The Secret Box

Pear Tree Manor stood lonely, planting itself in the thickest wood possible. Slowly, Max crept toward the door, as drowning fog carpeted the damp, mossy floor like sweet wrappers on your bedroom floor. The swallowing abyss of darkness gulped down the trees, towards midnight. Dancing across the ground, the Autumn leaves whisked elegantly through the forest of black. Jagged branches from dead trees were like lightning cracks revealing secrets in the sky. Amazed, Max reached into his pocket, retrieving some rusty keys tied to a matalic chain. Sinking it into the hole, he twisted it carefully. They were not introduced by the warm light of the lamps in the hallway but only by coldness.

“By all the ticky tocks, this place has changed” whined Ambus his hair standing on end. Tom hadn’t spoken the whole trip to get there and by now Tom’s eyes were slowly creeping down to meet the other as Max bolted up the rough wooden stairs towards the second floor. Following behind, Tom slowly came to a stop. Reaching out for the handle, Max stepped through the doorway. Leaping onto the bed, he sent a mount of dust into the air, leaving a both of them coughing and spluttering til it it eventually died down. With a sigh of huge relief, Max ran over to the bedside table, his eyes meeting the midnight black cover of the pocket watch.

Curious, Max handed it to Tom. It felt lighter than ausal. It’s black chain hung motionless on the crusty yellow, peeling wallpaper. Carefully, Tom examined the back of it, slowly realising there was a secret hatch. Opening it up, he saw a daigram glinting in the sun that was seeping through the curtains. Suddenly Max appeared behind Tom, instantly recognising the curly handwriting and distictive picture drawing. It was a picture of his father and mother and, inbetween them, was a matalic box with a a golen rimmed circle and the very top of the box. Resting on his Mother’s neck was the exact pocket watch that was sitting in there hand right now.” This pocket watch opens up that box, ” exclaimed Max ” But what do you reckon is inside,” whispered Tom.

“No one knows,” came an ice cold voice from the misty doorway of the bedroom. Stepping into the light, Max distinguished him at once. It was Papa’s old work partner. Mr Scolffield. Taking a frightened step back both the boys looked down to Ambus. “Stop that this ticking instant,” scowled Ambus. Combing his hand through his wheat coloured hair, Scollfield smiled, revealing his black manky teeth. “Hand over the whatch thing,” protested Scolffield,” I need to find that box.” Max looked at Tom then Tom looked at Max and then they both looked at Ambus.

Edging silently backwards towards the window, the three had an idea. “On my count,” whispered Max, ” three, two, one, NOW” Leaping out of the window, the three, luckily, landed in a deep pile of leaves, which softened the landing a BIT. Minutes later, they huddled in a garden shed behind the house till they knew the coast was clear. Just then, out of nowhere, a distinctive voice was heard over the rustle of trees and leaves, ” I’ll get you eventually, I will, and I will find that box and hopefully kill you and your the remaining people in your family.”