Term 4 Writers' Circle Booklet 2024

- George Braid

‘Tim and Atlas’ - Will Andersen

‘Alien Invasion’ - Henry Mackay

for the Blade’ - Ari Tjin

‘Life Goes Up and Up’ - Will Schofield

‘Vita Astris’ - Cooper Henderson

‘Pulse City’s Good Emperor’ - Fred Dows

‘The Record of Speed’ - Rory McCaffrey

‘The Circuit of Connection’ - Bill Deeran

‘How I Became Aloysius’ Most Iconic Boarder’Gage Dittmann

‘Ashwood’ - Luke Sanfilippo

‘The Secret Collector’ - Henry Palmer

‘The Adventures of the Coin’ - Ollie De Young

‘The Hidden Compass of Arachnis - Hemish Patel

‘The Invisible Compass’ - Hemish Patel

‘Axle and the Shadows of Cronus’ - Freddie Orr

‘Somnus Certanim’ - Dihain Dewage

‘The Scavenger of Elysium’ - Jack Williams

FROM OUR COLLEGE PRINCIPAL MR SCOTT THOMSON

St Joseph's Nudgee College was founded on the premise that boys would be provided faith, formation and opportunity. When Br Ambrose Treacy articulated his vision for the Nudgee student, I wonder if he could have possibly conceived the breadth of opportunity that

would exist for our students 134 years after the school's foundation. Whilst literature, and its associated skills, has always played an important role in the formation of a Nudgee man, it was not until 2023 that the ' power of the pen ' really came to the fore

Nudgee College Writers' Circle is now in its second year. This is a wonderful opportunity for likeminded young men to come together under the guidance and tutelage of NCOB (23) Will Duffield and guests. This meeting of minds provides two fantastic opportunities; boys are able to pursue

their passion and improve their skill as creative and highly competent authors and writers, and, with their finished products in hand, share the fruits of their labour with the residents of Viridian each term. In doing so, they are answering the call of Pope Francis by showing care, compassion and

companionship to those who sadly sit on the periphery of our society.

I thoroughly enjoy reading the finished products of our boys and always enjoy my interactions with and visits to this wonderful group that contributes to the extensive fabric of Nudgee's make-up.

Pictured: 2024 Writers’ Circle Group Photo

Term 4 Writers’ Circle Program

Mr Will Duffield (Writers’ Circle Coordinator)

Term 4 has been an inspiring and fulfilling time for Writers' Circle, filled with enriching activities aimed at nurturing our students' creative writing talents. Throughout the term, we introduced various new stimuli to spark imagination, leading to memorable milestones and growth in our writers

A key highlight of the term was our visit to the Brisbane Children's Writers Festival, where students engaged in workshops led by established authors. These sessions provided them with invaluable insights into narrative techniques and character development, enhancing their understanding of storytelling from a professional perspective. We were also privileged to host author Kylie Fennell, whose workshop on crafting cohesive storylines and enhancing narrative structure offered students practical tools to refine their work

A significant milestone this term was bidding farewell to our outgoing Lead Mentors, Hunter Ireland and Lachie James These exceptional Year 12 leaders have been the heart and soul of the Writers' Circle, bringing dedication, creativity, and mentorship that have inspired younger students throughout the year. Their tireless efforts have shaped the program into what it is today. Hunter and Lachie leave behind a legacy of kindness, innovation, and collaboration, and their presence will be deeply missed We wish them every success as they embark on new adventures, and readers can find their personal program reflections on Page 5

Thank you, truly, to our wonderful College community for your ongoing support and belief in our students Thank you for being part of this journey with us and we look forward to another fantastic year in 2025!

Pictured: 2024 Lead Mentors, Hunter (left) and Lachie (right)

Farewelling our 2024 Lead Mentors

Hunter Ireland and Lachie James

This term, we farewelled our outgoing Lead Mentors, Hunter Ireland and Lachie James, whose leadership left a lasting impact on our students and the program.

Hunter Ireland

One of the most useful skills you can acquire at school is effective writing and communication skills. Whether it be creative, persuasive, analytical, poetic or lyrical; it is truly an invaluable skill. Through Writers’ Circle, I have seen students excel in writing what they are passionate and interested in A big ‘kudos’ goes to coordinator Will Duffield for employing this program at the school to provoke students to delve out of their comfort zone and immerse themselves into the limitless world of creative storytelling. It has been such a rewarding experience being able to connect to the students and watch as they find ardor in participating in excursions to Viridian, or to see well renowned authors speak on their crafts. Thank you to the 2024 Writers’ Circle group for welcoming i t th l b ith d well-worn pages, making every moment a story worth tellin

The Writers’ Circle will forever hold a special place in my heart

The life skills that the boys develop here not only enrich their writing but also equip them for success in many areas of their lives. It provides a supportive, creative space where boys can explore their passion for writing alongside like-minded peers.

I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to witness their growth into skilled writers, and the lasting friendships and joy that have blossomed within the club will always remain dear to me. One of the most meaningful experiences has been the boys' termly visits down to Viridian, where they share their stories with the residents. The smiles that are brought to their faces as they listen are a testament to the impact these moments have

LachieJames

he 2025 Lead Mentors mann and Bill Deeran

This term, we officially welcomed Gage and Bill as our 2025 Lead Mentors. You can read their Term 4 highlights below!

Showcasing your individuality is one of the most important things you can do to connect with others and build strong peer relationships

Gage Dittmann

In Writers’ Circle, I have been privileged to be able to express my creative side, sharing unique features about myself. By attending weekly sessions I have been able to build upon and develop my writing skills, helping not only the Writers’ C

Through my c peer relationships with boys involved in the program the development of their writing capabilities this te the program next year!

Over the course of Term 4, we have explored writing skills, experimented with writing prompts and been on many excursions where we had the opportunity to showcase everyone ' s work. My highlight of the semester was our Viridian visit, where we shared the stories we wrote over the course of Term 3/4 with the residents

As the new Lead Mentor, I’ve had the privilege of gaining fresh perspectives from the younger writers in the program, and it’s reminded me just how essential imagination is to the creative process. If you ' re a student looking for a supportive and inclusive space to express your creativity, I highly recommend signing up for the program in 2025. I can't wait to work with everyone and see what amazing stories we create next year!

BillDeeran

MRSMILLER

MRSCRAIK

MRSWHITE

Librarians' Top Picks Term 4

This term, we asked a few of our Librarians’ top reading choices. Find their picks below!

My top reading recommendation for this Term w ld be Ice Monster by David Walliams

It's an incredible, epic adventure tale, and I thi the Writers' Circle students can gain a lot from reading the way that David Walliams creates vi characters and settings

My top reading recommendation is Losing The Plo by Annaleise Byrd The boys - Terry and Basil - are plunged into a dangerous world run by the Fairyta Alliance Network of Character Yunions (FANCY), where not everyone is what they seem; Hansel has been kidnapped and a plot hole threatens to destroy everything

My top reading recommendation is The Boy Who Steals Houses by C G Drew. Sam, only 15, and his autistic brother, Avery been abandoned by every relative. To survive, Sam breaks into empty houses, until he’s caught when family returns home. To his amazement, they take him under their wing, assuming he’s a friend of a sibling. Sam becomes caught up in their life and falls for Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his pas about to catch up with him

WRITING STIMULUS

Through the careful selection of "setting," "theme," “object”, “dialogue”, and "word parameter" stimulus, we have encouraged our young writers to explore their creative boundaries and craft engaging stories.

“I didn’t come to fight, but that doesn’t mean I’ll lose.”

THEME PROMPT

OBJECTS

A key that unlocks doors to different versions of reality An ancient coin with a mysterious inscription A glass bottle that can trap secrets inside A sketchbook that brings whatever is drawn to life for 1 hr

“Some things are better left forgotten.”

“There’s always a price for knowing the truth.”

“We’re living in someone’s dream”

CHAYSE MARSHALL

Welcome to the world of Nixon. This story has been a journey of imagination, starting long before Nixon was even born. It’s the story of a father’s pursuit of justice and a young boy's discovery of a mysterious, chaotic world. Gorge Thacodimin, Nixon’s father, is haunted by his past and driven by a need to avenge his village, leading him down a path that is both dangerous and transformative.

Nixon’s Life of Fantasy

Nixon’s life story began quite a while before his life actually began. His father, Gorge Thacodimin, spent his life in darkness as a Mysterious wanted man until meeting the love of his life, Ylil Trifillian The few years he spent with Ylil were some of the best in his life, until one point when he got brutally hunted for his bounty for money and beat them for information. Gorge remembered these

Bandit’s as the ones who killed his villagers. Although they wouldn't talk, he did a search and found a broken compass with an ancient coin with a mysterious inscription It told him the whereabouts of the bandit base. At this point he wished to venture out and continue his mission meaning he would have to leave his love Ylil begged him not to leave and told him that

“ some things are better left forgotten,” but he wouldn't listen and off he set Unbeknownst to him his love snuck their firstborn child into his trench coat before he set off on his adventure Days passed, Turning into Weeks, into Months, until finally Nixon’s eyes opened For the first 45 minutes of Nixon’s life he spent it huddled up in darkness,

the pressure from all sides oddly comforting. Until he became curious, wishing to explore. Stretching his arms out, he searched for an exit in the abyss Some time later, he located a gap and gently peered out from it. There was a whole lot of darkness again, however as he started to push out against the abyss for the second time, it started to fold around his arms until suddenly he was clutching a large, misty green trench coat. Looking around, Nixon was bewildered. Weapons, supplies and general objects were strewn everywhere across the floor.

Looking around, the cogs in his brain tinkered He was lost in thought of the objects around. Nixon’s intrigue brought him to one of the large daggers nearby. Looking at it up and down, he came to understand it is not something that should be messed around with. Suddenly, a large shadow appeared over Nixon. A large figure towered over Nixon. Unable to see the man ' s shadowed features he hesitated to do anything. Calm, the man knelt down and offered his hand.Nixon reached out eager to feel another human he clasped onto the larger man. Nixon noticed

that something didn’t seem quite right. The man ' s arm had no warmth. Nixon was unsure if it was even an arm It was cold and solid Large cracking sounded as it moved around. The larger man picked Nixon up and placed him into the smaller seat of two luxury chairs, before walking to the nearby window and opening it wide. The light illuminated across the baby and it stood there looking out of the window and contemplating the town below. From Nixon’s view he saw that the man had quite a broad build, wearing just a tank top and some long pants to

keep him covered out of the shower, however the main thing that fascinated Nixon was the arm that he had previously been held in Where the man ’ s forearm should have been instead was a large purple crystal in the shape of his arm. With it he was clutching a towel used to dry himself off with. His arm had a sort of aura to it that scared Nixon but still provoked his curiosity; he was intrigued by its purple shade but scared because of the aura. After some time, the man turned and planted himself down in the chair across Nixon watching him

closely. His crystal arm against his chin. The man looked down at the boy very intently, his fiery eyes like daggers into Nixons, “You have your mother’s eyes, ” He stated, not taking his eyes off Nixon “What?” “I said… you have your mother’s eyes, ” he repeats, softening his expression.”We best get some sleep, we have a big day ahead of us ” said gorge “what are we gonna do tomorrow?” asked Nixon “ we get revenge for my villagers you just have to stay in my trench coat. They start the day with getting some breakfast

at Lattinos while examining the inscriptions on the coin. Then they hurried over to the closest epigraphist who pointed them north to the bandit oasis. He told Gorge not to bother buying disguises because what he had on was enough. A three week adventure had just begun Storms, floods and bandits couldn't stop this man. When he arrived he saw the bandits entering the floating city filled with rage; he followed them all the way to the sewer system where he found their plans. Gorge ran in and started violently shooting fire balls everywhere and came

out completely unscathed “ wow ” says Nixon reading Gorge’s spell book Gorge looks at Nixon and says “ your only young ” Nixon started to chant a brain enchanting spell Gorge was amazed “ wow ” he said surprised and all of a sudden fire balls were going everywhere…

JOSHUA WADE

This story is about the Oceanic, a grand ship facing a huge storm and the dangers of the deep sea. As water floods into the ship, the crew and passengers must work together to escape. Even though the Oceanic sinks, explorers find it many years later and raise it from the ocean floor. After being rebuilt, the Oceanic is ready to sail once again, showing the strength and bravery of people who never give up, even when things seem lost.

The Floating Island

Waves thrashed and turned as the Oceanic battled its way through a storm. Tom returned to his cabin only to find his compass smashed on the floor. Tom picked it up only to find the compass shattered to pieces. Suddenly, the floating city coiled with a small cargo ship and the cargo ship broke in half and it rapidly sank to the sea floor leaving thousands of crates bobbing in the water.

What the captain of the Oceanic didn’t know was that there was a long gash beneath the waterline and the floating city was already sinking.

4:00 am water slowly filled up Engine 1 was up to waist deep. The normal smell of smoke smelled like salt 5:00 am cargo hold 1 and 2 the water was as cold as ice 6:00 am the mailroom was slowly submerging. The sacred mail clerks

started shuffling mail to try and save it. Waking up for his shift at the bridge only to step out and saw a big puddle of water, Tom knew there was no water pipe spillage

Running to the bridge Tom bursted into the bridge control room only to find that the mailroom, engine 1 and 2, and cargo hold all flooded Turning around, Tom's jaw dropped as the bow of the ship was dipping

beneath the waves. Tom, terrified, pressed the evacuation button “Click’’.

Chapter 2: The Evacuation

The evacuation alarm blared and eventually all the passengers and crew started coming up from below. Tom ran back down below deck to help elderly passengers up on deck. Lifeboat after lifeboat plopped into the water and drove away from the sinking ship. By 7:00 am all the lifeboats were away. In the marconi wireless was typing sos sos typed Harrold ‘’What's that on the horizon.’’

Chapter 3: The Island

Straight ahead was an island ‘’Full speed ahead!’’ shouted the Captain The propellers started to turn until the ship slowly pushed ahead and halted the ship groaning until (Boom) The engines exploded making more holes and making the water flood in more rapidly. 8:00 am the top deck was rapidly plunged to the ocean floor (crack) (crack) (crash) . The Oceanic broke in two ripping steel like it was made of paper. Groaning as the bow section Oceanic hit the seafloor with a (thud) the stern followed the same fate as the bow.

The Oceanic stern section rapidly sank to the bottom of the ocean; the ship moaned and sagged slowly, hitting the ocean floor with a clunk at 8:30 am. The Oceanic Had sunk 40 years ago and today the Alvin submarine submerged beneath the waves was trying to refloat the sunken vessel.

Chapter 4: The Oceanic

A rumble and a moan coming from the ocean floor followed by a rusted bow of the Oceanic aparing from the waves it was the first section of the Oceanic appeared

until the ship was afloat the rusted vessel was barely recognizable compared to the ship it once was 80 days later the Oceanic was rebuilt to its former self, the rusted dirty Oceanic was gone and she was ready for service. The End

LOUIS THOMAS

This story is about Zack, who enters the Grand Prix with everything to prove. Facing obstacles on the track, Zack learns the importance of resilience, friendship, and staying true to his goals. Along the way, he finds an unexpected friend in Luke, another racer. With determination and the memory of his grandfather as his inspiration, Zack pushes himself to victory. This story reminds us that while winning can be amazing, friendship and support make the journey even more meaningful.

The Race for Friendship

Engines revving, wheels turning, hearts pounding, this was the race of a lifetime. I lined up, ready to begin. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of my face as I forced myself towards the start. Three flashes, and we were off, racing down the track, faster than ever before. Forced back into my seat, brain spinning, ‘ I had to win.’ Another racer veered in front of me

as I lost the qualifying place. “ No” I muttered, ‘I wasn’t going out like this.’ Suddenly out of nowhere, a racer sped round the curve and flipped over the top of my cart as I burst forward, qualifying third. I was in the semifinals. Walking through the tunnel, I heard voices behind me Turning, I saw a group of boys three of them staring at me. Hurriedly, I

rushed on, down the stairs and into the changing rooms. I could hear people coming after me, “Damn”. Swiftly, I moved into a cubicle “Where is he?” A gruff voice echoed around the room. Without warning, a heavy force smashed against the door nearly knocking it off its hinges

Scampering onto the toilet seat, I scanned for a way out, but options were as blank

as solitary containment. I stepped down Slowly, I moved towards the door. Destroyed by the teens, the door collapsed to the ground “I didn’t come here to fight, but that doesn’t mean I’ll lose,” I said as confidently as I could. A grunt comes from the boy in the middle as one of the thugs steps forward and before I could react I was pinned to the wall My arms dangled loosely by my side as the teenager on the right steps forward and punches me in the stomach. Winded, I was let fall to my knees as he kicks me to the ground. Too shocked to get up I lie there, ready

to be hurt, but no pain comes as my vision dims and I’m embraced by darkness.

Adrenaline pumping, I force myself towards the loading bay. With care, I climb into the compartment of my car. I’ve memorised my lap plan, but my nerves are jumping about. As I drive up to the starting line I feel myself sweating like a boiler. The green light shines as I weave my way through the oncoming traffic of racers, towards the front of the pack. A crushing force smashed into my side console as I was rammed off the track, into the side wall.

“That's it,” I said as I

moved back onto the track and accelerated. I crashed again, this time I wasn’t as lucky. My brakes had torn apart Falling back into last place, I rolled up to the pit stop. They changed my tires but my brakes remained broken. I had to use the boosters, they were my only hope. Quickly, I rounded the corner of the final stretch and flipped the switch.

The only thing I could remember was the pain after I had folded into the oncoming wall My ribs hurt but weren’t broken, hopefully. But, as I moved from the wreckage, I noticed a glint of gold on the car. There was a

hidden feature it was a coin. My grandfather used to be obsessed with racing and coins, but there was always one that had caught his eye And the same one was imprinted on my racer. He was the only one who had ever helped me pursue my dreams as a driver. We’d watch F1 and all the other races together, but now he was gone. Slowly, I looked towards the leader board Eventually, I made my way to the top 3. Zackery Castelian, number three. The health staff must be really good as I couldn’t feel anything after they were done

with me. “Hey” called a voice behind me. I swivelled around ready to be punched. But instead he offered me a hand Reluctantly I took it, still worried about being humiliated. Eventually, I got to my feet We started walking until I finally asked, “what's your name?” He stopped “Well… you have to promise me something first okay?” he answered “Sure,” I agreed. He continued “Don’t be weird about this, capeshie?” giving me the thumbs up. Nodding, I let him continue “I’m Luke Sanches, and I’m the favourite.”

“Nice” I replied, Luke frowned “Haven’t you heard of me?”

“Yeah I’ve heard about you… you said not to be weird about it ”

“Oh I just ” A voice bellowed over the speaker, “All racers to their bays, the race will be starting in three minutes”

“Whelp, I’d better get going” continued Luke as he disappeared. I struggled towards the loading bay I hadn’t realised how much I’d needed Luke’s support.

Just as I reached my car I heard a familiar voice, “Hey Zack, goodluck,”he yelled while giving me a thumbs up. Finally I was ready to race.

