Darkness

• Isadora Pearson, Grade 9, Kurri Kurri High School
• Short Story
• 2014

Excellence Award in the 'The Text Generation 2014' competition

I whip around the tall, thick trunks of trees, twigs and branches crash into my face as I trip over lengthy roots. The beat of my heart echoes through my body as the wind whistles by, shaking the orange leaves of Autumn to the ground. I glance behind me. The darkness rushes towards me, the shadows moving stealthily through the forest. I see the sparkle of a small river up ahead. With a burst of speed I sprint towards it, my giant steps crushing everything underfoot.
As I finally push myself into the water the darkness stops. Hovering at the edge of the glistening stream, I stumble backwards as a harsh, bright light peeks through the darkness. Squinting my eyes, a piercing shriek fills the air. I clutch my ears, willing the sound to disappear.
My knees buckle as I fall to the ground. I pull my legs to my chest and hug them to myself. Just when I think the screeching noise will finally overpower me it stops. I look up to see a tall shadow standing over me. As my ears fill with the ringing silence my vision blurs. I glance to wards the sky, the stars sway before me. Slowly coming closer as my vision darkens. At last I am sucked into darkness. Finally pulled to my final rest as a voice above me whispers 'No.'