~Jack Garafolo, Class of 2025

Captain Tory swung his lantern three times and the boat appeared. “It’s time to get into the boat” Captain Tory whispers. All of the sudden, Captain Tory started floating towards the boat. “Whoa,” I whispered. Halfway to the boat, Captain Tory falls to the river floor, never to be seen again.

It has been two weeks since Captain Tory drowned, and the boat has since faded away. The FBI have been searching restlessly day in a day out for Captain Tory but have found nothing but a couple of dead rats. One of the FBI agents looked over to me, “Are you sure you saw the man fall and drow-”. Right at that moment someone, or something invisible punched the agent right in the face. That was the last thing I saw before everything went black.

When I woke up I was in a room I had never seen before, It was all black with just a table in the corner. After my eyes focused on the table I noticed that there was a letter sitting right on top. I walked over to the table and looked at the letter. The letter was labeled in big, bold, red letters stating, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. I opened the letter only to see a blank page with very small lettering in the top right corner. The small lettering said, “I’m coming for you”. Right at that moment I heard voices, they were coming from outside the room. I ran to the door and started pounding on it, only to realize there wasn’t a door. The voices got louder and louder and louder and I feel as though I am going deaf. I reach up to my ear and scream at what I feel. I pulled the chip out of my ear and threw it to the ground, smashing it into pieces. I noticed a light shining through a tiny hole on the wall to my right. I peeked down and looked through it, nothing there. I walk back over to the letter and inspect it more carefully. Noticing a tiny piece of paper stuck in the letter, I opened it up and read it to myself, “Check around the hole”. I walk back to the hole, bend down and inspect it more carefully. I notice a tiny little handle about 2 feet above. I gave it a little tug and the hidden door opened right up. I run outside and enjoy the sunset for a few seconds. After looking around I realized I am on an Island thousands of miles from any civilization surrounded by 20-25 ft man-eating sharks. I walk to the edge of the island and peek over, I guess the island is about 35 feet above sea level. The ground below me starts to crumble, and before I know it I am falling to the ocean floor just like Captain Tory.