“You’re not going fishing!” bellowed Tyler’s dad.

“Well that’s not fair!” Tyler said in anger, stomping his feet.

“But why can’t we go?” asked Honey, Tyler’s twin sister.

“Because it’s too dangerous,” said mum, joining in the conversation, “You know that there are deadly creatures lurking in the lake.”

Tyler whispered to Honey “They’re just lying. I don’t believe them, I’ve never seen any.”

 Tyler was a brave daredevil, who could be very clumsy at times. Honey was brave and determined and very competitive especially with her twin brother Tyler. Honey was jealous of Tyler as he had been on many fishing trips with their father. She was curious to discover the dangers of the lake.

 As Tyler and Honey went up to their room after dinner Honey whispered to Tyler, “Why don’t we plan to go on a fishing trip?”

“You heard mum and dad, they said ‘No!’ ” replied Tyler.

“But its alright for you, you’ve been with dad. I’ve never been. Are you scared? Please come with me, it’ll be fun. But if you are too scared I’ll go alone…” Honey said threateningly.

“Ok, Ok I’ll come with you.  Stop pestering me. I’m not scared, I’m braver than you.”

 They waited patiently until their parents were in bed, then they crept silently and nervously to the garage. Once they had got all the equipment together they sneaked out of the door towards the lake.

 When they got there Honey’s first reaction was one of shock. “I can’t believe how huge the lake is!” she exclaimed.

“Look at that beautiful sunrise,” commented Tyler, pointing across the lake to the horizon.

“It’s breathtaking with the exquisite, golden sunrise and the reeds swaying gently in the wind.”

Looking around, Honey and Tyler saw the wonders of the lake: shimmering water, giant mountains, colourful fish, a golden sky and in the distance, silhouettes of animals.

 Eagerly Tyler pushed the canoe into the murky, flowing water. Cautiously Honey climbed in and Tyler jumped in behind her. He carefully picked up the oars and started to row out to deeper water. Honey felt both scared and excited at the same time. As Tyler rowed further she gradually began to feel relieved and relaxed, it was so calm and peaceful.

 “What’s that in the distance?” asked Honey

“What?” replied Tyler

“That dark, shadowy, ‘rock-like’ thing.”

“I don’t know I’ve never seen it before!” exclaimed Tyler puzzled.

 Honey and Tyler’s minds whizzed with questions but no answers came to them. What was the ‘rock like’ object? What should they do? Their minds couldn’t focus on anything but the mysterious object. Terrified, Tyler and Honey’s mouths became drier and drier, until they felt like sandpaper. Their minds generated more and more questions. Where should they go? Would anyone have noticed they were gone? An owl hooted in the distance and they felt as though there something was watching them.

 Eventually the twins summoned up the courage to speak.

“Maybe the legends are true.” whispered Tyler.

“There’s no point just sitting here,” complained Honey, “Let’s go and take a closer look.”

 Petrified but as silently as mice, Tyler and Honey began to row their canoe slowly towards the ‘rock like’ object. Rowing stealthily, they noticed something strange, more of the ‘rock-like’ thing had appeared out of the water. Gripping the oars tightly, Tyler’s hands grew clammy and Honey’s pulse quickened, the twin’s hearts thudded like bass drums and they started to sweat like burst pipes.

 All of a sudden, the current pulled them violently towards the object. “Maybe we should have listened to Mum and Dad!” muttered Tyler. Clinging tightly to the edge of their canoe to avoid being thrown overboard, Honey and Tyler tried to keep calm.

 Now that they were closer they sniffed the air and could smell mould, slime and a foul fishy stench. Grumbling, groaning and gurgling seemed to be coming from beneath the canoe. Water lapped against the edge of the canoe, splashing their hands, whilst seaweed was blown onto the bottom of the canoe. The canoe started to rock violently from side to side and a sickly taste rose up from their throats.  The murky water began to move in a mysterious manner and a shoal of fish swam frantically in the opposite direction to the mysterious, greeny-brown, ‘rock like’ object growing larger and larger until it was the most enormous and gigantic thing they had ever seen.

 “What is that?” asked Tyler frozen still like someone at the Arctic, his eyes wide with fear.

“I have no idea!” snapped Honey. “There’s no one out here! We’re going to die!”

 Telling her not to scream, Tyler shouted, “Just concentrate on the colourful fish and the beautiful sunrise!” Quick as a flash they furiously tried to row their creaking canoe in the same direction as the fish. They panicked that their canoe would be wrecked like something demolished by a typhoon. What should they do? Being pulled ever closer they saw the ‘rock like’ thing loom over them and open up before their eyes.

 Pulled in by a deadly current, Tyler and Honey found themselves in a perplexing place… a world turned upside down and inside out. Before their eyes they saw a bright yellow moon, sapphire grass and emerald sky. The aroma of cinnamon and mints was all around them. Just then Tyler tumbled backwards in to a patch of flowers, with green heads and brightly coloured stems. Noticing they were no ordinary flowers, he was covered in icing and smelt of cupcakes.  He had tripped over an orange bunny eating a grey carrot. 

Meanwhile, Honey was looking at all the fascinating things that surrounded her: golden go karts, diamond encrusted swings, grey rollercoasters on purple and red tracks.  Excitedly, she rolled down a grassy hill.  In the distance she saw the strangest sight… a rainbow, which was black, white and grey, leading to what looked like a pool of gold.  “This park is amazing!” she exclaimed while playing on the colossal slide again and again. 

Jumping on trampoline clouds, somersaulting and back flipping, Tyler shouted, “Look at me!” excitedly and then landed flat on his back.

Suddenly Tyler looked up because he could smell something horrifying.  At that moment he saw a crowd with pointy hats and strange looking bubbles popping above their heads. “Look, look Honey, we better get out of here before those witches see us and turn us in to f…f…frogs,” stuttered Tyler anxiously.

Hurriedly, trying to leave, they turned around to head back to the door but it slammed shut. They were trapped!

Honey and Tyler stood frozen in shock, they could not believe it. Suddenly the truth hit them like a blast of icy wind.  The people in the pointy hats were witches!

“Run!” shouted Tyler to Honey but the witches had now formed a circle around them and were closing in.

 “Go, go, go!” yelled Tyler again. They ducked under the witches and using the last of their will power, bolted for the door! As soon as they thought all hope was gone, the door clicked and swung open. They were free.

Then they found themselves falling through thin air down, down, down.

 “What’s going on?” shrieked Honey.

“I don’t know,” came Tyler’s reply over the howl of the air. “Where are we going to land and what will Mum and Dad do when they find out?” wondered Tyler aloud.

THUMP! They landed in a tangled heap of arms and legs on their very own king sized bed!

Honey turned to Tyler and said, “I can’t believe it! We managed to escape the witches!”

“I’ve never been on a fishing trip like that before!” joked Tyler, grinning.

“Shall we go and see where Mum and Dad are, and if they noticed we were gone?” asked Honey.

They sped down the stairs and raced into the kitchen. There was no sign of Mum and Dad, but out of the corner of her eye Honey saw something. “What’s that on the table?” she asked Tyler. It was a scrap of paper that said ‘Come into the garden. Love Mum and Dad’.

They rushed into the garden and found Mum and Dad in the middle of the lawn, standing next to a wooden hutch. They didn’t look angry, in fact they looked excited. Mum said, “Guess what’s inside the hutch?”

“Usually a rabbit lives inside a hutch,” explained Tyler.

“Correct!” replied Dad. “Go on then, look inside, whatever’s inside is yours to look after.”

Honey and Tyler skipped up to the hutch and carefully opened the door. Their jaws dropped. Inside, sitting on a bed of straw, was an orange rabbit gnawing on a grey carrot…….

by Year 4 pupils from St Edmund’s, Chase Bridge, Lowther, Heathfield Junior and St. Mary’s primary schools

Kim was having a really rotten day. She’d been in her second favourite lesson; ART! Everything went wrong from the moment she stepped through the door to the moment she left the classroom.

1. Whilst getting some paint, she managed to spill an entire pot of blue paint all over her top and skirt.
2. To make matters worse, she then slipped on the spilt paint and ended up falling onto the teacher’s lap. HOW EMBARRASING!!!
3. She then transferred most of the paint from her clothes onto the clothes of her teacher! DOUBLE EMBARRASING!!!

Unfortunately, her teacher was in a particularly bad mood (and was wearing an expensive pair of trousers) that day. So he sent Kim straight to the headmaster’s office.

“Never have I…”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing!”

“…ring your parents…”

The headmaster went on and on and on and on like this forever… and just when she thought he’d finished, he decided to go on and on a bit more.

It was so boring!

