The Abandoned Castle

• Akeelah Mikkelsen, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2019

I crept slowly towards the dark and gloomy tunnel, unaware of the mystery awaiting on the other side. As I carefully approached the dark tunnel, I could see a small glimpse of light shining from the other end. I stepped closer and tried to get a better look. I had almost reached the other end and I could see an amazing sight, staring at me right in the eyes. It was a ginormous abandoned castle, that looked as though it had been untouched for hundreds of years.
I took a small step closer and felt a thick branch wrap tightly around my soft skin, scratching and piercing it. I screamed in fear and looked underneath my little feet, that were now raised off the dusty, forest floor. I saw a deep ocean underneath my toes. The castle was surrounded by the most beautiful moat. I pulled and pulled but the harder I tried to break free, the tighter the strong vines became. I began to cry, The tears dripped down slowly from my delicate, rosy cheeks. I screamed once again but this time louder. I wanted to stay strong, but I knew it was hopeless, no one would hear me. I could hear my voice echo amongst the nature surrounding me. Slowly the sinister forest gave in and the branches loosened up a bit but I still had to face the problem. I couldn’t swim! and There was a large moat right underneath my blistered feet. As the branches slowly let go, I screamed so loud even the forest could sense my utter fear and tightened up once again. So I was stuck there above the deep, blue, magical moat.
Suddenly I felt a soft, smooth hand reach out towards me. I gasped in relief and eagerly stretched out my bruised and almost broken arm. The strange figure started to become a little bit clearer but I still couldn’t see it’s face. An urge of happiness rushed through my veins as I slowly reached the dark and spooky forest ground. I turned around to thank the strange hero but before I could turn my head he had vanished, the dark shadow had completely disappeared. So I ran like the wind back through the gloomy tunnel and not once did I look back.