"The Haunted House" | Cozy Halloween

On the eerie night of Halloween, Sunday, October 31, 2022, I feel compelled to share a cautionary tale with all you teenagers out there. It is a story of horror and regret; one I hope will discourage you from ever venturing into haunted houses.

Our group of five friends, Antonio, Stefano, Bria, Arianna, and Gino were what you might call semi‑rebellious teenagers. We did our schoolwork, dabbled in recreational activities, respected our parents (for the most part), attended parties, explored relationships, and shared a deep bond. On this fateful Halloween night, we decided to confront our fears and explore the infamous haunted house that stood ominously on the corner of our neighborhood.

Legend had it that the house once belonged to a happily married couple. Their bliss was shattered when the wife returned home early one day and discovered her husband in bed with another woman. Overcome with grief and disbelief, she tragically ended the lives of her husband, his lover, and ultimately herself. It was believed that their spirits, tainted by sin, were trapped within the house, forever cursed as demons.

As we gathered in front of the house, a chilling coldness swept through the air, making us hesitate. Despite our fear, Gino, ever the brave one, urged us forward.

We rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Faint whispers drifted toward us, sending shivers down our spines. Peering through the windows, we caught glimpses of fleeting movement, as if someone, or something, was trying desperately to hide from our eyes. Something sinister was inside.

When the front door refused to open, Gino shattered a windowpane and slipped inside to unlock the door. We waited anxiously, but when he finally emerged, his eyes were bloodshot and distant, as though possessed by a demonic force.

Ignoring every warning sign, we followed him into the house.

The evil spirits wasted no time. They seized our vulnerable souls the moment we stepped inside!

In an instant, we were transported to a nightmarish realm, cast into the depths of Hell itself.

Gino, Antonio, Stefano, Arianna, Bria, and I were transformed into grotesque demons, forever condemned.

As the hours dragged on in that twisted realm, I felt my memories slipping away, our laughter, our friendships, even the warmth of sunlight. Down here, time stretches like shadows on cold stone, and every echo reminds us of the moment we crossed that threshold.
 
I replay it endlessly, wishing we had turned back, wishing someone had stopped us before curiosity became our undoing. And the silence down here hums with memories we can’t reclaim.

It is from within the confines of Hell that I write this email, a desperate plea to every teenager who may read it.
Learn from our tragic mistakes. Stay far away from haunted houses, and seek God’s salvation, deliverance from harm, ruin, or sin. Only by embracing the teachings of faith and finding redemption can you hope to escape the clutches of evil darkness.

Yours sincerely,
Mia Z. Edwards

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(Copyright © 2026 by Mia Z. Edwards. All rights reserved.)