The Bone Graveyard

Ever since I could remember, an old, rundown house waited at the very bottom of the hill in my cousin’s neighborhood. Foliage covered the walls, and cracks marred the remaining windows. Throughout my childhood, I avoided that place. During my bike rides, I purposely took a detour, and every time the school bus passed the residence, I shut my eyes. But this changed when I was twelve. I already loved exploring the nearby forest, and I quickly scoured the entire area. So, when I needed a new adventure, I turned to the house. Yes, it instilled a great sense of fear within me and every other child in town, and yes, I still feared it, but that fear was part of the thrill. Initially, I tried to get a good friend of mine to join me, but he refused. So, it was up to me. I readied myself with a backpack full of batteries, a flashlight, and a few rags. I covered my hands with leather gloves and rode my bike to the abandoned building. The moment I got there, I gently laid my bike on the ground and examined the decaying walls one last time. To my surprise, I found the door unlocked. I thought it would be shut tight to prevent squatters from entering. Hence why I brought the gloves and rags to protect my hands in case I'd have to crawl through the window. The moment I entered, dust particles floated in front of me. There was a rancid smell that came from the upper floor. I wanted to explore it, but the staircase had been destroyed. Sure, I could have climbed up the debris, but the fear of falling prevented me from doing so. The first floor was vacant except for dust, graffiti, and old food. The first floor was just like every other abandoned building you see in cities, the countryside, and movies. This sight made me realize that others had been inside before me. I felt a mixture of things. On the one hand, the idea that I’d run into someone scared me, but the knowledge that others made it in and had no problem leaving burned away the lingering fear I had as a child. However, I was amazed to see a basement. Behind the staircase was an open door showing a steep flight of steps. I shone my flashlight downward. Flies dashed around the beam. I moved the light across the floor, only stopping when I saw fragments of bone. I froze. Right away, I assumed someone had died, but as I moved the light further, I realized it was animal bone. Fear still held me, but my curiosity proved stronger, so I descended the stairs. Halfway down, I saw more bones scattered across the floor. Many of which were broken. That’s when I finally came to my senses and rushed out of the house. After I left, it took some time for me to calm down, but once I did, I told a friend of mine who ended up passing word to his parents. I’m not exactly sure what happened in that place, mostly because I did my best to distance myself afterward.