The Mystery of the Shadow

A long, rusty ladder once stood on a brown crumbling wall leading down into the deep, lightless sea. There was a large, brown gate guarding it off. It was easy to climb over the gate, but many of rumours have been made up about the other side, that nobody has been brave enough to. One darkening frosty night, a young boy, Louis Williams, decided he wanted to be known a hero. He had heard all the terrifying rumours, but he didn’t believe a word. He got the loose change from his jean pocket, grabbed his long, warm coat and set off. He lived quite far away, so he caught the next bus. It drove through a puddle as it pulled up. As a result, Louis got splashed wet.

“9.35pm, bit late for you isn’t it sunshine?” A dull voice came from the bus driver.

Louis gave him his money, received his ticket, and then sat down on the seat closest to the front. He was grinning, but he was shaking at the same time, as he was actually quite scared. Before he knew it, it was time for him to press the bell and get off. Ding. He slowly stepped off. In front of him was the scary gate. He stood and stared at it for a while before he made a move. Finally he began to climb. His heavy boots made it challenging for him, but he was determined to see what was over the other side. He was over, one last jump and he was down. He leaned over, staring at the water. It was far from sparkling; it was the dirtiest water he’d seen. The ladder stood out, it changed from lovely silver colour to a fake gold because of the rusting. He couldn’t see anything to be scared off, but then voices kept rising in his head. All he could hear was the rumours he had been told. He glanced down the ladder again, and saw a shadow.

“Hello?” he cried with panic.

“LEAVE” a voice echoed.

Louis ran back to the gate, he was so petrified, he needed to make a dashing escape. He took off his boots and threw them over the gate. He then began to climb. It took him half the time to get over than it did the first time. Whether that was because he didn’t have to climb with his heavy boots, or because he was so scared he moved quicker, no-one knows. Just to his luck, a bus was then pulling up. He reached out his shaking arm, as a signal for the bus driver to stop. He hopped on the bus and gave his ticket to the driver. He ran to the back of the bus and watched as the harbour gate became a blurring dot in the distance. The whole bus ride back home, he could hear the voice over and over in his head like a bad song on replay and there was no stop button. Deep in thought the bus continued around its route, he’d missed his stop. Louis looked outside as the world went by, soon enough the bus pulled back up by the harbour gate, and he realised that he had no shoes, pressing the stop button he ran to the front of the bus.

“Wait for me here my shoes are out there and I can’t go home without them!” he shouted as he jumped off the bus. He ran to pick his heavy army like boots, when he saw a shadow. It was big and it looked like it was curled up in the corner. Louis stared at it in horror and shock, when suddenly it looked up and shouted at Louis in its cold stiff voice, “I thought I told you to leave? Why are you still here? I said leave! Before I get angry! LEAVE!”