Petals And Iron
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Emma Spires, Grade 8, Capricornia School of Distance Education -
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Short Story
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2018
Excellence Award in the 'Horizon of Dreams 2018' competition
Whump! I land awkwardly onto the dusty planks of ancient wood. My body aches from the impact and I struggle to suck air back into my lungs. I can’t quite see my surroundings because of the thick fog that clings to everything like a veil of spider web. Just in front of me is a long swinging platform bridge suspended by delicate chains of forged iron. The far side of the bridge seems to melt into the cloudy horizon, and the entrance is wrapped in thick green ropes of a flowering jasmine vine with vicious thorns. I take a tentative step back and fear begins to weave its way through my entire body. Suddenly, I feel the ground shake and roll like a wave beneath my feet. I am thrust forward onto the bridge and my instincts scream at me to run!
My name is Jaha-Louise, when I just born I was found abandoned near ancient ruins just outside of my village. No one knows who my parents were, so I have lived in foster homes all my life. Today is my 18th and an unexpected gift arrived on my doorstep. It is an antique box covered in carvings and a peculiar wax seal around the latch. When I carefully open the lid, I am disappointed to find it empty until a blinding, golden light explodes out and suddenly I am cloaked in darkness.
Now I’m absolutely terrified running for my life with no idea what is happening. When I reach the far side of the bridge I can hear something lurking in the fog, following me, watching me. As I frantically survey my new surroundings, I can see a majestic stone structure in the distance. So, I take off running across a patch of rocky terrain that weaves through a dark enchanted like forest. I reach for the moist branches and keep my pace swift, as I look over my shoulder and smother a scream in my throat. I am being pursued by a terrifying scaly beast. My feet slip again I tumble forward down an embankment and land just centimeters from a large rock with words carved into its surface. My only hope is to start reading the words. As my palms start to glow, I raise my hands and the beast slides to a shuddering halt, it roars and abruptly retreats. Feeling braver, I lunge for the top of the embankment and what I see standing before me takes my breath away…
The beast is no longer there, instead it’s scales litter the ground around a man wearing clothes that echo the same colours of the forest around him. When he lifts his face to look at me, I’m startled to see aqua blue eyes identical to mine. He bows to me and above his bent torso I can see a majestic castle just beyond the trees. I know without a doubt in my heart that he is my father and I have finally come home.