The Dark Room

• Sneha Jayaweera, Grade 4, Curtin Primary School -
• Short Story
• 2018

Excellence Award in the 'Horizon of Dreams 2018' competition

I was in my bedroom reading my favourite book. Suddenly Bang!!! I heard a noise coming from downstairs. ‘It came from a room in the corner of the kitchen,’ I thought to myself. I opened the door and slowly walked into the dark, mysterious room.
The door shut behind me, I was terrified and about to scream, I could hear footsteps above me, but I kept tip-toeing anyway. I came to a door at the end of the hallway. I pulled the door open with fear and saw the most beautiful, the prettiest place I have ever seen. At first I thought I was going to faint then I had a better look at it. I leaped into the mysterious garden and looked around the environment with wonder and curiosity. I was so excited, I didn’t know where to start.
Then I saw it, it couldn't be, but it was, it was a portal. A blue sparkly, swirling portal. “Have you ever seen a real life portal?” Well you should have because they are amazing! Intrigued, I ran closer to the portal and stared into its astonishing, swirling colours. I leaned forward to get a closer glimpse. As I leaned forward, something grabbed me by the hand. I tried to make a run for it, but it was too late. I had been sucked in. As I fell through the amazingly deep hole, I screamed “HELP!”
At the end of the portal, I landed in a cave. At the end of the cave, I could hear noises and people singing and laughing together. I had a peek and all the men had scars and scratches on their skin. I thought they were robbers and saw what was next to them. They had a collection of loot, gold, money and precious jewels and gems. As I was eavesdropping on their conversation, I stepped on a stick and made a cracking sound, ‘CRACK’.
I felt butterflies in my tummy. I didn't know what to do, I had to think of something. While I was running as fast as my little legs could run, my heart started beating faster. After running for a while, I came to a dead end. I was exhausted but, there was no time for rests. Then I saw another portal that was twice the size of the other one. I could hear footsteps coming behind me. “Should I jump or not?” I asked myself. I had no choice, I had to jump.
Suddenly I appeared in the same dark room. A sigh of relief came to my mind that my crazy, amazing adventure had just come to an end.