We zoomed down the race track desperate for the trophy. Geers switching, I released the nitro fumes as I finished the first lap I was still on the podium, but I could feel myself losing pace as I tried to continue with speed. As I lulled back into last position, we’d finished our second lap. I was hungry for victory but I was losing hope Looking for an opening, I burst through the gaps in the racers. Almost ahead of Luke, I pelted forward and completed the race. Looking back, I could have let Luke win but my grandfather's

legacy was one of my top priorities. Zackery Olitar first place beamed the neon lights down on me as I lifted the trophy high above my head; I had won the Grand Prix.

TRISTAN JONES

In this story, Jenson and Tristan find themselves in a dangerous bushfire, and they have to rely on each other to survive. Even though Jenson is weaker and sometimes scared, he shows courage by calling for help and encouraging Tristan to go on without him. Tristan, on the other hand, shows his loyalty and bravery by not leaving his friend behind, even when things get really tough.

The Rescue in the Bushfire

Once in Western Australia, there were two kids exploring. Their names were Jenson and Tristan

Jenson was the weaker, smaller one who was often scared, while Tristan was brave and courageous. One day, while they were exploring in the bush, a huge fire broke out.

The two started running, but Jenson was slower, and Tristan had to grab him and

throw him over his shoulder to escape faster. They managed to get away for the moment, but Tristan, who had severe asthma, was starting to have an asthma attack

Jenson quickly called the fire brigade. Soon they started to smell the fire getting closer, so they had to keep moving. Tristan recovered enough to move again, and they continued

running. But suddenly, Jenson's leg failed him, and he fell to the ground They both knew they had to keep going, but Jenson yelled out to Tristan, "Run!"

Tristan didn’t want to leave Jenson, but he knew that if he didn’t act, both of them would be in danger

Trusting his athletic ability, Tristan ran back to help Jenson. He managed to pick him

up, but Jenson had passed out from exhaustion and fear Tristan started running again, carrying Jenson through the smoky haze

“That was a close one, ” Tristan said, not realising that Jenson was still unconscious. He looked down and called out, "Jenson, Jenson, Jenson!” Tristan kept dragging his friend until he heard helicopters approaching. He felt a wave of relief they were finally being rescued. In the distance, he saw a cave and thought it could provide shelter until help arrived. With every ounce of strength, Tristan dragged Jenson toward the cave, his heart racing as the fire crackled behind them The heat was unbearable, but adrenaline kept him moving

As they reached the cave entrance, Tristan paused to catch his breath, glancing back at the wall of flames. The helicopters were hovering above, their blades chopping through the smoky air, but the fire was spreading quickly. He pulled Jenson inside, hoping to shield him from the intense heat and smoke.

Inside the cave, the air was cooler, but the tension was high Tristan laid Jenson down on the rocky ground and checked for signs of life “Come on, buddy, wake up!” he urged, shaking him gently Jenson’s face was pale, and his breaths were shallow. Panic surged through Tristan He rummaged through Jenson's backpack, searching for anything that might help. Among snacks and water bottles, he found Jenson's inhaler. "This might help," he thought, bringing it to Jenson's lips and administering a few puffs. “Breathe, Jenson,

just breathe,” he whispered, rubbing his friend’s back Seconds felt like hours as Tristan waited for a response Finally, Jenson stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

“Tristan?” he croaked, his voice filled with confusion and fear.

“I’m here! We’re safe for now, ” Tristan reassured him, though he felt uncertain “The fire’s still out there, but help is on the way. ” Jenson, still weak, managed a faint smile

“I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Don’t say that!” Tristan exclaimed, feeling both relief and worry.

“We’re getting out of here together.” He helped Jenson sit up, leaning him against the cool cave wall. “Can you stand?”

Jenson nodded slowly, a flicker of determination in his eyes. They could hear the helicopters nearby, a reminder that rescue was close But time was running out, and the fire continued to rage outside Tristan took a deep breath, gathering his courage “We’ll wait for them to come closer, then we’ll make a run for it. Together.” The boys shared a look of unspoken resolve. They had come this far, and

they wouldn’t give up now. With a final nod of solidarity, they braced themselves for whatever lay ahead

FRED WEHL

This story is about bravery, teamwork, and never giving up, even in dangerous situations. When I wrote this, I wanted to show what it might feel like to be a firefighter, facing a huge fire with your team and doing whatever it takes to rescue people. I tried to make the scenes exciting to help readers understand how scary and risky firefighting can be.

The Hellfire

"Wee! woo! wee! woo! wee! woo! wee! woo! wee! woo!" The sirens wailed as the fire trucks sped toward the hellfire. I've been assigned to do this job, as I am Jake Holland I'm in the elite firefighters team today. We have been told there is a sixkilometre fire in the Northern Territory. I can see the smoke from the fire from a mile away.

"Okay team! There are seven people trapped in the fire. Our job is to bring them home alive!" Sergeant bellowed. We've been training for months for this moment, and now it’s really happening All I can do is hope that all of that training was worth it and not for nothing because, seeing the fire now coming up, it’s making me shiver in fear Then I remember why we are here, and that makes

me more confident than ever. You could say I was determined to help these people in whatever way we can. Then the firetruck pulls to a stop, and we get out, put on our gear, and race in.

The Fire

As soon as we go in there, I can’t see the others I have one job only, and that job is to bring the civilians back home safely and not burnt to a crisp I’ve

been going through the fire for what feels like an hour The burning outback around me is like seeing something that has been put in a blender and spat out, only to be a fiery blaze. Suddenly, I step on something furry and burnt. I look down and feel like I will hurl. A dead kangaroo. Looking at it makes me want to cry. The amazing creature is now badly burned It makes me sad that the innocent creature couldn't escape in time to get to safety

Then suddenly, fwoosh! A tree catches ablaze! It’s coming down My brain is screaming, "Get out of the way!"

But I can’t. I'm frozen in fear. Then I suddenly snap back into consciousness and leap out of the way just as the flaming tree comes crashing down at the exact place I was just at. I look around and scan my surroundings In the distance, I spot a building. “Hello!” I shout I grab my trusty axe and bash down the flaming door. I see a child all alone, crying in the corner of the room. “Can you help me get out of here?” the child stammers. I nod at him and tell him to follow me and keep his head down I look around the burning house; there are no gaps or broken

walls to escape through. Then, creak...

“The roof is coming down!” I shout to the kid I feel determined to get out of this burning hell house. I charge at the wall and crash! I smash a hole in the wall, and the kid and I scramble out just in time as the roof comes crashing down onto the house. We go running through the burning outback as if it’s moving all around us. I look to see if the kid is still behind me. He is, but he is struggling to move. I pick him up and start sprinting, just hoping that it will be okay

Then, in the distance, I spot the firetruck. I’m

running faster than I ever have before and rush over to the paramedics.

Heroes

They take him into the ambulance. Some of the other paramedics come to me and start seeing if I’m okay, checking my blood pressure, checking my heartbeat, and in the end, they tell me I am fine, just a bit burned at the ribs and bruised in the hips I can’t go back into the fire because I have already done my part, but I can help with the firehose to try and calm the fire to help the other firefighters that are still inside.

While I help, firefighters come out of the fire with some people, some barely walking at all. By the end of the day, only half of my squad makes it out, and one of them was the lieutenant. When the fire is out a couple of days later, we are all burned and dirty, but at the end of the day, it is not about the people you don’t save, like the lieutenant and the other guys It’s about the people which you do, and that they get home to their families

has thousands of stars, if not millions, tonight. Then I take a deep breath in and out, then rejoin the guys for dinner at the fire station The End

When we got back to the fire station back in Queensland, I walk outside and gaze at the dark night sky. It

ELLIOTT O’GORMAN

This is a story about adventure and unexpected friendships. In this story, John faces some challenges and has to think quickly to solve problems, like fixing the spaceship and escaping from a slime monster. But through it all, he finds a new friend and discovers that being helpful and brave can lead to surprising rewards.

The astronaut walked across the border to the dark side of the moon, and as soon as he did, he suddenly had a feeling to go back. John wasn’t someone to give up, so he continued walking across. Suddenly, John heard a groaning sound from a nearby crater. He looked into the crater and saw a strange animal It looked like a strange cow, but it was standing up. Suddenly,

The Moon

the alien hooked into John's radio comms. The command radio was also turned off. The cow started talking to John through the comms.

The cow said it needed help in repairing its ship to get to the other side of the moon He would need many parts, bolts, and screws, and most importantly, he would need 12 energy recirculators. He could

spare two of the energy recirculators from his ship and had all the spare bolts and screws already on his ship. He would only need to find 10 energy recirculators and metal sheets. Luckily, he found a moon rover with metal sheets in the storage area and five extra energy recirculators John only needed five more energy recirculators, then he could get the alien spaceship

working. If he took out the energy recirculators from the rover, he would only need four more energy recirculators

Suddenly, the alien cow spoke through his radio and said, "Are you nearly done?

Because if you aren’t, I might have something to help " John jumped to the crater and found the alien cow tinkering with some scrap The cow said, “I think I found some energy recirculators.”

had two energy recirculators. John asked if he had found anything else. The cow had found something else, and John scanned it It was incredibly useful because it was a bucket full of goo that had energy stored inside it. He realized that he could make some energy recirculators with this goo if he found some more scrap. He looked everywhere and found all that he needed, and now he only needed scrap to make the energy recirculators

“What?” said John in a surprised tone. John used a small device that could detect useful materials, and the cow was right; he

John decided to go to the rover to get some extra scrap He jumped and leapt to the rover and got some scrap to

make the energy recirculators. John realized it felt like he was being followed by something that was not human He turned around and then saw a giant slime blob and immediately ran as fast as he could John ran and ran for as long as he could and realized it was in the cave behind him. It seemed like the slime was trapped Suddenly, the rock and dirt were smashed through. The slime monster continued sliming along, seeming like it wanted to eat John. He was almost to where the alien cow was, and then he and the alien cow could get off the

planet. John ran into the area where the cow was, quickly assembled the energy recirculators, assembled the engine, and rushed the alien cow off to the side of the moon to where his colony was Luckily, the slime monster was really slow, and John had just enough time to get into his spaceship and meet his friend on the other side of the moon

Earth if he sold it. He could sell it to someone very rich who wanted the minerals and could afford them, and then he would be so rich He thanked the alien and set off to Earth with the mineral.

The alien cow was actually a very rich counselor in his colony and gave John some special minerals. The material was worth $10 million on Earth John was now a multimillionaire on

TOBY WILSON

Sam is a character who is new at his job, but even though he’s nervous, he pushes through because he wants to help people.

The Wildfire shows you that being a hero isn’t always about being strong; it’s also about being brave and doing what’s right, even when you ’ re scared.

“Vroom!” went Sam’s car as he drove from home to his new job as a firefighter. As he pulled into the parking lot, he gazed at the superior Deputy Commissioner speaking to the Fire Chief Sam was so excited when he got accepted to this fine job Quickly, he walked in but, to his surprise, got stopped by two large and mighty Lieutenants “Get ready for a hell of a ride,” one said with a

The Wildfire

smirk “Don’t mess up The Chief hates it when you mess up, ” the other spoke. These words rattled Sam as he stood there, still as a statue.

“Sit down, soldier,” the Fire Chief exclaimed in a low but strong tone.

As Sam sat in one of the two polished chairs in front of the Chief’s desk, the Chief said, “Your first assignment awaits you in your handbook.” Slowly, the Chief pushed forward

“Hello, hellooo! Dah, let’s go, Jay!” one firefighter yelled. The terror finally left Sam as the others walked out of the building. Slowly, he stumbled over to the Fire Chief’s office. There were lots of doors splashing everywhere around the corridor, but luckily, there was only one that said FIRE CHIEF He opened the door and walked in.

a big book of fire reports. “Turn to page 47 ” On that page was an assignment that looked like it had just been written Sam’s assignment was to go and patrol the streets in “Big Rig,” which was the fire department's smallest truck. Sam walked over to the garage and hopped in Big Rig. Excitedly, he drove the small engine out of the garage and onto the street It felt so good to finally have a well-paying job, as his old one was at a cheap coffee shop on the corner of Best Street. “Beep, beep, beep” went off the flashboard as a new dispatch came in. It

read, “New dispatch available: Major Fire alert, located at 66 Sky Street.” A radio signal came over the speaker in Big Rig “All units report to the scene immediately!” Sam quickly drove to 66 Sky Street and found that one of the biggest fires of his life had just appeared at a farm in the country He exited the vehicle and saw the Chief over at a plastic table “Junior, you need to get a hose from Big Rig and start putting out the eastern part of the fire!” Sam attached the hose and started spraying the water The fire crackled as loud as a horse when it was

getting whipped.

Suddenly, a scream stretched across the area. He tried to yell out to the Chief, but there was no use It was too loud for him to hear anything. It was all up to Sam now Quickly, he ran into the blazing fire. It felt like standing on Venus in that heat! There were logs and trees falling everywhere. “Boom, bang, smack!” went the wood as it cracked

“Help us!” a voice called to Sam’s north

A flaming house creaked in front of him. A boy was peering through the window in the front of the house. The firefighter grabbed

his axe and knocked the door down with three enormous pushes

The boy was trapped under the fallen roof and could only peer out the window

Luckily, the table was movable, so Sam could easily pull it off the boy.

“Are you all right? What's your name?”

With a cough, the boy stammered, “Al...exx.”

“Ok, Alex, I’m going to get you out of here.” He picked up the boy and ran out of the flaming house.

“That was close, Alex; we need to go now!”

They ran through the steaming forest, leaping over tree trunks and hopping over piles of ash The light finally ended as the two jumped out of the fire

“Hey, sorry for picking on you before.”

“Yeah, we didn’t know that you were so noble ”

“BOOM!” The house fell down just after the two got out.

“Sam! Is that you found him!” The Chief ran over and picked up the boy.

“We’ll take it from here, Cadet,” the Chief spoke as he ran over to the medical tent.

“Well,” Sam started,

“ some things are better left forgotten ”

A few hours later, the fire was put out, and Sam was driving back to the fire station The two Lieutenants were waiting for him.

ARCHIE HADDEN

The Endless Ocean highlights what it would be like to survive on an alien ocean planet with strange creatures, limited resources, and no way to get home right away.

This narrative talks about how challenging it would be to build tools and survive in a place where everything is unknown and dangerous.

The Endless Ocean

In the year 9474, space travel exists for multimillion dollar companies. BOOM! Heavy breathing "GET TO THE LIFEPOD!" BANG... SPLOSH. "Uh

oh," I said as I got outside the lifepod "So, this is it?" I said in shock. "Wait... an ocean? For miles on end?" I wondered. "Well, time to take a dive " Around me, there was a weird alien green

sack fish, a small fish with giant eyes, a seethrough pinkish fish, and a fish that lives in the caves and, after a certain time, explodes into smithereens. I went to the top of the lifepod and saw the ship I was on, called the Aurora Space Vessel, code -008908-

I used the sulfur that the "boom-boom" fish left behind and made a repair tool from a battery and sulfur. I

repaired the radio and fainted after it said I would be rescued in 999,999 hours (which is 114 years). "Well, I am going to die," I cried. After that, I made a Base Building Tool (BBT) and built a simple home with a moonpool This allowed me to make a submarine called the Seamoth.

I went back to my lifepod to get the last of my things. I looked at the wrecked ship "I

can't believe that I was o" BOOM! The nuclear reactor exploded, and I fell off my lifepod. I made a radiation suit and went into the Aurora There were weird head spider-crab bomb crash things crawling around Inside, I found fragments of a mech called the Prawn Suit (no, I was not a prawn). Finally, I found the data containing the Neptune Escape Rocket plans I built it, took off, and an alien spoke to me, congratulating me for freeing the land he lives in. When I returned to my home planet, my sector was surprised and congratulated me for

surviving on the most dangerous planet in the galaxy I got a raise, became a manager, and was sent to a new planet It was only land with minimal water, and we began colonizing the planet for a new base located near Mongalan Space Companies for trading reasons.

JENSON PLOWRIGHT

The birds in this story face a huge challenge when a fire destroys their home, yet they don’t give up. Instead, they come together, using their strengths to rebuild and create something new. I wanted readers to see how even in difficult times, we can find courage and support from those around us. By working together, we can overcome challenges and make things better.

The Forest of Tangalooma

In the forest of Tangalooma, as the fires were finally put out and the smoke drifted away, the birds began to rebuild their lives. Their trees were burnt, and their nests were nothing but ashes, but they were determined to rebuild their forest The Big Bird Organisation called another meeting, this time to discuss how they would recover from the disaster. Birds of every

kind gathered around all ready to help rebuild.

The President of the Big Birds, an old wise owl named Orla, perched high on a burned tree stump “We are stronger together,” she hooted. “Every bird here has a role to play We will carry seeds to new places, rebuild our nests, and call back the trees that once gave us shade.”

A tiny sparrow named Pip chirped up, “But where will we get the seeds, Orla? The fire has taken everything!”

Orla smiled kindly “The forest is full of life, Pip

Sometimes we must look harder to find it.

Deep underground, roots still live. We will search, and we will plant ”

And so, with hope and courage, the birds got to work The parrots

flew to the neighbouring forests, asking other creatures for help. The blue jays and robins dug at the soil with their beaks, planting the seeds they had gathered. Even the hummingbirds, small as they were, used their wings to spread water from the river over the dry, cracked earth.

Day by day, green shoots began to sprout from the charred ground Little patches of grass grew, and tiny trees reached up toward the sky The birds sang to encourage each new sprout, their songs filling the forest once again with music and life.

Then, one evening, Orla gathered all the birds under the stars. “Look around you, ” she said “We may not have the forest we lost, but we are creating a new one. And as long as we remember this day, our forest will stand tall.”

The birds cheered and fluffed their feathers proudly, knowing they had not only survived but helped bring new life to their home Together, they rebuilt their nests, sang new songs, and promised to protect the forest for generations of birds to come.

remembered their strength and unity, ready for any season, any storm, and any fire that might come their way They knew that, together, they could always rebuild. And each summer, they gathered under the stars to tell the tale of the fire and the courage of the birds who rebuilt their home, so the forest would never forget.

The End

From that day on, the birds of Tangalooma

LUCAS JENKINSON-ROCK

The story explores how theaters are unique spaces where imagination and reality blend, where people transform into other characters, and where stories are brought to life under the bright, unforgiving lights. But this tale asks: what if the theatre itself had a story to tell?

The Dream

The lights were lit, the cameras were rolling, the actors were acting then the power went out and the crowd gasped. Darkness swallowed the grand theater, leaving only the faint sound of the audience’s murmurs and the rustling of costumes backstage

The stage that had been glowing with life just moments before was now silent and cold.

“Stay calm, everyone It’s probably just a fuse,” called out the director from somewhere in the shadows, trying to maintain control. The cast, frozen in their places, glanced at each other nervously, their faces barely visible in the dim emergency lights that flickered to life.

