"Its locked! What should we do?” little Ben said. There was a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes. The room became very quiet. Very quiet.  The defening silience could even kill us.



Suddenly, a sound broke the silence. “Cling, cling”. I stretched my hands and fished out my hairpins and grinned at my brothers.




“This should do the trick! I knew that this will be useful one day!” I exclaimed as I approached the door and insert the pin in the door hole. Having prior knowledge on how to unlock treasure chest, I figured out that opening treasure chest is the same as opening doors.




The door swung creakily open. I looked at my brothers and looked at them and said proudly,” I’m so smart!” The boys rolled their eyes and walked to the mysterious room. A cold gush of wind blew at our faces. The room was dark. Very dark.




“Hello? Anyone here?” Ben asked. No one replied.




“Mmmmm… Mmmmm...” A groaning sound came behind the brick wall.




“ Who is it?” John said loudly. The groaning became louder. Who could it be? Frightening thoughts raced through my mind like a wild fire. Ben walked towards to the brick wall and touched it.


“It seems fragile.” Ben muttered softly.




“ How could it be? Its made up of bricks!” I said as I leaned against the wall laughing.” It won’t break!”



Crack! “ Ahhhh!!!!” I screamed as I landed on the floor. I could not believe what I saw. I tried to convince myself that my eyes were playing tricks on me. The brick wall collapsed. It crumbled down as if a giant smashed it. However, it was no giant who break this, it was me.




“Mary, are you alright?” John asked as he helped me up. I nodded my head.




“Mmmm…” that mysterious voice was heard again. In fact, it sounded louder. The three of us followed the source of the voice and it lead us to a girl sitting at a corner. She have neatly braids tied and freckles on her white, round face. Her eyes and mouth was covered by a cloth. Her legs were tied together.




As the bravest, Ben walked towards the mysterious girl. “Hey, who are you? What are you doing here?” He asked in a gentle voice and removed the cloths that covered her eyes and mouths.




That girl looked familiar. Very familiar. I scrutinize her body features. Suddenly, her identities struck me like a bolt of lightning. Her face was plastered around Henstable and in the daily newspaper. “ Jane! The daughter of the mayor! So, she was here all along!” I exclaimed. “She was kidnapped!”






The girl looked relief and said quickly and clearly,” That’s right! My name is Jane. My father is the mayor. Please help me! The kidnappers will be back soon!” Ben, John and I looked at each other. What other choices do we have? We must save her!




Somewhere in the background we heard the sound of footsteps in the dark lobby. “ Have you called the father of hers?” a rough voice boomed through the dark lobby. I have never heard a voice as cruel and ugly.




“Yes. When we got the ransom, we kill the girl and the old man.” another voice was heard. Sinister laughter was soon followed.


“Oh no! The kidnappers are here! Switch off the torch! We have to hide!” Jane said frantically as she pretended she was not freed by us. We went to hide behind the “ruins” of the brick wall. It was enough to keep us hidden. After Ben switch off the torch, the room was pitch dark.

“ Hmm… Silly girl! Your father and you will die when he pays the ransom.” A guy who is holding a lamp,wearing singlet said sinisterly.He was fierce. There was no mistake about it. He had a face like a bulldog, with muscles ripping from his broad arms and torso. It is Thomas! The notorious kidnappers in Henstable ! Then the other guy must be his partner in crime, Benjamin. It is no wonder that they are behind all of this. Just then, I accidently knocked over some pieces of  bricks and it aroused the kidnapers’ attention.



“Who is there?” Boon Seng walked towards the “ruins” and found us. We were sacred. A cold chill went up and down my spine.


“ Looks like we got company!” He said as rubbed his hands together. He turned his attention to Jane.” You idiot! Do you think you can get out of this place alive by the help of this scrawny little kids?”  I grabbed a piece of broken brick and hit Thomas. Benjamin immediately sprang to his feet and retaliate. He brandished a knife and aimed for me. Instinctively, I dodged. Teetering on the threshold of fear, I screamed hysterically. Panic started to engulf me. Would I get out of this place safe and sound? Ben and John was dodging THomas's knife while I am dodging Benjamin's. Poor Jane looked so terrified, not moving a single inch.




“ Ben! John! Save Jane! Get out of here! Hurry!” I shouted. Ben and John looked shocked.


“What about you? Mary, we could not leave without you?” Ben replied.


“Just go! Get out of this place. Inform Aunt Mabel!” I implored. Ben and John run towards Jane and grabbed her and retraced their tracks and get back to Aunt Mabel’s House.


“ Come back!” Thomas shouted as he chased after them.


“ Hey! I’m not finished with you!” I said as I ran after Thomas and bit his arm.


"Ouch" Thomas screamed in pain. " Why, you little girl! How dare you?"They should be able reach the cellar by now. Hope I delayed enough time for them to escape. A little voice in my mind told me.


“ You brat! Get ready to die!” Thomas and Benjamin sang in an odd-sing-song. They took their knife and charged towards me. I had to survive. I must dodge this attack to stay alive. I prayed for God to give me a miracle. My body seemed to took control of my mind and dodged the attack. The fight continued and I continued to dodged the attacks. However, I am not Iron Man or Iron Woman for that matter. I felt tired and could not move. My limbs seemed lifeless. Just then, I thought what Miss Pin told us. This is a house of secrects. If I tell this to the kidnappers, they might think that this house contains treasures. They might forget about me. Then, that is the time for me to get out. Alive.

As I sat there thinking, Thomas sent a punch to my stomach. Before he could do that, I screamed and said," This is a house of secrects! There are treasures
here!"

Thomas and Benjamin eyes sparkled with greed. " Really?" I nodded and smiled at them. Fools! They are fools to believe my story. I thought to myself. For a moment, they forgot all about me and went searching for the treasures. Seeing my plans are working, I tip-toed to the exit. Unfortunately, Benjamin saw me getting to the exit.


"Boss! That girl is escaping!" Benjamin shouted.


"Get her!" Thomas commanded. I ran for my life after hearing this two words: get her. THomas and Benjamin gave chase after me. Being a nimble runner, I ran ahead of them and to the cellar and to Aunt Mabel's house. As I saw bright lights coming towards me, I know I'm safe.


Men in blue holding guns and beside them stood my brothers, Jane and Aunt Mabel. Tears whelmed up in my eyes. I felt relieved and happy. Just as I walked towards them, a shiny ,sharp object was placed near my throat. "Not so fast! So, you got the police, huh?" Thomas said sinisterly.


"Sis!"Ben shouted.


"Put down the object and calm down. Don't harm the girl," the police said in a calm voice. I felt a shiver of fear. Will I die? I don't want to. If I die, who will take care of little Ben and stop John from acting impulsively?

In a split second, the police officers sprang into action to save me. Benjamin tried to stop them but to no avail. Bang! Gunshots rang high in the tense air. Thomas and Benjamin moves no more. Everything is over now. It is all over.

I was drained of my energy and fell. "Mary! Are you alright?" my brothers and Aunt Mabel knelt beside me and asked. I gave them a weak smile before shutting my eyes. My body had no more energy left. None at all. My world became dark.

"Sis! You are awake finally," the familiar voices of little Ben rang in my ears.

"John! Ben!" I said as tears rolled down my cheeks. I hugged them. "How I miss your voices."I added.

"Mary, thank you for saving my daughter. You too, Ben and John. This is a reward from me. Please take it." the mayor said as he smiled at us.

"I'm so proud of you children," Aunt Mabel said.

We were on cloud nine



/