~Owen Manthripragada, Class of 2027

Dark Room

Tapping noises all throughout the walls, croaking lights, shifting auras moving like leaves in the wind, there were shadows and apparitions. All of my nightmares are coming to reality. Darkness absorbing all the light around me. The corridor was eerie. It felt like the force of hell was pushing against me. I was being held back to live my worst life. There was a spectral presence all around me. As if there were people there who bear malice against me. I looked to my right and saw a locker torn wide open with something that looked as if it were a crippled tree branch. I was dreading my life at this moment. It couldn’t get any worse. But as I checked my left I instantly took back my words. 

Principal’s Office

Beads of sweat racing down my forehead, hands suffocating underneath me, rapid thoughts gliding through my brain, foot drumming against the wooden planks. Staring at the supplies on his desk through my fuzzy vision. I focus on the ruler while I listen for the principle. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Finally loud explosive footsteps shake the floor beneath my feet. Fear coursing through my veins. Looking down at my lap I hear somebody slump into a chair. I shakily lift my head. The principal stared me down with his queer face and unique features. He grabs his pencil and he starts jotting notes. He looked up at me with a massive scowl on his face. I could see the ferocity in his eyes, hinting that I was not ready for what was yet to come.

The Deep

Floating, sand running up and down my feet, waves pushing against me, creatures scurrying in the sand. I was relaxing on a warm summer day, not a worry in my mind. I was independent in the ocean. Everybody else was bathing on the shore. My father proudly promenaded down the shoreline. I felt a soft pull and then almost abruptly a current started to rip my body out of its place, slowly hauling me out of reach from the rest of the world. I tried to howl and scream for help but the waves muffled my voice so nobody could notice. 

I thrashed my body around trying to break free but nothing had changed. In an instant I was too far to swim back or yell for help. My hands and entire body rapidly became numb and my hands started to gnarl. I sat there for a few minutes until I felt a rush under my feet. I glanced down, and saw that there were fish flying past me as if they were being chased. I heard a splash and flung my head back to spot a great white shark. 

I quickly threw water behind me and kicked for my life. I broke free of the current and fought against the waves. I noticed another splash behind me and spun around. 

The shark was in mid air, and then everything turned black.