Tokyo
Global Classroom Creative Writing Anthology 2015
The Cave
You’re visiting a cave. You know that it is at least 700 years old; dating back to the 14th century (research informed you of this). Footsteps echo as you walk inside. As soon
as you do, a jagged rock crashes down behind you. You’re trapped! It is pitch black, as dark as death itself. But you steadily calm yourself, because you know you have
your pickaxe with you - as always, you are prepared for everything. But first you look around the cave, knowing that can always come back to get out.
Stalactites hang from the ceiling, and stalagmites are growing from the floor. The walls are made of pure limestone, and there are carvings impressed onto them from
many, many years ago. You wander closer, wondering how many humans were here before you. On the left side there seems to be a word which you can barely see
through the heavy blanket of darkness. “Beware”. What could that possibly mean? But you quickly brush off the thought and keep on walking.
In the next few meters, the cave expands into a cavern, and your face expands into a grin. You have always wanted to see something like this. And it only gets better - you
see two specks of light up ahead! What are they? Where did they come from? But by then rough breathing can be heard…
And it’s not yours.
The two specks of light are not lights. They are the glint of two ravenous eyes. Something rustles ahead. You start to scream.
Heels screech against the floor as you turn, and you try not to step on puddles of mostly dried up blood. You speed down the way you came from, but you trip over a
human skull. Your ankle is twisted, but still you keep running, or in this case, hobbling, the rest of the way. At last, it dawns on you why “Beware” was etched onto the
walls behind you. The creature is not the only thing chasing you. Darkness is coming, too. Once you get to the rock, you start trying to smash it with your gleaming iron
pickaxe. The immense boulder doesn’t budge, but a small piece breaks off on one edge. You discover that the rock blocking the cave door is quite thin and light. The rock
is pushed away.
Light blasts through the entrance. You run out, and just in time. The creature chasing you shrieks and evaporates into a minute pile of sulphurous yellow dust. You have
escaped the cave.
‘I was inspired by the Japanese art called manga. It is very unique and beautiful. The wide eyes made me think of bright signs and light.’
Illustration by Mia Wichman, Year 6, British School of Chicago
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As you step out further, you see flashes of brilliant blue coming from the sky. The forest is filled with beautiful animals, which are coming to
welcome you back. Dappled sunlight shines through all the trees’ leaves. You almost feel giddy, because nothing has ever seemed so incredibly
glorious to you. Happiness makes you forget the pain in your ankle. You laugh and run around, this time with no monsters chasing you. Delight
fills your heart. You are so, so glad to be out. You know that light has finally come back into the cave.
Written by Alexandra Dmitrieff Mehta, Year 6, The British International School of Charlotte
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