I had secured my motorcycle in the garage and I walked around the front of my house so that I could enter through my kitchen door. It was very dark outside and could barely see my way past my tank by the light of a street lamp a few metres away. There were no cars in my yard so I assumed there was no-one at home. All the blinds were closed and as I looked over then I noticed a light filtering through the blind of my parents room. I figured that someone left the light on before they left. I continued across the yard and began to cross my porch. As I crossed the bathroom window, I reaffirmed the fact that a light was definitely on and it was in my parents room. As I reached the kitchen door I began to fumble with my keys and tried to put the right key in the keyhole.

When I finally snapped the door lock open the light suddenly went off.

I knew that it had been on and began to wonder who could be in the house. I prayed for this all to be a part of my imagination, but it wasn't. I quietly closed the kitchen door and tiptoed through into the dining room, not bothering to turn the lights on. I felt a bit edgy, but I didn't think I was going to see anything. I peered into the dark hallway and strained to focus on the doorway of my parents room. I glimpsed the dark silhouette of someone's head pop out of the door way and then retract. I was paralysed with fear. I tried to speak in a deep voice, but squeaked out softly, "Who's there?'' The head popped out and retracted again. I dropped my bag onto the floor and began to envision a dark figure rushing out of the doorway at me, wielding a knife and ready to slice me to ribbons. I reached out and grabbed a chair from the dining room table. I called out again: "Who's there? Don't play games with me!'' I tried to sound big and angry, but I felt almost ready to faint. Then, suddenly, the light in the bedroom was turned on. The hallway was suddenly very bright. The sudden flash of light hurt my eyes and I struggled to keep them in focus. I only just caught a silhouette jumping out of the doorway and it screamed out. "Boo!'' I swung the chair with all my might and hit nothing but air. Quickly, a child's voice yelled out, "Ay bie! Whatcher think ya doin'?'' I jumped back and then I knew who it was. My eyes adjusted to the light and confirmed my suspicion. It was my stupid little brother. He peered at me strangely with a surprised look on his face. I was overcome with relief and, at the same time, royally vexed. I didn't even bother to say anything to him or put the chair back to the table. I just walked, slowly, into my bedroom and dropped onto my bed. I sucked in a deep breath and sighed. Then I passed out.

DAREN HERBERT, Warwick Academy.