This chapter is a re-telling of my favorite short horror film. Enjoy!

"Mikan," Yuka said, kissing her daughter on the forehead. "You be a good girl and take care of the house, okay?"

"Yes, Mommy." The ten-year-old said as she went back to her comfy position in the couch and watched TV.

"Okay. I'll be back before midnight. Bye, sweetie!"

And then the door shut behind her.

Yuka was out on a dinner date with Shiki, her boyfriend. They had been going out on evenings a lot that little Mikan got used to being alone in the house. The first date hadn't gone well for the little girl though.

There was a heavy rain that night and Mikan was huddled up in a ball crying her eyes out until Yuka came home. The thunder and lightning scared the child so much. So she then decided to give her daughter a cell phone.

It was getting late and there were no more interesting TV shows, so Mikan decided to head on upstairs and sleep. Just when she stood up though, the TV, along with the rest of the electricity in her house, went out.

Mikan quickly grabbed her cell phone and dialled her mom's phone.

(,',,,)~

Ring. Ring.

"Oh," Yuka smiled at her date. "Excuse me. My daughter is calling—hello?"

"Mom?"

"What is it, Pumpkin, is there something wrong?"

Sniffle. "The electricity went out. I'm scared."

"Oh, honey, it's going to be all right. Do you have a flashlight with you?"

She heard a drawer opening and then closing. "Yes, Mommy."

"Okay. I need you to go to the basement to get the generators on. Can you do that for me?"

"I... I don't know. It's scary down there."

"Shh. Just keep the phone to your ear and I'll talk to you so you won't be scared. Is that all right?"

"Okay." She then heard Mikan's soft feet thudding against the carpet. "I'm here, Mommy."

"Good girl. Now, there are only ten steps to the basement and I want you to count with your every step so the fear will go away. Can you do it?"

"Yes." Step. "One."

"Very good, Mikan."

Step. Step. "Two... Three."

"Mikan, honey, what happened?"

"It's... it's scary, Mommy."

"Only ten steps, sweetheart, and it'll be over. Go on."

Step. "Four."

"That's my brave girl."

Step. "Five."

Step.

"Six."

Step.

"Seven..."

"Three more, honey. You can do it."

The steps this time were hurried.

"Eight... Nine... Ten..."

"Very good! See, that wasn't so hard, was it? Now, if you look to your right, you'll see—"

"...eleven."

I hope I did this story justice with my words! Haha. It's just that I really got creeped when I watched this short film, so I thought I'd share it with you all. If you want to watch it, just search 'THE TEN STEPS Ghost Story' on YouTube. =)