After School Horror by A Russell-Carter
It had started as just an ordinary day at school. I walked home and was looking forward to a cup of tea and later on watching Blue Peter. On arriving at the house, I let myself in, and walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. I stopped in horror at the sight in front of me. There were large spots of blood all over the tiled floor. My legs started to shake as I walked across the room. I looked down, and there in the basin was more blood. I froze in terror at the sight. My heart started to pump faster; I could feel my palms sweating.
Shakily, I walked towards the backdoor, where the trail of blood led me. I found the door unlocked, and very gingerly I opened it and went outside. There was a trail of blood up the garden path. I didn’t go there, because I was frightened at what I might find. I was rooted to the spot. I just couldn’t make sense of it. Where was my mother? What had happened to her? All kinds of things spun round in my brain.
I looked around, but couldn’t see anything. What was I looking for anyway, apart from my mother? Some sort of clue? A dismembered body, a blood-stained axe? Although I was too young for horror films, the blood scattered scene conjured up all sorts of things.
I quickly went back into the kitchen. I didn’t want to stay out there any longer. I just stared at the large bright red spots of blood scattered everywhere. Tears started to well up in my eyes. I felt frightened and lonely. My mother had gone. Where, I didn’t know.
I jumped when I heard the front door open and then close. My heart almost stopped beating at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. I tensed as the door opened, and then breathed a sigh of relief when my elder sister walked in. As soon as she saw the spots of blood her face went white.
“What’s happened?” she asked me. I just shook my head and started to cry.
“Where’s mum?” she asked me, her voice almost a whisper. “I don’t know” I sobbed. “There’s blood outside as well, lots of it.” Neither of us knew what to do, due to the shock. We just both stood there.
We turned our heads when the backdoor opened. It was a neighbour. “Your mother’s in hospital” she said. “She cut her finger badly on a scythe while gardening. I’ve come back to let you know.” She saw the look of relief on our faces. “I’m sorry, I should have left you a note, but your mum was bleeding so badly, we just left without thinking.” She then took us to us to the hospital, where our mother was being treated. I have never been so pleased to see my mother. Blue Peter had been forgotten.
