This is a wonderful story written by Tommy - TommyZoom23 . It was performed at the scottish book trust, young writers conference event. If anybody has stories to write and want posted please send to this email address - a.dedicated.writer@gmail.com. If anybody wants to give constructive criticism or praise - remember to comment!!!
And Thank you Tommy, for your excellent story!
The Night Johnny McKenzie Died
The lightning struck the old manor house, like a murder killing his chosen victim. There was an eerie aura around this place and Johnny could tell. It was Halloween, and the “gang” - made up of Johnny, his brother Jacob and their friends Greg, James and Ethan – were playing ‘truth or dare’ outside the gates which lead to the creepy Hellgad Manor.
It was James’ turn, and he spun the bottle to see who he would ask the question. The bottle tip indicated that Johnny would be James’ victim.
Johnny went pale. Knowing James his dare would be unrealistically hard to do and he couldn’t chicken out because he had used his up.
‘Johnny,’ James’ face glared at Johnny’s, a malicious smirk etched into his bony cheeks, ‘truth or dare?’
Johnny thought, and thought. An awkward silence filing the freezing night air, he decided to take on whatever dare James’ had in mind. He couldn’t say ‘truth’ because he’d look a right old wimp, but if he took on the dare and succeeded, he would be the hero of the gang.
‘Dare!’ cackled Johnny.
James’ expression stuttered, and fell but only for a second. ‘I dare you Johnny, to um…’ James pondered, ‘to sneak into the ol’ manor and bring me back one of the doorknobs.’
‘‘Kay’ said Johnny. The night air cackled and reeked of bad fortune. It knew that tonight was the night Johnny McKenzie died.
Silently creeping over the gates, Johnny dropped into a bog. ‘Eurgh!’ he thought but continued trekking through the manor gardens. Garden was not the word; it was Satan pit or ‘Hell’.
Laughter echoed from the golden gates behind Johnny, but nobody noticed the two gargoyles mounted at each end of the gate turning round to face Johnny. The evilly cackled joyously, tonight they feasted like kings.
After 10 or so minutes, Johnny reached the emerald steps that led up to the disturbing house. This was easy.
He tiptoed up the stairs and reached the doorway. He went to grab the doorknob, but there was not one.
In the place where it should have been, was a skeletal human hand. Johnny continued, trying not to freak out.
He tried to pull the handle, but to no victory. Suddenly, Johnny’s heart skipped a million beats as a trap door - just were Johnny was standing - ate Johnny up. This was it, Johnny freaked out, screaming as he came crashing down to earth. But it did not come.
Then Johnny realised that ever since the bog, he had been walking dead. His body lay, decaying in a horrible, murderous bog.
Then it hit Johnny, he was standing up. He looked at his hands; they were pale white, ghostly. And a voice came from behind him; eerie, gruff and evil, ‘My minion, join us…’
Back at the gates, James, Greg, Ethan and Jacob were beginning to worry. Johnny had been gone for a whole hour and was in no sight. Something was wrong. Suddenly, the stone gargoyles mounted on the gates moved, cackling. ‘Johnny is ours, Johnny is ours!’ Screaming, the gang ran for their lives as the ghost of Johnny McKenzie chased them away. And that is what happened on the 31st October 2011.
