The_Monkey's_Paw

The story opened with a midnight exploration of a cemetery by a trio of Joyce, Chris and me. The atmosphere was exceptionally eerie and a crow was cawing on the branch of a sycamore tree when Joyce took out a monkey’s paw from a wooden chest that she bought at an antique shop few days ago. "It's a monkey's paw," Joyce announced. "A real one. It makes wishes come true." "Uggggh, that's so gross!" Chris exclaimed, his face turning pale. "You've got to be kidding!" I said."I don't believe it." Chris turned to me and said, "Then I dare you to make a wish. Let's see whether or not it comes true. If it's not real, nothing will happen, right'" I laughed and replied halfheartedly, “What nonsense, if this tale is real, I wish all the dead in this graveyard be raised to life!” In the stillness of the night, a gust of cold wind whirled around us suddenly and a flash of lightning lit up the moonless sky. At that moment, I immediately regret my impulsive wish. Then, all of a sudden, we heard squeaking sounds vibrating from beneath the earth here and there. Chris and I could not find time to respond when we heard Joyce shrieking in utmost terror. We both looked at her direction ---- the monkey’s paw in the wooden chest that was laid on the ground beside her was moving and was coming to life! Instantly, Chris cried out hysterically, “Run, run, run for our lives!” As we started to move several steps forward, the ground shook violently. We all stumbled and fell onto a concrete path. We were horror-stricken upon realizing that, at that very moment, the coffins were opening underground one by one. “Good gracious! Run!” Chris shouted again while trying to get up quickly. As I was trying to locate the exit, I felt a rough tap on my left shoulder. “Joyce, I know I got to help you up.” I reached behind me for her hand but my heart almost stopped to discover that I was grabbing a furry paw with long, sharp claws! Blood drained completely from Joyce’s face as she saw what was behind me. She let out blood-curdling screams and then fainted right at the spot. By then, Chris had caught up with us. There was no time looking back, I told myself. We grabbed Joyce’s arms from both sides, while dragging her motionless body to run frantically towards the exit. The ‘thing’ that was in hot pursuit right behind us would catch us all in no time, I thought. We almost bumped into a brawny watchman when we finally reached the exit. “This place is haunted… haunted… claw… the monkey’s claw…” I stammered out the words in extreme fright. Two more policemen appeared in front of us and one of them lit up his face slowly with a torch. Immobile with fear, we saw him smiling grotesquely,“Yeah, I know about this well. The gate is now locked and we rule here…”The earth beneath us started to shake again. Chris and I were shrieking at the top of our lungs while the policemen broke into hideous laughter as they reached for us with their furry paws…