He then said something that made Kim’s heart sink like a stone dropped into a bowl of melted, mouldy beans.

“You are banned from Rocket Pilot Class from now on!”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

This was quite possibly the worst punishment in the history of the world EVER.

Kim absolutely loved Rocket Pilot Class. In her opinion there was no better lesson. She enjoyed the freedom of whooshing through space at top speed and exploring new and exciting planets and moons.

She had always secretly hoped to discover a brand new planet that she could name “Rainbow Planet”. Unfortunately it looked like she wouldn’t be making any discoveries any time soon.

It was the combination of all these things that made her do something that she would later regret…

Kim stormed out of the Headmaster’s office, determined to get home before the head had a chance to phone her mum…

On her way through the school playground, she spotted one of the school rockets.

The caretaker had been fixing its Satellite Navigation System (the one that keeps the rocket from getting lost). However, he hadn’t actually got round to repairing it properly as Ms Chapstick, the school nurse, required his help in extracting a reception boy from the anti gravity toilet flushing device.

She stomped towards the rocket, face scrunched up in a frightening mask of rage. She flung the rocket door open and jumped into the pilot’s seat.

She slammed her postcode into the Sat Nav and the rocket roared into life.

Up, up into the sky it blasted, slicing through the air like a knife through hot noodles.

Up, up it travelled, getting further and further away from school, from her home, from Planet Earth.

Up, up through the atmosphere, up where the air is clear…

The Earth was now a marble, floating in a black sea of unlit paint.

Within seconds the Earth had got even smaller until it vanished like a white rabbit from a magicians top hat.

It was around this time that Kim began to panic. Sweat broke over her like a tsunami…

Suddenly the Sat Nav on the rocket began to make an ear piercing screech. Instantly, Kim pushed a ginormous red button that was clearly labelled ‘DO NOT PUSH!’ Alarmed, Kim noticed that the rocket was going down faster and faster. A few moments later, the rocket began to fall down, down and down. Screaming like a baby not getting it’s own way, Kim was petrified and her stomach was in her mouth. Gripping for dear life, she held on to the plastic chair. BANG! From a distance, Kim peered out of the enormous window and saw an unknown planet. The planet looked unusual with gilded floppy trees and rainbow coloured dust. Although Kim knew nothing about space, she knew she was going somewhere strange! Had she discovered her ‘Rainbow Planet’? 

Meanwhile, back on earth, Kim’s head master talked to her parents.

“Kim had a few issues today, not only did she cover her teacher in paint but she stormed out and no one can find her!”

Kim’s parents sat there open mouthed.

Back in space, Kim put on her space suit and helmet and opened the door. She took a deep breath and got out of the rocket by pressing the ‘out’ button. Kim panicked but knew an adventure had begun! By this point, Kim’s hands and arms were sweaty and moist. Running as fast as a tornado, she tripped and hit her head on the floor. The next thing she knew, she was being carried by several aliens. Next Kim heard a strange noise, the aliens were speaking!! The aliens spoke in Gooble Abel Lang.

“Pechoo caca lo la?” Asked one alien.

Kim was stunned . “Where am I?” She looked around and gasped.  A huge red eye in the centre of a multi-coloured octopus type creature, was staring at her.  A sharp blade like a helicopter propeller, was attached to the top of its head. It spun around wildly. It sounded like the humming of her fridge at home, in the middle of the night. Were these the Octapelas she’d learnt about in her space history class with Mr Beatty, she wondered.  These aliens had once been humans but had been kidnapped by the Lazerons and taken to the Rainbow Planet. Luckily that meant they could speak English.

A long green and purple tentacle tapped her gently on the shoulder.  “Please will you be our leader and help us destroy the evil Lazerons?” asked the chief Octapela in a soft voice.

“But why me?” Kim was puzzled. “I’m not very strong or brave.”

“You are our only hope.  No one has landed on our planet for centuries. You must rescue us.”  The chief continued. “We will take you to our underground hide-out”.

The Octapelas took Kim gently by the arms and using their propellers flew across the rainbow-coloured craters.

“What’s the plan?” asked Kim.

“We’re going to crawl through a tunnel that we’ve made that goes under the Lazeron’s palace and attack the guards and destroy them.”

“But first would you like some food? asked the smallest Octapela. “All we have is some soup.”

Kim looked at the bowl of green slime and felt sick.  “No thanks, I’ve got something in my pocket.”

“Here, take one of the weapons we stole from the Lazerons.” said another Octapela.

Kim examined the gun.  It was black and shiny and looked like a hand with four red finger-like spikes with sharp, pointed nails at the end.

“The nails shoot out a poison that kills instantly” explained the Octapela chief.  “You look like you need to rest.” said another Octapela.

“Yes, I’m exhausted.” Kim lay down on the rainbow coloured floor and closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

“Time to go,” whispered the chief, as he helped her to her feet.

Kim was nervous.  Her heart was pounding. But she knew she had to go. She put the Lazeron gun carefully in her pocket and followed the Octapelas  towards a locked door that led to the passage-way as they hovered above her.

“It’s really narrow and dark in here”. said Kim.

“Don’t worry, our eyes are luminous and light up in the dark.” said one of the Octopelas.

Silently Kim crawled along the passage-way and the Octopelas followed her.

“We are at the palace.” said the Octopelas.

“How will we get in?” asked Kim.

“Hold on to our tentacles and we will fly you up. Then we will use the spinners on our heads to drill a hole.”

Just as Kim crawled through the hole she spotted two Lazerons coming towards her.  They were bright green and scuttled around on their eight legs like monster spiders. A terrifying eye, in the middle of their bodies, shot out lazer beams. Kim could see arrow headed hands on every one of their eight legs, ready and waiting to shoot out sticky, deadly venom. At the end of each antenna there was a mini hole that fired out bullets.

She pulled out her nail gun and fired.

“Bulls eye!”  She shouted. Two Lazerons  lay dead on the ground.

She turned around and saw the Lazeron army coming towards her. “Oh no!”she yelled.

She started shooting but soon she had used up all her amo.

“AAAAAAhhhhh! I’ve been hit!” she screamed.

 She looked up and saw that she was surrounded by Lazerons. They dragged her to a pit full of deadly aliens, and threw her in.

 She could feel the pressure in her heart pumping quickly and loudly. She suddenly felt fear spreading all over herself. Trembling, Kim stood up and heard a faint hissing sound coming from the shadows of the surrounding, colossal, pit walls. Deadly aliens!

As cautious as a lioness hunting her prey, Kim slipped her hand into her pocket. She could feel her favourite pencils pricking her fingers. Fumbling even deeper into her back pocket, Kim grasped her pen knife from the camp she had been to the day before. Scraping the end of the pencils with the serrated blade she sharpened her pencils, crafting them into deadly weapons. Mini spears.

Kim took a deep breath, this would either work or end treacherously. She stabbed the deadly aliens straight through their precious eye with her transformed pencil. They screamed in agony and disintegrated, turning to a puddle of gloop (alien slime) on the muddy floor. Relieved, Kim sat down, “Now those terrifying aliens will be having a hard time in Tartarus!” she thought. However, she still had to escape this muddy pit.

Looking around her, Kim glimpsed two sticks in the corner of the pit. She picked them up and because the pit was so aged, there were holes in the walls. So, she got the two sticks and she forced them into the walls and started climbing up and out of the pit to freedom.

Kim suddenly thought about the Octapelas. What would happen to them? Where were they? How could she find them? She heard a Lazeron say “Ready! Aim! F…”  Luckily she still had the two pencils in her hand. There was a jewel in King Lazeron’s crown. She threw the deadly pencils at the crown just before the guns had been fired. The jewel (which kept the Octapelas from being human and the Lazerons alive) fell to the ground. Now that it was out of King Lazeron’s possession, the Octapelas grew smaller and smaller. They were turning back into humans. Meanwhile, the Lazerons were running about yelping with fear. They too were transforming, but into gloop.

 Luckily, one of the Octapela (who had just turned back to human form) was a crazy old engineer. He fixed the colossal rocket with Kim’s help, as she was good at puzzles. This time it was ultra upgraded.

They all clambered into the rocket. It was very crowded. They started the countdown…”Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one , blast off!” they cried with delight.

As they were soaring through space back towards earth, Kim spotted a bright, precious, golden, star, so, she opened the hatch and stared at it. As she climbed back into the cock pit, she caught a glimpse of  an Octapela resting his arm on a peculiar button labelled “Don’t push! Self Destruction of Earth”. Kim shouted “No! Stop!” but it was too late. Several meteorites were headed towards them. They swerved round them only to see the meteorites falling on earth. Earth was now demolished into hundreds of tiny pieces. “Oh no!” sobbed Kim, “What have we done?”

