When Legends Linger

for a decade the house on haunted hill
sat quiet yet, 'they' were within there still
creating chaos each and every day
stunts meant to keep all intruders away

but the teens, they were brave, or so they thought
waited until evening, then ghosts they sought
seven entered the house, four boys, three girls
the house came with mice, spiders and squirrels

the first noise came when looking for their bed
perhaps a squirrel, or mouse overhead
but as they tried to justify the noise
they noticed now... there were only three boys

quickly, for the teen, they began to hunt
but interupted by a growling grunt
that appeared to be coming from the hall
from closer inspection, inside the wall

they each had their own opinion to share
but most thought the teen was hidden in there
they took a vote to decide what to do
then discovered the boys down to two

panic set in and the girls were crying
they were not alone, someone was spying
but wait... how did their friends just disappear
that must have took planning to engineer

they now down to five, what once was two more
when suddenly they heard a creak of door
with flashlights in hand, they looked all around
determined to find the source of the sound

standing at door, it slammed and slammed some more
when it stopped the teens numbered only four
two boys and two girls stood in disbelief
each failed to calm the other of their grief

the decision was made that they should leave
before they dwindled down to a mere three
but prior to finding the exit way
one more teenager had now gone astray

two girls had one boy to be their hero
but when it came to clues, he had zero
nothing to help him keep the girls from harm
causing his brain to set off an alarm

not wishing to be in his position
or that three was linked to superstition
'cause that would mean the next number is six
two more would vanish to make that a fix

by the time the boy had thought this all out
his hero status lost valuable clout
standing before him was only one girl
throwing his thoughts into a frenzied whirl

clinging to his arm like a child to mama
fearing the worst kind possible drama
they search for the door that first led them in
to lead them away from the evil sin

he's very aware, one more still must go
will it be him or her, he just don't know
the sound of footsteps and some floating books
voices coming from the darkest of nooks

the two teens hurry, never losing contact
ignoring the sounds and do not react
then candles start lighting all by themselves
items begin flying right off the shelves

the boy knows he's made something evil mad
all he can say is... "I'm sorry! Egad!"
wickedness now is making the house shake
chandeliers fall as if there's an earthquake

the teens take cover, each under table
the boy looks for the girl when he's able
he calls out to her as he looks around
but as he suspected she can't be found

what once was seven is now down to one
will he too disappear when night is done
and if he survives how will he explain
or worse yet, how will he live with the pain

and why was he choosen to be the last
how did the evil one select his cast
was there rhyme or reason behind it all
does this make him lucky he didn't fall

or perhaps his time just has not yet come
and unlucky seven the total sum
yes maybe three was not the link at all
and he'll still have his final curtain call

when the clock struck midnight on the hour
the teen's stomach started turning sour
he remembered stories that had been told
fables and folklores and legends of old

stories about this house on haunted hill
ghost and their willingness to haunt and kill
and as the teen stood there scared, all alone
he heard a ring from a toy telephone

he thought, could this be what I hear and see
or are these fabled ghost now calling me
with trembling hands he reached for the small toy
fearful of words that were sure to annoy

the teen gathered courage and felt no choice
but to speak his young mind and raise his voice
we meant you no harm, we're just some young teens
who came here to celebrate Halloween

then voices emerged from a dead man's urn
to teach the lesson he was sent to learn
hush... I'll not hear no more you have to say
but let me take you back to yesterday

a time when you were brave enough to share
"I'll dare you try to scare me... double dare"
you claimed it couldn't be done, we thought so
and then brought you here to give it a go

and Halloween legends are so much fun
makes it so easy for pranks to be done...
he put the phone back on it's receiver
and released all six of his deceivers

all entered the room and took their places
proudly exposing smiles on their faces
the boy clutched his chest and fell to the ground
they watched him dying as they gathered 'round

the friends knew they had gone way too far
and rushed to get the boy out to the car
when pulling into the emergency room
the boy sat up... "Now who's the scared Baffoon?"







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