"We Must Go On Because We Can’t Turn Back.”  Robert Louis Stevenson 

Marcus was well known in his family for how good he was at playing instruments. Marcus was mostly good at playing the flute, harmonica, harp, bass and piano and although he had big dreams and was adored by many, his mother hated it when he played. Marcus knew why though, but it didn’t let him stop being the person he wanted to be. He was always encouraged by a strange melody that he heard in his ear. Marcus had noticed, though that only he could hear this melody. Instead of telling someone, he kept it to himself. After all, no one would believe him. Right?

One night he slept, feeling a tingling up his spine. He found it a bit weird but didn’t think much of it. The last thing he thought of was a black hooded man playing a cello. The strange thing was he was playing the melody Marcus always heard. Something gave him a feeling that this would be the last time he would hear it. 

Stars danced around his head. The lovely tune was gone. Until suddenly, he had woken up somewhere completely different. A girl crouched in front of him. She seemed to be saying something. .. “Marcus, get up!” Marcus’ eyes flickered, “Who are you?”

"Oh, thank goodness,” the girl interrupted. “You had me really, really worried. Now hurry up, the others are waiting.”

Marcus looked around; he was surrounded by dark oak trees. Behind this mysterious girl stood a huge, hollow mansion. Marcus then spotted a cracked, open window on the third floor.

“But I don’t know you, and who are the others?” Marcus yelled. 

The girl stopped in her track, “Wow, he really did throw you hard!” she whispered to herself. 

“Threw me? Who?” replied Marcus.

“There is no time to sit around and explain! The others are waiting. I told you!” she said, her voice rising. She was clearly mad and very serious.

As the young girl dragged Marcus to the mansion behind her, he began to feel weird again. He felt like he was being scratched by a monstrous creature, as if he were about to rip his limbs and flesh clean from his skeleton.

Finally when both of them had arrived at the front door, the girl kicked it open. Behind it, they found a tall, pale figure running around. The figure had a pointy chin with cheeks sunken in. It also had lips that were tightly held in.

“Ew---” Marcus started saying. 

“Quiet!” said the girl. She stood still like a predator about to make her next move. The girl then grabbed Marcus by his wrist and dashed right past the creature, but it didn’t turn to grab her. She ran up a spiral staircase into a dusty, musty room. She then closed the door and sat with Marcus in front of it. 

“I didn’t get your name.” said Marcus.

“Right, Susan.” said the girl. 

“Nice, so you must know my name right? It’s …”

Susan shushed him. She told him to pay attention to a strange noise approaching.

Instant footsteps filled the room. Susan looked around, as if searching for something. “it’ll get louder if we keep talking.”

“If I’m able to push hard and get out that front door, I think we will be safe.” Marcus announced quietly. Susan glared at him. Her midnight blue eyes turned to a fiery red. “What about the others? Do you want to just leave them behind?’ Susan exclaimed.

Marcus looked at her. “We already have two problems, and one is this house. They’ve probably already been devoured by that … thing downstairs.”

Susan didn’t reply. She just opened the door and shut it quietly behind her. 

It was the next day and the sun was shining upon the mansion. Marcus was still running. He had managed to escape that filthy place but so ha d the ugly creature that had been downstairs too. He hid in the bushed every time the moaning of the monster came close. In the chase, Marcus had realised the creature was blind. 

Fifteen minutes had passed. Marcus wasn’t too sure though. It felt like hours. Later on, Marcus decided he would give up running from this terrible monster. He didn’t know where Susan had gone and he had no idea where the others were either. Marcus was only sure of one thing – home. Marcus suddenly stopped and looked around. He was certain that this was the end for him. His happy ever after but perhaps not so happy. 

He then yelled to the monster, “Come and get me! Nothing is wor--!”  

Unable to finish his sentence, the monster was already approaching, looking gleeful and ravenous; Before Marcus could do anything he was already being squeezed into the monster’s grip. He didn’t care though; the only thing that stayed on his mind was home. 

Marcus closed his eyes thigh shut, preparing to be devoured by the creature. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, finding himself back in bed at home. He would have screamed and called his mum but he was too worried. Had it all just been a terrible dream? He couldn’t be sure. 

What Marcus did know was that he would never be the same again. He was forever scarred. 

• Dora Koria is a Year 5 student at the Vaiala Beach School and this literary piece earned her 2nd place in the Year 5 English category of the Samoa Observer Short Story competition.