Title

• Alex Hickman, Grade 5, Kyilla Primary School
• Short Story
• 2018

Excellence Award in the 'Horizon of Dreams 2018' competition

I am terrified. As the cannons roar, I duck trying to protect my ears from the despicable sound of a shell being shot. As I hurry towards the General's office, I try to ignore the horrid stench of urine and vomit. Suddenly, I stop. I hear a scream then silence. The sound of gunfire ceased. A shiver went down the back of my spine.
I fire two shots. Both miraculously hit the German soldier sneaking up on me. I walk forward trying to make no sound, which was difficult because the trench was ankle deep in water. Slowly, I crouch, trying to eavesdrop on the German soldier's conversation. A wafting scent nearly draws me in, but I stop myself. It was lamb! I listen harder and finally I hear something. "Take the prisoners back to camp," said the treacherous voice of a Sergeant Major.
I sit alone in the now not so chaotic trench planning my next move. How should I save them? Should I report to another General in a different trench and get help? Or should I go now? A voice in the back of my head nags me to go now or they'll die anyway. For once in my life, I might listen to it.
As I set off at the crack of dawn, I try to ignore all the things that could be happening to my friends. I stop in my tracks and look down. A rotting German corpse lay in front of my foot. Suddenly I have an idea.
Just as I finish wiggling into the oversize uniform, I wander into the German trench. My heart is dancing, and my head is beating like a thousand crowds clapping in unison. I look around trying to spot the prison cells, but I have no luck, so I start to move round. After what seems like eternity, I find the cells, but I still must find my friends, which would be extremely hard. I walk in to a prison block, only to smell an indescribable stench. In lack of a better word, it was disgusting. I block my nose and try to tune in to the prisoner's conversations. It was hopeless. It would be easier to travel through time. I know they will be executed if I don't find them soon. Suddenly I rush toward the sound of English being spoken. I fall to my knees. My eyes start to water, I can't hold it in anymore, I start to cry. Tears roll down my cheek as I mourn over the dead corpse of my best friend.
I pull myself up then unlock the cell door for the other soldiers. "Run!" I shout at the top of my lungs. Luckily, we reached camp alive, though we’re all starving. Stubbornly, I refuse the cooked egg. A young soldier stumbles over and says, "I'm sorry. My name's James," he said in a raspy voice. Suddenly I realise that my future is not so gloomy after all.