Your teacher has asked you to write a story for a school magazine. Your story must begin with the following words:

With a deep breath, Adam stepped into the room.

In your story, you must:

• describe the room and how Adam got into a problem

• talk about how the problem was solved

Sample Story

With a deep breath, Adam stepped into the room. Sudden shivers went down his spine. It was a dare that got him to where he was now. Was it too late to back out?

It was pitch black. The only thing that helped him navigate his way around the room was the dim light of his mobile phone. Each time he took a step, the floor creaked as if it would break into pieces. In that silent night, Adam stood still, contemplating why he had ever accepted the foolish dare.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blowing through the window turned into a strong wind, slamming the door behind him shut. He was trapped! Quickly, he rushed to open it, but to no avail. As he thought of what to do to free himself, suddenly he felt something strange at his feet.

Oh my God! Please don’t be a snake! Adam prayed for his safety. After a while, he gathered his courage and grabbed it. A stick! He immediately got an idea. Without hesitation, he pounded the door with the stick, forcing it to open. After several attempts, he finally managed to break it down. Free at last!

Without wasting any time, he sprinted back home, leaving the dilapidated house to itself. That night, he learnt not to put himself in danger trying to win a silly dare.

You are writing a story for an online magazine. The story must begin with the following sentence:

While exploring the big old house, Maria heard a faint, familiar sound.

In your story, you must:

• describe the old house and how Maria discovered a mystery

• talk about the challenges she faced to sell the house