Scratches tore up my face as I ran deeper and deeper into the woods. I couldn’t stop now, I couldn’t go home. My family was probably already looking for me. For all I knew, they could be right behind me, lurking through the dark woods just to find me. I’m not that important.
I stopped to take a quick breather. I could hear wolves howling in the distance. If I ran back, they would find me. If I kept on going, wolves would eat me alive. Do I want to live or be grounded for the rest of my life? Well, I didn’t have time to think. I kept going. There was a cave nearby. It looked dark, depressing, wet, and cold. It had been 3 hours since I had left. I thought for a second. I decided to enter.
I turned on my lighter that I had in my pocked. The flame was tiny but it was better than nothing. I shook with fear as I traveled onward into the cave. I could hear voices from the entrance. It was my parents. I knew their voices like I knew my own. Standing there in complete silence, I looked around. Nobody came into my secret hiding spot. The voices had died down and my lighter had went out. I didn’t know what to do. I was stranded alone with me, myself, and I.
Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Alexis Newton. I live in Ontario, Canada with my mom Alice, my dad Andrew, my older sister Ella, and my little brother Zack. We all got along until one day. A new baby boy came into our lives. His name was Zack. This happened about one month ago and I was fed up with being the “middle child.” I got no attention whatsoever and I was sick of being treated like crap. I couldn’t take the constant crying and wining of the baby. It made me cringe every time his mouth opened. My mom told me that one day he would be able to talk but ya know, I couldn’t wait.
I found a rock and took a seat. Sighing, I dozed off in a sound sleep. Something awoke me early the next morning. The sound of pebbles echoed throughout the cave. I rubbed my eyes and abruptly stood up. There stood a wolf. I stood there with my mouth wide. My tongue hung out like a thirsty dog. Without any warning, the beast lunged at me with a blood thirty grin. He growled menacingly at me as he pinned me down to the rock hard floor of the cave. Quickly, I picked up a rock and chucked it at the wall. The dog’s growl stopped and he jumped off me with a wail of pain. I didn’t hit him. It was probably the noise that really frightened him. I stood up and regained my balance. The dog was gone and I was alive…that’s all that mattered to me.
I knew dogs had a good sense of smell since I had one back home in Ontario. He was a husky named Luther. He was my best friend and when I was sad he made me happy. One day Luther became sick. He could barely walk and he didn’t eat. We thought about Luther and how he would fell. We did the right thing and put him to rest peacefully. I was 9 when this happened, I’m now 14. I guess it was awhile ago but you can never forget your best friend no matter what. I decided to move on. While walking, I heard a voice. A man appeared with a long stick. He wasn’t speaking my native language but I could somewhat understand him. The wolf that had attacked me was next to him.
“Where you from,” he said grouchily.
My nose crinkled at his smell. “Ontario,” I said. “Your dog tried to eat me!” I screamed.
“Luna, here!” he said with a tone that made you want to shrike. “No no, Luna good dog.” “You bad person!”
“Me? Excuse me? You don’t have the right to say that Mr.!” I said, totally offended.
“Luna is good. Luna never hurt anyone. Luna is a…puppy. She no no better.” he said trying to speak my language.
“Well that doesn’t make it much better!” I said. He grabbed my wrist and led me up a big hill, overlooking a city filled with people. I gawked at the sight but was interrupted by the growl of Luna. She showed me her teeth and nudged me forward toward the city. My eyes widened as we came closer. The smell was worse and I was worried that I was going to get lost. The man let go of my hand and said, “Totopia.” As soon as he let go I dashed forward trying to get away. I could hear Luna chasing me, she was panting loudly and I knew that she wouldn’t give up until she had captured me. I stopped abruptly and she grabbed my arm in the tight grasp of her sharp canine teeth. I screamed at the top of my lungs as her teeth sunk into my flesh. She let go at her masters words. I held my arm. That thing drew blood on me. I grasped my arm and started to cry.
“Good Luna, good.” he said praising the beast.
While clutching my bleeding arm, I turned to face the man and his demon. I clenched my teeth, and I breathed out. I thought of my happy place. I am on a beach with my best friends Jake and Alison. We are all playing volley ball on the nice warm sand. Thanks to this guy and his wolf, on my beach, there is a tornado!
I stared up into the man’s eyes.
“You my prisoner!” he said demandingly.
“Um…no!” I squawked.
“Yes, you no leave or Luna find you!” he said sounding demonic.
I shook my head and closed my eyes. Standing up, I regained my balance once more and then brushed myself off with my hands. Luna sprang at me but before she could do anything the man said, “No!” A boy that looked about my age pushed my out of they way to see the older man.
“Uncle, the men and their dogs just left. We have no hunting dogs except Luna. And…whose she?
“This James, is my prisoner!”
“No, I am Alexis. I’m NOT his prisoner and I will NOT stay here!” I repeated. They both looked at me awkwardly. I could feel my face get red. “Sorry to interrupt.”
I warm glow of the sun shown on my face as I trudged through the snow. I wanted to cover my eyes with my hand but I couldn’t. Both hands were tied together behind my back with a long piece of twine. James took Luna by her leash and walked both of us to a bigger hill. He opened the latch and threw me inside. I was alone in a dark hole, inside a hill. Well, wont I have a story to tell my friends?! Next to me sat a pile of bones. Scratched into one of the bones wrote “BEWARE!” A shiver went up my spine as I read the horrible word. I was scared. Was I going to die? What would I do in here? I was going to break out because I wanted to live.
The opening was about 8 feet above my head. I knew I couldn’t reach it so I started to dig feet holes in the walls. I started to get a headache from exhaustion. I could fell myself getting dizzy. This is how I felt last time before I passed out. I was confused. I wondered where I was….then it all went pitch black.
I woke up a couple hours later. “Where am I?”
“Your in Totopia,” said James. “We saw you passed out so we threw water on your face!”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t walking, I was being carried. It felt so good to not walk for once in my life. I felt like an angel being lifted off my feet, flying through the air then suddenly, he dropped me to the ground. I landed on my head and said , “What the heck was that for?!”
“You still looked sleepy!” he said smiling. I rubbed my head and fixed my hair before I got back up. I smelt something horrible…then realized it was me.
“Eeeew, you stink,” he said, “You can go wash in the river over there!”
“Thanks for telling me something I already knew!” I said. I took out my long pony tailed hair and threw off my t-shirt. My tank top was still on along with my spandex shorts that I had on underneath my jeans. I shook out my braid before jumping into the ice cold lake. I leapt into the air and took a big breath before jumping in. I hit the sandy bottom with one big splash and before I knew it, I was back up to the surface for a breath of air. I washed my hair with some soap that I had packed before I had come. My face was full of dirt, mud, and grass stains. After that “bath” I felt like a new girl. My hair didn’t feel so greasy, my face didn’t feel so nasty, and my feet didn’t look so horrible! I just need nail polish.
I walked back to the center of Totopia with James as we talked about our feelings…just kidding. We talked about why I was here and what I wanted. I didn’t want anything. I ran my fingers through my hair and smiled at him. His brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight. I could see a reflection of something in his eyes…and then…it happened.
