Timmy is a martial arts prodigy. He began his hobby after watching the original Karate Kid. Timmy was a nerd back in elementary school,which made him a target for bullies. Once he saw the film, he knew that martial arts would help him to gain confidence. Within a year of studying martial arts there were many who praised him and acknowledged his skill. The bullies backed off and left other children alone. Timmy became arrogant, telling all that he was undefeated. He had grown cold and unaware of those he fought. All he cared about was winning. During board game activities or group activities in school he would go in a rage if he did not win. While fighting in competitions he would never see the other competitors as human but as something he had to overcome.

Timmy was in secondary school when he saw an advertisement for a martial arts competition. He signed up straight away. After he convinced his dad to drive him to the location. Timmy trained every day and was very excited.

“It doesn’t matter how much you tap your foot, I am not driving faster” the man beside Timmy said dressed in a fancy suit. The boy looked angrily at his dad “we are going to be late”. The argument lasted until the man stopped the car at a abandoned looking car park. “Where are we?” Timmy demanded looking at his dad for answers. “This is the place, up on that hill is the arena” the man says showing the poster and pointing in the darkest direction. Timmy scoffed before tightening his black belt. “I’ll meet you up there, it’s quite a climb so don’t strain yourself” Timmy says angrily before slamming the door.

Timmy began to walk along a dirty path. He looked over his shoulder seeing his dad reading a newspaper in the car. “What an old fart” Timmy says stomping flicking mud with his trainers shoes. Timmy continued to grumble kicking dirt with his feet. Suddenly Timmy made contact with something, making him fall back. “What are you doing? Look what you’ve done” Timmy yells after realising that he bumped into another person. “So sorry young man. Do you need a hand?” The man sounded old and Timmy saw the the old hand. Timmy shook his head before getting up “I don’t need help from an old man. I don’t need help from anybody” he shouted before shoving the man. “I see...tell me what your reason is for being here?” The man asks. “Duh don’t you know. I’m here for the competition. I’m a champion you know” Timmy says pointing to his belt. “A champion? There is something. Something you’re missing. Do you know what it is?” The man questioned Timmy once again. “Of course not” Timmy says looking at his outfit. “Then you must answer this question to find your answer. Why are you fighting?” The man questions. Timmy looked confused and irritated. “Crazy old man” Timmy says under his breath before turning away. He heard the man chuckle. Timmy span around to give the old man a piece of his mind but found no one there.

Timmy continued on the path thinking. What did he mean? What was he fighting for? Timmy looked ahead seeing a shadow of a tower. Once Timmy got closer he saw a boy around 8 years old holding his leg. “What are you doing here?” The boy asked yelling. Timmy got frustrated and yelled back “that’s my line you twerp. I’m here for the competition”. The young boy looked confused “the chess competition?” The boy asked. “No. The martial arts competition” Timmy replied pointing to his uniform.

Timmy looked at the boy closely. They were similar in build as well as looks. Timmy once enjoyed playing chess in primary school but got bullied into giving up the game. Timmy crouched down “you’ve hurt yourself?” Asking the boy gently. The boy nodded. “Let’s go up together” Timmy says letting the boy on his back. Timmy began up the hill with the boy on his back. He kept thinking how he hadn’t helped anyone for a long time. That’s the reason why he began martial arts training...Timmy smiled thinking about the old times. Before he was feared by most of the school.

Timmy stopped at the realisation. Using the very thing he wanted to use for protection was now a weapon. He had become his own demon. Timmy found himself at the door.

Once upon a time the world was flat. Once upon a time the world was black and white. Once upon a time the world was at war.

All countries were at war which would go down in history as fighting for the last land. Back in 2039 the ice from the North and South Pole collapsed. Making a ripple of water crash into the lands. The Earth was covered in water and all great cities were destroyed. Humans were becoming extinct as well as other land animal. Sea animal began to evolve and thrive in their new environment. The humans began to create boats and cities that can float above the waves. In 2080 the humans had become settled in their new way of living...until the new land appeared. Land the size of old China would be a great investment for the humans to reconnect and live once again. This is how the war began. Humans from different sea harbours began to wage war. The first to destroy their enemy would have the land. 2087 the humans were dwindling in numbers. Too many sacrifices had been made.

