Bad Omens

• Elizabeth Hunt, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2019

Jack tossed and turned in his bed unable to get to sleep. He could hear the silent snores of his younger sister, Anna beside him. But there was something else he could hear, talking perhaps. Hushed whispers echoed around him and through the halls, then Jack heard the sound of the front door being swung open and snow crunching outside. Jack’s curiosity won him over and he silently crawled out of bed. His feet stung on the cold floor as he made his way over to the window. Although it was always cold in Vanelatia, it was a beautiful place filled with flowers and willows. But there was something wrong with it, some people were born, differently. The mayor, Sir Banyan, made sure that these people, also referred to as Bad Omens were eradicated in the quickest way possible. Jack sighed and parted the curtains aside with two fingers. Peering outside he saw four black outlines of people on the snow covered ground. One of them is hunched over, while the other is shouting at the other two figures. Putting a shaky hand on the window, Jack slid it open, careful not to disturb anyone. Now he could hear the voices coming from the outlines in the snow,
“He is only sixteen!’’ Came an angry shout that belonged to a man.
“The sign is clear, he must come with us,’’ Came a calm reply.
“Just because he has blue eyes and blonde hair doesn’t mean he’s a Bad Omen,’’ growled the man who had shouted before.
“Vixen, every time we have come you have begged us for an extra year, but we can do that no more. Give us the boy and we will leave you unharmed,’’
Vixen! That was Jacks father, meaning they must be talking about him. Jack shuddered.
“One more year, we beg of you!’’ Came a pleading wail, Jack new far too well it belonged to his mother Julie.
The two people started muttering and arguing.
After what seemed like an hour but was only two minutes, a voice spoke,
“One more year. One more year and then the boy dies,’’