By Malia Allen

The answer to two plus four was obvious, but why I found a dead woman in my house was not. I remember that freezing cold October night when I couldn’t figure out what 32 squared times X was, when I heard a scream, a scream that made my blood run cold. Paralyzed with fear, I slowly got up and shut all the rattling doors and windows. Outside the trees were staring at me while I closed the blinds. Ensured that I was safe, I went diligently back to my homework.

A few minutes later, I heard that same, spine-chilling scream that raised the tiny hairs on the back of my neck. Only this time, it was different, closer, coming from my basement. My mind was telling me something, to go loook, but I was too terrified to move. Finally, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to take a peek.

Floorboards creaked as I crept through the hallway. The door opened without a sound as I tumbled down the broken basement steps. Silently like a mouse, I turned on the lights and saw a sight that made me nearly jump out of my skin. Right then, I heard a blood curdling shriek come from my own mouth. I couldn’t get over the shock, a dead woman in my basement. Why, that only happens in horror moviews, where the dead person’s eyes roll to the back of their sockets and their tongue turns all gray and wrinkly. For your information, my life is NOT a horror movie.

I paused to listen to the wind howl through the trees to calm me down. That was when I noticed that the only half window was opened. Shuffling over, I looked outside and saw something I couldn’t believe. Then I realized that my life was a never-ending nightmare. Out there was a man with eyes like the devil and bloodstained teeth, clenching a knife that glistened like the moon and in my basement was a dead woman. All of this was too much for me, and I panicked. Rushing into the kitchen, I grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

“Hello, um … HELP, there’s a dead woman in my basement!,” I cried.

“OK, we’ll be there in a moment,” the policeman answered. All too soon, the police were there arresting the guy and removing the body.

Sometimes, when the house is quiet, I can still hear that frightening scream. Since that day, I have never gone down into my basement, for fear of seeing a dead woman.

Age 11, Grade 6

Loyola School

Los Altos

R.I.P.