Deception: Justin Zhou (Honourable Mention

written by Justin Zhou, Year 7

Prologue Time will pass by before one can realise, no matter how long it may be, joyful or grim. As the newly elected leader of Goreland, Gaudion had built a strong and wealthy nation in the small amount of time since he took office before people slowly realised that they had fallen into the trap that he had developed, to whom they pledged their trust. He had become the one thing that all feared: a brutal dictator.

It was almost December again. Caleb and his family had been planning to visit their grandparents in the western region for months. There was a certain feeling when he woke up that day. Something hard to pinpoint exactly. It was a weird mix of excitement and a sickening feeling. He had woken up extra early, before dawn broke to finish his chores, as he did not want to work at all during that month. Not when he saw all the neighbouring kids playing merrily outside. As he finished the final job, he heard footsteps ruffling through grass from behind, and before he knew it, it had knocked him into the gooey brown stuff on the ground. “Mate, not cool,” Caleb sighed, “And why are you awake anyway?” His younger brother gave him an indignant look. “It’s already sunrise, Of course I’m awake!” Caleb found it both intriguing and annoying that during the weekends and holidays he was always the first person his younger brother went to and babbled endlessly. He realised suddenly that he was still covered in manure and waddled to the water tub before anyone realised.

“George”, mother called, pouring some coffee, “Have you seen Caleb anywhere? I really need someone to toast this piece of bread.”

“I saw him in the morning,” he said, bits of scrambled eggs flying from his mouth.

“Where?”

“He was milking cows at like 3.00am,” he remarked.

Right at that moment, Caleb came rushing in through the doorway, water dripping behind him. Mother looked up at him, as if about to say something, but returned to mixing her drink.

Awkwardly he sat down at the table.

“Don’t just sit there, come help me with the food!” she scowled.

He quickly got up and went over to the kitchen. Conversation arose between his brother and mother. However, he knew that once he joined in, mother would start scolding him again.

He stood in the background, with a heavy heart. For the longest of times he thought he was adopted, but his mother would never talk about it. He didn’t think of it much anymore. And his father...he distinctly remembered an image of his father. However, according to his mother, he died in some war when he was an infant. He had always doubted that, and that doubt was growing stronger than ever.

As they were about to leave for their grandparents’, a shrill siren emanated from outside and into their dwelling, followed by a robotic voice.

“Attention all citizens of Goreland! All surrounding borders shall be shut until further notice.” The siren ended abruptly, and the streets were quickly clear of people as they were herded into their homes.

“That blasted Gaudion!” Mother growled, “Been ruining my December for five years in a row.” Caleb had already run to the farmyard, as he already knew that if he stayed, the room was going to turn into a mess. He sat on an upturned pail and sank his head into his palm. That Gaudion character seemed to be the root of Goreland’s chaos. If only he could kill him, somehow.

The streets quickly returned to their busy atmosphere. Stalls were up again, and the fragrance of mouth-watering cuisine wafted through the air as people were drawn in. George bounded gaily into the market, his stubby legs struggling to sprint for very long. He looked around for something to eat, the array of options dazzling him. He struggled to push through the large crowds, however he was the size of a dwarf compared to others. Just as he sprinted towards his favourite stall excitedly, a sharp claw grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him aside. “Huh, what just happened?” George glanced around, startled, “Why you gotta-”

A tall and slim figure stood in front of him, waiting impatiently for him to shut up.

“Listen, child, I am a wizard, and I-” “Pftttt, a wizard?! You gotta be joking mate, you look more like an unevolved monkey!” The chubby kid tumbled around, laughing at his own joke. He had a point, though. The wizard had the look of a homeless man, with a dodgy and a haggard look. His fingers were shaped like claws, which had punctured George’s sleeve. “Alright, listen,” he began, gaining control again, “I have come on a mission. I know that you are George Robinson and your brother is Caleb Robinson.”

The wizard thought for a moment before uttering the next sentence.

“Take me to your brother.”

