The hallway appeared to narrow as they peered ahead. Their pace slowed as they studied their surroundings. The walls between the doors and windows were made from various materials. Some were plaster, others were wood, one section was composed of bricks, another from stone, one was actually all glass.

“I dunno ’bout this.” Rodger was the first to say it but the others nodded in agreement.

“Supposed to be haunted. You see any ghosts?” Jack was always the leader, standing a full head over his classmates. “You chicken?”

Everyone except Rodger shook their heads. “Not chicken, just smart. I ain’t going down there. You gonna be trapped.” He turned and walked back the way they entered. “Hope I see you guys later,” he yelled over his shoulder.

The other five looked back to Jack who flipped off Rodger. “C’mon, don’t be sissies. Ain’t no ghosts here and I want to find the treasure everyone talks about.” He strode ahead with the others sticking close behind, their heads swiveling from side to side. But no one was watching their backs. 

Exiting the dilapidated house, Rodger paused and looked back. The house appeared to be shimmering. He thought it must be an optical illusion from the bright sun behind it. He rubbed his eyes and opened them slowly. No change. The house was shimmering, flickering in and out of sight. He took a step backward, worried about his friends.

“Dang it all, blasted luck.” He shrugged and looked around to see if anyone else was there. No one. The driveway was still empty except for their bicycles. He inhaled, held his breath to a count of ten, exhaled and ran up the steps and back into the house.

“Guys? Where are you?” He peered down the hallway, now glowing in a flickering iridescence of pinks and blues with a touch of purple thrown in. “Jack? Benny? Davy? C’mon guys, shout out.” His cautious steps slowed even more as the hallway narrowed and the ceiling got lower.

Then he heard it, a scratching sound. “That you guys?” He stopped to listen. Nothing. He took a couple of steps and heard it again so he stopped. Nothing. Getting frustrated he hollered, “Cut it out! If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working.” That was a lie but no one was going say he left his friends.

He was on his knees now, crawling towards the scratching sound. His curiosity had been piqued and he wasn’t going to stop until he figured out what the sound was and where his friends had gone.

An hour later, Jack and his five followers sauntered out a door at the back of the house, laughing and pushing each other as they headed around to the front. They gathered around seven bicycles, wondering where Rodger had gone.

Rodger had found cause of the scratching sound but not his friends. He really wished it had been the other way around.


 

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