Alone It Stands (1st page)

            The cold wind howls as it rustles the gold and orange leaves. A full moon rises just above the trees, shedding a glow on the dark night. The leaves on the ground swirl about with the shifting wind. Somewhere among the trees faint voices can be heard. When the wind slows, the crunch of footsteps on leaves is the only sound that echoes among the trees.

           “C’mon, move faster. We don’t have all night.” A young girl hurriedly walks through the forest. Her breath billows as a cloud in the chilly autumn air. Not far behind her a boy about her age follows her through the darkness.

           “Slow down. I can’t see where I’m…” his words are cut short as he trips over a log and falls face first into the leaves. He sits up and grunts. “How much further do we have to go?”

           “We’re almost there. Here let me help you.” She reaches out her hand and pulls him to his feet.

           They continue walking at a slightly slower pace and soon enter a clearing. A broken concrete path stretches from the edge of the woods towards a large building. As the moon breaks from behind a cloud the clearing is lit up. They stand gaping at a large worn brick building. Most of its dusty windows are intact, though some are only holes with shards clinging to the edges. Dead vines wrap around the tin roof. The few trees nearest to the building tap rhythmically against the walls.

            The girl is the first to step forward. “Isn’t this place awesome?”

  

            The boy looks less enthusiastic but still intrigued. “What did you say it used to be?”

            “It was a printing office like 60 years ago but it closed down.” She swirls around and turns her flashlight up towards her face and says in her spookiest voice “no one knows why.”