Spooky Vignette

Tessa Lomoro '26

I was surrounded with no one in sight. Only a seeping darkness encompassed my standpoint.

The chill that ran through my veins, the pounding conscience of my head, my trembling limbs and clammy hands…it was a nightmare that never ended. A sleep where I wouldn’t wake up.

Was I terrified? Was I curious? Did I feel like fainting? Yes, but there was a force calling me through. A voice that was inching its way closer to me, and commanding me to follow.

I tip-toed slowly with suspicion through the pit of blackness, watching my every step, no entrance or exit in sight. The eerie silence subsided when a crash emerged, blowing and smelling of intense smoke. The impact made me crouch backward, tears I refused to let fall brimming.

As quick as a lightning flash, a ball of scorching fire pranced and galloped around me. It made me want to shrink into my own body, and a hoarse cry leaped from my mouth. It dared to come closer when I cowered away, and held the air of wickedness.

But what scared me most, was the same voice from minutes ago (or could it have been hours?) that pierced through my sensitive ears, like fingernails scratching a chalkboard.

“Welcome, child…Welcome to hell.” And I couldn’t remember a single instance after that.