SENIOR SCHOOL Creative Writing What lies within? As I lay in the dark, paralysed with fear, I could feel the sharp gravel beneath me, piercing my skin. Confused and fatigued, I rolled onto my back and stared up; long daggers like pillars of stone loomed down from the ceiling of the dark cave like clawed hands. A noise emerged from beside me; I sat up abruptly. A small pool of water lay inches from me. The water was still and inky black, like the night sky. I crawled over to the water’s edge and tentatively peered in. The water was like glass. I paused, watching my reflection stare back at me for a moment. Suddenly, my face began to change, becoming distorted as the once tranquil water began to ripple and fizz from beneath me, revealing, to my horror, a face. Hastily, I staggered back. The water continued to seethe and gurgle as an odious creature slowly emerged from the pool. First, its head, then its body, arms and legs, until it was in full view. This monster was unlike anything I had ever seen before - something that could only have been seen in the most haunting of nightmares. The creature, which had many strange characteristics, was a mix between animal, human, insect and fish. It moved like a spider, scuttling round on all fours. It was built much like a human; however, instead of skin, the creature bore black iridescent scales. It had long bony fingers with black coiled claws and its body looked as if it had been stretched like elastic. The creature was incredibly thin, and, as it breathed in, I could see its pointed ribs tearing into its flesh. Its large triangular head was dominated by two huge black eyes. It carried on moving for a moment, surveying its area, scrambling round the edge of the pool. Perplexed, I watched in awe. Suddenly, it stopped. Its head slowly twisted round like an owl and the creature’s focus locked on me. We were both dead still, staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The creature began to advance on me. I couldn’t move. My body had frozen. Vulnerable and exposed, I sat against the damp cave wall. As the creature got closer, I could see it more clearly; its face was gaunt and sunken in- its scales tattered and broken. The creature carried an execrable odour with it, much like stagnant water on a hot summer’s day. It was now so close I could feel its foul breath on my face. I closed my eyes. This was the end… After a few minutes, I opened my eyes. Ahead, two preternaturally large eyes stared back at me; however, unlike the rest of this creature’s monstrous physique its eyes were warm and benign. As I looked into its deep doleful eyes, I began to feel pity for this monster, I knew that it was not trying to harm me but was lonely and wanted a friend. Unthreateningly, the creature unfolded its decrepit hand revealing a gorgeous little pearl. Then, without a sound, it placed the pearl on the ground in front of me and slunk back into the security of the darkness. Ella Caffrey - Year 9 34
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