. As soon as I got to the end of the road, and out of the corner, the Devil walks out. “Where did you come from?” I screamed. “I’m the Devil. What do you expect? I have magical powers beyond belief that can kill you quicker than a gut shot to the head.” I asked, “What have you done with my friend?” “He is dead! But, I will redeem his life if you give me your soul to take.” I said, “Only on one condition. You bring Duncan and my grandfather.” The Devil said, “Deal.” Faster than lightning, Duncan and my grandfather appeared. Just as fast as that happened, a hole opened up, and the devil dragged me to hell for my death.

Hannah, Sarah, and River
Lexington Elementary
Monroe, Louisiana