Sophia gripped tightly onto her best friend Ethan’s arm. The haunted house was even scarier than the brochure had claimed.

Sophia shivered as they passed beneath a long spider web with a huge—but fake—spider hanging from it.

In the distance she could see the dim light of a candle. It seemed to be the end of the hallway. Sophia hoped there wasn’t a trap door they would fall through. As they neared it, though, Sophia saw that there was a door.

She prayed it was the end of the tour. She was tired and scared; not to mention ready to eat some of that candy Mom had bought for the trick-or-treaters.

Next to her, thirteen-year-old Ethan scratched at his Napoleon Dynamite wig. His oversized glasses had amused Sophia earlier that night, making her laugh uncontrollably. Now, they seemed menacing and scary, casting dark shadows on his face.

Sophia had dressed up as a pirate, complete with fake pistols strapped in her jeweled belt, a sword dangling at her side, and a hat with a large feather sticking out of it.

Her sword seemed useless now.

Unless we’re talking about the sword of the Spirit: which is God’s word. Sophia thought with a weak smile. That is never useless. God will always protect me, especially from a silly haunted house.

Suddenly, her fears seemed ridiculous now.

* * *

Ethan watched as the door approached. Sophia was holding onto his arm so tightly that he could have sworn she was leaving bruises. Sure, he was a little unnerved, but Sophia was terrified. He wondered now if bringing her here had been a bad idea. She just turned twelve, so he didn’t think she would have gotten so scared.

But she had.

He looked sideways at her as she dropped his arm, a secretive smile on her face.

“Why are you smiling?” He whispered.

“Because I have the Sword of the Spirit to protect me from the ‘evils’ of the haunted house.” She replies softly with a playful smile. Suddenly, she seemed fearless. Ethan wondered how she did that. He thought of the Bible verse he had been hearing from his Mom since a baby. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8.” As he recited it in his head, he could understand how Sophia lost her fear so easily. Suddenly, he too was fearless. It was a good feeling.

* * *

Sophia watched as the door approached, preparing herself for whatever was behind it. She wouldn’t be afraid—not now.

She felt Ethan stand straighter next to her and she smiled to herself.

Apparently, Ethan just became braver too.

The door was just a few feet away now.

* * *

Ethan reached for the door handle, gently turning it. It started to open with a creak…

* * *

Sophia didn’t jump when the door burst open and a skeleton jumped out growling what she assumed to be ‘scary’ noises. In fact, Sophia felt like laughing. A little giggle escaped from her mouth.

* * *

Ethan had to laugh at the ‘alive’ skeleton that just jumped from the closet. Ironic, wasn’t it, that people were always saying “Skeletons in the closet”. He knew the phrase meant something else entirely, but still, it was funny.

Sophia giggled beside him, while the skeleton stood confused. Apparently, this was the first time someone had reacted like this.

“Why…?” Asked the skeleton, his voice muffled from his mask.

“Let’s just say we have more guts than you do.” Sophia joked.

“I’d say so,” Ethan added as he laughed.

What a night.