Stories. Cathedral

Suddenly the carpet jerked, shrieked strangely and landed so abruptly that everyone fell to the ground.

It was pitch black. Street lamps were not lighted so it was difficult to see anything. Besides, it was misty.

‘Where are we?’ asked Bogusia.

‘Ouch! It’s my foot!’ screamed Franek.

‘I can’t see anything!’ complained the girl.

‘Shush! Calm down,’ said mum, helping them to untangle themselves from their hands and legs and switching on the torch. They tried to recognise the shapes around them but the light was not strong enough. When their eyes got used to the darkness, they noticed an outline of a tall building. ‘I think we’re by the cathedral.’

Suddenly faint light gleamed in one of cathedral tower windows.

‘Have you seen it?’ whispered Franek, pointing at the window. ‘Something’s moved out there!’

He was not the only one to have noticed a flare. Spryciarz, sensing Franek’s anxiety, perked up his ears and ran towards the building.

‘Spryciarz!’ shouted the boy, clenched his fists and chased after him.

‘Franek! Wait!’ called out mum, watching the boy run inside. ‘Let’s go!’ she said to the others. Bogusia grabbed grandpa’s hand.

They approached the doors. Mum took a deep breath and tried the handle. The doors squeaked when she pushed them. As fast as they could, they went inside.

‘It’s so dark in here…’ whispered Bogusia, squeezing grandpa’s hand even tighter.

‘Franek!’ called mum in a whisper, pointing the torch to the left and right and looking around. Slowly she moved further inside. The others followed her on tiptoes. Although they were trying to make as little noise as possible, they could hear their footsteps echoing off the walls: tap, tap, tap. They turned right not wanting to walk through the centre of the building but preferring to keep to the sides. Every now and then some mysterious sounds reached their ears: creak, creak, hoo, hoo, drip, drip. The torch lighted their way only two steps ahead. A faint glow fell on wooden benches, brick walls and steps to the side chapels. They moved slowly, keeping close to each other, trying to walk as quietly as possible, and suddenly…

‘Boo! Ha ha!’ shouted a figure which unexpectedly leaned from behind a pillar. Everyone jumped.

‘Franek! You naughty boy!’ whispered mum, tousling his hair.

‘I caught Spryciarz,’ said Franek with pride, patting the dog on the side.

‘Hush,’ said grandpa. ‘Did you hear this?’

‘I don’t hear anything!’ squealed Bogusia.

Mum screwed up her eyes and glanced behind her son’s back. In the distance appeared a flame, which was growing bigger and bigger as if someone holding a candle was getting closer to them. They held their breaths. Who else could there be in the building at this time of night? Finally, in the dim light, they saw a group of men in black robes.

‘Have you seen him?’ asked one of them.

‘Who?’ mum responded with a question.

Before he could answer, they heard a sinister sound echoing off the tall walls and the ceiling.

‘W-what was that?’ whispered Bogusia and then something blew out the candle.

‘Perhaps it was Spryciarz,’ said Franek hopefully but he felt the dog licking his hand.

‘I-it’s a g-ghost!’ answered one of the strangers.