DANGEROUS DREAMS

• Chelsea Linley, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2014

the smell changed as I got closer, stronger, and more...magical.

it all started when I received a letter from my great uncle Paul's lawyer saying that I had inherited her big, fancy (ABANDONED) theatre on 23rd street, Manhattan. the next day I received a letter, this time with a key for the theatre itself. I decided that the weekend coming I would go and see what I could do with the place.

the weekend rolled around and I drove myself to the abandoned theatre. whilst on my way it started to rain, thunder clapped in the sky. I parked just outside the front doors and ran inside to avoid getting wet. I closed the front doors and switched on the lights. the room was cold and dusty, it had an eerie feel about it, but I only thought it was because it was un-used. I walked around for a while hoping to find something useful to clean up with. I finally came across a janitors closet. I opened the door and found some mops, brooms, buckets and cleaning chemicals inside. I pulled out the broom and walked onto the stage.

I started sweeping the stage because it was full of dust, dirt and old footprints. once I had finished sweeping I drew back the stage curtains. sheets of dust fell down and I went into a coughing fit. after I had stopped coughing I walked around the side of the curtains and found the props and costume department. just at that moment a memory flowed into my mind. I remembered playing down here amongst the costumes as a little girl, hiding from great uncle Paul. the memory was gone just as soon as it came. I used the key to open the door, it swung open with a very loud creaking sound. I switched on the light which illuminated the room and the staircase leading down to it.

I carefully gripped the banister and slowly made my way downstairs. I had only reached the fifth step when I smelt something sweet, like freshly picked strawberries, I started walking further down when the smell got stronger, and more...magical.

slowly I made my way through the costumes and props and came across a small wooden box, stuffed in the back corner. I cautiously made my way toward it. I reached for it when it started to glow. I pulled off the lid and inside was ... DREAMS! all the dreams I had never dreamt as a small child were inside this box. I bent down to have a look when they all rushed towards me. I screamed. they filled my head with danger and excitement

that was the end. I had drifted off with my dreams and never returned.