Gorru was a sea monster. He was once an octopus but the nuclear fuel released into the sea had altered his size, appearance and tolerance for humans. Gorru was the name given by the humans he had destroyed. All the new cities in 2086 he had destroyed. Somehow he became a legend to the human which they feared. The locals near the new land had protected the area for the new wildlife. The clan of Deco were near in numbers to invade the locals and take control of the new land.

Conor was a soldier for the clan of Deco. He had seen the Gorru when he was a boy. He feared the creature but would stop at nothing to get the land he wanted for his family. The sea was as rough as time. Conor stood at the edge giving orders to his men. Today was the day he would take the new land.

Gorru had a feeling as soon as he awoken that war was beginning. The vibrations in the water were warnings of the fleet that was on the way. He saw above how the local children swam around the island. Gorru swam to the surface allowing the water to push the children back to the local ship which was parked in front of the new land. The clouds above were grey and they seemed to cover all the sky. Gorru saw the fleet with their heavy armed ship approaching full speed ahead.

Gorru pierced his eyes lifting his large tentacles up in defence. He had protected the new land for decades...he will not lose today. He would not allow humans to destroy the last hole for animal kind and to keep the local landers safe who have saved creatures of all kinds.

He looked over thoughtfully at the waterfall, as he sat on his loyal stead. Only a couple minutes ago he threw his wife into the river. Her body tangled with ropes and stones dragging her down into the deep abyss of water. Only to realise that the force of the water was too strong, making the rocks crumble which would allow his wife to be swept away. He looked on with piecing eyes seeing the reflection of a women he once loved...reappear.

He knew that if she survived her lovers who he caught red handed the other night in their house would kill him. These men were English men who were taking over the new land. My Indian tribe have been fighting off their advances for decades. However, these men were part of the well known army who had slaughtered previous Indian tribes.

The man decided that he had to murder his wife to protect his honour. If the tribe were to find out that his wife’s betrayal was no longer a rumour. The tribe would punish him by amputated his limbs in front of the tribe and kill his wife. He decided to kill his wife to save himself.

He saw as his wife grabbed onto a large rock in the stream shouting for help. The man. The murderer still had work to be done. The man took a firm hold on the reins determined to finish the job.

It was there everyday. On a good day. On a bad day. Everyday I walked across the muddy path to work I saw an entrance. To where? No one knows. No one dares. There have been many rumours and tales about the people who enter but never return.

My day had gotten bad to worse in a matter of hours. I walked home with a struggle, with the mud becoming sticky due to the heavy rain. My boots got stuck with each step. I saw it. The entrance was only a couple meters away. Weighing the pros and cons of either getting home or staying under the arch. I decided to stay under the arch. I placed my work bag down next to me leaning against the wall. It had been 30 minutes as I sat there seeing the rain continue to pour. To waste time I decided to explore.

While walking through the entrance of the archway I felt the wind pickup behind me, pushing me nearer the the a abyss. I walked through and found myself in a field of beautiful flowers. The flowers dances gracefully in the wind. The sight placed a smile on my face before walking through the field. The field started to rise as I continued to walk through the field. The scent of the flowers pulled me closer up the incline. I reached the top seeing fluffy clouds below me.

How did I get here? Up in the sky. I looked down seeing the clouds parting, there was a town. Small houses were scattered below. I looked behind me seeing the archway. Without thinking I turned around and began to climb down. The archway was going nowhere. To a new adventure I go.

After my 13 hour shift at the hospital I was more than ready to get home. I walked through the thick snow and howling winds to my front door. I laid on the sofa after popping a ready meal in the microwave. I rubbed my head to ease my headache forming for the past 7 hours. Once I heard the ring from the microwave I stood up stretching my neck as I removed the packet. BANG BANG BANG. My front door was ready to fall from the harsh knocking.

I groaned as I left my meal on a plate. I looked through the peep hole seeing two officers. I opened the door holding my hand to my eyes to block the blurring lights from the police car. “Good evening. Sorry to disturb you but are you Miss. Lake?” I nodded unsure of what the ordeal was about. “Would you mind coming to the station with us to discuss some information?” I just stood frozen as the cold winds went down my spine. My mind went racing and going over the past couple day. ‘What have I done?’

I obliged grabbing my coat before following the police officers to the cars. I sat in an interrogation room with a detective. It was silent for awhile beside the occasional sipping from the coffee held by large hands. I hid a yawn behind my hand. “What would you like to know?” I asked the interrogator. The man sighed before placing the mug on the table. “Sorry Miss. Lake. You must be tired. Alright...where were you 5am Tuesday 13th of May?” My eyebrows knitted together as my mind just went dull.

