THE RUMBLE on v emberissue2024
H E A R T
AnitaaAdaikkappan
H O U S E
Litteredwithdebrisofthepast, RuinedfromalongagoDecember, Scratched,gashedandtornwitholdwhitescars, Ofthingswecanscarcelyremember.
Thewindowisshattered,asdarknesscreepsin, Thewallsarewornandfatigued. Thedoorhangs,splinteredandfragile, Notenoughtoholdbacktheenemy
Anendlesswarofthehouseandtheoutside, Thehouse'swarmthturnedtostone, Thefriendshipandbetrayal, Thehousehaslongoutgrown.
Thestringstostrumarebroken, Themelodyofcomfortfadedaway, Wispsofsongfloatback, Butnotlongdotheystay.
Brokenglasslitterstheground, Reflectingoftimeslostgone, Crackingforgottenmemories, Ofloveandjoymovedon
Butonedaythehouseshakes, Andpicksupthedoor, Butinsteadoffittingittoitshinges, Nailsitclosedforevermore.
Itboardsthewindowsshut, Andhardensupthewalls, Itclosesupallofthelight, Anddarkensthegrimyhalls.
Now whenever one walks near the house, It emanates an forbidding aura, It pities none and forgives not, And punishes any intruder
HauntedHouse
by Oneli Gunasena
Thewindblewferociously,threateningtoknockmeover.Rainpeltedonthedirt pathwayformingministreams.Thebreezeflewundermyjacketasitattackedme withitshowl.Thornbushesleaptforwardandclawedatmyjeans,tellingmethatI wasnotwelcomehere.Oversizedsticksblockedmypathlikenature’stentacles. Jaggedstonesbruisedmylegsandankles.Thewindgaveastrike,thejacket abandonedmeasitdisappearedintothebushes.
WhenIdespairedthatthingscouldnolongergetworse,aflickeringlightbeckoned metowardsanoldhouse,offeringmeshelter.Wetandbedraggled,Ihoppedback ontothedirtpath.Myeyessteeredmeasafaintlightguidedme.Myarmshugged measIfoughtmywaythroughthestorm,towardsanold,woodendoor,atthetopof mossystonesteps.
Ayeastybeersmellemergedfromtheclearing.Ahouse.Goosebumpspoppedupon myfreckledskin.Myactionsarguedwithmybrain.Don’tgothere,evilseemsto lurkaroundthishouse;itappeareddarkanddiseased.However,myactionswere automatic.Thecreakingdoorhadabrasshandleintheshapeofaskull.Shadows movedandchangedontherattlingwindows.
Therustyhandlegaveaccessbyopeningthedoor.Mytonguedriedupanddust flaredmynose.Mywristtwistedthehandle.Aworn-outrugmetmeinside.The wallswhisperedanear-piercingsong;itswelledintoasortoforchestraofwhispers andsqueaks.AsIcautiouslyadvancedtowardsthecentreoftheroom,achillran downmyspine.Apuffofice-coldmovingaircircledmyneck,almostlikeacold humantouch.Myeyespiercedintothedarkness.Thewhistlingsoundaccelerated intoacurdlingscreamthatechoedaroundthewallsoftheemptyroom.Theair thickened.Breathingwasdifficult.Adarkshadowcausedmetoturn.
TheTruthAboutChristmas byOneliGunasena
Snowdancedinthelight,achoreographedballetconductedbythegentlewind Avapeeredthroughthe gapinthecurtainswithwideeyes ItwasChristmasEveatEphemeralTown,Shehummedherselfa melodythatmadehersmilefromeartoear Christmaswascomingandshehadwishedfortheperfect gift
Thatnight,sheaskedhermother,"IsSantareal,andwillhecome?"Hermumanswered,"Honey, I'msurehewill.Finishupyourdinnerandyoucanleavethecookiesandmilknexttoyourletterfor Santanexttothetree.ThismadeAvasqueal,butshealsofeltthatsomethingwasmissing.
"It'snotthesamewithoutDad,"Avaanxiouslysqueaked
Hermotherforcedasmileandhuggedherdaughtertight "Iknowitisnotthesame,buthewouldlike ustobehappyduringChristmas,wouldn'the?"ThisbroughtAva'scheersup,Shehuggedbackher mum,dryinghertearsawayonhershoulder
Thatnight,Avadraggedherselfupthestairs,holdingontoTeddyandMum "Goodnight,"hermum whisperedtoherasshetuckedAvaintobed Aftershehadfallenasleep,Mumtiptoedbackdownstairs andintothelivingroom HereyescaughtSanta'sletterandhercuriosityforcedhertoopenitup A gushofempathyrushedintoherheart
Thehousegrewsilent,everyonewasasleep
Thetownhadbecomeanawfulsilence Nocarsbumped againsttherockyroads Nopeoplewererushingtothesupermarkettogetthebestdealforaroasted chickenNothingmadeasound,exceptthewhisperingofthewindandtheflickeringofthestreetlights
ChillsoffrightrandownAva'sspine Hereyesblinkedlikeafan,exhausted,butnotsleepy She couldn'tfallasleep,thesilencewastoodisturbing Shewonderedwhyitwasawfullyquiet Hersoul jumpedoutofherbodyasthewindowsclashedtogether,breakingthesilence "That'sstrange,Ithought Iclosedthewindows,"shewhisperedtoherself
Thefloorboardscreakedashertoestouchedthem Withallherstrengthshepulledherselfupand advancedtowardsthewindowcautiously Herheadpokedout,scanningthesurroundingneighbourhood Thetownseemedtobedifferent Avafeltlikehereyeswereplayingtricksonhereventhoughshewas fullyawake
Shadows crept from the hallway as she trudged towards her mother's room in fright The rusty handle gave access by opening the door to her mother's room She wasn't there Her tongue dried up and her noseflared "Whereareyoumum,"shewhimpered
The walls whispered an ear-piercing song; it swelled into a sort of orchestra of whispers and squeaks As Ava cautiously tumbled down the stairs, a chill ran down her spine A puff of ice-cold moving air circled her neck, almost like a cold human touch Her eyes pierced into the darkness A dark shadow causedhertoturn.Nothingwasthere.
"Mum,"shecalledagain,butnoanswer.Witheverystep,shefeltfurtherawayfromsafety.Thefront doorcreakedopen,Avastaredatit,petrified.Twosilhouettesofshadowsenteredthehouse.Withall hermight,shemanagedtoreachthelightswithherskinnylegs
Thelightflickered,revealinghermumwithashadowbehindher Asignofreliefpouredontoherface Avarushedtohermumandpulledherawayfromtheshadow Theshadowdidn'tfollowhermumlike herswould
Theshadowapproachedher,shehidbehindhermother'sback Asshepeekedfrombehind,shesawa familiarface "Daddy!"shesquealedassherushedtoembracehim Amanwearingatorn,brownand greenuniform,lookingweary,kneeleddownwithopenarms Holdingapieceofpaperthatread"AllI wantismydadforChristmas"
