It was a cold, windy night on October 31st. The streets were full of children in costumes, laughing and running from house to house. But there was one house that everyone avoided — the old, abandoned house on Maple Street.

 

Legend said the house was haunted. No one had lived there for over 50 years, and strange things always happened when people got too close. Some said they saw lights in the windows late at night. Others said they heard whispers when they walked by. But no one was brave enough to go inside… except for Tom and Lucy.

 

Tom and Lucy were best friends, and they loved adventures. “Come on, Lucy! It’s just an old house. Ghosts aren’t real!” Tom said, pulling her toward the front door. Lucy wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know, Tom. What if the stories are true?” she asked, looking up at the dark windows.

 

They both stood at the entrance, staring at the old wooden door. It creaked as they slowly opened it and stepped inside. The air was cold, and it smelled like dust. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them.

“Who did that?” Lucy whispered. Tom’s face turned pale. “It must be the wind,” he said, but his voice was shaking.

 

As they walked down the dark hallway, they heard a soft voice. “Leave this place…” it said. Lucy grabbed Tom’s arm. “Did you hear that?” she asked. Tom nodded. “Maybe we should go back,” he suggested.

 

Just as they turned to leave, a shadow moved across the wall. They both froze. The shadow got closer and closer, and they could hear footsteps. “Who’s there?” Tom called out, but no one answered.

 

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped. The shadow disappeared. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, the front door opened by itself. Tom and Lucy didn’t wait. They ran out of the house as fast as they could.

 

When they reached the street, they looked back at the old house. The door was closed, and the windows were dark again. “I told you it was haunted,” Lucy said, breathing hard. Tom nodded. “Let’s never go back,” he agreed.

 

And from that night on, Tom and Lucy never went near the house on Maple Street again.

 

The End.