A Different World

• Sarah Williams, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2019

“Goodnight,” my mother says.
“Goodnight,” I mumble.
The door closes. That’s the last thing I hear before I fall into a deep sleep.
I wake up, a bright light shining in my eyes. It gradually disappears, and once it’s gone I slowly open one eye. I’m amazed at what I see. My bed’s floating, surrounded by thick, grey fog.
“I must still be sleeping,” I say, pinching myself to wake up. But I’m still there.
I step off my bed, unaware there’s nothing below my feet. I scream as I rapidly fall through the air. After a while I collapse on the ground with a big CRASH.
Slowly the fog clears revealing a wide, open field with hills stretching out across it.
“How’d I end up here?” I wonder as I slowly turn around. My thoughts are interrupted by a sudden, loud male voice.
“Another one?” he asks.
I search for where the voice is coming from. I gasp as I realise there are frozen bodies around me.
“A lot of people have come here,” he says.
“How’d I get here? Where am I? Where are you?” I ask.
“Look around,” he says, “and you’ll find the way back home.”
I walk up a hill, scanning the ground for clues. CRUNCH! I’ve stepped on a piece of paper. I pick it up. It says… Your clue’s waiting in the clouds. I look up, thinking hard. “But nothing’s in the clouds, except…my bed!” I look around, hoping to find a ladder.
“In this world,” the voice says, “the rules of gravity…do not apply.”
I start floating up to my bed.
“AARGH! Why’re you doing this?”
“It’s the only way,” he replies mysteriously. Again, I’m greeted by fog.
I realise there’s a creature appearing in front of me. She has claws, horns on her head and devilish blood-red eyes.
The fog drifts away, replaced by black clouds and lightning. There’s a scary – almost deathly – feeling in the air.
She speaks, revealing sharp fangs. “You’re just a clueless brat! Your future’s dark, like theirs…” She stares at the frozen bodies below. Her lips curl into a grin. “They’re victims of the EVILEST spirit in the UNIVERSE!”
My mind’s racing and my heart’s beating fast as I stare at her menacing face. “Who’s that?” I squeak.
“ME!” She lurches forward, showing off her claws.
I try to be brave. “What must I do to get home?” I ask.
She steps backwards, shocked. “You must defeat me…which is impossible.”
“Fine,” I say in a sassy voice.
She laughs hysterically. I clench my fists and she stops.
She releases a fire bolt at me. I dodge it. I use all the energy I have and fight for my life. She gathers fire from around us and throws it at my heart. I’m losing my breath, my eyes close and I drift slowly backwards. I gradually become unconscious. The last thing I do before I die is wonder if I will ever get out.