Zindermere

• Sristi Lal, Grade 6A
• Short Story
• 2014

One cold, sunny morning, I crept out of our old brick house in Oxford into the crisp breeze and started running. My feet padded against the dewy lawns as I ran freely, embracing the wind against my face. I came across a house being built at the end of our street. Even though I wasn't allowed to go inside, I decided to explore the construction site.
At the back of the messy yard there was a broken water fountain. I dusted it off and stood it up. It looked like something that should have been in Trafalgar Square! An elegant, beautiful dolphin was perched on a rock with ornate jewels on the outline of its body. Its eyes were a deep, turquoise blue. I was drawn to it and was about to touch it when I heard a man’s voice coming closer.
I started panicking. I fell back and accidentally touched the dolphin’s eye. I felt a magical sensation sweep over me. The world started spinning around and all of a sudden I was in an unknown land. Everything was cold, dreary and white.
I turned around. A flash of blue hit me. I felt a dreadful pain on my forehead. I heard someone shouting, “Leave her alone, Ida. Don’t touch her or I’ll kill you!”
The next voice gave me the shivers. Ida had a raspy, evil-sounding voice that said, “You fool Clarissa, you can’t kill me. Only this worthless human can. You know that I am the rightful heir to the throne of Zindermere. Favouritism got in the way and our parents put you in the throne. I am fuming and ever since I have been trying to get revenge but you have got mother’s power, so I can’t do anything about it! This human must be your little ally to banish me from here. Do you REALLY think that I should let her live?”
Clarissa was trying to protect me whilst numerous blue streaks whizzed past me, eventually striking her. I tried to get up but I couldn't. I heard Clarissa cry an agonised scream as she fell and touched me, filling me with magical warmth. I stumbled, but managed to touch Ida. I heard her shriek. I looked up and saw her disappear into the ground as death welcomed her with open arms.
I felt a calming hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes. I was in a room inside a grand castle. Was I still in Zindermere? I realised that I was on a four-poster silk covered bed. I then saw Clarissa sitting on the end. I went to thank her but was surprised with what I saw next. She appeared some-what ghost-like. I gasped and looked at her with horror. “Don’t worry child, I will not hurt you. Ida had cursed our land and our kingdom. You were the chosen one to kill her.”
After that, Clarissa turned into a shimmering white ribbon and then…vanished.