Haunted School, by Lam Luu

Blaze loved the small school he attended in the tiny town of Hope River. During the day, sunlight flooded the cheery classrooms and the sound of children laughing carried through the air of the little village. The sound of the happy students taunted the troubled spirit of the wounded soldier, trapped forever in what had been the corridors of the war time hospitals.

He felt the envy of the students' freedom eat away at his peace everyday. Freed only when their voices fell silent at night. Arthur restlessly roamed the empty corridors night after endless night.

Gradually, the students and teachers noticed a growing change at the school. The sounds of random creaks and faint whispers invaded the corners of the school rooms.

But nothing was there. Instead of snacks and healthy sweat, the classrooms took on a musty stale smell. The taste of mud seemed to lay on the student’s tongues. Soon, the students only came to school with dread.

Halfway through the year, a new student, Clark, arrived and immediately promised to banish the eerie shadows from the once happy school.

In no time at all, children’s laughter returned to the corridors, balls bouncing in sequence and the feeling of hope returned to Hope River. Once again there was a relaxed atmosphere - all except for Clark, who remained aware of the threat.

As the year progressed, Arthur’s growing jealousy of the students crept through the hallways and across the playing field. His restlessness and pain felt like he was dying again. His menacing spirit reaching out to steal the souls of the children.

Clark fought back with renewed hope. He told funny jokes, he invited people to play. He made everyone laugh. The laughter of students annoyed Arthur to his limits, with one final scream of agony, Arthur lashed out of the school, leaving for good. The cheers of the cheerful students echoed through the happy schoolrooms.

The following days were calm, the peace returned, teachers came back to teaching normally. The students learned without voices whispering behind their ears.

Below the students, under the floorboards, laid a tired soul…