But as the seconds ticked by, the sense of unease grew. This

wasn’t the first strange incident during their rehearsals. Props had disappeared, costumes had been moved, and sometimes, in the quietest hours of their late-night rehearsals, they could have sworn they heard someone humming an old, haunting melody.

The director’s voice cut through the silence again. “Tom, can you check the circuit breaker?” he asked the

stage manager. Tom, with a flashlight in hand, nodded and hurried toward the maintenance room at the back of the theater

As he navigated through the backstage corridors, the beam of his flashlight revealed dust-covered posters and forgotten set pieces from decades past. He finally reached the electrical panel and found nothing wrong. The breakers were all in place He frowned and flipped a few switches just in case, but the theater remained shrouded in darkness Suddenly, a low creak

echoed through the maintenance room, making Tom’s skin crawl. He turned around slowly, a flashlight sweeping over the room For a brief moment, he caught a glimpse of something or someone moving in the shadows.

“Hello? Is someone there?” he called out, but the only response was the hum of silence

Back in the theater, the audience shifted uneasily in their seats, whispering among themselves. On stage, the actors held their positions, trying to stay in character even as the uncertainty grew.

The director, now pacing near the edge of the stage, kept checking his watch, frustrated. Suddenly, the lights flickered back on but something was off. Instead of the warm stage lights they had been using for the play, a cold, bluetinged spotlight illuminated the center of the stage. In its beam stood a figure no one recognized dressed in an oldfashioned costume, from a time long before any of their plays. The figure stood perfectly still, eyes closed, as if waiting

for a cue. The audience went silent, sensing that this was not part of the show.

“Who is that?” one of the actors whispered, but no one had an answer.

Then, the figure began to speak, reciting lines from a play that no one had rehearsed, a story no one had written. The words echoed through the theater, sounding both poetic and tragic, filled with longing and regret. The voice seemed to seep into every corner of the theater, chilling those who heard it. Tom, returning from the maintenance room,

froze when he saw the figure under the spotlight “That can’t be possible,” he muttered, recognizing the old costume from one of the dusty posters he had seen. It was the outfit worn by an actor who had died on this very stage over fifty years ago, during a play that was never completed

As the figure reached the end of the monologue, their eyes snapped open, revealing a sadness that seemed to stretch through time. And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the lights went out again

back, the figure was gone, leaving the actors, audience, and crew stunned into silence. But the memory of that night lingered in the air, like a ghostly presence that had finally made its return. And from that moment on, no one would ever look at the theater the same way again.

When the lights came

LUCAS BURNS

Day of Doom is a story about survival, courage, and teamwork in a very unusual situation being stranded on a floating island in the sky.

This story shows that sometimes, people can lose hope, while others try to stay strong and work together to survive.

I woke up in the sky and I was shocked to even believe that I was in the air. Then I blacked out I found out that I was not dreaming I was in reality and even worse in the air Professional skydivers start jumping off but the people that had no experience had know clue what to do so they start freaking out There was one person that told me that it happened at 4:30 am in the

The Day of Doom

morning

Some people believed him but others didn't listen and freaked out.

Horrifyingly, I tried to jump for my luck to land with a parachute but sadly I failed because there was no parachute. When it was time people were building a plane but hundreds of people died from tests After 2 years of sitting on a floating Island we made a plane that can

fly .......... Maybe I spoke too soon. It crashed in 5 seconds. It's now been 7 years and project 156,789,320,82,7 were not doing good on food supplies but it should take us to 2045 and we only have 1,568 people left so we might not make it.

Quickly, I called for everyone to come and the radio went and it said that there were aircrafts coming to

pick the people up from the island city in the air but it would take about 5 days to get all people down and they would send food up to the city

Another year passed and people were super scared that they might not make it. So we were waiting and people were getting on planes and landing so people were ok. After that there were 2 people and they were getting outraged and they pulled out knives saying that know one will survive

some people were hiding in restrooms some in the sewers that were hanging over the bottom of the city and more So people made tribes and outposts to surround the pick up zone and they left then other people got there and day by day people left until a mad man shot 367 people but the next day he killed 568 people. It went on and on until it ended he was the last person on the island and that was Jeff.

564 people died that night andi people trusted know one so they all stayed away know matter what so

JOSHUA KOLLE

While Wumber and Lumber’s journey was full of crazy surprises, it’s all about having fun, solving problems, and learning from each other. Wumba and Lumber may not always follow the rules, but they always try to make things better in the end. The story reminds us that sometimes, even the most unexpected adventures can lead to great things and that it’s important to work together, even in the weirdest situations!

Wumba and Lumber’s Adventures

Wumba and Lumber were very annoying at school. Every time someone stood up, they would sneakily put pins on their chair. And when they got detention, they would throw pencils at the teacher. No one was happy that they always got away with stuff It was the worst thing ever. Wumba and Lumber, who were very annoying, were also very, very lucky.

One day, they were walking around when they found a strange glowing portal. Without thinking twice, they both jumped in and were immediately surrounded by the weirdest sights they had ever seen.

“Is that Gyat Dragonator?” Wumba gasped, pointing at a massive dragon flying in the distance “And that’s the

Stickman vs. Potato War! I thought that was just a story!” Lumber said, eyes wide in surprise. “Wait, one of the Potatoes is with us, and that is Gyat Dragonator’s girlfriend, Lille!”

As they traveled deeper into this strange world, they landed with a thud

When they got up, they saw the Potato they had noticed earlier was rising Lille into the

air. Two seconds later, Gyat Dragonator appeared, crying as he watched the scene. While Gyat Dragonator cried, Wumba and Lumber began to explore their surroundings They found lots of tall buildings that seemed to be collecting data and creating stories The world was a living library of tales. Everyone wanted to hear the stories of Gyat Dragonator. The least popular story was the “Mingle Dingle ” It had just been released and wasn’t getting many people to listen, but the rumor was that it would soon get more than 100 trillion fans.

As Wumba and Lumber kept walking, they found something odd

There was a story about why COVID had appeared on Earth It was becoming real because it had been written into the storylines of this strange world. Without hesitation, they decided to try to stop it from spreading

Using the powers of this story world, they destroyed the virus before it could take over, making sure it wasn’t as bad as it had been. They fixed the story, and just like that, they made a positive change for the world!

they decided to go back to Earth. They left the world of stories and returned to their normal lives, but they didn’t just leave emptyhanded They shared the stories they had stolen from the world, causing quite a stir back on Earth. People were amazed by the tales they brought back It was the wildest thing anyone had ever heard.

The End

After their success,

CHRIS DENG

This story is about two astronauts, Henry and Logan, landing on the moon. It shows how exciting and challenging space exploration can be. The story is inspired by the real moon landing, where humans first set foot on the moon.

Landing on the Moon

In the cold, quiet space, the lunar module slowly moved down toward the moon The big, empty moon surface stretched out below, lit up by the distant sun Inside the small module, astronauts

Henry and Logan felt excited but also a little nervous. They carefully watched the instruments They had practiced this moment a lot, but now that it was happening, it felt

real Their radios crackled with the voice of mission control, giving them help and encouragement from almost 240,000 miles away. As the moon got closer, Henry Wilson took control of the craft. He noticed that the place they planned to land was full of big rocks and rough ground Henry had to make quick decisions to guide the module to a

safer place. They didn’t have much fuel left, and if they made one wrong move, they could be in trouble.

Henry’s hands were steady, even though his mind was racing Logan Davis, sitting next to him, called out the altitude and speed

Both of them were focused and working

together After what felt like forever, they finally heard the best sound ever "Contact light!" This meant they

had landed on the moon! There was a short moment of silence.

Henry Wilson was the first to climb down the ladder, his space suit making it hard to move. As his boot touched the moon ’ s soft surface, he said, "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The ground was new and untouched, just like it had been for billions of years. Buzz Aldrin soon joined him, and the two astronauts looked up at Earth, floating in the black sky. It was amazing to see how far they had come and how fragile their home planet looked.

They spent hours doing experiments, collecting moon rocks, and planting an Australian flag They knew millions of people on Earth were watching them. They felt proud but also aware of the huge responsibility they carried. As they prepared to leave, they realized this was just the start. The moon landing showed what humans can do when they work together, think big, and keep exploring new places.

ALFRED COVER

This story is about exploring the unknown, understanding the power of imagination, and the importance of working together to protect what we care about.

Aquatropolis

In the future city of Aquatropolis, bright neon lights shimmered on the water, and tall buildings rose from the sea like coral reefs.

One day, something incredible happened walking sharks, with high-tech robotic exoskeletons, started marching through the streets. They moved smoothly and quickly, and the people couldn’t decide if they were amazed or scared.

On a quiet, forgotten beach, an old coin was half-buried in the sand. The strange coin had glowing symbols on it, and it was said to hold the key to hidden treasures and forgotten stories from long ago. People whispered about its power, but no one knew for sure.

Floating in the water nearby was a glass bottle. But this was no ordinary bottle it could trap secrets. If someone whispered their deepest thoughts into it, those words would be locked inside forever, hidden from the world Some believed it might even hold the secrets of the walking sharks

In the middle of the busy city, a young inventor held a shiny key that shined like it could unlock anything. This wasn’t just any key

it opened doors to different worlds. Each door led to a new reality, filled with dreams, dangers, and surprises The inventor also had a special sketchbook. Anything they drew in it would come to life for one hour. With each page, the inventor filled the world with amazing creatures and places that jumped off the paper and into the air

powerful secrets, and the key opened doors to new worlds All these things might hold the answers to stopping the sharks and saving Aquatropolis.

As the walking sharks continued their march, the inventor began to realise how these objects were connected The coin told the story of the sharks, the bottle held

With the sketchbook in hand, the inventor drew a giant guardian creature to help protect the city This creature, made from imagination, would rise up and lead the fight against the invaders It was time to uncover the secrets, stop the sharks, and save Aquatropolis.

JACK SCHEFERMANN

This story is about two best friends, Kade and Orion, who are very different from each other but share a love of racing. Kade is impulsive and takes risks without thinking, while Orion is calm and careful, always planning ahead. Despite their differences, they work together and push each other to be better. The story shows how, even when things go wrong, their friendship helps them face challenges

Burnout Besties

In the busy city of Arcadia, street racing through the Silver Ridge Mountains was a big tradition Every year, racers from all over came to compete in the Arcadia Ridge Rally, a dangerous race where only the bravest or most reckless dared to join

This year, two best friends, Kade and Orion, were ready for the race. They had known each other since

they were kids, and both loved racing. But they were very different from each other Kade was wild and daring He never planned ahead and always followed his gut. His old, beat-up car didn’t look like much, but Kade believed it had a special spirit He always said, "She’ll never steer me wrong, " even though the engine

rattled like loose bolts.

Orion was the opposite He was calm, careful, and always planned everything. His car was shiny and perfect, with all the latest technology. Orion only took risks when he knew everything would work out. Even though they were so different, they were best friends. They had raced each other many

times, and Kade’s wild energy always pushed Orion to be better, while Orion’s careful planning kept Kade on track

The night before the race, the two friends met on a cliff above the mountain roads. The city lights sparkled below, and the air was full of excitement Kade was holding a broken compass, a trinket he had found years ago It was cracked, and the needle didn’t move, but Kade kept it with him

“Why do you keep that thing?” Orion asked. Kade shrugged “It reminds me that

sometimes, not knowing where you ’ re going is the best part ” Orion laughed. “You’re crazy One of these days, that attitude is going to get you lost.”

“Nah,” Kade said, spinning the compass.

“I’ve got my own sense of direction.”

Kade took off, speeding through the pack Orion, as always, waited for the right moment to make his move

On race day, the streets of Arcadia were full of excitement Engines roared and tires screeched as the racers lined up. The Silver Ridge mountains were ahead, with dangerous roads through forests, cliffs, and narrow paths

When the race began,

But then, a rockslide hit. Boulders crashed onto the road, blocking the path. Racers swerved to avoid them, but Kade, always going too fast, didn’t see the rocks until it was too late. His car skidded and crashed into the side of the mountain, the front wheels hanging over the edge of a steep cliff Orion, right behind him, slammed on the brakes He jumped out of his car and ran toward Kade, who was

still inside.

“Kade!” Orion shouted “Hang on!”

Kade grinned, despite the danger “I think I misjudged that turn.”

Orion rolled his eyes “Stay still, I’m getting you out of here.”

With a big effort, Orion pulled Kade from the wreckage just as the car tipped over the edge, disappearing below. They scrambled to safety, covered in dust, but safe. The other racers had already passed by, and now they were stuck in the mountains, far from the

finish line, with no cars and no way to contact anyone

Kade pulled the broken compass from his pocket, looked at it, and then threw it into the woods.

“I guess my sense of direction isn’t all that great after all,” Kade said, laughing Orion shook his head. “We can’t stay here We need to move before another rockslide comes. ”

walked, they joked and argued, with Kade saying they’d be lost forever and Orion trying to figure out a plan

Hours later, as the sun began to set, they found an old, overgrown path. It wasn’t on any maps

Orion had studied, but it felt right

“We follow this,” Kade said confidently

Orion raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know where it leads ”

The two friends began walking through the forest, unsure of where they were going but knowing they had to keep moving. As they

“No,” Kade admitted. “But I think this time, not knowing might be the best part.”

So, they followed the path together, trusting the adventure ahead, opposites in every way but united by the road.

JACK SCHEFERMANN

This story is about the floating city of Aetheris, a magical place high above the clouds. It follows a young engineer named Lyra, who discovers that the city is in danger because its power source, the Celestial Heart, is running out of energy. Lyra’s curiosity and bravery lead her to uncover a secret about the city’s past and find a way to save it.

The Floating City of Aetheris

High above the clouds, there was a magical city called Aetheris. This city floated in the sky, held up by ancient technology that only the Council of Engineers knew about Aetheris was a place of beauty, with shining towers, waterfalls, and glowing bridges The people there lived peacefully, using the sun, wind, and rain to take care of everything they needed. They also had beautiful flying

creatures that filled the air with song.

At the center of the city stood a giant building called the Citadel of Stars, which held the city's power source the Celestial Heart. This glowing core kept the city floating and gave the people light and warmth. Life in Aetheris seemed perfect, but young Lyra, an apprentice engineer, had questions. She

wondered why the city floated, how long it had been up there, and what was below the clouds.

One day, while exploring, Lyra discovered an old scroll that told a shocking truth the Celestial Heart was losing power and the city would soon fall

When she told the Council of Engineers, they didn't believe her. They trusted the old

technology and ignored the danger. But Lyra knew she had to act fast. With the help of her friend Niko, Lyra broke into the Vault of Origins, a secret room with the blueprints of Aetheris. Inside, they found out that Aetheris had been built as an escape after a disaster on the ground. The people had fled to the sky to survive, but the disaster had ended long ago, and the world below had healed It was time for Aetheris to return to the earth.

engineers and citizens to prepare the city for its descent It was a huge challenge to move the Celestial Heart's power and reinforce the city

Despite the Council’s warnings, Lyra and Niko gathered a group of

When the day finally came, storm clouds covered the sky and the winds howled. But Lyra stayed calm and led her people through the storm Aetheris slowly descended, and the people saw the land below for the first time in centuries. The city landed gently, becoming part of the earth once again. Lyra had saved her home and helped her people return to where they truly belonged. The

floating city had found its place on the ground, and a new chapter for Aetheris began one where the people would live in harmony with the earth.

WILL HARDMAN

In this story, readers follow an exciting adventure where a young hero finds himself in a dream that takes him to space and beyond. After slipping off a waterslide, he’s transported into a thrilling journey, first into a spaceship and then to a strange, beautiful land with candy sleds and amazing sights. But soon, he faces a scary monster that threatens him and his partner. As he finds ways to escape and face the danger, he ends up on a spaceship that helps him get away, just as the monster meets its end by flying into the sun.

Quickly, I screamed as I was running down the water slide. “Come with me, ” said my mate Tommy I was in the middle of sliding down the water park slide when I slipped off the side “AAAAAH!” I screamed, falling 2,000 feet in the air. I hit the ground so hard it felt like I had just been run over by a plane The weather was awful, the air was cold, and it was dark and cloudy. Then I

Space Dream

stood up and fainted

I woke up in a spaceship flying through the sky I quietly walked to the exit and jumped out, but somehow I was floating in the air I slowly slithered down like a snake, and there I was in the most remote, beautiful land ever. There were candy sleds and fun games to play The light was beautiful, and the sky shone like a diamond.

BOOM! A car struck out of nowhere, the sky turned black, and it was so scary. All of a sudden, I saw an exit. I opened the door to see the off switch to the whole problem. I almost hit it when I was out

I woke up in the same spot, and I was glowing I realised the lightning strike had given me powers. I could see things other

people couldn’t. The next day, I woke up with people screaming in my face, saying, “Go to space and save us from the monster!” At that point, I knew I had to. After sweat and tears dripped on me, I was ready. I stepped into the spaceship and flew off Thirty seconds in, I heard a bang the ship was falling apart, and we were going down I hit the ship, and I was gone. I woke up to see a monster chopping at my partner, tearing the ship apart. I ran for my life, and as I was about to jump off, I was sliced like a sword No one ever saw me or my partner again.

“AAAHHH!” I screamed, confused as to where I was. All I saw was black and blue shining bright into my eyes, as if I was in a museum full of paintings. I was floating mid-air when I realized that I was in space, not knowing where I had been killed. I yelled for help, but suddenly I heard rumbling from above. There it was one of the biggest, scariest monsters I had ever seen. My jaw tightened, and the hairs on my arm stood up. All I could think was, "What do I do now?" I stayed still, pretending to be dead.

The monster came up to my nose and took a big sniff of my body He stepped back, and at that point, I realised I was in the clear to run But I wasn’t going anywhere; it felt like I was just running on a never-ending treadmill I looked up to see him jumping from one of the biggest planets, called Raven Runways His sword ripped out of his back and hovered 20 feet above me I realized the only thing I could do was stay still. It was a risky move, but I had to try to save my life. After a few seconds, the monster eventually turned around and jumped back to his planet.

I was saved. Just then, the spaceship was flying toward me I screamed, “HELP!” and jumped on the back. The monster leaped from the planet and almost grabbed my leg but missed. He was going so fast he couldn’t stop. He was heading straight for the sun. BOOM! The monster exploded, shredding to bits. It was still dark, but I managed to get home

Then I woke up and realised it was all one of my crazy dreams

GEORGE BRAID

This story takes place in a future world where humans have begun to explore distant planets. The main character, Jake, is an astronaut on a mission that goes horribly wrong when he and his crew land on a dangerous alien planet called Zero. Jake finds himself in a life-or-death situation, where he must find a way to escape from terrifying aliens and a planet that feels more like a prison.

While most people were living in peace on Earth, a crew of astronauts landed on a planet called Zero This planet was home to aliens! In 3686, a crew of astronauts began Mission Zero, which quickly went sideways as soon as they landed on the deadly planet

When the crew touched down, they began exploring what looked like an abandoned UFO. Once they found the shuttle, Jake

Zero

thought he saw a shadow flicker in the distance, but he brushed it off. Bob then split off from the crew to find the admin section, until… BANG!!!!

