Short Stories

Hide and seek

"3.. 2.." I yelled louder as I descended to, "..1."

Standing against the corner, i faced against the room after the countdown. I haven't scanned my room that carefully ever before. The wooden floor creaked as i walked towards the cupboard. Someone might have been hiding there, i thought, but it would have been a little too obvious. I walked closer to it while peaking behind the door with the side of my eye. No one was behind the door, I assumed, as there wasn't any shadow. My focus went back to the cupboard. Being impatient, I ran to it and held its handles tight. My heart beats increased, i was ready for a sudden scream and in the count of 3, 2, 1, I opened it. I instantly heard giggles behind me that gave me goosebumps and directed my eyes to the open door. I thought for a second that I saw a shadow leaving through the open door and I was sure that I saw it when i noticed the shadow again which ran, barely making any noise towards my brother's room. Leaving the empty cupboard open, I ran, to the direction I saw it moving earlier.

Even though my cousins were 7, they should know giggling could easily give them away while hiding. I realised that I might have looked funny in that cupboard situation. Whatever it was, I decide to not panic anymore, at least not infront them!

The door to my brother's room was left wide open and darkness laid on the other side. Although the lights outside his room were on, it felt spooky. Everything was so still that I felt tranquil in the silence until i heard the clock ticking from his room as i neared. I was one step away from stepping into the dark when I heard the giggling again. It sounded as if they wanted to be noticed. I would have entered the room but the sound of someone stepping down the stairs stopped me. I instantly ran down the stairs hoping to find my first victim. Although I was thankful for the distraction, I tried to hide it.

I skipped a few steps while going down. The kids screamed "sis" and came running to me, making me jump a step back in bafflement. It seemed like they found me whereas I was the one supposed to seek them.

"You couldn't even find us!" Lisa exclaimed in Victory.

"You didn't give me the chance to," I replied.

"What are you talking about? We all have been waiting for you since 30 minutes, downstairs, just to scare you" Ryan looked like he couldn't believe i would have said that.

"30 minutes? Didn't realise..." I wondered how exactly time passed so fast when Emma and Emily emerged out of the kitchen.

I remembered that the five of us were the only inhabitants of our house that day. Chills went down my spine as I looked up, above the stairs to my brother's room. I could vividly see those red eyes even from where i stood. It pierced its eyes on me, as if burning in fury. Enraged, as if it was unsuccessful into luring me inside.