The Memory Loss

• Michael Goumas, Grade 6, Ivanhoe Grammar School -
• Short Story
• 2019

Excellence Award in the 'Just Keep Writing 2019' competition

I wake up. My eyes widen into consciousness, as the sun’s blazing gaze burns over my forehead like an oven is cooking. But I don’t awake on a comfortable mattress like most people would. I stay there. Lying dead to the earth on a murky grey pavement. It then occurred. It was as if my brain had been blasted out of my head. Who was I? Where was I? What was my name?
Except I don’t have much time to think about it.

Four figures emerge. Lurking out of the corner behind a damaged building. I don’t know what my name is, or where to go. But I know one thing for sure. I have to run.

As quick as a lightning bolt, I charge out from the pavement and dash for the side street. Sure enough. The figures were hunting me down. As I sprint. I catch a glimpse of people. I rush over to them. I ask for help. I scream at them. I shout for attention. Instead, all I get, is a person walk straight through me. I feel shell-shocked. Not believing what just happened.

I catch sight again of the figures. They don’t look like they are about to stop. I am beginning to tire out. I leap over a rusty old wall, and enter the grounds of a park. There is a lovely blue sky today. People are having picnics and admiring the lush green trees. I keep on running. I try everything to get away from the figures, hiding, running, and trying to put them off. They are closing on me.

I am gradually getting deeper and deeper into the park. I come upon a creek. I pounce over it and dart for the woods. I mount up a steep slippery hill, hoping that this will stop the figures. But it doesn’t.

I shoot out of the woods, and head for the outskirts of the city. They are catching up. I stampede for the side streets, but it is the wrong move. The one that will cost me. I smash straight into a dead end. The figures surround me, taking steps ever so closer to me.

Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, one of the figures speaks. It isn’t a normal voice. It is like from another universe, as he says in a low dark voice, “you do not belong here. Come with us, and let us fulfil your destiny”.

I stand there. Goosebumps taking over my skin. Here I am. A lonesome boy, trapped, not knowing what to do.