YOU'RE NEXT

• Jaxen Murphy, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2015

For my 11th birthday I got a clown poster. It was 32x32cm in size. I’ve had it on my wall ever since.
Today is Tuesday. We have a public holiday, so there’s no rush. I smile as I lay in my soft, warm bed. I close my eyes and think of what I should do first. Maybe hang out at Flynn’s house? Or play video games? I can’t decide!
When I finally get up at 11 am, I look out my misty window. It’s pouring with rain. I guess I’m probably not going to Flynn’s today. I sit down on my bean bag (which feels like nails) and turn on the X-box. Nothing seems to happen. I try again and again, but nothing. I realise there’s no power. I go outside my room and call Dad. There was no response. I realise no one’s home. From the corner of my eye, I spot a note on the kitchen table. It’s from Dad.
“Hi Mate!” it reads “We are currently at work. It isn’t a public holiday today, it’s a school holiday. You’re on your own until 2pm! Love you, Dad.”
Looks like I’m on my own.
I turn around and hear an evil laugh behind me. I quickly spin around to find the same note that Dad had written, had been changed.
“Don’t Blink!” it reads.
I’m petrified. I start to sweat. The house suddenly gets dark. Bright green fog starts circling me, like a clutch of snakes. I slowly creep to the toaster. I am hungry so I whip out a piece of bread lying on the top of the toaster. But the piece of bread had a pile of pepper on it. The pepper pile goes in my nose. I try not to sneeze but I fail.
ACHOO!
When I open my eyes there’s a big piece of duct tape stuck to my mouth. I try to scream but no one hears me. I hear laughing everywhere. I see letters appear on the wall.
“FLADNAG…” A voice says.
What does that mean? I hear a little girl scream from my room. I run in and see a little girl with a half burnt face, lying down on my carpet with a knife sticking out of her head. I see a message on her burnt skin.
“You’re Next!”
I turn around and see a clown. It's the same clown on my poster. I look at the poster. There is now no clown on it! I realise that the clown from my poster, is a murderer. He slowly walks towards me. I turn around to run but there’s no escape. He then stabs a knife in my forehead. I fall down slowly dying.
Suddenly, I hear my name being called;
“Jaxx! Wake up!” It’s my mum. I look outside, it’s sunny. It was just a dream! Everything is back to normal. I hope…