Page 35 - Oz Kids in Print, Issue 1, 2020

Darkness

hE LIghTS flickered and suddenly concert. her family had moved into this She sprinted back into her room, grabbed
went out. Lyra was in the middle apartment a year ago and she had missed her phone to talk to her mum. When her
Tof doing her homework so she her fancy, old country home. Where she mum answered the call, Lyra whispered
dropped the pen and groaned. She reached was now, was the big, noisy city with in a panicked voice, “Mum, I think the
out for the light switch, but the light didn’t luminous street lights dotting the streets. apartment is haunted!”. Just as she said that
flick back on. “I better go check the fuse But today it felt quiet and the street lights she heard light footsteps making their way
box”, she said to herself. As soon as she had been turned off. The only light came into her bedroom.
stepped out of her room she realised how from the full moon and the tiny windows
quiet and dark the house was. Lyra felt an of the neighbouring apartments. her mum replied, “Seriously Lyra, our
eerie mood floating around the house. A apartment is safe and is not haunted. It’s
shiver crept up her spine. Lyra’s heart pounded and blood rushed just your imagination. That’s why I asked
through her ears. She was petrified you if you wanted to come to the concert!”
Lyra was one of those people who didn’t with fear. Just then she remembered a There was no reply. “Lyra? Lyra are you
adore the darkness. She’d always found the famous quote. “The best way out is always there?”
darkness like an enemy who was stalking through.” So the only way to get to the
her. It was as if a snake had coiled around bottom of this was to solve this mystery. By Farha Mohamed Fahim
her and had blocked the light of the Sun. She bravely stood up, grabbed a flashlight Year 8, Werribee Secondary College
Whenever she was in the darkness, a thick and headed to the kitchen. WERRIBEE – VIC.
blanket of fear would surround her. Teacher: Mr Brown
When she entered the kitchen,
Lyra walked down the hallway towards before her lay smashed plates The
the front door. She opened the lock and and cups. Lyra shone the
stepped outside. Lyra glanced up and down flashlight around the Beautiful
the sixth floor of the apartment building. It kitchen, but there
was too quiet. She opened the fuse box to were no more
see that someone had flicked off the lights. clues to be found. Moon
She confidently flicked them back on and The house was
shut the fuse box. suddenly quiet As a howl breaks the silence of my room,
again. This I look out of my window.
Lyra sighed with relief when the lights all s ee m ed A white wolf stares at the moon,
blinked back on. She strode up the hallway a s t r a nge it must be lonely up there.
and into her bedroom. Just as she stepped coincidence. The tree sways in the harsh wind
in she heard a loud clatter coming from the The lights going and the wolf quietens down,
kitchen. Lyra trembled all over. She began out, the street slowly,
to wonder if her house was haunted! The lamps being and looking down at the wild creature,
lights flicked off again. Lyra screamed. turned off, the is the sparkling, beautiful moon.
streets being quiet.
She was home alone and her parents had So Lyra decided to By Hannah Peacock
gone to her younger brother’s school call her parents. Grade 6, St Dominic’s Priory College
NORTH ADELAIDE – SA
Issue 1, 2020 Teacher: Shelda Rathmann 35