Distraught, they headed back towards Rainbow Planet because all of their friends and family must now be dead from the massive blast. Rainbow planet was the only safe place they knew. Together they built fifteen houses. One for Kim and fourteen for the other Octapela families.

 Every night, Kim looked up at the stars and wondered whether her mum and dad would ever come back for her. One night when she was looking up at the stars, she suddenly spotted a rocket headed towards Rainbow Planet. On the side of the rocket in big black letters was printed N.A.S.A. When the rocket arrived and the hatch opened, her mum, dad and teacher, Mr Beatty, floated out of it wearing their own, white as snow, space suits. They had left earth just in time in search of Kim and her stolen rocket!

 It must have been Kim’s destiny after all to spill paint all over her teacher and discover Rainbow Planet!

by Year 3 pupils from Stanley, Heathfield Junior, Sheen Mount and St. Edmund’s primary schools

A tiny shove.  That’s all it took for the old, wonky door to swing open.  I dared myself to step inside.  If I wanted to belong I would have to face the abandoned house of Shady Lane.  But was it really worth it?  There was nothing downstairs that I could take back to prove that I had completed the ordeal, but the stairs looked like they would crumble under the weight of a spider.  My life or my friends?  But then I realised that my friends were my life so I closed my eyes and took a step up, my heart thundering.

I scanned the shelves of the bedroom.  If you could call it that anymore.  There were so many strange ornaments that my friends would love to see but I had to find something really out of the ordinary to prove that I really had taken a step into a haunted house.  I reached out to examine a rusty pipe and realised that my hand was shaking.  I couldn’t carry anything back in this state.  But then, as my hand fumbled along a dusty shelf, discovering what seemed to be scratched messages in the wood, I came across… an old bracelet.  My heart fluttered.  This was it!  I squinted at it and could just make out a message spelt out in rubies but I couldn’t read it in the darkness.  ‘I can wear this back to the sleepover,’ I thought.  I slid it onto my wrist.  Then suddenly I was surrounded by a blinding golden light!  I could read the message now – “BEWARE!”  But it was too late…

Thud! I landed with a horrible crunch. My eyes instantly darted towards my right ankle which looked unnaturally out of place. I hauled myself off the ground and surveyed my surroundings. Darkness. My chest was aching and my soul felt as if it was being torn out of my inner body. I closed my eyes, desperately attempting to channel my fearful thoughts. The bracelet! I grabbed it and tore it off my wrist causing it to break and the beads to scatter over the floor. Quickly I scooped up one of the rubies and put it in my pocket-I still needed my proof after all.

“Too late…” hissed a voice. “You are too late!” The light flashed gold again, and I glimpsed a dark figure moving silently towards me. The walls seemed to be caving in around me and re-forming to create a dark, gloomy tunnel that looked like it could take you to the end of time itself.

“Come,” came the menacing voice again. My heart raced. My head throbbed as I noticed light slowly seeping into this mysterious place, inviting me deeper into what would be my greatest nightmare. I gingerly stepped on to my sore foot. Despite the small amount of pressure it was no use. I lowered my body to the ground and began to crawl towards the death trap. The dark figure lurched forward and pulled me to my feet. A strong hand grasped my wrist. I let out a high-pitched scream which echoed and bounced off the walls.

The tunnel seemed to wind on forever. I was half dragged, half carried at a great pace. My breathing was fast and loud, but the figure made no sound at all. The light became brighter. The figure turned to face me.

“It is too late to go back.”

Disgusted yet intrigued I peered closer. I gasped as the figure took off its hood to reveal itself; behind the wounds, the scabs, the eyes, the face…it looked awfully familiar!

“No, no…you can’t be! You’re, you’re…” I stammered.

“That’s right! Little old Amelia!” the figure shrieked.

Instantly, I remembered everything. It was Amelia Bold, the weedy little girl my friends and I used to tease. We used to call her ‘Grandma’ because of the antique bracelet with the old jewels that she wore to school every day. The bracelet! That is the bracelet she wore when we chased her through the forest and unknowingly off the crumbling cliff. We were all too late when we reached the cliff edge; she had already fallen to her death. A sudden wave of fear rushed over me as I realised what she might do.

All at once I was thrown to the ground of the endless tunnels. The second I reopened my eyes, I was overcome with horror as I saw two bright crimson eyes that delved into the very depths of my soul. Completely repulsed, I shuffled back to the arched wall of the hollow tunnels.

“You are the reason I died, now I will be the cause of your death! I want hear your petrified screams!” she bellowed.

It was then that I noticed that every mournful melancholy word she barked resulted in her growing in size and becoming brighter and brighter until she was a blinding light. The only thing I could make out were her fiery, soulful eyes.

With a sudden deafening crack of thunder, the spirit disappeared leaving me utterly alone in the labyrinth of tunnels. I tried to stand up, forgetting about my injured ankle; an excruciating pain, like a flaming dagger, pierced my leg.  All I could do was lie against the wall in absolute shock, thinking about where the spirit had gone. I stared helplessly at my discoloured ankle. Then I heard a terrifying snarl. It was building in volume and coming from the far end of the tunnel…

As I slouched against the wall, I was petrified of what Amelia might do to me. What made that snarl? Suddenly I heard it again, closer this time, louder. I knew I had to run, but how? My eyes welled up at the excruciating pain up my leg. I couldn’t run anywhere in this state. I crawled slowly, like a sloth on the ground, away from the noise. The next thing I knew I found myself standing, hobbling along lopsidedly. Still, it was no use. I was going to die. The realisation hurt me more than my ankle; still I forced myself not to think of it. The snarling was growing increasingly in volume, coming closer at alarming speed.

After about ten minutes of extensive hobbling, I fell. I lay propped up against the wall of this endless labyrinth.

“Fine, if I have to die make it quick” I muttered under my breath. All of a sudden the snarling that had haunted me stopped. Maybe Amelia had heard my request and decided to make my death as excruciatingly slow as she could. I extended my arms above my head. I heard a clang ring out. My ring had hit something metal! I found just enough energy to adjust my position. A door handle! I wrapped my hand tightly around it, hauling myself up. I opened the door and was confronted by a flight of concrete stairs. I wanted to sprint up them as fast as I possibly could, but I knew my ankle wouldn’t take it. I was so close to freedom, yet so far.

Desperate, I dragged myself up the steep stairs. This was my chance to escape.  As agonising as it was, I had to get to the top. I had to see what was behind the door.  It was taking every last ounce of my strength. Finally, I came face to face with the narrow door. The snarling returned. Louder. Closer. I turned.  A pair of eyes, as red as blood, stared back at me.

It was Amelia. Her eyes were full of hatred. ‘Run,’ I kept thinking.  ‘Run! Run!’ the voice inside my head was screeching.  ‘Run!’ I heard it again. Even though the throbbing of my ankle was dragging me down, I had to run. Opening the door, I heard her cackle. The door locked behind me.

Silence … except for the loud thumping of my heart.  Was I free? I found myself on the edge of a cliff – the very same cliff-edge where Amelia had fallen to her death. Suddenly, the rocks crumbled beneath me.  I was falling… falling… falling…

‘That’s it,’ I thought. She had defeated me.  How could I possibly survive this? A sudden shock rippled through my body as I hit the ground.  It was as if my bones were being shattered into tiny pieces. Pain engulfed me.  Then, everything went black, as if the sun had turned itself off.

The breeze whispered across my face.  Slowly, I opened my eyes, adjusting them to the blinding light that shone down on me. Where was I?  Lying there motionless, I wondered how I had survived. Gradually, the colour returned to everything, as if someone was painting the world around me.  I could hear familiar voices and looked up to see my friends approaching a house – a house that I knew I’d been in before.

‘No don’t go in there!’ I screamed. Nothing. It was as if they couldn’t hear me, as if I wasn’t there. Why couldn’t they hear me?

A tiny shove. That’s all that was needed for the old, wonky door to swing open…

by Year 6 pupils from Nelson, East Sheen, Bishop Perrin, Hampton Hill Junior and St. Edmund’s primary schools

Chapter 1: A window of opportunity

Jim had always led a fairly normal life for a window. He had a wife called Double Glazing, who he spent most of his time flapping over. His mood had its ups and downs; sometimes he was closed, blinded to the rest of the windows, but most of the time he was open, feeling the sunlight beat down through his newly installed triple glazing. It is safe to say, Jim led a simple life and had no reason to dislike it. That was until the day, the day that should not be spoken of. The day that sent Jim into a rattling frenzy…

It was late afternoon; Jim was feeling shattered, and was grumbling to Double Glazing about Diamond – their new born. He was very concerned that their beautiful baby hadn’t inherited the Glazing family trait – she didn’t seem to dazzle as much as her mother had always done at such a young age. Fretting away he was all too tangled to realise what was happening around him. SMASH! Horrifying questions swirled around Jim’s head in a whirlwind of thoughts. Silence descended. “Double Glazing?” wobbled Jim. No reply. Momentarily Jim turned and saw what would haunt him for the rest of his days – his wife broken. He felt as if his ledge had fallen off, never to be repaired.

