The Others

Bard's Hall entry

Another town, another house, another school. I know Dad's job means he has to move around the country but does he have to drag us with him? As to this latest house it reminds me of that place in Psycho, it's even at the top of a hill. Creepsville! This town's not much better, the kids are like zombies. Follow the rules, do as you're told, no fun at all.

It's Saturday night and there's nothing to do, nowhere to go. The olds are watching a boring movie. I'm sat in my room and I'm fed up. I think I'll do some exploring. There's a door at the end of the hallway. I think it leads to the attic. Maybe there's something interesting up there.

Ooh, cobwebs! And that means s p i d e r s! I wonder what's in that big chest over there? The floor creaks as I walk to it. I lift the lid praying nothing will crawl out. It's full of dresses. Not modern, like you'd see in an old western movie, all frills and bows. I hold one in front of me. It looks like it might fit. I could wear it for Halloween, if they even do Trick or Treat in this one horse town.

Is that a mirror over there, under the sheet? Creak! I pull off the sheet and hold the dress in front of me. Something's not right. I can see the dress but the girl wearing it isn't me. I watch as she ties ribbons in her hair. She pinches her cheeks to give them colour. I can hear music, piano and violin, classical. That must be her Mum fussing over her. Then they disappear and the mirror turns black.

I sit on my bed and wonder at what I've just seen. It was like watching TV but somehow more real. Had I just seen ghosts, or was it some kind of time portal to the past? Whatever, I wanted to see more. I crept back up to the attic hoping the creaking floor wouldn't alert my parents. I took the sheet from the mirror. There she was, this time in a night dress. She was brushing her hair. Then a shadow appeared in the distance. She was not alone.

"Look out!" I watch as the man grabbed her from behind and threw her onto the bed. As he climbed on top of her, her screams ring in my ears. I reach out to touch the mirror not knowing what to do. My hand travels through the glass. There is a brass candle stick on the floor. I pick it up and take a run toward the mirror. Thanks to years of gymnastics training I dive through the mirror, into a forward roll, and up onto my feet.

I land the blow neatly on his head. He looses consciousness and rolls off of her. I grab the girl's hand and pull her with me into the mirror. The mirror smashes into a thousand shards as we hit the attic floor.