The Backroom - Jamie Rogers

• Jamie Rogers, Grade 8
• Short Story
• 2022

On one dark and gloomy night, I was sitting on my bed, chilling and watching TV. I was not meant to be awake. For some reason, I made the decision to go get some popcorn and watch a movie. And then I felt a sharp pain in my chest. It was a long, dark fog going through my chest. It started corrupting me and taking control of my body. Then I fell to the ground and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a cold, scary place. It looks very old and rusted out. Everything is a peculiar shade of brown. It kind of looked like the backrooms. I started hearing someone screeching for help, so I followed the sound to go look for it. As I get closer, I see a long, dark hallway and see a figure at the end.

I screamed out to it and told it to come to me. I realised as it drew nearer and nearer that it was not a human but rather a mysterious and terrifying monster. I ran as fast as I could, but it finally got me. It turned into some sort of ghost. Then it went through me. It felt intensely controlling and like something was transforming me into a different person as it entered my body. As I looked into a nearby mirror, I saw myself. I turned into a vicious, soul-eating green monster and my clothes turned all red, even my hat. As I was looking at my body, I saw I had a razor-sharp horn on my head. I looked like a devil. My face had changed a lot. I now had a giant mouth and bloody teeth. Then I looked into my eyes. They were soulless. There was pain everywhere in my body. It felt like someone had repeatedly stabbed me in the chest. Even though I gave it my all to fight the monster, I was ultimately unsuccessful. I was in my hometown when I abruptly woke up after falling asleep for a long time. Around me, there was nothing but blood and bones. I've only recently realised that the monster commandeered my body and obliterated my hometown. That was it. I had lost everything and everyone I loved.