Story no 10: Secret of the spooky bungalow

 

Secret of the Spooky Bungalow
By. Adhav.v

Once upon a time, in the quiet village of Willowbrook, there lived five adventurous friends: Jayanth, Ganesh, Kumar, Rajesh, and Ravi. They were neighbors, and behind their houses stood a big, old compound wall belonging to a spooky bungalow. The villagers often said to stay away from it. But curiosity got the best of the five friends, and they decided to explore the bungalow one night.

One moonlit evening, when their parents were fast asleep, the friends sneaked out of their homes and met in front of the bungalow's large wooden door. Jayanth, the bravest of the group, pushed the door open with a creak. They stepped inside and found themselves in a grand, dimly lit hallway filled with dusty portraits and old furniture.

As they went deeper into the bungalow, they found a grand staircase that spiraled upwards. The atmosphere was eerie, but their excitement was stronger than their fear. Ravi, who loved solving puzzles, noticed a pattern on the wall that seemed to form a riddle:

"To uncover the secrets this house doth keep, five keys you must find, in rooms where shadows sleep."

The friends decided to split up to search for the keys. Jayanth and Ganesh went upstairs while Kumar, Rajesh, and Ravi explored the ground floor.

Jayanth and Ganesh entered a room filled with old books and scrolls. On a dusty bookshelf, they found a key hidden inside an ancient book titled "The History of Willowbrook." As they picked up the key, a secret passageway opened behind the bookshelf.

Meanwhile, Kumar, Rajesh, and Ravi discovered a room with a grand piano covered in cobwebs. They noticed that one of the keys on the piano was different. When Rajesh pressed it, a drawer popped open, revealing another key.

Reunited, the friends followed the secret passageway, which led them to a hidden basement. The basement was dark and filled with old chests and crates. Using their flashlights, they found another key inside a small, intricately carved wooden box.

With three keys in hand, they returned to the grand hall, wondering where the final two keys could be. Ravi remembered the riddle mentioned "rooms where shadows sleep." He realized the last keys must be hidden in the darkest corners of the house.

They found a small, shadowy room under the staircase. Inside, they discovered a portrait of a mysterious woman with a key hanging from her necklace. As they carefully lifted the key, the portrait slid to the side, revealing a hidden door.

The fifth key was found in an old clock attached to the wall. Kumar noticed the hands of the clock were stuck at midnight. When he and Rajesh turned the hands to the correct time, a compartment opened, revealing the final key.

With all five keys, they unlocked the hidden door and found themselves in a magnificent treasure room. Gold coins, sparkling jewels, and ancient artifacts filled the room. However, the true treasure was a dusty, old journal on a pedestal. The journal belonged to the original owner of the bungalow, an eccentric inventor named Mr. Hook.

The journal detailed Mr. Hook's inventions and his dream of sharing his wealth with the villagers. He had hidden the treasure to protect it from thieves, hoping one day, brave souls would find it and use it for the good of the village.

The friends decided to keep the treasure a secret until they could figure out the best way to use it. They carefully locked the treasure room and exited the bungalow, ensuring everything looked undisturbed.

As they snuck back into their homes, they felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement. The spooky bungalow was no longer a mystery; it was a place of hidden wonders. The friends knew they had a great responsibility, and they vowed to use the treasure to help their village and preserve Mr. Hook's legacy.

From that night on, the five friends shared a bond stronger than ever, united by their secret adventure and the incredible discovery that had changed their lives forever.

THANK YOU