The Simpson Upper School holds a sinister secret, concealed beneath the mundane veneer of its bustling hallways and echoing classrooms. An unassuming metal hatch, hidden away in the dimly lit IT office under the stairs, was the gateway to a nightmarish world, the tunnels that beckoned to the curious and the brave, harboring the lingering souls of two star-crossed lovers.
The IT office was an eerie place after hours. Flickering fluorescent lights cast long, wavering shadows across rows of dusty computers and tangled cables. The hatch lay in the corner, bathed in a dim, sickly green glow. Legend had it that, ages ago, the school’s mascot had been a St. Bernard named Bernardo, and his love, Bernadette.
The rumors spoke of an ill-fated homecoming game, a thunderstorm, and a horrific accident that had taken the lives of both Bernardo and Bernadette. The school had long abandoned the St. Bernard mascot, but the spirits of the two lovers remained trapped in the dark tunnels.
On a moonless night, a group of intrepid students gathered in the IT office, clutching flashlights and trembling with fear. With a creak and a groan, the hatch was forced open, revealing the pitch-black opening of the tunnel beyond. As they descended, a frigid breeze swirled around them, and the air grew thick with a paranormal presence.
The tunnels seemed endless, their stone walls bearing the scars of time and secrets. Muffled echoes of phantom footsteps and whispered confessions filled the space, creating an eerie symphony of the past. The students’ flashlights illuminated haunting graffiti, etched into the walls by a spectral hand, proclaiming the love of Bernardo and Bernadette.
As they ventured deeper, they heard a mournful, distant howling, echoing through the tunnels. The sound was unmistakably that of a St. Bernard, and it grew louder with every step. The group exchanged uneasy glances, their breath misting in the frigid air.
Then, the spectral figure of a St. Bernard materialized before them, its eyes sad and forlorn. It was Bernardo, forever bound to these tunnels, forever searching for his beloved Bernadette. He pawed at the ground and whimpered, his mournful gaze beckoning the students to follow.
In the heart of the tunnels, they came upon a chamber bathed in an eerie, ethereal light. There, they found Bernadette, her ghostly form curled beside a spectral fire. Her eyes shimmered with longing as she locked gazes with Bernardo.
The mascots had found each other again, but their reunion was a bittersweet one. They were forever separated by the veil between life and death. As the students watched, Bernardo and Bernadette nuzzled each other, their phantom tails wagging with sorrow and joy.
The students, feeling the weight of the tragic love story, left the tunnels vowing never to return. The metal hatch was sealed, and the restless spirits of the school’s forgotten mascots were left to wander their underground realm in eternal longing.
The legend of the haunted tunnels under Simpson Upper School has persisted and are a grim reminder that some love stories, even in death, are too strong to be extinguished.
This fictional story was written with the help of AI to bring a Spooky Season story to The Saint News
