Ali – Bonkers
Ali – Bonkers
Chapter One: The Girl Who Grew Up Too Fast (Or So She Says)
Two nights before Halloween, Ali tugged her mum’s sleeve while helping with tea.
“Mum,” she said, “now that Harry Potter’s finally finished, I feel like I’ve grown up. Like I’ve moved on. Does that make sense?”
Her mum smiled and hugged her tight. “It does. But don’t be in too much of a hurry, Ali. These are the best years of your life.”
Ali groaned. “Why does everyone say that? All we kids want is to be grown-ups already!”
She folded her arms dramatically. “Anyway, I’m not a baby anymore. I know there’s no such thing as witches or magic. Harry Potter was just a giant fairy tale.”
Her mum only smiled again, as if she knew something Ali didn’t.
Chapter Two: Babysitting 101 — Cross Your Fingers and Lie to Your Parents
After tea, Ali’s parents got ready for their night out. It took forever: clattering between bathroom and bedroom, perfume here, aftershave there. Finally, they appeared in the sitting room.
“Ali,” said her mum, Jean, “are you sure you’ll be all right babysitting tonight?”
Ali puffed up her chest. “Yes! Totally fine. We’re going to watch The Simpsons Halloween Specials five, six and eight. The best ones.”
“If Paul or Laura get scared, you’ll turn them off?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Ali said quickly, her fingers firmly crossed under a cushion.
Her parents left in their shiny Lexus, bound for the Italian restaurant, and Ali settled in with Paul, Laura, crisps, biscuits, wine gums, and a strange green-gold bottle of fizzy fruit drink with no label — just a palm tree rising over a sun embossed into the glass.
The evening went suspiciously well. Mum phoned at nine, and Ali proudly reported everything was fine.
That was her first mistake.
Chapter Three: Stranger Danger, Dripping Wet Edition
At 9:30 sharp: KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Ali opened the door. Nobody.
Again: KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Still nobody.
The third time, though, there was someone.
A pale man in a dripping black suit. Skin the colour of candle wax.
“I am so sorry,” he said in a heavy accent. “My car has broken down.”
Ali squinted past him. No car. No rain. Dry as toast.
“Where is it?” she asked.
“Up the road. That is why I am wet,” he said smoothly. “May I use your telephone to call the garage?”
“Don’t you have a mobile?”
“In my country, we do not have such luxuries.”
Ali stepped aside, though every part of her brain screamed bad idea.
“Where are my manners?” the man said, bowing slightly. “My name is T. Nuoc Alucard.”
Ali pointed to the hall table. “Phone’s there.”
He picked it up, murmured softly, then fell silent.
When Ali peeked out again, the hall was empty. The door was shut. The man was gone.
Chapter Four: Where Did the Kids Go? (And Don’t Say “Boarding School”)
The Simpsons blared from the telly. Laura and Paul were curled up on the sofa.
Then they weren’t.
The cushions still warm, the biscuits half-eaten — but her siblings had simply vanished.
Ali tore through the house, flinging open wardrobes, cupboards, even toy boxes. Nothing.
She wrenched open the front door —
And fell straight into blackness.
Chapter Five: The Old “It Was Just a Dream” Trick
Ali landed with a soft bump. She blinked up at her own ceiling. The wind chimes tinkled by the window.
Relief flooded her. A dream. Just a dream.
She rolled over. The clock read 5:00 a.m. Plenty of time to sleep again.
Until — CLUMP. CLUMP. CLUMP.
Her eyes snapped open. The sound came from the kitchen.
Chapter Six: Good Boy Gone Bad (Blood Optional, Bones Included)
Ali tiptoed through the hall in her dressing gown. Her parents were asleep. Paul and Laura, too.
The kitchen door creaked open.
“Oh, Jake,” she sighed. Their Labrador stood inside. “It was only you.”
The dog snarled.
“Jake?”
Its lips curled back, saliva dripping from its teeth — thick, red saliva.
Ali froze. “That can only mean one thing. Blood.”
Jake’s eyes glowed. He hurled himself at the patio door, smashing into the glass.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Ali’s gaze darted to the lawn. Bones. Hundreds of them. Dripping red.
She yanked the curtain across the doors, hands trembling. She snatched the phone, dialling her Aunt Breda.
“Hello?” a faint voice said. “Can I help—”
BANG! Jake slammed into her, knocking her flat.
Ali screamed, dragging the curtain down, wrapping herself in the heavy cloth as Jake’s teeth snapped inches from her face.
Darkness swallowed her.
Chapter Seven: Another Dream? Or Just Another Tuesday?
Sunlight. The quilt tangled around her. Morning at last.
Ali laughed, almost giddy with relief. She ran into her parents’ room.
“Good morning! Isn’t it wonderful to be alive?”
Her mum and dad blinked blearily. “That’s our Ali,” they chuckled. “Ali — BONKERS.”
She laughed with them.
Until she heard it.
A faint scratching. From the patio door.
Ali crept down the hall, her bare feet whispering on the floorboards. She reached the kitchen. The scratching grew louder.
Her hand trembled on the handle. She turned it slowly, carefully.
The door swung open—
And Ali’s scream split the morning air.
The End…
The Crazymad Writer Writes Again 