Halloween, the night of tricks and treats, was upon us. The moon was full, its eerie glow casting long shadows on Hollow Creek. I was with my friends, eager for a thrill.

We had heard tales of the old abandoned house at the end of Hollow Creek, a place said to be haunted. Tonight, driven by curiosity and a sense of adventure, we decided to explore it.

Among us was Sarah, the bravest of the group, who led the way, her flashlight slicing through the darkness. Her excitement was contagious, making us forget our fears momentarily.

As we neared the house, a cold wind swept across, making the trees around us whisper. The house loomed ominously in the darkness, its silhouette sending chills down my spine.

Sarah pushed the creaking gate open, and we followed her into the overgrown yard. The house towered above us, its broken windows staring down like empty eye sockets.

Our friend, Liam, hesitated, his face pale under the moonlight. He looked at us nervously, his eyes reflecting the fear we were all trying to hide.

Sarah dared him to go first, and with a deep breath, he stepped towards the old wooden door. With a sudden gust of wind, the door creaked open, inviting us inside.

The interior was as creepy as the exterior. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and the floorboards groaned under our weight. The air was heavy with the smell of decay.

We moved from room to room, the beam of our flashlights revealing layers of dust and remnants of a life long gone. The silence was so intense, it was almost deafening.

Suddenly, we heard a soft whispering noise. We froze, our hearts pounding in our chests. The sound seemed to be coming from the stairs leading to the basement.

Sarah, always the bravest, decided to investigate. She slowly descended the stairs, the rest of us huddled at the top, holding our breath.

Suddenly, her flashlight flickered off. We heard a gasp, and then silence. Panic rose in our throats as we called out her name, but there was no response.

Liam and I rushed down the stairs, our flashlights scanning the room. It was empty. Sarah was nowhere to be seen. The only sound was the pounding of our hearts.

We searched the entire house, but there was no sign of her. The whispering noise had stopped, replaced by a chilling silence that made my skin crawl.

Suddenly, the house seemed to come alive. Doors started slamming shut, and a cold wind blew through the halls. We could hear the sound of laughter, but it wasn't Sarah's.

The laughter turned into a wail, a cry that echoed through the house. We ran towards the exit, but the front door slammed shut, trapping us inside.

We banged on the door, but it wouldn't budge. The wailing got louder, and we could hear the sound of footsteps coming closer. We were trapped, with no way out.

Suddenly, a bright light filled the room. We shielded our eyes, and when we opened them, we saw Sarah standing in front of us, looking terrified.

She had no recollection of what happened. She said one moment she was in the basement, and the next, she was standing in front of us. The door suddenly swung open.

We ran out of the house, not looking back. The wailing stopped, and the house fell silent once more. We were safe, but the terror of that night would haunt us forever.

We never spoke about that night. It was an unspoken agreement among us. We never returned to the house, and Hollow Creek became a place we avoided at all costs.

Every Halloween, I remember that night. The fear, the terror, and the relief of escaping from that house. The haunting of Hollow Creek was a Halloween we would never forget.