The Canyon

By Olivia, age 10

It all started in the morning.

I woke up to a sudden, loud noise outside. It began with a crash, bubbling in my ears and coiling up like a snake. My eyes fluttered open and I sat up. My mother was peering through the window beside me, nose pressed to the glass, mouth wide in shock. I stared and stood in my ragged pyjamas, squinting in the light. My frothy, untidy hair hung over my eyes. Walking over the mouldy, rough wooden planks on the floor, I peered out the only window in our small shack. There was a large crowd gathered outside around the Canyon, a deep small hole that disappeared into inky darkness. I glanced at my mother then at the mattress next to mine.

Empty. 

Shocked, I asked mum.

“Where is Em?”

She bit her lip and turned to look at me. 

“She’s gone, pet. Em’s gone. Along with other people. The Canyon took them.”

I pushed through the crowd, parting through worried faces and frowning looks. Finally, I stumbled to the edge of the Canyon. We had always worshipped the Canyon. I had always asked mum why we should bow to a deep hole but she’d stroke my unruly hair and change the topic. Every now and then, a swirl of wind took sheep and cattle into the hole, but never people. I felt a hand touch my shoulder.

“Not now Lucy, not now.”

“Actually…”

I turned around. Instead of my best friend Lucy, I saw her dad.

“Where’s Lucy!” I demanded, tears streaming down my face.

“She’s also gone.” he said, pursing his lips and staring down at the hole.

Everything slowed down straight after those words escaped his mouth. I felt dazed. My heart was slowly rising to the point where I could hear it in my ears. It sounded like thunder striking faster and faster. I felt the air freeze and I started choking on hot tears. The heavy smell of dirt flooded my nose.

It was soo… unfair.

Why would the Canyon take all the people I loved, all at once? My little sister, my best friend, even only the ghost of my mum was left behind. The anxiety built up, rising and churning like a pot of boiling water.

 I couldn’t take it anymore.

So much that I leapt forward into the bottomless Canyon and saw the light above me shrink rapidly until it dissolved into endless darkness. 

I woke up and realised I was in a damp, soggy hole. The only light I saw was an ominous faint glow, a dark, misty blue. I followed the gloomy blue light to a wall. The wall was filled with glow worms wriggling around in the inky darkness. I stared and scratched my head in confusion. The glow worms were making a message in….

I didn’t know. There were small inscriptions with doodle-like drawings and paintings. Somehow, I had a feeling that my sister and the other stolen people were behind this wall.

I was determined to get to them.

A sudden realisation washed over me. Why was I here? What was I doing? I was so busy pondering over these thoughts, I didn't realise that I was speaking an entirely different language. My mouth was moving by itself! Suddenly, the wall slid to the side and the room plunged into darkness.