ELA
It was a regular autumn day, and Ella walked the familiar path to the woods near her house after school. Today, the fall breeze blew through her hair as the leaves fell. She doesn’t really know what it is about the woods, but she found comfort there. Ella has been coming to the woods every day since her dad died.
Ella walked into her silent house and closed the front door behind her. Her younger brother, Jack, was at his friend’s house down the street, and their mom had picked up an extra shift at the hospital. Ella walked into her kitchen and grabbed a mac and cheese cup. While the microwave was running, she saw something move and turned to see her orange cat, Pumpkin.
“Hi Pumpkin,” Ella cooed. Pumpkin meowed and rubbed against Ella’s leg. The microwave went off, and Ella took the mac and cheese out as soon as the doorbell rang. “Coming!” Ella yelled. She put the mac and cheese on the counter and dashed to the front door, already knowing who it was. Sure enough, Ella’s best friend Reagan was standing at the door.
“Ready for our super awesome Halloween sleepover!?” Reagan asked.
“You bet I am!” Ella replied. Ella let Reagan in and closed the door behind her. They walked into the living room, and Reagan plopped down on the couch. “Want me to make you a mac and cheese cup?” Ella asked.
“Yes, of course,” Reagan replied. They walked to Ella’s kitchen together, where Pumpkin and Ella’s mac and cheese waited. “Mm, smells yummy,” Reagan said. Ella grabbed another mac and cheese cup and put it in the microwave.
“You know I bought something especially for our sleepover,” Ella said. Reagan looked at her, excited.
“What did you get?” Reagan asked impatiently. Ella smirked and pulled out a bag of candy corn.
Reagan took the bag and pulled out a handful. “You know, we should watch a scary movie tonight,” Reagan said. The microwave went off, and Ella took out the mac and cheese.
“We should,” Ella responded. Ella put the mac and cheese on the table and took the bag of candy corn from Reagan. “This is for later.”
“Aw, you’re no fun,” Reagan said jokingly. They both laughed and sat down to eat their mac and cheese. Ella looked over as Pumpkin stared out the window towards the woods where there was a light just barely visible in the sunset.
“What are you doing, Pumpkin?” Ella asked. Pumpkin didn’t acknowledge her. “Huh, that’s weird; he normally meows back at me.”
“Maybe he saw a squirrel?” Reagan suggested. Ella shrugged it off.
“Maybe. How about we go set up in the living room!” Ella said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah! I’ll bring the candy corn!” Reagan said. Ella rolled her eyes.
They dashed to the living room and started planning their night. First, they built a cozy fort facing the TV. Second, they filled bowls with snacks. Third, they settled into their fort, got nice and cozy, and started looking for a movie to watch.
“Wait, before we find a movie, I need to feed Pumpkin,” Ella said.
“I’ll come with you,” Reagan replied. They both got up and went to the kitchen. Ella grabbed Pumpkin’s food from the cabinet and poured it into his food bowl.
“Pumpkin! Dinner!” Ella called. There was silence. Ella tried again, “Pumpkin?” They heard a tiny meow. Ella and Reagan looked at each other.
“That sounded like it came from…” Ella started,
“The basement.” Reagan shivered. “Your basement scares me.” Ella could see the basement door from here, slightly ajar.
“We have to go get him,” Ella said. The house seemed gloomy and was cold now. “I’m sure it’ll be fine; it’s just a basement.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Reagan said. Ella opened a drawer and grabbed two flashlights. She handed one to Reagan. They tiptoed over to the basement door, and Ella opened it with a creak. There was a slight hissing coming from the basement. Ella and Reagan looked at each other.
“Let’s go,” Ella said and gave a slight head nod. Reagan gulped and nodded back. Together they slowly tiptoed down the stairs. They made it to the bottom, and Ella tried to turn on her flashlight. Click click. Nothing. She tried again. Click click.
“I think they’re out of batteries,” Ella whispered. Reagan tried hers; nothing.
“Yeah, mine is too.” Reagan responded. The hissing they heard was louder down here.