George led the wizard to their farm, and returned to his dwelling, content with his two sausage rolls and a meat pie given to him under a bribe. The wizard gazed upon the distance and spotted a figure. “Perfect, just who I was looking for,” he nodded his head in satisfaction. He lifted off from the ground and glided through the air, landing softly on the grass beside the boy. “Caleb,” he whispered softly. “Argh!” Caleb screamed, falling from the pail he was sitting on. His eyes darted around, meeting those of the wizard. He glanced around nervously, edging backwards and looking for an escape from the shady looking person. “Don’t worry, I am here to help,” the wizard began, “To help you kill Gaudion.” He was bewildered by such a statement, and paused to think. He allowed the wizard to continue. “Who are you?” “I am a wizard, and I come from the western region. My team and I have been conspiring to kill Gaudion the day he took office. Now, listen, my dear child. You are the only one who can complete this mission. I have seen it in my visions, you are the chosen one.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“We have a common goal. You are the only one who can restore Goreland to peace again,” Caleb pondered for a moment, it seemed there was no other choice. The following night…

“Gaudion,” the wizard called, “I have the perfect thing to show you.” Gaudion entered the room, his footsteps echoing through the cave walls. He hadn’t been in the wizard’s lair for years. A pigsty, as he had expected. Days weren’t good for the wizard lately. Gaudion was finding a way to break the spell that had controlled him for the longest of times. “You are growing weaker, I can feel it,” he murmured, “Your spell cannot contain my anger anymore. Just give up.” “Haha,” he cackled drily, “watch this.”

The wizard swung around and approached him. Waving his hands in a smooth motion, a globe was conjured upon his palm. He gently rubbed the top, and a faint scene of a child talking to the wizard emerged. “Remember who this is?”

It took a moment for him to recognise the person, but soon the realisation hit him. “No,” he said, shakily, “How did you find him?!” Gaudion glanced at the wizard, convulsing in pain as his hatred burned more viciously than ever. The wizard sneered conceitedly. “You may think you’ve outsmarted me, but there’s more coming. Do as I tell or I will end you once and for all.”

Caleb snuck out before the break of dawn, tentative with each step as he slid precariously out the cave, taking care to not create too much of a rattle. The sudden gust of wind that swept over him didn’t aid his confidence. “This will work, this will work,” he murmured to himself repeatedly. There was to be no time for breaks, for this plan relied fully on the timing. He took a deep breath and started running.

He didn’t know how long had passed, all he knew was that his legs were dying. He glanced upwards - the government house was in sight. However, he quickly realised that time wasn’t in his favour. It was already noon, time was running out. Fatigued as he was, he kept pushing forward. He felt more the destination coming into his grasp. Slowly, the small building from afar emerged as a colossal landmark.

“Father!” Caleb called, still catching his breath, “I found out everything.” The scene of the battlefield ten years ago flashed before Gaudion’s eyes. At the most intense moment of war with the enemy, the wizard kidnapped his only child, as a threat. In Gaudion’s panic, the wizard took advantage and manipulated his consciousness to achieve his ambition to rule Gorland. “Son, are you okay? How did you escape from the wizard?” “I’ll explain later, we better hurry!”

In the castle the next day…

“Your disobedience has led you to this fate,” the wizard sneered. “About to be killed by a child, eh?”

An evil cackle echoed through the room as Caleb pressed a small but sharp dagger by Gaudion’s throat firmly. “You are a disgrace, wizard,” he spat, breathing heavily under the weapon, “A disgrace to everyone of Goreland and all of humankind!” “Oh, my ignorant little puppet, what can you do? Believe it or not I can send you to hell by the snap of my fingers,” He sniggered, “Looks like your time has come, Gaudi-” A sharp dagger suddenly penetrated the wizard’s chest, blood gurgling out. His eyes darted around desperately, clutching his stomach in pain and disgust. “Caleb…how dare you?” He groaned in disbelief. Gaudion rose and stopped before the pool of blood, nodding his head in satisfaction. He exchanged glances with his son. “You thought you could outsmart us, eh?” “Help…help,” he whined. “Oh, now you’re begging?” Gaudion cried, stuttering as he flashed back to the past of carnage, “All Gorelandians shall rejoice, and for you? Enjoy watching from hell’s helm after your life of deception!”

After the death of the wizard, Gorelandians were soon to discover the true dictator, the real person behind all the treachery. Gaudion had returned, and the people breathed a sigh of relief to see their respected leader come back. “Caleb,” Gaudion called, sitting by his desk. “Yes, father?” “I have something to tell you,” he considered for a moment, “I would like you to run for the election for next leader of Goreland.” Caleb was stunned by such a statement, but thought carefully about it. “Yes, but would the-” “I know, my term is coming to an end. I trust that you will bring peace and prosperity to Goreland.”