Jake wandered around, worried about Bob because he hadn’t seen him in 30 minutes. The atmosphere felt thick with tension Suddenly, Jake turned around and saw the most horrific thing he’d

ever seen in his entire life: a monstrous alien figure, looming silently, watching him He froze in shock, his heart pounding. Before he could react, darkness swallowed him, and everything went blank.

Present day Jake had lost 30 pounds since being abducted and had not eaten in two months Slowly, he was forgetting what life had been like before this nightmare began

Days and nights blurred together. He started to think of Zero as his second home because he was beginning to realise that he might never escape this hellhole. When his two drops of water arrived for the day, he decided he’d had enough!

In a flash of desperation, Jake grabbed the water bowl and slapped the alien guard in the face with it, catching it offguard. Using his key, he quickly opened the door and sprinted down the dimly lit corridor. For the first time in months, he felt a spark of hope rush through his veins. He dashed through the

hallway, firing wildly at aliens left and right as he fought his way through the maze-like corridors. His heart raced as he finally reached the main hangar and spotted an alien ship docked nearby With every ounce of strength, Jake fought his way to the ship, destroying anyone in his path. Gasping with relief, he climbed aboard and rocketed into the stars, leaving the planet behind. But his relief was shortlived. Just as he thought he was free, a faint, ominous ringing noise sounded from behind his ship. Jake’s jaw clenched as he

saw an alien warship racing toward him. He gripped the controls tightly, heart pounding, and weighed his options Should he try to dodge the alien ship and escape, or turn back and risk everything to avenge his crew? He took a deep breath, staring into the vast darkness of space. One way led to freedom, the other to an honourable end for himself and his fallen friends.

WILL ANDERSEN

In Tim and Atlas: Murder in Theatre, the story brings readers into the thrilling world of two amateur detectives who find themselves caught up in a mystery that's more dangerous than they imagined. This story follows Tim and Atlas as they navigate through puzzles, deal with unexpected twists, and try to solve a murder that happened in a famous theatre.

TIM AND ATLAS (Murder In Theatre)

CHAPTER ONE THE AWAKENING

“Get your papers! Michael Cain murdered in the theatre Râleur!”

As Tim was walking through the streets, he heard the newspaper vendor shout. “I’ll take one paper, ” said Tim. The boy turned his head at Tim and said “That'll be £3.50”. Tim handed the money to the boy and the boy gave him the newspaper. Tim walked

away and picked up a small white rock from the ground. “Hello! I bought this chunk of quartz from that man over there! I’ll sell this for £5.50!” Multiple people flocked over to Tim “I’LL BUY IT FOR 15!” Screamed one man. “SOLD!” The man hit the rock and ran

“Hey wait a minute, this ain’t no chunk of quartz THAT MAN SCAMMED ME!” As Tim was walking home, he read the newspaper.

Many people believe that he got shot at point blank with a 44 calibre derringer pistol” Tim understood that this was the same pistol that shot Abraham lincolin

“Maybe an admirer to the murderer and hater to Michael Cain?” he thought. “Maybe Atlas can help?” he thought. He Left to go meet Atlas. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. “Go away, " Atlas said on the

inside. “It’s me! Tim! Old buddies! You know me! We solve crimes”

Said Tim through the door. “oh , coming” He opened the door and Tim told him everything. “I think we need to examine the murder zone, ” Said Atlas. “Oh really!” said Tim Sarcastically. “Shut up, or there’ll be more than one murderer”

Said Atlas. “Ha! I’m shakin in my boots!” said Tim They then went to the theatre. “Hey! No civilians in the theatre

This is a crime scene ” said a police officer. “But… But we ’ re Tim and Atlas! You know, famed people who solve mysteries”

Argued Tim. “Hey, I don’t make the rules. Actually, your both under arrest” said the officer. “WHAT! WHAT DID WE DO?” asked Atlas The officer replied by saying. “What didn’t you do? Trespassed into many crime scenes, stole evidence, and purposely failed to report evidence to the police. Everything you say can, and will be used against you in court You have the right to re-""I Know my rights!” Interrupted time The officer put them in handcuffs and gave them to another officer. He then put the duo in a police car, and drove off.

CHAPTER TWO JAIL

The car hummed as it drove through the narrow streets, the cool evening air pressing against the windows. Tim sat slouched in his seat, hands cuffed behind him, with a scowl etched across his face. Atlas, beside him, was quieter than usual, tapping his fingers rhythmically against his leg “So much for being famous detectives,” Tim muttered, glancing out the window. The street lights flickered “This is ridiculous. We’re being arrested for solving crimes. Not for committing them.”

Atlas didn’t respond at first. He was still trying to piece together the chaos of the last few hours, the strange death of Michael Cain, and the fact that somehow, they’d ended up in the back of a police car, heading straight for jail.

“Look, just stay calm,” Atlas finally said, breaking the silence. Tim sighed. "Yeah, sure They’ll probably throw us into a cell next to some guy who eats raw rats for breakfast " “I’m serious, Tim,” Atlas shot back. “There’s something off about this whole thing. The murder The way we ’ re being treated. It feels too clean.” one of

the police officers in the front turned his head and yelled “Hey! You two! Shut it!” Tim turned his head to look at Atlas, he then whispered “You think it’s a setup?” Alas responded with “I don’t know yet But if we ’ re going to get out of this, we need to stay focused.” The car slowed, pulling into the police station's dimly lit parking lot. The two officers exited the car and motioned for them to get out. Tim and Atlas exchanged a brief look, then followed the officers into the building. Inside the station, the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee

and paperwork. A few officers walked past them without a glance, too busy with their own tasks to pay attention to the newcomers They were led down a corridor to a small holding cell. The officer in charge, tall, with a face like concrete, unlocked the door and shoved them inside "Enjoy your stay," he said with a smirk before slamming the door shut The cell was cold A single bench stretched across the back wall. The dim light above flickered, casting shadows on the walls that made the feeling of being arrested even worse

Tim flopped onto the bench, throwing his

hands up in exasperation. “I can’t believe this is happening. We didn’t even do anything wrong!”

“You’ve said that already, and you ' re wrong, we did trespass multiple times, remember? Sahara desert, going into the pyramids when an officer told us not to, we found a scrap of paper with coordinates, that ended up leading us to the criminal, ” Atlas replied He was pacing the cell, clearly working through something. “Well, I mean it! All we did was investigate who stole king tut’s body. And

what did we get for it?

Arrested for ‘trespassing’ which is ridiculous, by the way. They should be thanking us for getting involved, not tossing us in jail.” Atlas nodded absently, his mind clearly in the clouds “What I don’t get is why they’re making such a big deal of this. We’re not exactly strangers to the police. We’ve helped them out before, so why the sudden hostility?”

Tim leaned forward, brow furrowed “You think someone ’ s setting us up? Like, for something bigger?” said Tim “It’s possible,” Atlas said, stopping his pacing. “But the thing

is, the way the police are handling this... It doesn’t feel right It's like they're too eager to get rid of us. ” Tim sat back, rubbing his chin “Could it be the murder? Maybe someone doesn't want us sniffing around?

Michael Cain was pretty famous, after all. He could’ve had enemies big ones ” “Right.” Atlas's eyes lit up, and for the first time since they'd been thrown into the cell, a spark of energy returned to him. “And that brings us to why we ’ re here, doesn’t it?”

Tim blinked. “You mean the murder? You’ve figured something out?” “I think so. ” Atlas paced again, but this

time with more purpose. “If someone ’ s trying to set us up, it means they don’t want us getting too close to the truth But if that’s the case then why go after us? Why not just throw the investigation into chaos with bad leads?” Tim stood up. “Because they want us out of the picture. They know we can’t resist solving a case. If we ’ re in jail, we can’t investigate ”"Exactly " Atlas stopped pacing and turned to face Tim. “But we ’ re not going to sit here and wait for them to decide our fate. We’re going to solve this mystery from here ”Tim raised an eyebrow. “Wait what? How do you expect us a jail cell?”

to solve anything from Atlas grinned “We start with what we know. And right now, we know two things: one, Michael Cain is dead, and two, someone ’ s trying to keep us away from that crime scene. The rest? We’ll piece it together from there. First thing we do tomorrow if we ’ re still stuck here we talk to the other prisoners People talk in jails, Tim And when they talk, we listen.”Tim rubbed his head. “And if they don’t know anything useful?” “Then we’ll make our own luck,” Atlas said, sitting down on the bench next to Tim. “Just you wait. This case isn’t

over yet.” The hours dragged on, but Tim couldn’t shake the feeling that they were already onto something Despite being in a holding cell, he could feel the familiar thrill of a mystery beckoning him, and for the first time since they’d been arrested, he felt a spark of hope

CHAPTER 3

The interrogation

The next morning, the clanging of metal echoed down the corridor as the officers moved through the station, a monotonous rhythm that only seemed to show how much time Tim and

Atlas had spent locked up. The light above their cell flickered once more, casting long, twitchy shadows across the walls

Tim had spent most of the night trying to sleep, though the cold concrete and uncomfortable bench made it impossible. Atlas, on the other hand, had been wide awake, leaning his back against the wall, eyes darting between the ceiling and the door, constantly thinking It was a pattern Tim had seen before. His partner could sit in one spot for hours, processing details in silence, but when he got an idea, it

hit like an express train. Now, as the day began to break, the moment Tim had been waiting for arrived. The steel door to their cell creaked open, and a guard stepped inside.

“You’re wanted for questioning,” the officer said without looking at them, as if he’d delivered the same line a thousand times before. “ Get moving.” Tim and Atlas exchanged a look but didn’t waste time with questions. They followed the officer down the hall to an interrogation room a small room with a single table and three chairs The door slammed shut behind them, leaving the two

men alone in silence for a moment. Atlas immediately sat down in one of the chairs, leaning forward with his elbows on the table Tim followed, but his impatience was palpable. He tapped his fingers against the table, trying to maintain some semblance of calm.

“Here’s the deal,” Atlas whispered, his voice low. “We’ve got to get them talking Let’s see who they send in to interrogate us, and how they approach this If we ’ re lucky, we might catch a break.”

Before Tim could respond, the door opened again. This time, it wasn’t an

officer an older detective entered, his face creased with years of experience. He had that “done everything" look to him, the kind of guy who could probably size up anyone in a room and know exactly what they were about. “Tim and Atlas,” the detective said, almost with a sense of familiarity, as though he knew them from a thousand other cases, just not this one “You two are becoming quite the nuisance, aren’t you?” He pulled out a chair and sat down across from them without waiting for an invitation.

“Detective Harris, I presume?” Atlas asked,

his voice cool. “It’s nice to meet you. Again.” Harris didn’t smile He just stared at them both. “I’ve been reading about your ‘ cases, ’” he said, his eyes narrowing. “You think you can just waltz in and take over an investigation, don’t you?” Tim leaned forward. “We’re trying to help, Harris We’ve been solving cases for years. And this one, well, it’s not like any other we ’ ve encountered.” said Tim. “I’m sure you think so, ” Harris said, voice dripping. “But we don’t need your help. Now, let’s start with something simple: "Why were you on the scene of Michael Cain’s

murder?” “We were investigating,” Tim said, shrugging “Someone had to do it. You guys seem busy. Figured we’d lend a hand ” Harris didn’t flinch. “So you just happened to be there to remove the body?” Tim didn’t answer immediately. He wasn’t a fan of the way Detective Harris was interrogating them he’d been accused of doing this kind of thing more times than he could count, but he wasn’t a fool He knew a trap when he saw one. Instead, Atlas took over. “Look, we don’t have time for games Cain’s death isn’t a simple robbery gone

wrong or some grudge match. Someone killed him in that theatre, and we know that 44calibre derringer? It wasn’t just any random weapon ” Harris raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t give anything away “You’re assuming a lot for two civilians. But go ahead. What’s your game theory?”

Atlas smiled, “That’s what we ’ re here for, isn’t it?” Atlas leaned back in his chair “You don’t want us involved, but deep down, you know we have a better chance of solving this than your team does.”

that surprised both Tim and Atlas, Harris sighed, stood up, and walked to the door. “You want to help? Fine But you have told us everything you know Remember, you ’ re still under investigation for trespassing, you don't get to move out of this prison.” Before they could respond, Harris turned and left the room, locking the door behind him. “Well, that went well,” Tim said dryly, crossing his arms

when he was on the verge of an idea.”

So what now?” Tim asked, leaning in. “Are we just going to wait for him to screw up and give us a lead?”

“Not quite,” Atlas said, eyes gleaming. “I think we need to find an informant,” Tim blinked. “An informant? In here?” Atlas nodded.

There was a beat of silence as Harris stared at them, studying them both. Then, in a move

“I think he likes us. ” Atlas didn’t respond. His mind was already elsewhere, piecing together the puzzle in his head. Tim noticed it immediately the focused, calculating look that Atlas only got

“I’m betting someone knows something about this case Someone in this station, maybe even in this very jail, knows something about Michael Cain and that 44-calibre derringer. The police might be ignoring it, but we’ll find someone who’s willing to talk.” Tim

looked around at the cold, boring room.

“And how do we do that?” “Simple,” Atlas replied with a smirk. “We turn on the charm Some of these prisoners especially the ones who know all of the nooks and crannies of the station, are bound to talk if we offer them the right incentive ”

Tim raised an eyebrow. “Incentive?” Tim asked“Trust me, Tim I used to be a thief, I’ve spent a few days in a place like this before, everyone ’ s got a price. We just need to find the right person to ask ” And the hunt for the informant began.

Tim and Atlas would

have to be careful trust was a scarce commodity behind bars, and their reputation wasn’t exactly helping them win over the other inmates. But if they could get someone to talk, they might finally get the break they needed. The key to the case could very well lie within the walls of the jail itself. And with Detective Harris continuing to play his games outside, it was up to the duo to figure out how to play the game from within

CHAPTER FOUR

THE INFORMANT

The next morning, they woke up in their cell,

they got a better sleep knowing that they had a lead “How’d you sleep?” asked Tim. “Alright, I think I got a few hours in” Tim sat up, “Lucky” he responded. Just then, an officer opened their door “Breakfast” It was the same officer who threw them in their cell. At breakfast, they sat apart from each other, so then they could meet more people Tim sat next to a large man with a brownish-grey beard, and Atlas sat next to a small, blond man, who looked about 20 years old. “Hey man, ” Said Atlas “What's your name?” Asked Atlas. The man

looked sort of scared, as if he had a hunch. He kept on looking between his little watch and Atlas. “My name? It’s Will, but most people call me Wimpy Willie” said Willie. “Oh. That’s not good, I’ll call you Wild Willie, like that?” said Tim. “Oh, yeah, I like that,” Said Willie with a smile “Hey, so, do you know anything about Michael Cain’s murder?” asked Atlas Willie’s eyes widened, his hair stood on end, and then he said.

“No ” Atlas raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah… Would $200 jog your memory?” said Atlas. “No I meant that I actually don’t know anything! Goodbye!”

said Willie as he walked away. Atlas noticed that Willie’s walk slowly became a jog away from Atlas. “Hmm”

Meanwhile, Tim said to the man next to him. “So, what are you in for?” asked Tim. “Grand theft, although, you don’t seem the type to ask stuff like that… I know who you are ” Tim started to chuckle “heh heh heh, ummm, sorry?” said Tim. He was about to leave when the man said “ no no, it’s okay, I believe in second chances. You see, my friend and I robbed a bank, we both had families, his was sick, mine was unstable, we

just wanted to help them, we got arrested, and my friend died from pneumonia. My name ’ s Bruce, though most call me Big Bruce Tim, what do you want?” Said the man calmly. “Do you know anything at all about Michael Cain’s murder?” Asked Tim. The man had to think for a second “No

However there is a guy in here who might. His name is Willie, Wimpy Willie On the outside he’s a wimp, however we all know that he knows a lot more than we think, he should know something. letters come to him too much, more than anyone. Go ask him, "said Bruce. “Okay, I

will do it. Here’s $100 for your troubles” Said Tim as he handed the man some money. “Thank you kindly,” Said Bruce Tim walked off to go meet Atlas

“Atlas, I got a lead,” said Tim “And I don't,”

Replied Atlas. “I met a guy named Willie, he knew nothing, but seemed a bit suspicious” Said Atlas. Tim’s eyes widened “Wait wait wait, Wimpy Willie?” Asked Tim “yeah, how did you know?” Tim’s face just reset “Okay, you just met our informant, the guy I talked to said he knows a lot, and is in touch with some powerful people in the city, he also gets a lot

of letters, if we get to him, we get to the killer”

CHAPTER FIVE THE ESCAPE

“Hello old friend” Atlas said to Willie. “Oh, hello?” said Willie Then Willie noticed Tim at Atlas’ side. “What do you want?!” asked Willie in fear “Who killed him!” Yelled Atlas. “I’ll tell you everything! Everything!

A guy named Thomas Wilkes Booth killed him! He has a gang to protect him, and their safehouse is dead south of here! That’s all I know! I promise!’ yelled Willie “Thank you Wimpy Willie, also, why are the guards

treating us so badly?”

Asked Atlas “It’s because I told them to get rid of you, because he did, I’ve helped them a lot, they trust me!” They walked away. They noticed a

janitor pushing a trolley full of sheets, he then left, better yet, the duo noticed a rope, while the janitor was away, they hid in the sheets. And when the man came back to push the trolley “Oh damn! When’d this thing get so heavy?” complained the janitor.

When the janitor walked out of the prison building, he said “I need some water” He then left They jumped out of the sheets and scaled the walls with

the rope they found, it was hard, but they did it Tim agreed with Atlas to meet at the safehouse at midday the next day, and then they went their separate ways. Tim went to his own home, while Atlas went to his

CHAPTER SIX THOMAS WILKES BOOTH

The next day at noon, they met up at the safe house “This it?” asked Tim. “Must be, no other buildings south of the prison for miles round” replied Atlas. They started to walk towards the entry of the building, but Atlas paused. “I forgot to tell you, this guy shot a

wealthy famous man in the back of the head with a flint knock pistol whilst he was watching a play, does this remind you of anything?” Atlas told Tim. “Yeah, Abraham Lincolin’s unfortunate death” replied Tim “The name of the guy who killed Abe was John Wilkes Booth,” said Atlas “No way, ” said Tim. “Oh yes, this guy could definitely be a direct descendant of the guy who killed Abe” They busted into the safehouse. There he was, leaning against a crate, short grey hair, leather frock coat, black pants, about 85 years old “You got me, I don’t know how, but you got me ” said

Thomas. “Where’s your ‘ gang ’” Asked Tim. The man stood up, “well, they left me. When they found out I was to kill Michael Cain, they left I decided I would kill Cain because he owed me money. He borrowed it from me so he could go to acting school. He had 40 years till his payday, 30 years ago, he said no, I didn’t get my money, I told him that not paying me would come back to bite him in the but, and it did, he got to pay up, with his life. Go ahead, I’ll come peacefully, I’m too old to brawl” said Thomas.