Rattling furiously he saw the source of this crushing crime, Josh-the fourteen year old in the family- holding a cricket bat, he was so pale he could have been transparent. Jim was horror struck, and felt closed off from the rest of the world. Dead…DEAD! The word echoed around his triple glazing, and the reality crashed down upon him, suddenly all in one moment, he was a widow. He always will be. Oh, the pane! Jim’s mind was scattered (rather like his wife!) and he was falling to bits.

Jim was feeling glassy eyed; his thoughts were smeared all over the place. Over the sound of his impending doom that was yet to come by the hand of his parents, he could hear Josh.  Although he probably couldn’t hear Jim because he was a boy and Jim was a window.

“You!” he shouted, glaring at Josh, and he begun to devise a plan in the smart head of his.

Chapter 2 Jim meets his old school friends

Jim had wondered for a long time now about what to do. Nothing seemed to make sense. He needed something really clever to make fourteen year old Josh sorry for what he did. After what had happened to his (now shattered) beloved Double Glazing, Jim felt as broken-hearted as ever.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea whizzed through his mind. It was so utterly fantastic that Jim, being a humble window, astounded himself. Glazing with excitement, Jim was sure his plan would pay Josh back for smashing his wife.

Way back, when Jim was at Casement Community High School, he had been part of a close group of friends: Storm, Wind, Magic, Prophecy and Skylight. Skylight was Jim’s best friend who coincidentally lived in the same house.

“Skylight!” Jim called in his piercingly high-pitched voice. “Skylight! Are you there?”

“Yes, what is it?” a distant voice replied kindly.

“Did you see what happened to my wife?” Jim questioned mournfully.

“No but I heard shattered glass.”

Jim told Skylight the whole story.

“I didn’t realise that smash was Double Glazing, oh how sad!” sobbed Skylight.

“I have a plan. Remember our marvellous old friend Magic? She could transform Josh into a window so he knows how it feels.” explained Jim.

“Wait! In high school, Magic said that the transformation spell was a dual spell. She could only turn Josh into a window if a window is metamorphosed into a human being,” Skylight remembered anxiously. “Which window would you swap?”

After thinking for a while, Jim came to a paneful decision: Diamond.

“I always felt that she was not fit to be a window. Maybe this will be an opportunity for her to have a better life.”

Chapter 3: A Paneful Dilemma

Jim had been pondering over his decision for a while, and although Skylight had been constantly reassuring him, he was not sure if he should go through with it… or how he should go through with it.

“Skylight, do you remember where Magic had been installed?” he asked hopefully.

“Wasn’t it in Glass-go?” thought Skylight aloud.

“Oh, that house on Sealing Road… I think so – that name does ring a bell.”

Jim and Skylight (now knowing Magic’s exact location) thought about how to contact him, though without any luck so far.

Hopeless.

They decided to call up on Wind who lived in the house opposite theirs. Wind had always been the lustrous one – always in with the Window-vine. He was the talker among the group and if there was one individual capable of communicating with Magic, it was him.

After consulting Wind, Jim became a lot more optimistic about their plan. Thanking Skylight, he closed up to do some thinking about the next stage of their plot. That was when he realised. NO! He had forgotten to talk it through with Diamond! How would he break it to her? Dear, you must become a human… No, maybe: sorry Diamond but you’re going to have to give up your window life and switch with a human. Would that work?

The result came the following day when Jim was polishing up. Wind reported that Magic would write down the method of the spell in the next fogged up window – their cunning plan had been successful so far; the only part left was to show Diamond all the benefits (even though he was pretty sure she would agree).

Chapter 4 The plot thickens

Jim knew that he had to convince his daughter Diamond that their plan was beneficial to her – after all, she wasn’t a successful window but she could succeed as a human. As the stars twinkled in the velvety, midnight sky above, Jim and Skylight hatched their plot. After an exhausting night of planning, they knew they had come up with a perfect solution.

When the family left the house the next morning, Jim called to his daughter in his crystal clear voice: “Diamond my love; I have a truly exciting proposal for you!”

Diamond had often been ignored by her father; however, on hearing his excited voice, she rapidly opened her blind and listened attentively.

Panestakingly, Jim unfolded his and Skylight’s devious plan. “So you see, you’ll be able to move from being a window on the world to being a part of the world. Isn’t that an amazing opportunity?” he concluded. Diamond, who wasn’t too bright, agreed readily to her father’s scheme and the wheels were set in motion, the panes began to slide into place.

Later that day, the windows in the house began to rattle as the wind howled ferociously outside. Gradually they began to mist up and the stage was set for Magic’s spell to be revealed. With a bang, the front door closed and Josh came storming in flinging his school bag along the hall aggressively. Jim saw all this and smiled:  little did Josh know that his life was about to change forever – no more indoor cricket, no more careless shattering, just a life spent gazing out as the world passed by. Alone.

Magic’s spell slowly began to reveal itself and Jim felt mounting excitement. He and Skylight began to chant the strange words of the spell. Beside him, Diamond felt a strange tingling in her panes. A noise like the sound of breaking glass echoed around the house. Jim opened his curtains wide and stared in fascination as a blinding flash filled the air. Where Josh had stood a moment ago, there was…

Chapter 5: A less paneful end

… a new but rather poorly fitted double glazed window and standing in the garden was a dazzling young girl that looked nothing like the window, Diamond. This was the ‘new Diamond’. She had lovely long blonde hair and glistening green eyes. Around her neck she wore a shiny blue necklace with a locket containing two fragments of splintered glass – one from her beloved father, Jim, and one from her much loved, now shattered, mother, Double Glazing. Diamond tentatively opened her eyes and glanced at her reflection of a human version of herself – from head to toe. She wondered if what she saw could be possible – could she have turned into this beautiful girl?

On the contrary, Josh was feeling absolutely distraught. He was frantically opening and closing his blinds, curtains and lastly – himself. Tears were cascading like a waterfall over his pane. This was starting to irritate Jim, but once Josh had calmed down, Jim was able to explain to him just why he had been transformed from a fourteen year old boy into a rather awkward looking window.

After an hour of explaining the many delights of being a window – keeping an eye on everyone’s comings and goings and only needing a wash once in a while, being just two of these, Josh began to see the benefits. Jim looked down on him and smiled. He had had his revenge – no more cricket and no more broken windows!

Time passed and both Josh and Diamond had become accustomed to their new lives. It was going very well for Diamond, but it wasn’t going quite so well for Josh. However, reading the book ‘How to Adjust to Your New View’ helped him. Diamond became a renowned actress and won an Oscar for best actress in ‘Room with a View’.

If you are wondering about Double Glazing, then worry no more. Miraculously, an expert glazier fixed her and added some very stylish purple and blue stained glass panels which were the envy of all. Jim was delighted to have her back and Josh? Well, Josh grew to be a highly respected and admired member of the local window community and, without doubt, had learnt the error of his ways.

by Year 6 pupils from Stanley, East Sheen, Heathfield Junior, Hampton Hill Junior and St. Edmund’s primary schools

Don’t ask me how it happened. Don’t ask me what happened. All I know is this: on December 4^th my parents and I were looking forward to visiting my brother for the first time since he started at Lillian University in the heart of the countryside. As we set off on the train and sat eating our packed lunch together, I thought it was going to be a normal day but I was wrong!  It took a while to reach Lillian but finally we arrived.  I shook my feet to free them of pins and needles, and then happily hopped off the train. A little bench made of splintered hazel-coloured wood with a wrought iron frame sat on the platform so I took a seat and waited for my parents to follow me off the train.

But they didn’t. I blinked, no one did. Because they were gone.  In that small second that I’d closed my eyes, they had vanished! The hustling, bustling passengers were gone. Those people waiting to get on the train were gone. Anxiously I peered around. The train stood majestically; it was painted half cool cream and half mysterious claret. I stared at the doors which I had just left. They gaped open like vicious animals ready to gobble me up. I shivered. Not a nice thought, eh? Slumping back on to the old wooden bench I wondered what in the world had happened, was it a crude prank? Was it a secret surprise? So far either of those ideas seemed likely.  I looked down at my watch; we were supposed to meet Jason, my brother, by 3:30 pm at the latest. As I did so, something caught my eye scratched on the wooden seat of the bench.  It looked like some kind of message.

