Halloween Ghost Story Contest -- 2013
Middle School Winners

I was taking a walk with my friend Tsion. I didn't know Tsion that well but she had just moved into my neighborhood and was struggling to make friends so I thought it would be nice to try and get to know her. So anyway I was taking a walk with her. We ended up walking to the lake at the edge of my neighborhood. Tsion and I then walked down to the lakes edge. I guess we got too close. Tsion slipped on some rocks causing her to fly back into the lakes murky water. How was I supposed to know she couldn't swim? That was when I heard the scream. The scream was terrifying. I tried to save her honestly I did but by the time I had recovered from the shock it was to late. The scream was terrifying, ear-piercing and it froze me with fear. I tried to save her honestly I did but by the time I had recovered from the shock it was too late. The scream had turned into silence and when I peered into the lake Tsion had already disappeared into its murky water. I never knew the lake was that deep. Slowly and unsteadily I got to my feet turned around and started running. I wanted to get as far away from the lake as possible.

So here I am standing in Starbucks being stared at by every living soul apart from Vicky. Vicky orders us both a gingerbread latte. When we receive our drinks I'm scared to drink mine because I can swear I saw the Starbucks employee spit in it. Sadly, I follow Vicky out of Starbucks. Is anyone ever going to believe it wasn't my fault? When I get home I collapse on my bed, put on some music, and try to get a grip on the world. Tomorrow is Tsion's memorial. I don't know if I should go or not. Like I said I didn't know Tsion that well and I'm sure her parents, friends, and family wouldn't appreciate me being there. The memorial will be held by the lake she drowned in. On the day after she died people bought flowers down to the lakes edge. Apparently her favorite flowers were tulips. I kind of want to go to the memorial just so that I can tell Tsion I'm sorry and how I tried to save her. Without warning I suddenly start crying. Will I ever be the same after this? Will anyone ever treat me the same after this? I turn off my music and then I quickly drift into sleep.

When I open my eyes I'm at the lake. It's dark and the trees cast spooky shadows across the ground. The moon's light is shining on the lake and the forest around it. I start to get the feeling I'm not alone. I look around but don't see or hear anyone but then something in the trees catches my eye. There's something watching me. Are those eyes? The eyes stare at me. They're an unforgiving blue and they give me an eerie feeling. I think whatever or whoever the eyes belong to is about to come into the forest but that's when I wake up.

“It was just a dream,” I whisper quietly to myself. But it felt so real. Those blue eyes are forever burned into my mind. I wonder who they belonged to. I don't think it was human or at least not human anymore. Slowly I get out of bed. I question whether or not I should go to Tsion's memorial however I pluck up some courage and decide to go. I walk down to the lake at 5:00pm knowing the memorial starts at 5:30pm. My mom has taught me that it is always best to get to places at least twenty minutes early. When I get to the lake a see a beautiful arrangement of flowers and chairs set up. I also see Tsion's parents. Seeing them strikes me with guilt and sadness. They look heartbroken. Well of course they're heartbroken. They just lost their daughter. I try to avoid them seeing me as I find a seat.

Getting though the memorial isn't actually as bad as I thought it would be. I'm sitting at the back so no one see's me. The memorial service is about remembering Tsion's life not how she died. Halfway through the memorial I see something that makes my blood run cold. I see two icy, unforgiving eyes staring at me. The same eyes from my dream.

I rub my eyes to make sure I'm not hallucinating. I'm going mad I really am. The eyes seem to be calling to me so I leave the memorial and start to follow them into the forest. I move through the trees never losing sight of the cold blue eyes. I'm getting closer I can feel it. The eyes continue to look at me, never blinking never moving. I finally reach a clearing in the forest and what I see in the middle of the clearing freezes me with fear. “Hey Alexis! Did you miss me?” she asks. Standing in the middle of the clearing is Tsion.

“What's wrong Lex?” Tsion asks “you look like you've seen a ghost.” I then start shaking and Tsion starts laughing. I try to speak but I end up chocking on my words. I can't scream I can't speak and I can't move. Eventually I manage to get out one small word. “How?” I ask shakily.

“Well I'm not one-hundred percent sure myself,” Tsion starts “but you have to admit it's pretty awesome, right?” I slowly try to make sense of this. Tsion's supposed to be dead. Is she a ghost? What happened to her eyes? “Can you do me a favor?” asks Tsion, “you kind of owe it to me since you didn't save me.

“I tried! Honestly I did,” I cry.

“Quit being a drama queen, will you help me or not?” Tsion asks impatiently.

“Ok,” I quietly whisper, “what do you want me to do?”

“That's the spirit,” Tsion says satisfied. “Ok then listen up I need you to bring me back from the dead.”

“Is that even possible?” I ask.

“Anything's possible,” replies Tsion. I slowly take two steps towards Tsion.

“Ok, I'm ready,” I say “tell me what you need me to do.”

“It's going to be really easy,” replies Tsion, “follow me.” I follow Tsion through the forest going deeper and deeper into its thick tall trees. Suddenly she stops. “We're here,” says Tsion. We've reached another clearing and in the center of it I see a small stone arch. The arch has these strange markings carved into it, nothing like I've ever seen before. “Step into the arch,” I hear Tsion say. I obediently step into the arch. “Ok now hold my hand.” I reach out and hold Tsion's hand. It's as cold as ice and it sends shivers through me. Tsion then closes her eyes and tells me to do the same. I close my eyes without questioning her. Suddenly I get this weird feeling. I open my eyes to see that the makings on the arch have started to light up. I start to have second thoughts. “Tsion I'm not sure if I want to do this,” I say.

“Well it's too late now,” replies Tsion. Suddenly I start to feel the scariest feeling I've ever felt in my whole life. I feel like the lives being squeezed out of me, I'm an orange being juiced. “Tsion stop!” I cry.

“It's alright Lex just think of this as payback for letting me drown,” laughs Tsion. When I feel the last of my life leave me Tsion lets go of my hands. But when I look at her she's not a ghost anymore and no longer has those blue eyes. But what really scares me is when I look down at myself. “What did you do to me?” I ask shakily.

“Come on Alexis you're a smart girl, I'm sure you can figure it out,” says Tsion. When I realize what she's done to me I feel like a tiger who's lost her stripes, a dog who's lost his ball, lost and alone. Tsion has taken my life and used it to restore her own. After a minute or so Tsion says “well it really has been nice talking to you Alexis but now I have to run, chow!” Tsion runs off and leaves me alone in the forest.

Months pass and I'm still alone. I wonder the forest searching for something that I can't even figure out, and that's when I see her. Walking through the forest unchanged since I last saw her is Vicky. That's when an evil thought hits my head. “I will be making a trip to the arch,” I whisper to myself. That's when my eyes turn a cold, unforgiving blue.