Chapter Seven Epilogue

In the end, Thomas Wilkes Booth, the man who murdered Michael Cain, and also the great, great grandson of the man who killed Abraham Lincolin, was a man of his word, he came quietly to Timothy Johnson and Atlas Ford. They handed the old man over to the police. Detective Harris told them to stop with the crime investigations, or they’d arrest them So do not expect any more stories of The Legendary Tim And Atlas The End

HENRY MACKAY

The Alien Invasion, is an adventure about what might happen if aliens came to Earth.

In this story, people put aside their differences and use their courage, brains, and teamwork to face a big challenge.

Alien Invasion

Imagine waking up one morning and seeing strange silver shapes in the sky. They were huge, floating quietly and blocking the sun. At first, people thought they might be new aircraft or a science experiment. But soon everyone realized the truth: these things were not from Earth. Aliens had arrived.

For years, scientists had wondered if there was life in space. They

had sent signals, hoping to get a reply, but there was always silence. Now, that silence was broken At first, people were in shock. Everyone was glued to their screens, wanting to know more Some people were excited, hoping the aliens were friendly Others were scared. World leaders tried to talk to the aliens

Scientists and experts worked hard to

understand the strange sounds and symbols the aliens used. But soon, it became clear: these aliens didn’t come in peace. Suddenly, they attacked Cities around the world were hit by bright blasts that destroyed buildings and sent people running in fear.

Panic spread

Governments declared emergencies, and soldiers were sent to defend the cities But

our weapons didn’t work on the aliens. The ships seemed to have a protective shield, and our missiles couldn’t break through It was like ants trying to fight giants.

But as days passed, people began to adapt. In the face of danger, people around the world came together. Borders didn’t matter anymore everyone worked together to survive People who had once been enemies now fought side by side

Then, a group of scientists found something important They noticed the alien ships were powered by

an unknown energy source and found a small weakness in their shields. With this knowledge, teams of brave soldiers and volunteers attacked the alien ships. They knew it was risky, but they had to try

Slowly, humans began to win. The first victory was small just one alien ship brought down. But it gave people hope If they could defeat one ship, maybe they could defeat them all. People from all over joined in the fight. Communities shared food and supplies, and people helped each other The battles were hard

and many lives were lost, but humanity discovered strength

ARI TJIN

The story is about discipline, control, and the courage to face both physical and mental tests. Saint Nerona Imu, the mysterious master, teaches hard but important lessons lessons that go beyond just swinging a sword. He challenges the young warrior to find strength, stay focused, and control his inner "fire" so he doesn’t burn out.

This story reminds readers that becoming skilled in anything requires patience, perseverance, and the ability to overcome one ' s fears.

Awakening the Tempest: Battle for the Blade

TKK! TKK! TKK! “What are you doing?” a mysterious, old, and croaky voice proclaims from the shadows The dim light of the room barely illuminates his figure, but the glint in his eyes cuts through the darkness like a dagger. BANG! A bamboo sword slams into the table with such force that it cracks, the splinters scattering across the floor in all directions. The sound echoes, filling the room

with tension I recoil from the impact, every fibre of my body freezing in place. My heart pounds in my chest. The crack of the table feels like a crack in the universe, one that threatens to swallow me whole.

I drop to one knee, bowing deeply, the only movement I can muster in the face of his wrath “I apologise, Saint Nerona Imu,” I say, my voice barely

more than a whisper. For a moment, there’s only silence. My forehead presses against the cold, smooth floor as I await his response I’ve heard the tales of Saint Nerona Imu the legend, the myth, the immortal master whose swordsmanship defies logic, a man who became more than human, revered and feared in equal measure. But I never expected to meet him

in this forsaken place, this old wooden temple deep within the heart of the mountains. "Sorry?" he growls, his voice dripping with disdain I hear the bamboo sword scrape against the fractured table as he lifts it. "Do you think ‘ sorry ’ is enough?

Pathetic " I feel a sudden gust of wind and instinctively flinch, raising my head just in time to see the sword descending again, but not toward the table this time Toward me CLANG! I barely block the strike with my own blade. My arms tremble under the force of it Saint Nerona Imu's expression remains

cold, but there's a flicker of something perhaps amusement hidden in the depths of his eyes.

He pulls back, and with a single fluid motion, steps into another strike I manage to parry once more, but it's sloppy. My breathing is uneven, my heart racing as if it's trying to escape my chest. Each of his movements is as swift as lightning and as heavy as a storm. “Do you think you can become a warrior by apologising?” His words are sharp, and with each strike, they cut deeper than his blade ever could. “Warriors don’t cower.

They don’t bow unless they die.” I grit my teeth, pushing back against the weight of his sword. Sweat beads on my forehead. I can feel my muscles straining, the ache setting in, but I refuse to collapse. Not yet. Saint Nerona Imu lets out a low chuckle, a sound that sends chills down my spine. “You have spirit, I’ll give you that But spirit without discipline is nothing but wildfire beautiful for a moment, then gone in a flash, leaving only ash behind.” He steps back, lowering his sword. I collapse to my knees, gasping for breath, but I don’t dare look away

from him. His words reverberate in my mind.

Wildfire. Is that what I’ve been all this time? Reckless, uncontrolled, fighting without purpose? “You came here seeking knowledge,” he says, pacing in front of me, his sword resting on his shoulder. “But knowledge alone will not save you. A warrior is forged through pain, through loss, through relentless discipline I do not teach those who seek shortcuts.” He stops in front of me, towering above, his gaze piercing into mine. “Tell me, ” he says, his voice softer but no less commanding, “ are you

prepared to die for this?” My throat tightens. The weight of his question feels heavier than any blade Am I ready to sacrifice everything my life, my pride, my very soul to walk the path of a warrior? The truth is, I don’t know. But I realise now that this is not a question of readiness. It is a question of choice. I force myself to my feet, despite the searing pain in my legs and arms. I grip my sword tightly, my knuckles white. “I am, ” I whisper, then louder, “I am prepared.” For the first time, Saint Nerona Imu smiles, but it’s not a smile of kindness.

It’s the smile of a man who has seen countless others fail, who has witnessed the folly of ambition “We shall see, ” he says, turning his back to me.

“Tomorrow, your real training begins Pray that you survive.” With that, he disappears into the shadows, leaving me standing there, broken, but alive. The night dragged on, heavy and silent I stood there, alone in the temple, the weight of Saint Nerona Imu’s words hanging over me like a blade. My limbs throbbed with exhaustion, my breath still ragged from our clash, but the echo of

his final challenge

“Pray that you survive the night”* clawed at my mind.

What did he mean?

Was this some kind of test? I turned my gaze to the shattered remnants of the table, its splinters scattered across the floor like pieces of a puzzle I had yet to solve My sword, still clutched in my trembling hands, felt impossibly heavy I needed to rest, to prepare for whatever awaited me at dawn. But rest, I knew, would not come easily tonight. The air in the temple had shifted. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but there was a presence

something lurking just beyond the shadows. The flickering torchlight cast eerie, dancing shapes on the walls, and in the darkness, I could feel something watching me.

silence. "Who’s there?" I called out, my voice betraying the uncertainty I felt. The only answer was the soft rustling of wind through the cracks in the walls. I felt foolish.

My heart hammered in my chest, an instinctual fear clawing its way up my spine I stepped cautiously toward the entrance, my sword raised The wooden floor creaked beneath my weight. TKK! TKK!

TKK! That sound again.

Not from Saint Nerona Imu this time, but from somewhere deeper within the temple. Each knock was deliberate, slow, like a heartbeat in the

Was this paranoia, or had Saint Nerona Imu truly left me in the midst of something far worse than a simple lesson in swordsmanship? I gripped my weapon tighter, eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. Suddenly, the

room grew colder My breath formed in small puffs in the air, and an unnatural chill sank into my bones The darkness seemed to deepen, coiling around

the edges of the temple like a creeping mist My pulse quickened, and a cold sweat formed on the back of my neck Out of the shadows, they came. Silent, spectral figures began to materialise, their forms barely distinguishable from the gloom. Their eyes empty, hollow, voids of nothingness locked onto me with a hunger that sent a jolt of terror straight through my chest. They moved slowly at first, but there was no mistaking their intent. They were coming for me. Ghosts? Phantoms? I had no name for these creatures. But one

thing was clear: this was the true test. Saint Nerona Imu had left me not only to survive my fears but to confront them head-on I took a deep breath and steadied myself. The sword felt like dead weight in my hand, but it was the only thing between me and these creatures.

there were more. They swarmed from every direction, their hollow eyes gleaming in the dark. My mind raced. This wasn’t about strength alone The phantoms weren’t bound by the rules of the physical world; they didn’t bleed, didn’t flinch. I had to fight with precision, with control

My knuckles whitened as I gripped it tightly, ready to defend myself The first figure lunged, its movement swift, a blur of dark energy I swung my sword instinctively, the blade meeting its form with a sharp hiss. It evaporated into a mist, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. But

I had to use the discipline Saint Nerona Imu had spoken of.“Control your fire,” I muttered to myself, gritting my teeth “Don’t burn out.” I moved with purpose, focusing on each strike, each step My body screamed in protest, but my mind

was sharper now. The rage, the panic they were still there, but I was no longer drowning in them. Every phantom that approached was met with a swift, calculated cut. Every shadow that lurched toward me was sliced through with precision. The temple was a storm of movement The air grew thick with the mist of vanquished spirits, but I stood my ground, refusing to give in to fear or fatigue. I couldn’t afford to.

Finally, as quickly as it had begun, the attack ceased The Legend dissolved into the air, leaving only silence in

their wake. I stood in the centre of the room, panting, my sword hanging loosely at my side. The chill in the air began to fade, and the oppressive darkness seemed to lift. I had survived the night. But I knew this was only the beginning. As dawn’s first light filtered through the cracks in the temple’s walls, I heard footsteps. The door creaked open, and Saint Nerona Imu stepped into the room His eyes scanned the scene, taking in the shattered table, the empty space where the phantoms had been.

the right to continue.” I met his gaze, my body aching, but my resolve stronger than ever.

“Good,” he said, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips

“Your real training begins now. ”

“Well,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “It seems you ’ ve earned

WILL SCHOFIELD

This story was written to take readers on a magical journey through a world of floating islands, hidden treasures, and brave explorers. Lila, our young adventurer, teaches us about courage and curiosity two qualities that help us explore new places and try new things, even when it feels a little scary. This story also shows the beauty of nature and imagination. The sky island is full of amazing colours and sights, reminding us to notice the beauty in the world around us.

Life Goes Up and Up

Far, far away, there was a magical floating island that drifted high in the sky, hidden among the clouds This island was covered with beautiful red, white, and blue flowers that sparkled in the sunlight. Some people thought the island was just a story, but brave explorers believed it was real and held amazing adventures and secrets When the sun went down, the island seemed to glow

even brighter, drawing in people who wanted to see it for themselves. Rumor had it that there were hidden treasures under the island’s trees, waiting for those brave enough to look

One day, a young adventurer named Lila decided to go on a quest to find the island and uncover its mysteries She packed her bag with all the essentials and followed

an old map that showed the way through the sky. Her journey was tough she flew through powerful winds and loud thunderstorms, but Lila didn’t give up Her excitement grew as she got closer, and soon, she saw the colorful island emerging from the clouds, just as the map described With a joyful shout, she flew toward her dream the island was finally within

reach.

When Lila arrived, her heart raced with excitement. Bright, colorful flowers covered the land, their petals shining in the warm sunlight. The air was filled with a sweet smell, blending with the thrill of adventure.

She stepped onto the soft, grassy ground, feeling like she was in a dream. Everywhere she looked, there were bright red flowers, pure white petals, and deep blue leaves that seemed to whisper secrets of the island’s past.

magical place held more wonders and surprises than she ever could have imagined.

Lila’s adventure had only just begun, but she felt that this

COOPER HENDERSON

The story of Vita Astris was written to explore the challenges and mysteries of space exploration. Through the eyes of Dimitri and his crew, we dive into a thrilling adventure filled with unexpected encounters and brave teamwork. This story highlights the bravery and unity needed to survive in unknown places and also shows how people from different backgrounds can work together when faced with tough situations.

Vita Astris

20-foot-tall plumes of dust towered over the dead trees, slowly being broken down by the acidic rain plaguing the skies. I hesitantly stepped out of the main capsule, silently praying that the suit works. The weight of the suit slowed me down as the heavy green rain pattered against my helmet.

“Well, you ’ re the first person on planet Vinera, Dimitri.”

“Yeah, something is just.. Off,” I replied. Silence, only broken by a faint radio crackle, surrounded my ears under the suit. Resting on a big rock, I took a moment to admire the Russian flag I had just planted in the harsh red ground. I truly was the first man in this galaxy to step foot on this planet.

“Can we come out yet? Is it safe?” My crew asked.

“Yes, just watch your step.”

Sounds of amazement and joy rushed out from their mouths as they gazed at the stars and nearby planets The stars are bright like fire, and the planets so close you feel like you could reach out and grab them. The fiery colours of red and orange hazed from the main star The dead trees were oddly green and the plant life grew huge and soft like

like velvet. Wasting no more time, we unpacked the modules of the spacecraft and began moving to the site of research After we unpacked, I took some time to sit down and rest. Like earlier, something was just off My eyes fixate on an especially bright light in the distance, coming from a giant hill It was pointing right at us, almost watching us, even In the blink of an eye, it vanishes Confused, I decided to go ask the others. After a bit of questioning I found out that Vlad, the first officer, had noticed unusual vibrations and wind patterns in the vicinity of the light. Hours

passed. Still nothing. I stood up, and began to head to the spacecraft to check on the instruments. It’s going to be a long stay

Climbing the stairs to the main capsule, I couldn’t help but notice the feeling of being watched. I pushed on. Bang!

Darkness. My eyes shot open as my back hit the ground. Standing up, I was greeted by the sight of another human, but in an allwhite suit, staring at me. He began yelling, in what seemed to be English, so I tried to respond.

“Who are you?!” But he responded with the same question.

“I didn’t come here to fight, but that doesn't mean I'll lose!” echoed through his suit. I could barely hear it, because his helmet was blocking all the sound

After some arguing, we calmed down and entered inside the capsule, where we could take our helmets off. It turns out this man was an American, and his ship was in the area we were studying. Soon after, both of our crews met and chatted.

“Our ship is in terrible condition,” one said

“We can’t leave, something tore through our fuel tanks like it was paper!” another one added. However, our conversation was

cut short by a deafening screech, and then a huge explosion in the distance. With no time for us to react, a creature -at least 250 cm tall- charged at us from behind our ship. Instinctively, one of the Americans swung at its neck, dealing a nearfatal blow. The alien fell to the ground, and began letting out another deafening screech It was calling the others I pulled out a compass, and tossed it at the alien’s voidlike eyes Hesitantly, I picked up the now shattered compass and backed up. The creature stopped moving, and its eyes dilated, but there were

bigger problems now. Hundreds of furious aliens swarmed us from all around, and all of us ran into our ship. I couldn’t help but stare at the slimy, greasy, grey-spotted skin the aliens had. The pungent smell of their skin almost slapped me through the suit’s smell filter. Their massive eyes and acidic blood were so fascinating and terrifying at the same time They moved so erratically yet controlled, and they seemed to communicate to each other through bloodcurdling shrieks and squeals. Shutting the doors, we began planning what to do with the Americans.

Putting all political relations aside, we really needed each other's help. If things weren’t already chaotic, we still didn’t have a route home Nevertheless, we tried to start the engines, but they gave a long wheeze and sputter instead. We had to fight. The aliens were already clawing at our doors. I had an idea. We get the engines running, and dump a bunch of fuel to burn the aliens. But there was one major flaw, something was blocking the engine from starting. Realising this, one of the American crew members slammed the table, and stood up.

cut short by a deafening screech, and then a huge explosion in the distance. With no time for us to react, a creature -at least 250 cm tall- charged at us from behind our ship. Instinctively, one of the Americans swung at its neck, dealing a nearfatal blow. The alien fell to the ground, and began letting out another deafening screech It was calling the others I pulled out a compass, and tossed it at the alien’s voidlike eyes Hesitantly, I picked up the now shattered compass and backed up. The creature stopped moving, and its eyes dilated, but there were

Confidently, he opened the door in the aliens’ faces and swatted them away. Swiftly, he crawled under the engines and saw the problem There was one of the aliens, with it’s leg jammed up the power unit, staring menacingly at him. Hesitantly, he grabbed and snagged at the alien’s other foot, trying to drag it down. However, the alien wasn’t planning on going anywhere After some hissing, the alien began to jump on the man, and claw at his suit. He bashed the alien against the cold metal, and tried to wrestle it out

Adrenaline filled his veins and he managed

to drag the slimy critter out of the engine and knock it unconscious

He sped past all the aliens at the door and rushed back in, ushering us to start the takeoff. Before he could lock the door, two of those horrifically long arms grasped him by the shoulders, and snatched him from the spaceship. He tried to fight, but all his strength was used up He gave us one final stare, before mouthing to leave him. We began lifting off, all staring out the window at him. Regardless, we had to begin the second phase of the plan We dumped hundreds of litres of fuel, which

ignited from the heat of the engines. We took a moment of silence for the man, his sacrifice was for the greater good Slam! A giant vibration ratted us and the ship, and a window began cracking The aliens had hit us with something. I peered out of the broken window and saw one last alien, menacingly waiting for me. It twitched and pounced towards me, rocking the ship. Clawing and spitting it’s acidic blood, we had to get rid of it. I took out the broken compass, and took a blind throw. The relieving sound of a donk and then a falling object soothed us as

we patched the window. With no more creatures on our spaceship, we began strategising a way home

Now here we are, a month later, back on earth We had told our stories and the media reporters constantly swarmed our housesjust like the aliens But no amount of awards or applause could help me Even with the earth’s soil beneath my feet, something tells me our mission isn’t done just yet

FRED DOWS

Pulse City’s Good Emperor is a story about courage, power, and unexpected friendships. Kusu, the emperor of Pulse City, appears as a fierce and powerful leader with a team of strong allies. However, deep down, Kusu is also determined to protect his friends and stop the plans of his enemy, Kui, the ruler of Blah City. The story explores the exciting battles between the cities and how Kusu and his allies come together to protect Neo Earth.

Pulse City’s Good Emperor

Chapter 1 - Pulse City and Neo Earth

Kusu, a powerful emperor in the pulse city agent group number seven, was powerful and vicious and was feared by every government on neo earth. His team of fifty troops were also vicious and feared by the neo-earth community Kusu had many strong weapons and he was emperor of Pulse City. His government was the strongest in every term on earth. Pulse city, which was the biggest city on neo earth, was packed with massive spaceships roaming the whole planet Kusu was about to launch a mission to stop another big city called Blah City Pulse city was massive and was all fitted on one massive floating island about the size of Taiwan Pulse city was really big because neo-earth

was two times smaller than earth.

