Collection of Words An Eclectic - Burnaby School District

An Eclectic Collection of WordsMajestic Rose: PrologueIgor Mihajlovic, Maywood Community School, Ages 11+ ProseThe skin on my neck sizzled as the Underworlder’s saliva drip-dropped onto it. My elbowsbuckled as its inhuman strength pounded on them. And its rancid breath threatened myconsciousness. I couldn’t give in. Not if I wanted to avoid the most horrible fate I couldpossibly imagine in my deepest darkest nightmares. This thought fuelled my fear like dry woodfuels a fire, and after tapping into my final reserves of strength I managed to force it up, just afraction. With a bewildered expression the Underworlder faltered, its strength wavering for justa second. It was enough. Squeezing my hand into a tight fist, I brought it up and slammed thecreature in the jaw with as much force as I could muster. I felt the bone crack under myknuckles as the Underworlder was sent reeling into the grime-covered wall of the tunnel. Iknew it wouldn’t be down for long, so giving it one last kick I sprinted down the tunnel. Kickingsomeone when they were down was low, but the laws of the moral didn’t apply when you wereup against a creature who would give no second thought to ripping apart an innocent toddler.As I ran, my footsteps made splashes against the liquid green filth that covered the surface ofthe tunnel. I looked behind me and felt my heart sink. The Underworlder was already on itsfeet, clutching its jaw. I had expected it to be on the ground for at least a few more seconds.Luck was not on my side. I could already hear the splish-splash of its footsteps as it preparedto sprint after me. Once that happened I knew I was in big trouble, to say the least. There wasno way I could outrun an Underworlder – it was like comparing a penguin to a cheetah. Anysecond now, he would be upon me…There was a sharp right turn in the tunnel up ahead-ablind corner. If I could only make it around…the splish-splashing got faster and faster behindme, getting louder and louder with each passing second. I pushed my legs harder, willingmyself to go faster. I was almost at the corner, the monster almost on me…and then I wasthere, slipping sideways to the right. For a brief few seconds the splashing was on my left.Now came the tricky part. The timing would have to be perfect in order for what I had plannedto work. I’d seen it done a thousand times but never actually tried it myself. Well, I thought.It’s not like I have anything to lose. I pressed myself right onto the edge of the corner of thetunnel. I could feel the damp grime seeping into my thin shirt, but that didn’t matter now. Afterall, at this moment I was weighing my entire life-and possibly the fate of the entire world- on adumb trick I’d seen Bugs Bunny perform on Yosemite Sam. Funny how life can put you insituations like this, isn’t it? I braced myself as the splashes got louder and louder. I waitedone second…two…and when the splash was almost beside me, I shot my leg out of thecorner. The Underworlder slammed into it with such force that it nearly dislocated my knee.But it had the desired effect. The Underworlder was sent flying like a jet plane until it slammedinto the wall in front of me with a sickening crunch. I slowly walked over to it and nudged itwith my toe. It didn’t stir. I turned away from it, and a strange sensation bubbled up in mychest. It made its way up my throat and out my mouth. It was a sound I hadn’t heard in awhile. I started running, the splashes of my footsteps echoing in harmony with my involuntarylaughter.WORDS Writing Project 2008/09 16