What was going on? “I was working at the hospital. There were many colleagues and patience that saw me throughout the day” I say confidently. “I see. Mr. James has told us that he was with you at the hospital. Is this true?” The man looked at me looking for any lies in my story. If I was confused before I was even more now. Mr. James is a good friend but I haven’t seen him for months. I held this information as the interrogator kept staring into my soul. “If I’m being questioned about certain people, don’t I get a explanation why?” I ask with frustration in my voice. “Ah yeas. I see. Well fingerprints of Mr.James has been located at a crime that happened 5am Tuesday 13 of May. His alibi is with you. Was he with you or not?” The interrogator asked me again leaning forwards looking back into my soul. What could I say? Either I lie saying he was with me or I can keep the charade...what should I do.”

When I was twelve my mum took me to summer camp. I remember the bunk beds in cabin with green blankets. The activities were good and meeting new friends was so much fun. But if you asked me to go again...no way I would go. My mum dropped me at the entrance before driving away to work. I met Georgia and Amy who shared cabin 8 with me. That first night I slept on the top bunk bed while another girl laid underneath. I didn’t see her at the entrance ceremony or the speeches from Mr Jones who funded the camp. I guess she came late and joined this room. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Anyway, as I laid in bed I heard movement below and then scratching. I ignored it at first, but as I looked at the clock after 10 minutes I had enough. Why can’t she just go to sleep, it’s 3am in the morning. I sat up and leaned over the bed angrily whispering “can you please stop”. It was dark but I could clearly see a figure sitting up and hands up above the bunk bed. The figure moved laying down. Sighing in frustration as I laid down feeling bad but kept thinking I will apologise tomorrow. I don’t usually cause conflict, well I try to avoid them.

Morning came fast. I awoke seeing Georgia dressed and Amy putting on her socks and shoes. I stepped down from the bunk bed looking for the new girl. “Where is the girl who slept here?” I asked confused pointing to the bed below me. The others looked at me confused. “What do you mean? We’re the only ones here” Georgia said before leaving the room with Amy. I stood shocked for a moment. But...I saw a figure and the sound. That must have been real. Right? I began to get dressed into the camp uniform. I sat onto the bunk as I tied my trainer shoe laces. I looked up stretching my neck. My eyes widen in shock seeing marks on the bed. It looked like someone used a knife to etch words into the wooden frame of the bed. “Cold, dark, alone, Ary” the words said. I kept reading the words over and over. It seemed the last word was rushed. The word was not neatly written as the beginning. Seems as if one more letter needed to be written. I shot up banging my head on the wooden frame as the door opened. “Hurry up Jessica lets go” Georgia shouted at me before slamming the door. During the day I happily took part in the activities but kept thinking about those words. How did they get there? I looked at the beds before choosing where to sleep. There was nothing there yesterday morning. But could it have been that girl? I looked all over the area throughout the day to look for anyone who could resemble the figure. When it was the afternoon break I stood watching the other girls get into the cabins.

“That’s why it shut down last year” a girl said to Georgia. “What was that about?” I asked her as the other girl walked away. “My dad had a job here and he got fired last year after the campsite got closed down. My dad never told me why” Georgia said through tears. “What wrong?” I ask getting worried. “A girl named Arya. She drowned in the lake. That’s why they shut down” Georgia said through sobs. I consoled Georgia feeling bad for the mysterious girl who died last year. As I laid in bed clutching the blanket close to my chest on the second night, I suddenly heard movement below me and then silence. I was stiff, I laid motionless. Scratching noises suddenly began below me in a haste manner. My breathing was heavy. I moved the blanket closer to my head closing my eyes tightly. Once morning came I told Sarah who leads the camp. I showed her the markings which had become deeper. Sarah took me to the lake that day telling me about Arya. Arya was adventurous and did not have many friends. One day she disappeared. The adults searched for her for weeks. They found her in the lake floating. She couldn’t swim. No one would hear her screaming for help. Me and Sarah stood together on the pier with flowers. It was an accident.

Or was it?