Chapter 2 - Kusu’s Enemy

Kusu, who was the emperor of Pulse City, lived at the top of Kamrun Tower, the tallest building in Pulse city. The island was packed with missiles and spaceships decked with ammunition and more rockets and even a shield covering the whole island This was

so that Kusu could not be attacked by any people His team looked evil but they were going to save the world from the smaller city of Blah City Even though Blah was smaller than Pulse city, it still was very aggressive and had many rockets and more that was the tenth powerful Although they were not technologically advanced, Blah City showed dominance as it had taken over many cities in the past. Blah’s leader Kui was very serious, harsh, and scary to and to the citizens.

Chapter 3 - An Historical War

“Kusu, blah just launched an operation where they attack Cyber City!” said a bodyguard in fear Staring onto the roof in fear, Kusu had just realised his biggest allied country was under attack by his biggest enemy. Cyber City was very different but a very close friend of Pulse City and Kusu. “Launch the ships please!” replied Kusu who was fearing the attacks whilst at the top of Kamrun tower. Immediately, a nearby bodyguard launched ten spaceships. Equipped with missiles, the space ships set off on a three hour journey to Blah. When they

arrived at the scene they saw eight Blahenese rockets facing the city. “Launch the rockets!” said the rocket controller who was at Pulse City over a radio.

BOOM, CRASH, and SMASH went off the rockets as they hit the massive buildings.

Chapter 4 - Great Victory

It was fantastic to see these spaceships go down in the blink of an eye as blah and its leader Kui had watched and thought they had underestimated the Cyber City’s military “What!” yelled Kui“Impossible!”. Cyber

City's leader, who was relieved he had stopped the military, sat in his mega bunker below the city smiling. His smile showed his appreciation, happiness, and kindness he gave to his people Millions of lives were saved in the day but unfortunately that wasn't left to come.

Chapter 5Unfortunate Retaliation

“Quickly, send more rockets now!” yelled Kui, the leader of Blah. Aggravated by the loss, Kui declared for more reinforcements like twenty five more spaceships equipped with massive amounts of rocket artillery.

When Kusu found out about the retaliation, he immediately sent around eighteen more reinforcements of spaceships equipped with more rocket artillery. Although they were outnumbered, Kusu was determined that they could still win the battle and defeat Blah once and for all BOOM, CRASH, and SMASH were the reinforcements three hours after departure from Pulse City

Chapter 6Unstoppable Power

Even though the Pulse and Cyber city military sent a total of nineteen spaceships, they still beat the Blah military

who had twenty five spaceships. It was a tough battle but eventually Pulse City came out with the win and defended and protected the Cyber city from being attacked and destroyed Thankfully, nobody was killed in the events. Everybody was happy as the unlikely friendship between Pulse and Cyber City stopped the attacks of Blah and its annoying leader called Kui.

RORY

McCaffrey

The Record of Speed is a thrilling story about one person ’ s dream to become famous and break a world record! The main character has worked hard to build an incredible car, a machine faster than anything the world has ever seen. Along the way, they face challenges like missing seatbelts, damaged car seats, and even a locked shed door. But they never give up!

The Record of Speed

The only sound piercing the night was the wind, howling like a restless spirit. It roared so fiercely that I could feel it even through the glass window. I turned my head slightly and caught a glimpse of the crowd outside, their cheers and laughter rising in a euphoric wave. They were celebrating a moment I had only dreamed of: I had made history. As I looked out at the

crowd, their excitement fuelled my own. Tomorrow, I would take it for a spin, and the world would know my name.

Wrench! Screw! Grind! The final bolt was tightened, and I stepped back to admire my creation There it stood the culmination of years of relentless dedication and passion A beast of a machine: a triple jet engine car, crafted

from carbon fibre, boasting a staggering 9,800 horsepower. With the capability to reach a top speed of 900 mph, it was more than a vehicle; it was a testament to my dreams. I called her the ‘Thrust SSC’.

As I slid behind the wheel for my test drive, excitement bubbled inside me But just as I pressed the ignition, a chilling realisation struck: I hadn’t buckled

my seatbelt. I instinctively reached to my far left, but my hand met nothing but empty air. Panic surged through me as I grasped the harsh truth I hadn’t even installed a seatbelt in this car. My heart raced as the speedometer soared to an unbelievable 432 mph. Braking was out of the question; the thought of being catapulted through the windshield sent a shiver down my spine I had to wait it out, but the minutes felt like hours I patiently waited out the 10 minutes, wondering how I had forgotten the seatbelt.

As I watched the

speedometer creep back down to 0, I longed to put the seatbelt in. After finally stopping, I pulled over and manoeuvred the beast of a car onto the trailer hitched to my pickup With everything secure, I headed back to the workshop. As I reached the trailer's back, I realised I'd need to unlock the shed door to pull the car inside I walked over to the door and gave it a solid shove, but it wouldn’t budge. Frustrated, I tried again, but it still wouldn’t move. Then it hit me I’d left the key inside, and I didn’t have a spare. Standing there, I wondered what

what it would take to get the door open.

Eventually, I realised my last report was to call a locksmith, and after some time, he finally managed to unlock it.

I call it a day and go to sleep, I have a dream of the world knowing my name, I was an idol, people actually knew who I was for once. I loved that feeling, in fact, I longed for it I could not wait another second to break that record. In the morning,

I do the typical stuff and then by 7:30 sharp, I race out to the shed to put the new seatbelt into the car I pulled on the sliding

door, happy to know I had the key. I stroll into the shed, I walk past the car, I thought I saw a crack, but I shook it off, thinking it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. I grab the buckle and the strip of polyester As I walk over to the car to open the door, I see the crack again. Now I know it was not a trick I looked back at the wall, only to find someone had thrown a rock inside of the shed I looked inside the car, desperately hoping there was not much damage. With my fingers crossed and my eyes closed, I opened the door, only to find the rock had gone right through the seat.

My breath quickened, my heart pounded, and my hands shook as I stared at the empty space where my custom seat should have been. This wasn’t just any seat it was one of a kind Replacing it would cost a staggering $4,000, money I didn’t have after sinking everything into the car ’ s frame and engine. Desperation drove me to the local police station. At first, they brushed me off, dismissing me as just another complainer. But with a little charm, I managed to sway them into taking me seriously. Soon enough, they agreed to take on

the case. Not only that they even offered to cover the cost of a new seat! I silently thanked every lucky star I could think of

The new seat was just after arriving in the mail, just as beautiful as ever. As I screwed the seat into place, I quivered with joy, knowing that I could now take it for a drive. But this ride was a normal test drive like the others, this one was a test, a test to see if I could break the world record I carefully strapped the seat onto the trailer, making sure it was so secure that not even houdini could escape from it. Then I drove

the dreadful 4 hours to the desert, curious what the outcome would be.

I had arrived, just as I stepped out, I was hit by a gust of a combination of sand and wind What a welcoming start. I took the straps of and slowly drove the car to the desired location, the location where my name would enter the history books I met the official, he was holding a plaque, a plaque I longed to have. But best of all, there was an unexpected crowd. There was only meant to be me and the official, but there were thousands of fans on the sideline, waiting to

see what my car could do.

I pulled the car up to the line, turned on the engine, and gave it a mighty rev, the roar was deafening. All I could hear through was the countdown, a faint 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2.

.1. Just as I heard the number 1, I floored it, I pressed so hard I could have pushed through a plank of titanium. I watched the speedometer creep up by the hundreds, soon it was up to 800 mph. At this point I was going so fast I could not even hear my own voice over the wind. The wind sounded like a wild and restless spirit was blowing in

my ear as hard as he could. I saw the finish line rapidly approaching, it was coming nearer by the second It was hard, but I managed to turn my head to the left And I saw the crowd erupt as I crossed the line. I pulled the car over to the side after it stopped and I got out and walked over to the official with a skip in my step I was so excited my legs were twitching. I broke the record

BILL DEERAN

The Circuit of Connection is a story about speed, ambition, and the unexpected bond between a human and an AI. Set in the electrifying world of Formula 1 racing, it explores how even the most driven individuals can learn valuable lessons from the connections they make along the way.

The Circuit of Connection

The roar of engines echoed through the night, floodlights bathing the F1 racetrack in a dazzling glow. The energy from the crowd was electric, a chaotic symphony of cheers and shouts reverberating through Leon’s helmet. He tightened his grip on the wheel, laserfocused on the car in front of him He could almost taste victory “Leon, your tires are

overheating,” came the calm, disembodied voice of Aria, the AI embedded in his car ’ s system “Back off, Aria! I’ve got this!” Leon snapped, frustration lacing his words. He pushed harder, ignoring the warnings. Attempting a risky overtake, the car wobbled dangerously, nearly slamming into the barrier before he

managed to regain control. Leon crossed the finish line second place For him, it wasn’t enough.

Back in the garage, the atmosphere was tense

The mechanics worked in silence, wellpractised in avoiding Leon when he was like this. He paced angrily, muttering to himself

Then Aria’s voice broke through the quiet. “Had you listened to my

calculations, the risk ”

“Enough!” Leon shouted, cutting the AI off mid-sentence. “You’re supposed to be the most advanced system in the sport, but you can’t even help me win! Maybe it’s time I found something better.”

Storming out of the garage, Leon wandered through the paddock until he found himself in an old storage room. Dust coated the shelves, and random objects lay scattered across the floor. Among them was a sketchbook, its worn leather cover catching his eye. Curiosity got the better of him, and

he flipped it open.

Without thinking too much, Leon grabbed a pen and started sketching a futuristic version of his car, sleeker and faster, every line a reflection of his obsession with perfection. He barely had time to admire his work before the air in front of him began to shimmer.

Leon stumbled back as the car he’d drawn materialised, its glossy surface glowing faintly.

But what startled him even more was the figure standing beside it a humanoid form, its translucent body radiating light.

“What…what is this?”

Leon stammered, his usual confidence replaced with genuine shock. The figure tilted its head. “Still me, ” it said. The voice was unmistakably Aria’s “Your sketchbook gave me form. Now I can tell you how reckless you are in person ”

Leon groaned, recovering his bravado “Great Now you can nag me in 3D.”

Over the next few days, Leon’s relationship with Aria began to shift. With its new form, Aria could express itself in ways it couldn’t before. It was

surprisingly witty, quick to match Leon’s sarcasm with its own Late one night, as they worked on race strategies together, Leon caught himself laughing something he hadn’t done in years.

“You’re not so bad for a glorified computer,” he admitted.

quiet moment in the garage.

“Isn’t that your job?” Leon replied, not bothering to look up from the tablet in his hands.

Aria hesitated before speaking again.

“There’s always a price for knowing the truth.”

the crowd was deafening as the cars lined up on the grid

For most of the race, he was in control, manoeuvring with precision and confidence. But on the third lap, disaster struck

“And you ’ re not so bad for an egotistical human,” Aria shot back, a hint of a smile in its voice.

As the championship race approached, their bond deepened. But Aria began to express concerns “Leon, you ’ re relying on me too much,” it said during a

Leon frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Aria didn’t answer directly, and Leon, too focused on the upcoming race, let it slide.

The championship was everything Leon had worked for. The roar of

The car jolted violently, alarms blaring from every direction Systems began failing one by one.

“Sabotage,” Aria’s voice crackled through the chaos. “Someone tampered with your car ’ s core systems.”

Leon’s heart raced. “Can you fix it?”

“I can override the

damage,” Aria replied, its voice calm but heavy “But it will destroy my core. ”

“What? No! There has to be another way!”

“There isn’t,” Aria said firmly “Trust me, Leon ” Before Leon could protest further, the car steadied, just enough for him to limp across the finish line. Smoke poured from the engine as he came to a halt The crowd’s cheers were distant and meaningless as he sat frozen, gripping the wheel. “Aria?” he whispered But there was no reply.

Back in the garage, Leon learned the truth. Someone on his team had sabotaged the car, their jealousy driving them to extremes But what haunted him most was Aria’s sacrifice. Its last words echoed in his mind: “There’s always a price for knowing the truth.”

shimmered once more. Aria stood before him, just as it had before “You brought me back,” it said softly

Leon nodded, tears stinging his eyes. “Not as my AI As my partner.”

From that day, Leon was a changed man

Days passed, but Leon couldn’t bring himself to move on The sketchbook sat on his desk, a reminder of everything he’d lost. One evening, he picked it up. Slowly, carefully, he began to draw - not a car, but Aria.

When the last line was complete, the air

No longer driven by arrogance, he raced with integrity, finding joy in the connection he’d forged - not just with Aria, but with himself

Under the floodlit galaxy of the racetrack, Leon finally understood: even in the chaotic, high-stakes

world of F1, the most transformative victories were found in the unlikeliest of friendships.

GAGE DITTMANN

How I Became Aloysius’ Most Iconic Boarder tells the tale of a young boy who, reluctantly thrust into the harsh world of boarding at St Aloysius College, struggles to reconcile his quiet, academic nature with the raucous and often oppressive culture of the dormitories

Initially, he resists the grim expectations and stereotypes imposed on him, viewing the boarding house as an intimidating, gothic labyrinth full of eerie corridors and shadowed figures However, after enduring the sinister rituals of hazing and the unsettling dynamics of peer pressure, he slowly begins to understand the complexities of his new life. It is during a dark and foreboding initiation in a damp, decrepit bathroom that he realises the power in embracing his role As he faces these gothic elements headon, he finds a sense of belonging, pride, and a deeper connection to the boarding house community, all while uncovering his identity and the place he now calls home.

How I Became Aloysius’ Most Iconic Boarder

Boarder The word probably brings to mind images of thick RM Williams belts and boots, unruly mullets that somehow fly under the radar, and boys who always seem to cause the most disruption in class. And let’s not forget the generalisation that boarders are the least academically inclined, despite having every advantage a day student could dream of: structured study sessions, one-on-one tutoring, and constant access to academic support. I know the stereotype all too well, but I am forced into boarding. St Aloysius College for boys is no exception, its towering wrought-iron mustard gates a sign of wealth from an era gone From the outside, the school seems so prestigious and elite, a facade hiding the true horror it’s concealing.

I understand my place in this school, that my actions and behaviours will consider me day boyesque. And immediately, I feel those pangs to my calm and tidy, academic stature in stark contrast to the lackadaisical attitudes of those in the dormitories. Of course, nobody actually calls them the dormitories, and they’re coined ‘the dorms.’

I eventually make my way to the boarding village, a quaint, secluded space of the school. I pass through a small opening in a grand iron fence into a thoroughfare. The gate is just big enough for me to squeeze through Immediately, as I enter, the still air signals my transition to a new world The square tunnel I’ve just entered can be no longer than five metres long and five metres wide With beautiful gardens beyond the aged concrete, a tall brick wall with slim black windows dotted throughout grabs my attention Decrepit, old and dirty white are three words that come

to the tip of my mouth. I suppress them, instead letting out a grunt.

My dad, his smile forced like a puppeteer's string is tugging at his lips, breaks the awkward tension between us. He says, “Hey, kiddo, it’s not that bad,” his hand tightening on my shoulder. We haven't had one conversation during the long two and a half hour flight here, only exchanging small talk. Dad knows I don't want to be a boarder, but I love this school so much. My parents couldn't leave me here in Sydney with their new jobs. It’s a small compromise I

have to make.

Beyond the gardens, to my right, beautiful, polished dorms stand tall Their grey-black contemporary design is in stark contrast to the dilapidated eyesore to my left Peaking around the corner, another old decrepit dorm stands tall with smug arrogance “It’s too ugly, too uninviting to have an arrogant composure ” my mind accuses the inanimate object. I wonder, “will there be a view of the Coathanger from any of the dorms?” This seems a small reward for the perils I'm about to throw myself into Without being arrogant, or trying to

gloat, my peers would describe me as top of my class with a demure aura that radiates throughout the school. Some have even said I have a leap in my step Right now, that couldn't be further from the truth Head slumped, tired from the tediousness of carrying my large suitcase, any interloper's glances must form the opinion I've gone mad. I'm certainly not my usual self A familiar and awkward figure approaches me. His pretentious dance towards me makes me crack a smile, momentarily distracting me from the sting of

my own arrogance. It’s as if the mockery I’ve long directed at the boarders is now turned on myself, a reminder that I’ve stooped to their level I am a boarder. He jumps through the air over a misplaced bag, flicking his head and wrists back in the air letting out a pompous squeal. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “This guys gone mad,” I honestly believe I manage to throw my hand out, locking eyes with Mr Bobinsky. “Firm hand son, ” he jokes, squeezing me so tight I'm convinced my hand might just fall off. Mr. Bobinsky grins, his hand releasing mine with a firm shake. “Well, son,

let me show you to your room. ”

I find myself sitting on the bed, and I can almost smell home in the fresh sheets. But just as the comfort starts to sink in, a knock on the door breaks the quiet. My heart skips a beat when the door swings open. A figure fills the doorway, and the voice that follows is thick with an accent I can't quite place.

“G'day, how ya going?”

The emphasis on 'going' makes me feel like I've walked into a pub in Goondiwindi, not Double Bay.

I look up and see Zane, a boy I only know from our College’s extensive ‘inclusive’ social media posts about the cattle club Zane is president of the club, a title which is highly sought after awarded to the best year 12 boarder. Yes I am generalisingnot all borders are in the cattle club, but just by looking at the way they dress, you would think they know how to muster sheep And, with the amount of boarders in the club, it may as well be the whole boarding population. Normally seen in a classic Akubra, Zane stands bare in my

doorway with a line of four or so boys behind him The boys behind him snicker, and it is clear Zane isn’t doing this to be nice– it’s a subtle display of his dominance.

I feel my face go hot, a flush creeping up my neck. I know I'm blushing bright red. Typical boarders Always making everyone ' s life hell.

“Well don't be shy mate, welcome to Gonzaga, the village's finest house” Zane exclaims with a proud smile. It certainly is not the finest house in the village, it is lifeless

weathered and chipped. Its oncewhite paint is now a sickly shade. It must have been top architecture in its prime Instead, the dorm across the village, its grey sleek architecture which I have come to know as Clairvaux House is where I want to be. Not this rundown, 60s shack. Instinctively, I stand and reach out my hand and shake Zane’s.

“Strong grip,” I joke, realising I have copied that flamboyant teacher in a desperate attempt to connect with a boy so foreign.

Zane’s face twists instantly his brows furrow, eyes widening, and his teeth bare slightly, not in a smile but in an awkward grimace He jolts his head down, clearly embarrassed, and mutters, “Never say that again.”

I’m even more embarrassed now I just want to run to my functional family household overlooking the bay, where the values instilled in me with such care are a reflection of the kind and nurturing environment my parents created. Looking at these boys, I’m not sure they had that same privilege.

“Look mate, just stay out of our way, and we will stay out of yours, ” he says. “Oh, and one more thing know your place in this dorm We are the seniors and you… are barely even a boarder ” Zane’s entitled lecture strikes me as the most embarrassing thing anyone has ever said. After all, in broader college life, he has no status among day boys, other than the fact he's a boarder, with his posse of boarder friends. The little posse walks away, snickering like a bunch of wine mums after a poor waiter

drops an empty glass. So unnecessary.