“Pumpkin?” Ella whispered. There was a slight movement ahead of them. “Pumpkin?” The hissing stopped, and from the light upstairs, Ella could see Pumpkin’s orange tail. She motioned for Reagan to follow as she tiptoed over to Pumpkin. Pumpkin was still hissing.
“What is he hissing at?” Reagan asked. Ella looked in the direction Pumpkin was looking. There was a dim light just visible in the distance across from them.
“That,” Ella said, trembling as she pointed to the light. Reagan gasped.
“That was what was in the woods he was staring at earlier,” Reagan whispered. Ella’s heart pounded trying to figure out what it was. “Maybe we should go back upstairs,” Reagan said.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Ella responded. She reached down to grab Pumpkin, but he scrambled away into the darkness. “Pumpkin!”
“We’re going after him, aren’t we?” Reagan asked as she pulled her phone out and turned on her flashlight.
“Yep,” Ella responded and did the same. They slowly walked deeper into the basement; as they did, it got colder. They went in the direction of the light.
“If we die, I’m gonna blame you,” Reagan said, trying to stop shivering. Ella laughed a little.
“Hopefully they have candy corn in heaven,” Ella said. They both started giggling. Then a creak came from near the light. Ella and Reagan immediately stopped laughing. The light ahead of them was moving.
“Ella?” a voice said. Ella stopped walking; she knew that voice. Tears threatened to fall.
“Dad?” Ella pointed her phone flashlight towards the light. A ghostly figure appeared, and it looked like her dad. The figure stepped closer, and the basement got colder.
“Yes, it’s me.” The ghostly figure responded. The voice sounded a little distorted before sounding normal again. Pumpkin reappeared, walked towards them, and hissed at the figure.
“Ella,” Reagan said gently. “It’s not him, he’s…”
“I know,” Ella said, a tear escaping. The figure took a step toward them.
“Ella, it really is me.” It said. “I need to show you something.” The figure moved its arm as particles in the air pulled together, and time seemed to stop. The particles formed a door; the figure opened it. “Ella, do you miss me?”
“Yes, I do,” Ella said. The figure smiled.
“Then come with me.” It said. Pumpkin hissed.
“Ella,” Reagan warned. “I don’t think it’s him.”
“Ella, come with me.” The figure’s voice hardened. A slight breeze pulled towards the door.
“I... I... can’t,” Ella said. The breeze got stronger. The figure’s face hardened.
“Yes, you can.” It said. “You don’t miss me?”
“I do, but I can’t come with you,” Ella said. The figure squeezed its fist.
“Fine, then I’ll make you,” The figure said, a distorted laugh ringing through the room. The wind got stronger. Pumpkin started moving towards the door, trying to get a grip on something.
“Uh, Ella!?” Reagan said. She, too, was getting pulled towards the door.
“Come with me and your friends will be safe.” The figure said.
“I won’t come with you,” Ella said sternly. The pull from the door was stronger; Ella started moving towards the door. “You can’t make me!” She said. All the figure responded with was distorted laughter.
“What do we do?!” Reagan asked.
“I don’t know!” Ella responded. Suddenly, a gust of wind closed the door. Pumpkin, Ella, and Reagan stopped moving towards the door.
“What?” The figure growled. A patch of light appeared and hit the figure. The figure flew across the room, and the door disappeared. A voice that seemed to be coming from the light said:
“Leave my daughter alone.” Ella gasped. The figure growled again and disappeared. The light came toward them. Her father appeared out of the light and knelt in front of her. Tears rolled down her face. Her father reached up and wiped them away.
“Dad?” Ella said.
“Yes, it’s me.” Her father said. Ella hugged him, never wanting to let go. He pulled away and looked at her. “Look at you.” He said. “You’re growing up so fast.” Ella smiled. “I have to go now,” He said.
“Okay, but I’ll miss you,” Ella responded.
“I know, but I will always be here.” He pointed to her heart. He stood up, and as the light engulfed him again, he said, “I’ll see you soon, but hopefully not too soon.” And with a blink of an eye, the light disappeared as if nothing happened. The front door opened, and Ella’s mom called out.
“Ella? Reagan? Are you guys alive?” Ella and Reagan grabbed each other’s hands, and with Pumpkin following them, they walked upstairs.