Writing Exercise
Remember a dream and a nightmare you’ve had. Write a short story by mixing the two together.
Side Note
I used to write down both my dreams and nightmares in a journal, or I should say journals as I have a few. But I haven’t written any since our first daughter was born because since I remembered so much of either the dream or nightmare, it took a long time to write it out. And since I stopped writing them out, I can’t remember my dreams or nightmares very well anymore sadly. But I will try my best for this exercise.
Fun Fact
My book Secret School, or Azriel High, the YA Paranormal book with Scout, Katlyn, and Jennifer is actually based on a dream of mine. I was Scout and I dreamt about the high school and dreamt up a scene that is now in the almost finished manuscript. But now back to the exercise.
Dream:
I remember a dream that I had a few years ago where I was with my favorite paranormal investigating team known as TAPS from Rhode Island. They have a popular TV show called Ghost Hunters.
In my dream, we were going to investigate an old house together. This dream also quickly turned into a nightmare as whatever was in the house dragged me inside the old house. So I’ll use this for a short story. I will use a new character to take my place but I will use the TAPS members to keep with the dream/nightmare.
My Story
A black van pulled up to an old two story house that had been abandoned. Jason stared at the house confused since they had told an older couple they would investigate the hauntings going on in their home. But this home was obviously abandoned and no one had lived there for many years.
“Are you sure that this is the right place, Grant?” Jason asked as another van parked next to them. “It doesn’t look like anyone has lived here in years.”
Grant stared in disbelief at the dilapidated house before he looked at the van that parked next to them. He put the walkie-talkie up to his mouth and clicked the button. “Hey guys, is this the right address?”
“Yep, this is it,” a female voice answered through the static.
Jason glanced into the back seat where the fan who had won a contest sat. Her emerald eyes stared at the house as she stared at the house as she tied her dark, brown hair behind her in a pony tail.
“Jessi, are you ready to go?” Jason asked.
Jessi grinned at him. “I am ready.” She slid open the van door and hopped out, making her way to the back of the van. There she helped Brian and Steve unload the equipment they would use for the investigation. She carefully placed the items on the ground.
Jason and Grant walked towards the house and looked for any signs of the couple they were supposed to meet. They returned to their team and shook their heads.
“I don’t know what to say, guys, but I think we were lied to because there is obviously no one here,” Grant said, throwing his hands up as if in defeat. “We might as well pack up the van and head out.”
Steve looked at the old house, and pointed at a window. “Hey, someone is inside. I just saw the curtain move at that window.”
Jason and Grant turn to see the front door was no opened. It hadn’t been when they had first looked at the house. Jessi walked towards the house, eager to see if it was the old couple that they were supposed to meet.
“Hello?” Jessi called out as she reached the front steps. “My name is Jessi and I am here with TAPS to investigate your home.”
A strong wind blew from inside the house and it grabbed Jessi. Jessi’s hair was ripped out of her pony tail and she looked back at the team startled. Jessi grabbed onto the splintering railing as the wind lifted her off her feet. She screamed as terror struck her heart.
Steve and Tango lunged forward and tried to grab the young woman’s hand. Jessi screamed again as the railing broke away and she was dragged into the house. The door slammed shut, leaving the TAPS team outside, confused and baffled by what had just happened. Inside, they could still hear Jessi screaming for help.
Tango rushed up the steps and grabbed the door handle but it wouldn’t turn. Steve and Brian both tried to pull open the windows by the door but they too were stuck. Jason and Grant rushed up to join the other team members and pounded on the front door. They yelled for Jessi and for the house to open the door. But the house stayed locked up tight and Jessi’s screams became quiet.
“How do we get her out of there?” Steve asked, breathing hard from the effort of trying to unstick the window and pry it open.
“I have no idea,” Jason said. He packed away from the house and looked up at it, trying to see into the house from the upstairs windows.
Jessi appeared at one, pounding her hands against the glass and yelled for them to help her. Jason pointed up at the window but as soon as his team were beside him, Jessi was dragged back inside, a pair of gnarled hands grabbing her arms. TAPS tried to get inside the house, but nothing they did could get any of the doors or windows open. Even when they tried to break the glass, the glass stayed stubbornly in tact. They couldn’t get Jessi free of the haunted house.