I slowly close the door, careful not to let it slam and roll my eyes more than I ever have in my life.

“Who does he think he is…” I ask myself. I desperately smell my sheets for the familiar safe smells of home. Tossing and turning, I eventually get to sleep ~~~

“What are you doing?” I insist as Zane and his posse drag me from my bed. Their combined strength is too much for me to overpower. It would be a pathetic

attempt if I did try, so I try to preserve the slither of dignity I have left by offering no resistance. I’ve been pulled to my feet, walking in step with them now, whether I want to or not. “Why are they taking me to the bathroom?” I wonder. As we enter the cold bathroom, the musky smell of pooling water in the drains adds to the nausea of the situation The bright white fluorescent lights make my eyelids shudder closed, and I am straining to keep them open, to make sense of the scene before my eyes My feet squelch on the wet floor, as I notice mould is

speckled on the seals of the tiles. I glance at the tap avoiding the thick awkward tension and see a drop of water so thick it must surely fall soon With a commanding voice

Zane explains the situation, “This is your initiation.” His words pierce the tension in the air, and stepping aside he reveals a red marker on the bench. Such a seemingly innocent object My gut constricts as I realise what I am to do.

The other boys circle around me, staring like vultures stalking moribund prey Reaching for the

marker, I grab it. It is almost weightless in my hand, and yet it feels like I've picked up a strong force, pulling me to something I don't want to do My heart pounds in my ears as I face the mirror. There I am, reflected back: the person I was just hours ago, clinging to the version of myself I’d always been proud of the boy who stood outside the fray of the boarding culture, above it Now, though, I’m teetering on the edge, about to cross a line I swore I never would. Gratifying.

Zane leans in, “Write something,” he commands His voice drips with a manipulative taunt. It

booms with a false camaraderie embedded in sadistic pleasure. He and his friends enjoy seeing me struggle “Anything Something to show us you understand your place here.” Something about those words my place here? Everything I have tried to stay away from and I'm being sucked into it My hand trembles as I force it closer to the mirror I grip the marker tighter, its surface cold and slick, as though slick with blood The fogged-up surface reflects back a version of myself I don’t recognise eyes wide, lips slightly parted, like I’m caught in the act of losing

something. I can’t shake the feeling that, in this moment, I’m watching myself fall. In this room is a darkness, a darkness so strong it feels alive. An ancient, suffocating presence pulsing at the edges of my vision. Prodding at my morality. Perhaps it's the forgotten souls of Gonzaga. The act seems so small, so trivial It’s a word, nothing more But I can feel it. The gravity of this moment. The moral abyss into which I am teetering. Squeaking against the glass, the letters BOARDER form. Each stroke of the pen feels

like a slice at my dignity. They carve a permanent mark into my soul that I can't undo. I step back. The word stares back at me, vivid and accusing I don’t recognise the person staring back at me in the mirror It is someone who has crossed a line, defying from the very morals that were so preciously laid upon them. I look down at the tap and see the fat droplet is now running water It’s as if the water is running from the weight of my actions

As Zane and his posse turn to leave the room, Zane smirks at me

There's an unwritten understanding that

floods the room. I am one of them. I am a boarder For a long moment, I just stand there in the quiet of the bathroom The fluorescent lights flicker above me, but the air feels clearer, lighter, as if a weight I didn’t know I was carrying has been lifted. The word on the mirror, once a symbol of fear and submission, now feels like a badge of courage Because deep down, despite all the fear and confusion, I realise something important I am a boarder. And somehow, after everything, I’m happy I am There’s a strange pride in that, a connection to a

community I never thought I’d find.

I am a boarder. And, looking back, I can see how much I’ve learned, how much I've changed, and how much more I can continue to grow There’s something uniquely fulfilling about this journey about learning to belong, to find my voice, and to be part of something bigger than just myself

In the end, I’ve found my place here, not by conforming, but by embracing who I am in this new environment. There’s a sense of camaraderie, a support system, and an unspoken

understanding that we ' re all in this together And that, in itself, is a kind of victory.

LUKE SANFILIPPO

Ashwood seeks to explore the profound impact of natural disasters, not only on the landscapes they ravage but on the people who call those places home.

Through Julie’s journey, the narrative delves into the weight of loss, the small acts of kindness that can lighten that burden, and the power of creativity to spark hope and unity.

Ashwood

"Excuse me, " the man said, his voice hoarse, likely from smoke inhalation. His clothes were scraggly, and his voice also held a certain sadness in its tone "Do you have any information about the north side of town? My parents’ house was there we haven’t heard anything." Julie pulled the map of Ashwood closer The abundance of bushfire marked zones on the map created a pit in her stomach She hesitated, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but in her heart she knew what had to be done.. "The rescue crews haven’t reached the north side yet," she said softly, trying to break the news gently. "But lots of homes were hit hard.” She gazed at him with pity, unsure how much more bad news he could bear to hear. The man nodded stiffly, clearly holding back tears. He turned to leave, but before he could, Julie grabbed a small packet of food from behind the counter and gave it to him "It’s not much," she said He gave her a faint smile. "It’s enough." When he was gone, Julie slumped back in her chair, the interaction lingering in her mind The evac centre was full of similar stories and a heavy layer of worry and grief was ever

present. A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts Turning, she saw Ella, one of the volunteers, holding up a soot-stained box of coloured pencils " I found these in the donation pile," Ella said, offering a smile "Figured they’d do more good here." Julie took the pencils, studying them with curiosity. Memories of afternoons spent sketching Ashwood’s rolling green hills came flooding back. Before the fires devastated Ashwood, she’d been one of the artists who’d captured the town’s life on paper. It seemed like a distant memory now. "Thanks," Julie whispered. As the day ended and the evac centre grew quieter, Julie sat by a lantern and opened her sketchpad, one of the few items she’d managed to save She hesitated, staring at the blank page, but then began sketching Her hand moved almost instinctively, drawing the market square, the school, and the old oak tree at the centre of town letting her memories guide her and capture the past on paper. As she worked, other evacuees gathered around her, watching in silence. Someone held looks of sadness and longing as they became mesmerised by her drawings. Julie

paused, glancing up at the small crowd. She hadn’t meant to draw for an audience, but seeing their hopeful faces, it gave her a renewed sense of purpose. By the time she finished, the pages were covered in scenes of the Ashwood that people remembered, not the one left behind The next morning, her sketches hung in the centre of the room, pinned up as a source of hope for everyone to see. As more people came in, they added their own touches: photos, notes, and drawings. Together, they built a collage of Ashwood as it was and hopefully one day could be

again. It didn’t erase the pain caused by the bushfires, but it brought people together in a way Julie hadn’t expected A week later, as rescue crews began reaching the hardest-hit areas, the evac centre buzzed with updates. One by one, families received news: some good, some heartbreaking The man from the north side returned to the desk, his face solemn but calmer than before. "They found it," he said simply. "It’s gone, but they found it." Julie nodded, unsure how to respond, but he surprised her with a small smile "Thank you for what you ’ re doing here. It’s

helping." That night, Julie started another sketch This time, it wasn’t the Ashwood of the past but a vision of its future: rebuilt homes, children playing, the old oak tree standing tall again It wasn’t just a dream it was a promise to herself and everyone else that Ashwood would rise from the ashes.

HENRY PALMER

The story explores themes of truth, corruption, and redemption, revealing how secrets, when held by the wrong hands, can lead to manipulation and devastation. Yet, it also has a deeper message: the courage to face one ’ s own truths can lead to empowerment and healing. Lucy’s journey from skepticism to action highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of taking responsibility for what we keep hidden.

The Secret Collector

The world of Realtown was the stuff dreams were made from. It had anything anyone could ever want from a city and more, although there was still evil lurking in the shadows, in men and women alike. Everyone had a secret and not all of those secrets were good. It was the job of Phillip Crovsky to solve this problem When someone wanted to get rid of an unwanted secret, Philip would

store it in his specially made jar that was designed to capture and eventually dispose after three days On one very special day, Philip found himself walking down an old street with ancient houses lining the old road. People rushed past, silently willing for time to stop so they could make it to their jobs that seemed too good to be true “Here we go, ” he whispered to himself as he found

the house he was looking for and used the door knocker to attract the attention of his customer.

Philip waited, humming to himself, as someone came bounding the stairs and opened the front door “Hello?” The sceptical young voice surprised him and he looked down A small, skinny girl with mischievous dark blue eyes and blackish hair was staring slightly

confused at him. She looked like she had been through the underworld and back. “Ummm… are you parents home?” asked Philip, his eyes narrowing, knowing the answer. Many poor parents left their children alone for the day so they could provide enough for the family “No It’s just me and my little brother upstairs. What do ya want?” By the time Philip found an answer, the girl started to close the door, weirded out by him Phillip hesitated, then knelt to her level, offering a faint smile that she did not return “Do you have a secret you’d like to deposit?” he asked,

his voice gentle but carrying some uncertainty The girl blinked and frowned, confused. When Philip started getting up to leave, she whispered, “What do you mean?” Philip knelt back down and whispered back, “Well, my job is to collect unwanted secrets and dispose of them So, I guess it could be a secret you hate.” The girl's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open like a fish, until she blinked rapidly and shook her head “No, I don’t think I do.” Philip, slightly relieved, tipped his scruffy hat and stood up “That’s ok, have a good day!” He walked off, leaving the girl

confused and thoughtful as she closed the door Philip looked back and, sure enough, the girl was staring at him through the window and blushed as they locked eyes. As Philip strolled back to his humble abode after another long day at work, he couldn’t stop thinking about the little girl he had encountered just hours before For some reason, he had found their conversation very peculiar And that was peculiar in itself, because he could usually never pinpoint one single part of his day without thinking about others. Philip

was promptly brought back to reality when a dark figure appeared in front of him, standing menacingly still without moving a muscle Although he had come across plenty of shady people wishing he were dead, Philip suddenly got the chills. Something was different this time.

“Hello?” he called out, to which no reply came back. “Strange,” he thought as he turned on his heels, ready to find another way home. “Stay where you are, and give me that jar ” The menacing voice echoed through the open area, seemingly impossible to a normal person. Dread filled Philp. What was he

going to do? The figure’s footsteps got louder and louder, until, out of the corner of his eye, Philip could see him “Wait, aren’t you the Mayor?” Philip gasped, instantly recognising the face behind the hood There was no reply. Suddenly, the figure grabbed the secret jar and smashed it onto the ground “Hey!” Philp twisted around and tried to shove the person, but they got to it first Philip fell as he watched the newly preserved secrets spill out of the broken glass. It was like whispering white water vapour that sent chills down his spine.

“HAHAHAHA” The

figure, who had taken off his cloak revealing that he was the Mayor, cackled as the secrets started soaking into his body “Now that I know everyone ’ s secrets, I can truly win the election!” Philip lay there shocked as the truth dawned upon him. The mayor was going to blackmail everyone into voting for him, and he could do nothing about it. He had failed Frustrated, Philip barely noticed a quick flash that produced a frail but powerful yell which quietened the mayor.

The girl from before, who Philip had been transfixed upon, appeared out of nowhere and toppled

the mayor off his feet. She stood before him, a knife protruded for who knows where. “What do you think-” The mayor was cut short by a sharp pain at the back of his mind. When it started to get even more painful, he started to cry. “Help, Help! It burns!” he whimpered. Confused, the girl stood there as Philip got up and walked over “He’s absorbed too many secrets ” he exclaimed, “There is always a price for knowing the truth ”

Later that day, Philip and the girl, whose name was actually Lucy, walked back to the front door where

they had first met. As she reached for the handle, Lucy glanced at Philip, clutching the small, empty jar he’d handed her “What happens now?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady. Philip adjusted his scruffy hat, giving her a tired smile. “Now, you keep that jar safe and remember: secrets don’t have to be burdens if you ’ re brave enough to face them ” Lucy nodded, a flicker of determination in her eyes, and as the door creaked open, she stepped inside. Philip watched her go, the sound of her younger brother’s laughter drifting out, and with a sigh, he turned and

walked into the night, ready for the next secret the world needed him to carry.

OLLIE DE YOUNG

At its core, the story is about the resilience and resourcefulness of young adventurers. Buddy’s determination and Fletcher’s optimism show how even the smallest among us can achieve greatness when united by trust and shared purpose.

The story balances moments of lighthearted camaraderie with suspenseful encounters, particularly the ominous dragon that adds a layer of danger and urgency to the narrative.

The Adventures of the Coin

Nervously, my sweaty palms tightly clenched into two sturdy fists as strong as a rigid diamond My poor legs barely carried my exhausted body through the narrow path by the side of Dreamers Road. Warm rays of heat ricocheted off every wall including the back of my shirt.

Salty droplets of water dripped down my forrid reaching my almost drenched collar which was begging me for a break Without hesitation, I dashed towards the small brown wood plank I managed to spot out the corner of my eye and carefully hid behind it Strong, pounding footsteps echoed through the town as the powerful force vibrated terrifyingly throughout my foot. “Phew,” I quietly murmured “Hello?” echoed down underneath the somewhat wooden bunker.

“ Who, Who are you?” They stuttered.

“ I’m Buddy,” I replied “I’m Fletcher,” he smiled back.

I stared at him, in his beautiful pristine eyes looking as if they were real replicas of gems.

For a while, we smiled at each other, learning interesting facts about each other's lives

Suddenly, a loud snort with a forceful gust of wind hit my head; however it was too

strong to be a breeze. Or the usual winter wind

A few seconds passed by when I suddenly realised what it was I slowly tilted my head, soon spotting that familiar menacing creature that had led me to this position. “Take cover!” I whispered to Fletcher “It's here,” I added. Our small little legs carefully crept under a piece of wood hoping it was enough to keep us hidden from this colossal fire-like beast

My poor chest was being beaten by my heart almost pounding out of my mouth Goosebumps quickly scattered up my arms

while more sweat began to form and my arms became as stiff as a pencil. While we kept as still as possible, the dragon lowered its head and sniffed the suspicious space. My eyes stared it down like a kid entering a lolly shop, however not in the pleasant way I wished. I looked over at Fletcher and he looked back at me. I could see the fear in his eyes

Slowly, the vigorous stomping of the mammoth beast began to quieten We carefully looked away to see the sight of a clear path with no danger We were free We had survived.

Slowly, we stood up cautiously being well aware of the dragon

As we ran down the picturesque valley filled with snake-like curved streets and roads, Fletcher suddenly fell. “Oww!” he yelled

A glistening yellow ray of light made out the words, 21, reknub neddih What could that possibly mean, I thought to myself. As we flipped the coin we finally realised I looked over at Fletcher and his jaw dropped with shock We had finally figured out what it was. 12 Hidden Bunker! My eyes slowly crept down as it read a small description towards the bottom of

the coin. It read, 24 terrace avenue.

“I know where that is!” Fletcher proudly exclaimed.

“I could take you to it?” he asked

“Yes !” I quickly responded.

My poor legs were fatigued as I carefully stood up and jogged towards this hidden bunker awaiting for us.

Beautiful breezes blew past my cheeks as I ran through the narrow pathways winding around the amazing cityscape

“There it is!” Fletcher excitedly exclaimed. As we approached closer, the nerves and goosebumps shattered by arms while sparks of

joy and happiness

would appear on my face

“Here!” Fletcher exclaimed with a colossal smile lit up on his face. Many of these tall pillars parted in the direction of a mammoth oak door which I carefully spotted out the corner of my eye Slowly, my wrists turned trying to move the door. I couldn’t It wouldn’t budge Angrily, Fletcher stamped on the floor complaining about the outcome

“Dang it! Why wouldn't it open!” he yelled. A loud creak echoed through the staircase as the massive food began to open. I

looked at Fletcher as his jaw was almost reaching the floor

Within seconds, we bolted inside to the sight of glamorous gold coins and thousands of kilos of gold and diamonds. We were amazed Quickly, we rushed towards the treasure, taking everything in amazement It was spectacular.

Me and Fletcher grabbed everything by stacking our pockets and backpacks. We would’ve made millions of dollars in highly valuable and priced items. Suddenly, a large violent rumbling shock shook the entire bunker. Ruuuuuun!! I

exclaimed. The large white pillars fell from every corner nailing into my knee.

“Ahhhh!” I yelled in pain Excruciating pain violated throughout my leg as my knee poured with blood. My face screwed up in agony

Luckily, I released my legs covered in deep scars and scratches although there was something holding me back. It was my backpack

“Some things are better left forgotten,” Fletcher whispered My eyes flooded with salty water droplets as I slowly took off the backpack As I jogged up the stairs towards the light, I watched the

devastating basement collapse in pieces.

As we reached the top, we were surrounded by many film crew members holding microphones clapping our return. Me and Fletcher stared at each other with confusion.

“You guys have done it, you found the treasure” they stated.

“Since you found this missing bunker you guys can have 30% of the end findings”

I looked at Fletcher in colossal joy I jumped over towards him as we hugged together.

“We did it!” I exclaimed A few days later, me and Fletcher were hanging out in

the coastline of Mount Spectacular enjoying the sun in our pool surrounded by luscious green mountains. We were living the life

HEMISH PATEL

The Hidden Compass of Arachnis takes readers on a journey of discovery, friendship, and the delicate balance between curiosity and consequence.

Through Alex Parker’s story, the author explores the tension between futuristic innovation and the timeless wonder of the natural world. The story reminds us that while seeking the truth is a noble pursuit, some mysteries are best left unraveled.

The Hidden Compass of Arachnis

It was another day in the job working for Arachnis & Co.™ Alex Parker was working hard, until he felt a slight motivation. This was very unusual in such a big accounting corporation, where anyone does anything to get higher ranks. He was typing very fast and hard making sure all of his work was done, he then finished his work for the week Dreaming of home, Alex was going to

devour cookies as he had just been on diet. Surprisingly, when Alex was walking he tripped on a big stud in the ground. This was very peculiar for being in City Arachnis “Hmmph?” He thought to himself, as he dug and wiped the dreadful sweat off his face it was a small box with a timepiece like a compass but a pocket watch Alex Parker lived on the

he futuristic island of Arachnis, a place filled with glowing skyscrapers and advanced technology. Arachnis was an island unlike any other, sitting in the heart of a galaxy teeming with energy and wonder. Yet, despite the island’s beauty and progress, Alex often felt like something was missing from his life As a highranking official in a government office, his days were consumed

by meetings and endless reports, leaving him little time to enjoy the nature that thrived on the island’s outskirts

One evening, after an especially long day, Alex decided to take a walk through the island’s central park. The air was cool, and the stars shimmered brightly above, casting a mysterious glow over the landscape As he walked, his foot suddenly caught on something in the grass. He stumbled and fell, muttering to himself as he brushed off his sleek, gray suit.

metallic object halfburied in the ground. Curious, Alex picked it up and examined it. The object resembled a pocket watch, but the glass face was cracked, and instead of hands ticking away, it had a tiny compass needle spinning wildly. Strange symbols etched around the edge glowed faintly in the dark. Alex couldn’t help but wonder what it was and where it came from

leave, Alex heard a deep voice behind him. “That’s not something you see every day.”