As I stared intently at the peculiar markings, I quickly realised that they were indecipherable.  Each letter, if that’s what they were, was written at an odd angle and some even resembled numbers. Yet somehow, deep inside me, I knew that this was a message meant for me!

Cautiously, I traced the outlines with my finger tip. Smooth like an ancient stone; yet surprisingly cold, the symbols passed beneath my gaze. The very moment my finger left the wood, the markings danced in front of my eyes, rearranging themselves into a sentence.  In total disbelief, I muttered the words now before me, “Where are you Ellie, I’m waiting.”  My heart jumped and a wave of nausea hit my stomach. Who would know my name? Who was waiting?

Now dizzy with panic, I scanned the platform as tears welled up in my eyes.   What was happening to me?  It seemed impossible that such an ordinary day could turn out so wrong. Pictures of Mum and Dad floated into my head, their faces smiling through my tears.

Then suddenly, I remembered why I was here. Jason! Of course, the message must have come from Jason. Almost laughing with relief, I turned to read the words again, but the bench was now completely smooth. Not a scratch. Not a mark. I ran my hand over the surface; rubbing it until my palm was sore. It was almost as if someone had come and scrubbed it clean.

In total confusion, I grabbed my bag and slowly walked down the platform towards the exit.  If the message had come from Jason I had to try to find him. What if it hadn’t? Well… I didn’t really want to think about that.

Shivering slightly as the bitter cold nipped my nose, I jerkily plodded down the grubby, concrete stairs. As my winter boots met the glossy ice that masked the pavement, worrying thoughts struck my mind. This place seemed forsaken. I trudged into the village high street. Did I have the chance of meeting someone? Inside every shop window were the words, “Where are you Ellie? I’m waiting.” A sudden ray of light shone into my leaking eyes. What was it? Was someone following me? Was I not alone? This was no time to interview myself; I had to get closer to where I thought Jason was.

Further on, I came across an electronics store; a countdown was printed onto every screen. Hopefully it was for New Year, but sadly I knew it really wasn’t. After everything that I had seen, an urge of determination ran through me. Finally Lillian University was standing before me, its grand pillars almost showing off. I needed to find Jason – it was 3:00. I had half an hour to find him, but where to start? I guess I hadn’t thought my plan through properly. I just needed to explore.

Echoing from room to room, a booming voice filled my ears. It roared: “Ellie, time is running out, I’m waiting.” Then I remembered the countdown. It sent a shiver down my spine. What did it mean? What was it for? I scampered to the English room (my brother loved English). One by one the books on the desks opened to a page with newly highlighted letters, they spelt ELLIE! I ran to the exit, however, it slammed shut.

Behind me, a familiar voice announced: “I’ve been waiting for you, so glad you were able to come!”

No escape.

Locked doors.

Me, alone.

I could tell that this shadowy figure was not Jason.

Who was it?

Not daring to move, I stood silently, hoping for mercy. The dark, looming figure was getting closer but, for some reason, I was completely relaxed in its presence. The shadow turned around slowly, tilting her head upward so to be seen. She looked exactly like me in every detail: the auburn hair just below the shoulders, the bitten fingernails, the chapped lips due to the harsh winter. The only difference was that she was transparent. Was she real or just a figment of my imagination? Before I could collect my thoughts, she lifted a long, bony finger and silently pointed to one of the bookshelves at the far end of the room. A thick, black leather-bound book dropped to the floor from the top shelf. Straight away I knew that the book was somehow a way to solve all this.

With much caution, I trudged nearer to the book. When I was close enough, I read the single word that was etched, in silver, into the spine.

“ELLIE!” A voice boomed inside my head, “READ THE BOOK!” 

So I slowly heaved the ancient book off the floor and turned to the first page. I turned to the next page and found my name written in big bold italics. Fear melted over my face as my name disappeared in a flash! Immediately in its place a small key appeared, and beside it spelt the words STOP THE BOMB NOW! Stop the bomb? Pondering on why I should do it, questions buzzed around my head, as a picture of a huge bomb exploding across the countryside was trapped inside my head making me shiver with horror.

The key! I picked it up. It was small, yet surprisingly heavy, and made entirely out of solid gold. All of a sudden, a shimmering light shone from somewhere deep inside, illuminating a small keyhole. It seemed to be about the right size for the small key now resting in my sweaty palm. The keyhole was old and rusted. Strangely, the keyhole was embedded in the book. The key slid in effortlessly and turned with a loud click. Almost instantaneously the whole bookcase moved ever so slightly. When I looked closer it was a huge door to a secret annex. Eagerly, I swung the huge bookcase open, deep down already knowing what I would find inside.

There, there it was. That absolutely horrid ticking countdown, but behind it I saw a bomb on the concrete floor.  With my heart thumping in my ears, I moved towards the display. Since I had removed the key the book had revealed an eight digit number.  My hands were shaking vigorously as I typed in the code.  I hit Enter… Silence filled the room.

Again I remembered the oddly shaped key, cold and solid; life sucking almost. It slid into the keypad without effort, turned and… I was back on the bench at the railway station with my parents. All the passengers were back as well and they were all taking as if nothing had happened at all. Mum asked if I was okay because I looked really pale. She took me by the hand and led me to where Jason was stood by the exit. Jason, who should be in an English lesson! Letting go of my Mum and Dad’s hands, I sprinted to him, wrapping my arms around him holding tight. I mumbled under my breath, so as not to let him hear, “You were nearly gone forever.”

by Year 6 pupils from Stanley, Sheen Mount, Heathfield Junior, Hampton Hill Junior and Lowther primary schools

His breath rattled, her heart raced. “Where is that Manticore?” wondered Lola.

“ROOOAAARRRRR!” A deafening noise crashed through the forest.

“There he is!” Lola said, gripped with fear. She stood there pondering whether he would eat her but only for a split second because a hand grabbed her shoulder and dragged her into the bushes.

“Don’t move a muscle,” hissed Jack quietly. Everything went silent.

“Where did they go?” Lola heard in a low voice coming from the Manticore’s direction.

She sneezed loudly. “Oops,” she murmured.

“I hate you!” Jack said angrily, “If we get killed tonight Lola, just remember, it was all your fault.”

The Manticore, still puzzled as to where the children were, sat down next to a nearby tree and waited. A tear slowly trickled down his furry cheek. Watching from the bushes Jack said, “Interesting, something’s not right.” But before Lola had a chance to answer she was grabbed by a soft squishy padded paw.

“Get off me you creep!” she growled. The Manticore slowly stroked her hair and put her down, then it ran off into the trees.

“What was that?!” Jack said quizzically.

“Dad used to stroke my hair like that…” said Lola dreamily. “Hey, my hair clip is missing!”

“Which one? You have loads!” Jack sneered. Lola gave Jack a piercing look.

“The one shaped like a golden leaf.” replied Lola, lost in her own thoughts.

“You mean the one dad gave you?” Jack remembered out loud.

“Yes! He even told me how he found it. It was in a forest, a forest just like this…”

A cold shiver crawled down their spines as a gust of wind passed by. Tall, hollow trees shook and shuddered. They slowly trudged along the crispy path, autumn leaves covering the ground. Suddenly a deep voice growled; Jack and Lola clambered up a tree like squirrels being chased by a large predator. Having reached the top, they took a glimpse at the foot of the tree. There he was, the hideous Manticore circling the massive oak tree, with his tail slapping against the bark.

“Come down here Jack and Lola! I know you’re up there,” snarled the Manticore, “If you don’t come down, I’ll come up to get you.”

Startled, they were unable to answer; they did not know what to do. The vicious Manticore was cautiously prowling around the bottom of the hollow oak tree. Lola and Jack were petrified. They slowly edged further up the tree until the Manticore’s hairy head was out of sight.

Without warning, the tree was struck by the creature’s enormous, venomous tail. The branch that they had been gripping snapped. Luckily, Jack managed to grasp another as he fell, but Lola tumbled out of the tree onto the Manticore’s scaly tail. Jack was horrified. For one fleeting moment he thought the beast would devour her there and then, but unexpectedly he began to croon softly:

 “I was captured by the demon – Raymon is his name.

If you do not help me, you’ll have only yourselves to blame.

Help me, help me – I’m really not bad.

Help me, help me – I am your dad.

Do not be afraid, listen carefully.

Go to the den and you will see.

The demon that has captured me.

Help me, help me – set me free.

The den is white, green and black.

Don’t touch the clock – it will take you straight back!

Use the hair-clip; it has immense power,

But make sure you use it within the next hour.”

At that moment, Jack’s memories began flooding back, enveloping him in the past. He remembered being transported to this mythical land, full of strange and deadly creatures, by the enchanted spider’s web.