June went to the aquarium with her mum, dad and older brother Stephen. June wore her favourite pink flower dress with flowers which she would wear to school if she could. Stephen ran up to the fish tank area of the aquarium shouting and banging the glass “just keep swimming fishies”. June saw Stephen being pulled away by their dad.

While Stephen was getting a lecture about manners, June decided to explore. You walked across the path of the aquarium following a bright orange fish that seemed to be the largest of them all. Before June knew it she had gotten lost. June being the quite type. stood still. Not moving a muscle. June stayed next to the fish with her lower lip trembling. It felt like hours of waiting. But still no one she knew came. Suddenly there was a banging noise behind her.

The noise made June jump forwards tripping over her own feet. She turned herself around seeng the large fish moving in circles. June dusted herself off and walked towards the bright orange fish. June lifted up her hand up towards the fish as the orange became brighter. Suddenly, the light became too bright as June shut her eyes tight. Once the light cleared June opened her eyes to see that the fish had disappeared. All that was seen was bubbles. “There you are! Let’s go to get some food. This time don’t get lost” a voice said grabbing June by the arm. It was Stephen. June glanced back at the tank seeing a small orange fish forming from the bubbles.

It’s Halloween today!

The teacher told us to draw what we were going to wear tonight, I saw the other children in the classroom using colourful crayons and talking about what they were going to wear with their friends.

I’ll draw my friend Suesee who sits in the graveyard at night with her big black eyes staring into my window, I begin with a circle and big black eyes with a black crayon.

The teacher stands behind me, looking at my drawing, “what are you dressing as?”

The teacher asks, seeing two different pictures on the paper.

“The green one is me, I’m dressing as the Hulk and this one is Suesie who is a ghost.”

The teacher goes pale before walking away and picking up the school phone.

I continue to draw, once finished I began to tap my pencil on the desk.

Waiting...the bell rings with a mighty roar.

Happy Halloween!

I will never forget that night. The thunder was so loud, rain poured from the clouds like water being spilled from a cup. I awoke to the rumble of the thunder. My body was shivering from fear as I sat on my bed looking across the dark room. The wooden floor was cold as I walked across, holding Gary the bear tightly in my fists. I remember hearing shouting and loud thudding sounds from down stairs. Quietly I walk down the creaking stairs. I saw a glowing light under the door that leads you to the living room. With a shaky hand I hold the door handle pulling down. I pushed the door slightly open, enough for me to look through the gap.

I saw my mother shouting at something hidden under a cloth. Suddenly, the object moved and rumbled. I saw as my mother grew paler before revealing the strange object. It was a mirror. What is it? I’ve never seen that sort of mirror in our house before. My mother was just staring and weeping before standing in front of the mirror. My eyes went wide as my mother’s reflection revealed a demon like creature. Red covering its body with horns. I couldn’t keep my eyes away as my mother fell to the floor crying. I still remember how she sobbed and begged for forgiveness. To my horror the creature in the mirror turned his head towards me. The glowing yellow eyes pierced my soul. My legs felt like jelly as my eyes began to water in fear. Without thinking I screamed running to my bedroom and hiding under my bed. I stayed there wide awake until my father walked in the morning as usual. I told him what I had seen, the mirror and the creature. My father listened but I could tell he didn’t believe me. My father reassured me that it was just a nightmare. My father held my hand as we went down the stairs. We walked into the living room, but there was nothing there. My mother was in the kitchen cooking breakfast and smiling away. Father went to work and mother started house cleaning, leaving me alone in the kitchen colouring my Disney book.

Maybe it was all a dream. I remember walking towards the living room with my colouring book in hand. I entered the room once again but stepped on something sold. Looking down I saw Gary. My heart stopped as I dropped my book. Gary my builder bear was ripped apart as if a claw went through the body. I heard a creak from the sofa. Under the sofa was a covered object the same shape as the mirror. Before I could touch the object my mother grabbed me by my arm and scolded me for leaving my toys on the floor. I looked over my shoulder. That moment I will never forget, bright yellow eyes glaring at me with sharp teeth drooling from its mouth. From that day I never saw the mirror or the creature again.

Red roses are red, You may see them when you’re dead, I’m only joking if you don’t know, My tale is like an unfortunate soul.

Me and poems don’t mix, Let’s instead make a jinx, Red roses oh red roses, I like them more than poses.

Red is my favourite colour, I didn’t tell my brother, Roses are my favourite flowers, Those who hide are a bunch of cowards.