The Haunted Map

The Haunted Map

BY:Khan
Fatima and Sana were best friends who studied at the same school. Both were known for their kind and gentle nature, always helping classmates and respecting teachers. When the school holidays began, the girls decided to spend some time together.

One afternoon, Fatima said, “Why don’t you come over to my house tomorrow? We can decide where to go for a little adventure.” Sana happily agreed.

The next day, as Sana walked toward Fatima’s home, something unusual happened. Her foot pressed against a small envelope lying on the ground. Curious, she picked it up but didn’t open it right away. Instead, she slipped it into her hand and continued walking.

When she finally arrived at Fatima’s house, she showed her the envelope. The girls eagerly tore it open, expecting perhaps a letter or some forgotten papers. But to their surprise, a folded slip of paper fell out. It wasn’t a letter at all—it was a hand-drawn map of a house.

Both friends stared at it in awe. A mysterious map lying on the street felt like an invitation to an adventure. Excited, they decided: “We have to visit this house.”

They emptied their school bags, removing books and replacing them with a few essentials—snacks, a flashlight, and water bottles. Following the map, they began their journey.

After walking for quite some time, they reached the edge of a dense forest. A villager sitting nearby stopped them. “Girls, where are you going?” he asked with concern.

Sana showed him the map. The man’s expression changed immediately. “Don’t go there! That place is cursed. A witch lives in that house. Anyone who enters may never return.”

The girls looked at each other and giggled. To them, it sounded like nothing more than a spooky tale told to frighten children. “Thank you, uncle,” Fatima said politely, and the two carried on.

By the time they reached the house marked on the map, it was already evening. They were tired, but curiosity kept them going. Pushing open the creaky door, they stepped inside. The house was eerily quiet and seemed abandoned. They found a bedroom, dropped their bags on the dusty bed, and decided to rest.

At midnight, Sana woke up suddenly. Strange sounds echoed through the house—whispers, scratching, and faint laughter. Frightened, she shook Fatima awake.

“I’m hearing strange noises,” Sana whispered.

Half asleep, Fatima muttered, “It’s just your imagination. Go back to sleep.”

The next morning, they set aside the night’s fear and went outside to explore the forest. They laughed, played, and enjoyed the freedom of the holiday. But their joy didn’t last long. Sana tripped over a hidden root, and her foot started bleeding.

Fatima quickly helped her back to the house, settled her on the bed, and went to find a bandage from another room. Alone again, Sana heard the same eerie noises as last night—this time louder. She whispered to herself, “It must be my imagination again.”

Soon, Fatima returned and carefully bandaged her friend’s foot. By evening, Sana felt much better.

That night, however, things became terrifying. As they tried to sleep, the strange noises returned. Suddenly, the light bulb above them exploded, plunging the room into darkness. The girls screamed and rushed to the door, but no matter how hard they pushed, it would not open.

And then they saw her.

A hideous witch with twisted features and glowing eyes appeared before them. The girls screamed in terror. In desperation, they fumbled through their bags, searching for the map. Their flashlight beam revealed a hidden note inside the envelope they hadn’t noticed before. It read:

“In the room lies a bottle on the table. Sprinkle its water on the witch, and she will perish.”

Clutching the note, the girls frantically searched the room until they spotted a dusty glass bottle. Just as Sana reached for it, the witch lunged forward and shoved Fatima to the floor. She collapsed, unconscious. Sana grabbed the bottle, but the witch knocked it from her hands. The bottle rolled across the floor and came to rest near Fatima.

At that moment, Fatima stirred and regained consciousness. Her eyes landed on the bottle. With trembling hands, she grabbed it, stood up, and splashed the water directly at the witch.

The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream. Smoke rose from her body as she shriveled, twisted, and finally vanished into thin air.

Breathing heavily, the girls hugged each other. The door, which had been firmly locked before, creaked open on its own. Without hesitation, they ran out into the night, clutching their bags.

As they made their way back, they saw the same villager who had warned them earlier. Astonished to see them alive, he asked, “What happened inside?”

Sana and Fatima explained everything—the sounds, the witch, the hidden note, and the bottle of water. When they finished, Fatima said confidently, “You don’t need to be afraid anymore. The witch is gone for good.”

The man looked at them with gratitude and relief. The girls smiled, proud of their bravery. Together, they returned home, knowing they had survived an adventure they would never forget.

And although they never admitted it out loud, they promised themselves one thing: next time they found a strange map in the middle of the street, they might think twice before following it.