Dad had been missing for an entire week and the family were worried sick. To help around the house, Jack and Lola collected firewood from the forest at the bottom of their garden. While they were out they came across a magnificent spider’s web, which had been spun between two pine trees. Attracted by the glistening dewdrops suspended from the threads of the web, they reached out to touch it. That was when they found themselves plummeting down a portal, arriving in this world.

Dragging his thoughts back to the present, Jack’s instinct told him that he must save Lola. Gingerly, he climbed down the monstrous oak towards the waiting Manticore who, gripping Lola tightly in his muscular tail, scurried towards a nearby pond. Jack followed. The creature beckoned him over and Jack, perplexed, obeyed. As he approached, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the water, as well as Lola’s. However, instead of the Behemoth’s reflection, there in its place, was Dad’s!

Jack now understood that all that his father had said was true.

“Lola, it’s true! It really is Dad.”

Hearing this, the Manticore loosened his grip on Lola and she scrambled off his tail to lovingly wrap her arms around his neck. Jack and Lola beamed. That was when they realised there was one problem – how were they ever going to free him from the demon’s curse … and all within one hour?

Circling the Manticore, the children pondered over what to do next. “Let’s find the beast that did this to me,” growled the man-eating predator. The wind howled as Jack and Lola raced over the vast mountains and lakes of the mythical land, heading for the demon. They came across a graceful, golden Griffin.

“I can help you on your journey as long as you turn me back into a human too. First we need to go to the witch’s cabin in the middle of the forest,” he explained eagerly.

Exhausted, they reached the mysterious cabin and peered inside. The warty witch was creating bubbling potions. She spotted them through the cracked window and cackled, “It’s not me you’re after. You need to travel two hundred steps to the west in order to discover the demon’s lair. But be prepared, for Raymon is clever with many traps.”

Two hundred steps later, Lola noticed the entrance to an enchanted cave. Gingerly, Jack, Lola and the manticore, who the children believed to be their father, crept deep into the mysterious cave. As they apprehensively turned a corner, they saw a shadow. The mysterious shadow was moving closer. Blinded by a dazzling white light, the Griffin was the first to identify the glistening pattern of a spider’s web. Dangling off the end of one fine thread was a stealthy spider. Without warning, he hurled a silk thread towards Lola, imprisoning her within his woven creation and they both dissolved into the darkness. All that they heard was a whisper echoing around the cave:

If you want sweet Lola back,

You must follow my uneasy track.

For I have so many webs,

But you have two tiny legs.

Join my world and you will see,

It is not easy being me.

Quivering with fear, Jack looked hopelessly towards his lion-like father.

“What is this hair clip that the hairy beast spoke of?” asked the Griffin curiously.

“Lola’s hair clip that father discovered in this magical forest,” Jack replied.

“I saw a shining golden leaf-shaped hair clip on a rusty shelf in the witch’s cabin!” insisted the griffin.

“Our only chance to break the demon’s curse and liberate father and Lola is to return to the witch’s cabin and reclaim what is rightfully ours!”

Jack, the Griffin and the Manticore, which they believed was their father raced off to the hag’s cabin to claim what was rightfully theirs, the golden hairclip!

“Come on guys we really need to finish this job before time runs out!” Jack exclaimed.

They ran as fast as they could back to the hag’s shack. As they arrived, they heard the witch cackle loudly. She had a potion brewing on the stove which smelt of dead rats, toenails and putrid fares.  Outside her crumbling house, the Manticore peered through the dusty window.

“Look!” screeched the Manticore.

“Shhh! She might hear us,” said Jack angrily.

“I’ve got plan” hissed Jack.

When the plan was finally decided, they put it to the test. Jack scrambled across the crispy golden leaves towards the mould encrusted window. He then began to bang loudly against cracked glass. At that moment, the glistening Griffin smashed his huge clawed paws straight through the ancient door.

“STOP!” yelled the Griffin.

“NEVER!” cackled the evil hag, in a voice that sent electrical prickles down Jack’s back.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, Jack barged through the inadequate window. As he did so, the hag wobbled, and then fell backwards, unable to sustain her balance. Unluckily, she fell in to an enormous pot of boiling liquid. There was a big splash and a bloodcurdling scream emerged from the bottom. Then there was silence. No one moved, no one dared to speak. Jack arose from the ground shocked and bewildered at what he had just done. He went to collect the golden leaf shaped hair clip from the extremely dusty shelf. Still no one spoke. They were dumbstruck.

“We’d better go,” murmured the Griffin at last.

And so they set off to the deep dark woods.

They hurried back to the enchanted cave so they could trade the hair clip for Lola and change the manticore and the griffin back into humans. The three of them entered the dark, damp cave looking for the spider. “Where is the spider and Lola?” whispered Jack

“I have no idea but maybe we should follow the silk thread” the Griffin replied.

The Manticore and Griffin strode forward, Jack always staying behind. When they arrived at the enormous twinkling spider web, a voice seemed to speak out to them from behind the seemingly never-ending walls. It said,

You must place the leaf on the web

And your friend will be free of the dread

But this is not an easy job

As my spider will make you sob.

Suddenly a spider leapt down from the dripping ceiling.

“AAAAGGGHHH!”  screamed Jack, almost leaping out of his muddy leather boots. The griffin lurched forward and attacked the gargantuan arachnid. As he did so, he threw the hair clip to Jack who nearly dropped it in his shock. He ran as fast as his legs would take him, he felt like he was flying. Jack leapt at the web and pinned the now bent clip to it. There was a blinding flash, and out came Lola. As he looked back to the manticore, he noticed it was changing into a handsome man with glistening brown eyes.

“Dad!” shouted Lola. Although something was wrong. Everyone looked at the Griffin expecting him to change from the creature into a human again. However, the Griffin hadn’t changed.

The Griffin opened its mouth and out came a much unexpected sound. “Ring, Ring!” It sounded like an alarm clock.

“Lola, get yourself out of bed, you have 5 minutes to get ready for school” called her bearded father.

Lola hurried down the stairs and into her father’s car. Jack was listening to his favourite music while staring out of the window. Could this have all been a dream she wondered?

As their father parked outside of the school, he stopped Lola. “Honey, I picked up something for you, I think you will like it” he said softly. It was then that their father gently passed her a beautiful, golden hairclip that was slightly bent. “Have a great day sweetheart!”

Lola gazed into the rear-view mirror, she could have sworn that she saw the reflection of the Manticore gazing back at her. Clutching her new golden hairclip, she made her way into school.

by Year 5 pupils from East Sheen, St Edmund’s, Darell and The Russell primary schools

A rumour continued to grow, it leapt from each classroom to another, going into the children’s minds and not coming out. It was no ordinary rumour, it wasn’t about anyone and it really wasn’t about anything. However we knew the truth.

There were many graveyards scattered in our area, but there was one particular one that everyone seemed to be obsessed with so I went to take a look. It was deserted. How could this graveyard cause so much fascination?

I stopped. I stared. I had just spotted something move. Stone silence covered me and everything else around. I dropped right down to my knees; my head was spinning with my mind bobbing. What was this?

I had fallen into a deep, deep trance. When I awoke, the next thing I knew was that the sky was ocean blue mixing and twirling with the blood red clouds. They were guarding the sun as if it were pure gold. I smiled to myself and that’s when I noticed water was filling my ears and then my mouth. I screamed. There was no one else around. Suddenly my screams turned to muffled cries and bubbles. I was slowly sinking. My face and all four limbs stung like hell. I shut my eyes. I could feel my body filling up with water. I reopened my eyes; I could only see rocks and blue. Struggling, I started to try and break free. It was useless; the harder I tried to break free, the faster I went down. I could have sworn to God my heart stopped for more than ten minutes under there.

Cautiously, I looked down to discover that the slimy tail of an evil serpent was dragging me down by my legs. My eyes were filled with horror, my heart filled with fear. The more I struggled, the tighter it pulled; the hideous sea creature was pulling me under. My breath got thinner and thinner as I sunk closer to the deep, dark sea bed. As my lungs overflowed with water, I managed to grab a piece of flint. I hurled it with all my might at the horrific beast of terror. Blinded, the serpent released my legs and slunk back into the watery darkness.

Everything was still. I couldn’t stop thinking about my parents, wondering what had happened to me. Was this the rumour everyone was talking about? Pulling myself together, I started swimming for survival towards dry land.

I scampered onto an island and found myself surrounded by totem poles and spears. My emotions were tangled; the euphoria of survival was overwhelmed by the thought of spears being pierced into my poor, innocent heart. However all was silent, not a soul could I see. I scurried away from these tools of terror, further into this mysterious deserted place. The palm trees shaded me like umbrellas, weird and wonderful fruit hanging from the tropical trees.

