Danger, Death, Demolition!

• Sasha Wolfenden, Grade 6, Mackillop Catholic College
• Short Story
• 2021

Excellence Award in the 'The Write Note 2021' competition

It was a horrific sight. Sirens, screaming, followed by deadly silence.
The World Trade Centre, that once stood as a symbol of American power, now had smoke gushing out of it from all angles. I stood there in shock, staring up at the horrendous sight, as the sky ignited. Surely this was an accident. The silence was worse than the screaming, but before I knew it, the screaming started again. I looked behind me as another plane flew dangerously low. What was happening? It was heading straight towards the wreckage, and it didn’t look like it was going to turn. Fear shot up my spine. Thoughts rushed through my head. Had the pilot lost control of his plane? Had the plane struck birds? Then it hit me! The plane had been hijacked. I couldn’t believe it. Why would anyone do something so barbaric?
I didn’t know if it was true, but it made sense. The ground shook as the second plane flew straight into the second building. It was a big plane. It looked almost identical to the commercial jet I flew on just yesterday. Wait - did that mean the people on the jet would be killed too? Ostensibly, people were trapped on the floors above where the plane struck. Innocent lives - erased - people who came to work expecting a normal day. I was outraged.
I ran! I cried! I screamed! It felt as if my heart was not pumping blood, but fear. I couldn’t help but look back. I ran and ran. I couldn’t help but think about the people trapped. What would they do now? Who would do this?
A police officer stopped me. “Where are your parents” he asked. “They went out. I was exploring the city. We only got here yesterday” I replied. “You need to get as far away as you can. This was a purposeful attack, by a group called the Taliban. We don’t know why. All we know is there may be something else planned.”
Anger rose up inside my body. Why the hell would they take all these lives? I felt devastation for the people stuck in the tower. I continued to run as the tower collapsed. More screaming - followed by more deathly silence. Piles of rubble, bodies, and what was once office furniture, lay burnt and crushed. I wanted to scream... I wanted to cry… I wanted to punch the horrible people responsible for all the deaths, all the injuries, all the terror. Fear and anxiety raged in my gut. Panic rose and filled the atmosphere. I just wanted to be home safe in Australia. I wanted my parents. I wanted all of the victims to be safe.
I sat in a ball crying on the side of the road until a hand rested on my shoulder. I turned in shock. It was my mother. “Oh my goodness, you’re safe! I was worried sick” she exclaimed! She embraced me in a hug. I felt warmth, relief and gratitude.