Mia and Ethan skipped down the dimly lit street, their candy bags swaying with each step. The night air was filled with the sounds of laughter and rustling leaves. Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind them.
"Did you hear that, Mia?" whispered Ethan, his voice tinged with unease.
Before Mia could respond, a pair of masked figures emerged from the shadows, swiftly grabbing the siblings. The world spun around them as they were bundled into a waiting van.
Mia and Ethan found themselves inside a musty room, the air thick with dust and neglect. The walls were adorned with faded, peeling wallpaper, and the only light came from a flickering bulb overhead.
"What do they want with us?" Mia trembled, glancing at her brother.
"We need to stay calm and find a way out," Ethan replied, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of weakness.
Ethan nudged Mia, pointing to a small window partially covered by a ragged curtain. It was their only chance.
"If we can reach that window, we might be able to escape," Ethan whispered, determination in his voice.
"But what if they catch us?" Mia hesitated, fear shadowing her face.
"We have to try," Ethan insisted, squeezing her hand for reassurance.
The siblings crept through the house, their footsteps silent against the wooden floor. Every creak and groan of the old house felt like a warning.
"Almost there," Mia breathed, her heart pounding as they reached the window.
Just as Ethan began to pry it open, a door slammed somewhere behind them, and heavy footsteps approached.
Mia and Ethan spun around, their captors standing menacingly in the doorway. The siblings exchanged a glance, an unspoken plan forming.
"Why are you doing this?" Ethan demanded, stepping forward defiantly.
One of the masked figures hesitated, as if caught off guard by the question. "It's...complicated," he said, his voice wavering.
"Then let us go," Mia pleaded, her eyes wide and earnest.
In a moment of uncertainty, the captors exchanged a look, and Ethan seized the opportunity, grabbing a nearby candle and thrusting it forward. The flame danced dangerously close to the curtain, causing the captors to retreat.
Mia and Ethan tumbled out of the window, landing on the grass outside. Their hearts raced as they sprinted away from the house, the sound of pursuit fading behind them.
"We did it!" Mia exclaimed, tears of relief in her eyes.
"We sure did," Ethan grinned, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins as they disappeared into the night, leaving the haunted house and their captors behind.