I was starving, but the only food around was figs and coconuts. Suddenly, to my amazement, the eyes of my best friend Ben greeted me with his welcome presence…
“Boy am I happy to see you!” I exclaimed, embracing him like a long-lost friend. I felt so relieved that I had company. My mind was full of urgent questions that just had to be answered; but where to start. Eventually, after a lot of thought, I went for the most obvious starting point…

“Where are we?” I managed to stutter, throwing down a palm leaf I had picked up.
With his eyebrows raised and a wide grin across his face, he replied sarcastically, “On an island, silly!”

I was surprised that he could be so relaxed about the situation.

We sat down and he began telling me about how he too was curious about the graveyard and how he too was almost killed by the scaly serpent. Then, with a look of confusion on his face, he turned to me and said, “Then my phone started ringing… and the hideous beast left me alone.”

“But why are we here? Who has brought us to this place?” I blurted out impatiently, unable to contain myself.

Before Ben could answer, I let my eyes wander over to the nearest palm tree and spied some deep claw marks on its trunk. Seeing what I had focused on, he looked at me knowingly, and in a low voice whispered, “Hybrid creatures!” As he said those words, his whole body shivered, from his head to his toes.

The blank expression on my face told him that I had no clue what he was talking about.

“They’re hideous creatures,” he continued, “which are half-human and half-animal. I’ve seen wolf-people, tiger-people and shark-people, with razor-sharp claws and teeth. What’s more, they smell foul; worse than a rubbish dump. From what I understand, they are catching us in order to make us like them. We’re the only two who have managed to escape. The others have been captured and are being kept in a dark cave on the other side of the island,” he explained, breathlessly.

After he had finished, I looked at him in horror; my face had turned a shade of pale, like a ghost. Finally, I composed myself, “We need a plan to save the others and get us out of here!” At that moment, from behind us, we heard an ear-piercing scream…

“Creepy, eh?” Ben joked, trying to scare me. Silently, we turned to march up the steep dunes on the beach towards a palm tree. As we trampled through the hot sand, we saw two skulls in the shade of the tree.

“Ben,” I whispered, “we have to help these poor prisoners.”

Slowly he nodded as I looked around, scanning the beach for any movement. “Let’s get out of here,” I whispered. “This place is giving me the creeps; I feel like I’m being watched…”

We headed towards the jungle, noticing a trail of skulls disappearing into the thick undergrowth. Silently we agreed to follow it. Still I felt uneasy, like we were being watched.
“Scared aren’t you, John?” Ben nudged me with his elbow but tripped over a vine covered skull.

As I watched Ben on the ground, his legs tangled in the vine, a hand appeared. I screamed in terror.

“That sounds like the one we heard earlier,” a girl remarked, appearing from the forest undergrowth. “Are you OK?” she asked me.

I looked at the girl standing in front of me; she looked like she was in her early teens. She was the same height as us, with clear blue eyes and hair as red as fire. A boy appeared behind her, dressed in black.

“Who are you?” I gasped.

“I’m Annie and he’s Tom,” said the girl, pointing to the boy behind her.

“We were prisoners,” explained the boy, “but we managed to escape.”

“You have to help us,” begged the girl, “We were lucky and got away, but our friends are still trapped. Please, oh please say you’ll help us.”

I looked at Ben feeling uneasy about the situation. He however, seemed to be more trusting. I tapped his shoulder and nodded for a private moment.

Ignoring my request, Ben snorted, “Come on John. Stop being such a baby. We haven’t got time for this!” He turned to the boy and the girl.

“You guys know where the cave is? The one they’re keeping everyone prisoner in? Can you take us there?”

“Yeah, it’s easy,” grunted the boy. “All you have to do is follow the skulls.” My stomach sank. Without a word, he started walking away. Quickly we followed.

Eventually the skulls stopped and the cave seemed to appear out of nowhere, but there was no guard or sign of the hybrids, and I wondered if it was a trap. The others ran for the entrance.

“Get some wood for a torch,” Ben called out.

I ran towards the nearest tree I could find, desperate for some twigs when I heard another scream. I ran back as quick as a flash to see Ben, unconscious, being dragged across the floor by a hybrid creature. I looked around in panic for Annie and Tom but they were nowhere to be seen. I noticed a pile of torn clothes near the mouth of the cave; I couldn’t make sense of it all. All I could hear was the never-ending pumping of my heart.

“There you are,” said a familiar voice behind me. I sighed with relief at the sound of Tom’s voice. Slowly I turned around…

….but there was nobody there. The wind whispered again, “there you are, come, come, I need you to help me.”

An icy chill crept down my spine. Where was this mysterious voice coming from? All of a sudden a strong gale rushed passed me like a buffalo stampede. The wind was now growling those haunting words louder and louder. I panicked. I wanted to go home; I’d even go back to school and never complain about homework again. Quickly, I covered my ears with my hands and squeezed my eyes shut. “Make it go away!” I cried repeatedly. The earth moved from below me and everything started spinning again. I was falling harder and harder, faster and faster until I was back in the graveyard.

I started to get up when suddenly I saw a swarm of ferocious hybrids lurking in the undergrowth. I wanted to hide before they spotted me but it was too late. The church bells started to chime and all of a sudden hundreds of hybrids surrounded me. “I must get away,” I thought frantically. I bolted like lightning towards the rusty gate as the decaying gravestones passed by. I looked behind me and I could just make out the shape of thousands of sinister hybrids chasing me. I started panting heavily until I lost track of where I was running to. Suddenly I tripped on a vine and it coiled itself around my leg like a green snake. I plummeted to the bottom of an unfinished grave bumping my head on the way and immediately I was plunged into darkness…….

Slowly I opened my eyes and surveyed my surroundings thinking I was alone. However I was wrong. A crowd of weeping people in black were gathered together around a coffin. I realised a funeral was taking place. As I edged over I noticed that the crowd of people were familiar. A lady in black wept mournfully, “Oh poor John he was so young.” As soon as I heard my name I realised it was my own funeral. I ran over, touched my father on his shoulder and he gently turned around. Then he froze. “Who are you? Why are you at my son’s funeral? Where are you from” he exclaimed. By now all eyes were fixed on me. I tried to speak but all that came out was a groan. What had become of me?

by Year 5 pupils from East Sheen, Trafalgar Junior, Sheen Mount, St John the Baptist and St. Osmund’s primary schools

The clouds closed together. The dark night came and the bright day passed. Silence fell. Trudging forward, slipping back into the drifts, it felt like time was paused, everything was still. The horizon was deserted I knew I was alone; I knew it, I tasted it, no other humans nearby, only nature. Carried on the wild, whistling wind I could hear the howling of wolves coming louder and louder, closer and closer, scarier and scarier.

Slowly the sun rose. The immense silence broke. I stared back at the mile long tracks…Frozen stiff from the bitter arctic cold, the blanket of snow freezing the earth slowly started to melt. Winter had been as long and as cold as the neglected, snow covered field.
Now I could see the dazzling blue sky; the blackness of shadows and glaring moon were finally gone. As far as the eye could see, pleated hills and crouching skeletal trees dominated the skyline, a sea of white extended in all directions. There was no break, no relief.

As dawn broke icicles glistened as if scattered with diamonds and sapphires. Glittery white snowflakes gently floated, harmoniously dancing pirouettes through the snow laden trees. Was it safe? Was it now time to make a move?

The darkness scattered and fell upon me as the moon mysteriously glared at me. I could feel someone, or something, breathe fiercely on my neck. My heart began to pound in my chest and my hands began to tremble. I thought I saw a dark shadow dash past me wearing a velvet cloak…. Was I mistaken? I felt the urge to begin to run, and that’s exactly what I did. I ran faster than the wind – taking no glances back at the unknown creature that I had felt. The wind wasn’t blowing; however the trees were swaying back and forth. What could it be?

The dark spruce trees leant over and stared at me with tensed leaves as I started to run. Through the snow I went with all my might, the wind howling like a wolf. I had to find shelter fast.

The snow was freezing and my lips were frosted shut. As I ran I stumbled on something shimmering in the snow. I pulled on it and dusted the snow off it and it turned out that it was a knight’s shield, well hidden in the soft snow. Within the trees and bushes I could sense that bold beady eyes were glaring at me. I could feel the shadow I had seen before seep towards me and I began to tense up! I was filled with fear.

“Hello,” whispered a dark voice. The fear gripped me tighter.

“Where are you?” I replied, not daring to raise my head.

“Right behind you,” said the voice. Slowly, cautiously I turned around. There, standing right behind me was a creature. Set within his devilish head were green, gleaming eyes and a sinister scar that linked his left chewed ear and his mouth.

I picked up the shield and held it close to me. My heart was racing. I ran as fast as I could, but stumbled and tripped. Looking down I saw a sword poking out of the snow, the markings on the sword matched that of the shield. Maybe, just maybe the sword and the shield belonged together.

As I reached down to pick up the sword, there was a threatening growl and the creature leapt towards me. Desperately, I held the sword and shield in front of my face. A deep hum filled the icy air and the beast, hearing it, let out an ear splitting roar and pounced. I swung the sword. All of a sudden, a fierce light pierced through the clouds above which reflected off the sword and blinded the creature. A protective, transparent bubble appeared around me; I could no longer feel the freezing cold wind against my frosted face. I rubbed my eyes. Was I dreaming?

I started floating into the air- higher and higher. Apprehensively I glanced below; the grotesque monster lay on the ground crying in agony. I was free.

Suddenly I heard a tremendous roar and the bubble shuddered. A blinding green light reflected off its transparent film. Struggling to decipher what was happening below I willed the bubble to continue its journey upwards. Horrified I realised the light was coming from the creature’s eyes – he was alive!

As I stared down at the blanket of snow below the beast rose to his clawed feet and dashed towards the tree. Clambering upwards his razor sharp claws gripped the white arms of the trembling tree. Up and up he climbed, closer and closer.

My nightmare reached out and caught the edge of the bubble with his pointed talons. I fell to the icy ground. My heart was pounding. The ground began to shake and the sky turned pitch black. In the distance I could make out mysterious outlines. Creatures came sprinting towards me. I was now surrounded. I reached for my sword- it was gone…I reached for my shield- it was gone.

Desperately, I searched for something to defend myself with. In this forsaken landscape, there was nothing. Nothing at all. Hunched over me was the despicable beast with the mysterious figures visible in the distance. I would have to act fast, as the army of creatures was quickly approaching. I rolled sideways and hauled myself up with all my remaining strength. Time to run! Struggling forwards, every step I took my feet sunk deep in to the vast sea of snow. Behind me the ravenous beast and its followers let out a hungry cry in unison! The piercing sound of jeopardy echoed.

Determination pulsed through me, as I clambered forwards. Taking a glance back, glowing with rage were the beast’s green eyes fixed upon me. Razor sharp teeth were bared in its drooling mouth. It surged forwards. All of a sudden, with its spiked talons it swiped at my ankle. Screaming in agony, I fell to the ground. Pain flowed up my leg and blood gushed, turning the once bright white snow to red.

I let out a yelp of agony. Stooped over me was the creature and the other brutes were now within metres. Accepting my inevitable fate, I closed my eyes. My last sight was of the troop of monsters advancing forwards. I squeezed my eyes tight. I clenched my fists. My body was tensed. As I braced myself for the next blow, I heard roars and yelps and then a thunderous thump, which shook the ground. I had resigned myself to the horror of death but seconds had passed and still no further attack. I peeked out of the corner of one eye. Lying dead on the ground was the despicable demon. How could this be?

Feeling weak and exhausted, my eyes fell shut. In my daze I could just make out the sound of deep, gruff voices speaking in an incomprehensible language. I felt myself gently lifted from the ground and placed on a soft, padded surface. With all the energy I could muster I squinted out of one eye to see that these monsters were preparing to pull me on a sled. I was still alive but was I safe?

by Year 5 pupils from Stanley, Trafalgar Junior, Heathfield Junior, Darell, and Buckingham primary schools

Have you ever been in a queue for so long that you feel like falling asleep? Well I have. I’ve been in this queue for 2 hours waiting to ride it – the sensational hot air balloon. As I step up to the platform, I tell myself, “This is it; this is my dream becoming a reality.”

I’m Jim and throughout my childhood I have dreamed of becoming a hot air balloon racer. I can picture myself clutching my gleaming gold medal in my scorched hands, an inferno of fireworks bursting above my head to celebrate my triumph. Could this be my chance?

My heart pounds like a drum. I put one foot into the basket and then another. I suddenly hear the roar and crackle of a raging fire above my head. My feet are no longer on the ground… I feel free but I also feel small. It is overwhelming, my stomach is churning and I am both light-headed and jubilant.

I look up but the sun and sapphire blue sky is blocked out by a vivid rainbow of airborne wonders; emerald green, ruby red, cornflower blue and amber orange spheres, which are gliding swiftly along with the breeze. Rapidly my balloon advances along with the vibrant competition into the downy white cotton-candy clouds, which waltz above us like dancing sheep.

Below me, a town in miniature; I see an array of buildings spreading across the distant landscape. Fields stretched out like patchwork rugs, surrounded by fir trees standing as still as soldiers.

Silence all around, interrupted only by the burner bursting into life like a vicious dragon’s roar.

Out of the shadowy clouds, gusty winds usher us forward. Catching the thermal waves our balloon soars powerfully higher and higher with the determination to win, sailing forward like a tuna speeding through the water. Up and up, a sudden gust of warm air blows us into second place; this must be my best race ever. I can’t believe that my dream is being fulfilled… it’s exhilarating!

Moments later, I hear a tremendous bang! Could it be thunder? Instantly, I am reminded of a time when ballooning wasn’t so easy…

I look up and realise what has happened. The bang wasn’t thunder, but my cranky, old burner has broken. The flame is out. I try to light it but it won’t work. I blow away the grey, crusty dust and I try again, but it’s no use. I’m gradually losing altitude and I feel like all hope has gone. My dream of winning the race is over. How could this happen?

I slowly drift down and the other balloons are getting further away. The sound of their roaring burners is becoming fainter and fainter. It sounds as though they are laughing at me.

I am alone, stranded in the sapphire sky, and all I can do is cry. I feel a cold, shiny tear roll down my cheek. I reach into my pocket for some tissues but I feel something else… a matchbox. Yes! I can reignite the burner. I am suddenly filled with hope.

My hand snatches the box and pulls out a match. I strike it on the box and a flicker of fire pops out. I reach up and put it to the old, rusty burner until I feel heat sweep over my face. It worked! My hand has lit a gold, glowing fire and I see the beautiful colours of amber, rose, sunflower and buttercup. I’m back in the race, although I’m last.

I sail high into the crystal-clear blue sky, flying above the clouds. Hearing the sweet tunes of the birds fills my ears with music. The air is flying into my eyes and weaving through my hair. It is truly amazing being a hot air balloon racer.

The feeling of being back in the race is overwhelming. My desire to win grows incomprehensibly stronger. I quiver at the thought of it so badly that I accidently jerk the balloon to the right. After that incident, I decide to think of something else and focus on the race ahead.

Surging forward, I glance up at the darkening sky. Night is coming. Ahead I can see the other balloons being swallowed by the enveloping gloom. Even though I am last, I know that I am gaining. They are getting closer.

I reach up and grasp the handle that controls the fire above my head. I release more flame and can hear the flames cracking and roaring. I soon find myself racing past the others. The array of colours blur past my eyes: ruby, amber, emerald and sapphire. My eyes light up. I whisper quietly to myself, “Yes, this is it. I might be able to make my dream come true.”

Taking a breath, I breathed in the hot air as I found myself in fourth place. I could feel my heart pounding. My hands, wet with sweat, grasped the matches nervously. I was gaining, I just knew it. But would I still have time?

Charging on ahead, the finish line was in sight. Like a multi-coloured bullet I darted onwards for first place.

Unexpectedly, time seemed to freeze as the enveloping gloom drew closer. My worst fears materialised. A storm was approaching. A cloak of darkness suffocated the sky around us. The once iridescent clouds violently crashed above the balloon in front. Of all days, why today? Without any warning a sickening feeling turned my stomach into knots.

A sudden flash of light descended from nowhere. It had struck my competitors balloon. Air cascaded from the inside of the balloon leaving an empty torn wreck in its place. Immediately I knew I had to act.

As I approached the balloon flashes of flames chewed on the wicker basket below. I pulled my balloon up alongside the flames. Any minute now it would give way and a fellow competitor would lose their life. Something had to be done. Tensely I dragged him to the safety of my balloon.

Suddenly a tornado swallowed up my fellow competitor basket. Rotating violently into the eye of the storm. The clouds were advancing right for us. The finish line was only in an arm’s reach. What should I do? Should I risk my life or not? Although my head was yelling go on, my heart was screaming help. The next minute was a blur.

The next moment I remember I was being awarded a medal for courage and bravery. Coincidently it was carved as a hot air balloon and coated with gold.

I guess winning isn’t everything.

by Year 5 pupils at Stanley, Trafalgar Junior, Lowther, Heathfield Junior and Buckingham primary schools