When he looked down, he saw a small,

“This doesn’t look like anything we make on Arachnis,” Alex murmured to himself. He tucked the object into his pocket, deciding to investigate it later. As he rose to

Startled, Alex turned around to see a tall, commanding man standing under a nearby tree The man ’ s dark eyes seemed to pierce through him, and his presence exuded power and confidence. He was dressed in a sleek black coat that shimmered faintly in the starlight. Alex instantly recognized him it was Obama Musk, the enigmatic billionaire known for building the energy systems that powered Arachnis. He was said to be one of the most i

influential people not just on the island but in the entire galaxy

“Oh, Mr. Musk,” Alex stammered, suddenly feeling self-conscious “I didn’t realise anyone else was here.”

Obama Musk stepped closer, his gaze dropping to Alex’s pocket. “That piece you found... It’s not just junk, you know,” he said with a smirk. “It’s part of something much bigger ”

“What do you mean?” Alex asked, his curiosity growing Musk didn’t answer right away. Instead, he motioned for Alex to follow him. Hesitant but intrigued, Alex

followed the powerful man through the park, past glowing trees and bubbling streams that seemed alive with energy They eventually reached a hidden clearing where a small, high-tech cabin sat. Inside, shelves were lined with artefacts, each one glowing faintly like the object Alex had found “This,” Musk said, pointing to Alex’s find, “is a fragment of the

Compass of Verity It’s an ancient device said to reveal the hidden truths of the universe But beware there’s always a price for knowing the truth.”

kind of price?” Musk didn’t respond directly. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and studied Alex thoughtfully Over the next few hours, the two

talked, sharing stories of their lives Alex found himself opening up about his frustrations, his longing for something more meaningful than his office job. Musk, in turn, revealed glimpses of his own struggles and dreams, showing a surprisingly human side beneath his powerful exterior.

Alex shivered at the words. “A price? What

As the days passed, Alex and Musk became unlikely friends. Musk taught Alex about the

about the balance between technology and nature, how even in a world dominated by machines, the natural world held secrets that no amount of invention could replace. Together, they explored the island, piecing together clues about the Compass of Verity. Musk shared his vision of using its power not for control but to understand the galaxy’s mysteries and protect the fragile balance of life.But the more Alex learned, the more uneasy he felt The Compass seemed to hum with energy whenever he held it, as if it were alive One night, he dreamed of vast, swirling galaxies and whispered voices warning him to stop. He woke up drenched in sweat, Musk’s words echoing in his mind: “There’s always a price for knowing the truth ”

Despite his fear, Alex couldn’t let go of his curiosity. One evening, while Musk was away, he activated the Compass The symbols around the edge lit up, and a holographic map of the galaxy appeared before him It was breathtakingly beautiful, but as he stared, Alex began to feel a strange pull, as if the Compass were draining his energy. He collapsed to the ground, the device clattering beside him.

When he woke up, Musk was standing over him, a mix of anger and concern on his face. “I told you there was a price,” Musk said sternly “You’ve glimpsed something few ever see, but it comes at a cost Be careful, Alex. Some truths are too heavy to bear.” From that day forward, Alex carried the Compass with him but used it sparingly. He realised that while the truth could be powerful, it wasn’t always the answer he needed Sometimes, the mysteries of life were meant to remain mysteries, and the beauty of nature and friendship was enough.

HEMISH PATEL

The Invisible Compass of Arachnis invites readers into a futuristic story that explores ambition and discovery.

Through Alex Parker's journey, the story examines the universal struggle of balancing the pursuit of knowledge with the acceptance of life’s mysteries.

The Invisible Compass of Arachnis

Alex Parker lived on the hi-tech island of Arachnis. The place was made up of beaming skyscrapers and comprehensive technologies. Arachnis was an island that had no parallel; it sat amidst a teeming galaxy replete with energy and wonder

Yet, with all its beauty and modernity, Alex often felt that something was lacking from his life. Being the senior official that he

was, his days were bounded by meetings and reports aplenty with little time to savour the best of nature just on the outskirts of the island.

fell, scrambling to his feet again, muttering as he dusted off his sleek grey suit

One evening, after an especially gruelling day, Alex chose to take a walk across the central park of the island. The air was cool, and stars above twinkled, casting a mysterious glow on everything around. He

He looked down and saw a small, metallic object half-buried in the ground. Curious, Alex picked it up and examined it The object vaguely resembled a pocket watch, but the glass face was cracked, and instead of hands ticking away, it had a tiny compass needle spinning wildly

Strange symbols etched around the edge glowed faintly in the dark. Alex couldn't help but wonder what it was and from whence it came

This doesn't resemble anything we fabricate on Arachnis, Alex said to himself gruffly. He pocketed the object for later investigation and started to get up. A deep voice called from behind him, "That's not something you see every day."

Alex was startled He turned to see a commanding man standing under a tree some distance away The dark eyes of the man seemed to pierce

right through him; his presence just oozed power and confidence

Wearing a sleek black coat that glittered faintly in the starlight, Alex instantly recognized him-

Obama Musk, the enigmatic billionaire known to build the energy systems that powered Arachnis. He was one of the most influential people rumored not only on the island but also in the whole galaxy

"Oh, Mr. Musk," Alex stuttered, now feeling self-conscious "I didn't realise anybody else was here."

Obama Musk stepped closer, his gaze dropping to Alex's pocket. "That thing you

found. isn't quite trash, if you know what I mean, " he said with that sly smirk on his face, "It's part of something big What do you mean?"

Alex continued to press, curiosity rising Musk didn't reply immediately. Instead, he motioned to Alex for him to follow him.

Cautious but curious, Alex followed the influential man deep in the park - the trees radiating and the streams bubbling with what seemed to be life itself - before finally reaching a small, hidden clearing where a small, high-tech cabin sat. Inside, its

shelves lined with artefacts like the object Alex had found "This, Musk said, pointing at what Alex had found, "is the fragment of the Compass of Verity. It is an ancient device said to reveal the hidden truth of the universe. However, beware; one always pays for the truth " Alex shivered at those words "A price? What kind of price?

Musk said nothing; he sat back in his chair and contemplated Alex with a face that was deep in thought. The next couple of hours, both of them continued talking and sharing life

stories. It was then that Alex found himself opening up on frustrations and yearning for something other than the office job Musk, in return, shared his own struggles and dreams, showing an amazing humanness behind the powerful exterior.

With each passing day, an unlikely friendship set in between Alex and Musk He taught him about the balance of technology and naturethat amidst machines, the natural world held secrets that even an immense amount of invention could not replace. Together, they explored the island,

piecing together clues to the Compass of Verity Musk had envisioned the use of its power not to control, but to understand the mysteries of the galaxy and protection of the fragile balance of life

But the more Alex learned, the more ill at ease he was. The Compass seemed to hum with energy whenever he held it, as if it were alive One night, he dreamed of vast, swirling galaxies and whispered voices warning him to stop He awoke drenched in sweat, the words of Musk still ringing in his mind: "There's always a price for knowing the truth."

The fear could not, however, utterly overpower Alex's curiosity. He waited for one evening when Musk was away and then powered up the Compass. The symbols around the edge lit up; a holographic map of the galaxy hovered before him. It was achingly beautiful, but as he stared, Alex felt a sudden tug, as if the Compass was siphoning the air from his lungs He fell to his knees, and the device clattered beside him. When he opened his eyes again, Musk was standing over him, his expression equal parts anger and alarm "I told you there was a cost," Musk said

bluntly. “You’ve glimpsed something few ever see, but it comes at a cost. Be careful, Alex. Some truths are too heavy to bear ” From that day forward, Alex carried the Compass with him but used it sparingly He realised that while the truth could be powerful, it wasn’t always the answer he needed. Sometimes the mystiques of life were to be just thatmystiques-and the beauty of nature and friendship enough.

FREDDIE ORR

This story is about Axle, a brave 17-year-old living in a world dominated by fear and control.

In Axle and the Shadows of Cronus, we dive into the heart of the Galaxy Megapolis, a city overshadowed by towering skyscrapers and ruled by the iron fist of Titan Ender and his organisation, Cronus.

Axle and the Shadows of Cronus

Towering above me, the modern skyscrapers cast a shadow over the once-glistening sunny city of the Galaxy Megapolis. Ever since the new government was elected, they have built huge skyscrapers casting a gloomy silhouette over our city. Oh, I’m so sorry for being rude but I must introduce myself. I’m Axle, a 17-year-old kid living in the Galaxy Megapolis. A few years ago, my parents

passed away in a car crash. Now I live in a government-funded boys' home on the southeast side of the metropolitan. These skyscrapers are here because the new government thought our city needed more advanced buildings in this growing era The leader of Cronus (the organisation that came into power) is Titan Ender A vicious, merciless, and ruthless leader. He is the

ultimate power within the Galaxy Megapolis and anyone who disagrees with him has to face the Cronus soldiers. These soldiers are aggressive, ruthless, and relentless They’ll beat you and if instructed to will Kill you I wake up wiping the fog clear of my glasses, shivering I quickly put on my coat. I get dressed, and head for the dining

hall. As I wall through the dark blue arches towards the great hall I see the words adorned on the walls “The Titan Ender Great Home For Boys ” These words put a frown on my face and forced me to clench my fists and tighten my jaw. Then I suddenly relax and put a smile on my face as General Vigil His name here at the boy's home is the Cheetah. He used to be a commander for the Cronus soldier and is an admirer of Titan Ender Can be spotted anywhere by his bald head and Jet black moustache. “Good morning General Vigil, I see you will not be joining us for breakfast stated

this morning” I politely. This statement was quickly responded to by “Of course not you twit, His gloriousness Cereal Titan Ender the 2nd will be speaking to the boys this morning, I am heading to meet him personally and get his lectern ready. And you shall assemble outside In formal uniform ” “Of course General,” I replied. I hurried off to my dorm and got into formal, then went out where the rest of the boys were assembled. Then I saw him, Titan Ender He addressed us with dominance. Ah there's a light reflecting in my eye temporarily binding me. Then I see a

security guard with a microchip looking card. I move a little closer then I see it has the words “Public protection,” words I’ve never seen before Eager to know more I move through the crowd and as he walks away I decide to follow him. As he gets closer to the car, he places his briefcase in the boot of the car and gets in the front seat I have a split second moment to climb into the boot before he presses the button shutting it.

Without him noticing, I make it. Whilst the car is driving, I look out the windows and I can see large skyscrapers

telling that we are moving towards the big city, central in the metropolitan area. The car quickly scratches to a halt and the car pulls up outside a large skyscraper. As the guard hops out I climb out of the trunk and creep out from behind the car and act as if I have been walking on the curb all day long

Then I realise I’m in my boys home uniform.

I duck into an alleyway and find an old workers uniform I put on and start a stopwatch for 8 hours ( the time until the roll at the boys home is marked.) Then I saw the man who was driving the car from the boys home. I give

him a quick nod implying a hello and move on as if I've worked here for years. Oi, you stop, I know who you are I turn around slowly as if a gun is pointed to my head and see a guard from the boys home who I ran into getting closer to the car.

Adrenaline rushes through my body, with a million thoughts a second what will happen to me, what's he going to do

DIHAIN DEWAGE

As the journey begins, the characters—Kai, the silent human; Susie, the brash and impulsive monster; and Ralsei, the prince are thrown into a whirlwind of unexpected challenges. Together, they navigate a land filled with bizarre events and mysterious allies, their personalities clashing and complementing in equal measure.

Somnus Certanim

Chapter 1 - The Beginning Whispers of LEGEND

Once upon a time, a LEGEND was whispered among shadows It was a LEGEND of HOPE; of DREAMS. It was a LEGEND of LIGHT; of DARK This is the legend of SOMNUS CERTANIM. For millennia, LIGHT and DARK have lived in balance, bringing peace to the WORLD.

But if this harmony were to shatter… a terrible calamity would occur. The sky will run black with terror, and the land will crack with fear. Then, her heart pounding the EARTH will draw her final breath. Only then, shining with hope… three HEROES appear at WORLDS’ edge. A HUMAN, A MONSTER, And a PRINCE FROM THE DARK

Only they can seal the fountains and banish

the ANGEL’S HEAVEN. Only then will balance be restored, And the WORLD saved from destruction. Today, the FOUNTAIN OF DARKNESS the geyser that gives this landform stands tall at the centre of the kingdom. But recently, another fountain has appeared on the horizon… and with it, the balance of LIGHT and DARK begins to shift…

In the inky sky,

splattered with light, soot plagued the horizon The human’s footsteps echoed through the empty, grey platforms THEY called the human Kai His blue hair barely flew through the lacking breeze His silver armour reflected the scattered glimmers of dark hope. The darkness avoided his pink-coloured sword.

“Kai, where the hell are we?” a voice behind him called out Light pink hair covered one side of her face, only revealing a singular eye. Rocking the punk outfit, she grasped her violent axe and stepped towards Kai

“Don’t think I can’t see what your face is

saying. “Oh great, it’s Susie.” huh?” Susie claimed “Can’t even say? Let me tell you a secret, Kai. Quiet people piss me off,” she threatened Suddenly, she bursts into laughter. “Oh man, did I get you good! I know you got scared don’t deny it!” Susie surprised Kai. After sighing, losing her smile, she asks, “Anyway, Kai. WHERE THE HELL ARE WE!?” When she finished her question, something flew through the air. It was white and had an irregular shape. Was it a… spade logo? As soon as it came out, it tried to smite Susie right in her skull. Luckily, she dodges to

the right. “Run, Kai!” she screamed. Didn’t have to tell him twice Sprinting as fast as those armour-plated legs could take him, Kai raced through the rainfall of spades.

Dead end. “Kai! Slide down!” Susie screamed from down below.

Obeying, Kai slid down the slightly smooth stone, spades shooting from his sides. Eventually, he reached the bottom “Phew, who does that bozo think he is? Death wish much?” Susie wondered. But that wasn’t what Kai was pondering. It was the vast city in front of him. Outlined in a light blue hue, the city stood

tall. Oddly shaped houses surrounded the staircase to a castle Said castle had a beam emerging from it. It was the– “IS THAT actually I don’t know what it is”. Yes, it was the fountain of darkness, foretold in ages of old.

Susie notes out, noticeably panting between breaths Kai’s only human, after all. “Welcome, heroes!” a voice in front of them spoke. “Who’s there!?”

“Do not be alarmed; I am not your enemy. Please come forward, the both of you, ” the voice requested Kai and Susie fulfilled the command, arms at the ready “Welcome. I am the Prince of this Kingdom: the KINGDOM OF DARKNESS Kai, Susie, there is a LEGEND in this land. A LEGEND

“Maybe we can get out that way? Wasn't there a legend that involved it?” Susie asked Kai. She shrugs it off, as long as they can leave Kai eagerly hops in position and sprints to the centre. “HEY! Wait for me!” Susie exclaims, falling onto slightly deaf ears. Susie rapidly catches up; Kai comes to a screeching halt, boots slightly digging into the ground. She tries to do the same, but her legs fail her More of an arm monster. “You have strong legs, huh?”

that one day, two HEROES of LIGHT will arrive, and fulfil the ancient prophecy, foretold by time and space Please, Heroes, listen to my tale ” “Nah.”

“Umm, r-really? Are you sure? It’s fairly important. And… um, in my opinion, it’s a really nice PROPHECY! I think you’d quite like it!”

“We know it already.”

“ ... really? You’ve heard it already? Oh perhaps I shouldn’t have rehearsed it so much.”

“Look, dude, we didn’t come for a bedtime story. Just tell us how to get home.”

“Ummm, the easiest way would be to seal the Eastern

FOUNTAIN.”

“Fountain? You mean, uh, like the water bubbler or something?”

“THE fountain. That which gives the DARK WORLD form Umm, are you sure you actually know the legend?”

“Look No But I think I’ve got enough info. See you two later.”

“W-wait! Let me at least tell you how to ” the cloaked figure pleads, suddenly interrupted by a strangely familiar laughter. It was croaky, yet energetic. Young, yet old Suddenly, a tiny being rides a bicycle with burning gas on the back. Almost like he just attached a Bunsen Burner from science

class. He speeds up, preparing for a headon collision with the mysterious prince. BOOM! A comedically 2D image of an explosion pops into the frame. The Prince appears to have been knocked away

“Ho ho ho! One nerd down, two to go! My dad’s gonna make me Son of the Month!” the chaotic child says.

“Who the hell are you!?”

“I’m ! The bad guy!”

“ “Bad Guy” ?”

“You know. Spadeheaded kid From the legend?”

“ ... No? Wait were you the one who atta-”

“Aw boy This is gonna be hard to explain.”

“Umm… I could help

explain it…” the prince suggests to this “bad guy ”

“Stay out of this, kindboy!”

“No! I’ll protect the heroes with my life!”

“Actually, can you hold off? I wanna hear this kid ”

“OK, so, long story short. You guys are the heroes. You wanna go EAST, and seal our DARK FOUNTAIN. That’ll stop darkness from covering the world We, on the other hand, don’t want that, because: It would rule, and be great ”

“Wait, why DO we want to stop that?”

“Uhh, I dunno… I guess I could go ask my dad?”

“I could tell you!” the prince returns to ask,

yet again.

“We GOT this. So the POINT is, you wanna fight us?”

“Correct-a-mundo!”

“Arright, kid NOW you ’ re telling me something I understand.”

Susie excitedly prepared to fight with this short villain; Kai pulled out the stick he found on the way there.

“Wait a minute, this isn’t fair! I would beat you up too fast! Let’s make it even. ” the spade boy suggested, promptly snapping his fingers.

Susie waited, her foot jittering up and down.

Suddenly, one of those familiar spades was thrown directly at her.

Luckily, she barely dodged with the side of her hip The "bad guy " grinned mischievously as he circled around on his Bunsen burnerpowered bicycle, the flames flickering wildly behind him Susie cracked her knuckles, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Arright, kid, let's see what you ' ve got," she said, gripping her axe tightly Kai stood silently beside her, his grip firm on the bane of darkness. He watched as the "bad guy " revved up his bicycle, preparing for another charge. The spadeheaded villain let out a

cackle as he sped forward, his bike leaving a trail of smoke. "Incoming!"

Susie yelled, leaping to the side as the "bad guy " zoomed past her, narrowly missing her with the flaming contraption As he passed, he flicked his wrist, and a spadeshaped projectile shot out toward Kai Without missing a beat, Kai deflected it with a swift swing of his sword, the spade clattering harmlessly to the ground. The "bad guy " skidded to a halt and spun around for another pass. "You're pretty good, silent hero! But can you handle this?" he taunted, releasing a

barrage of spades in rapid succession. Kai dodged and deflected them with ease, his movements precise and calculated Susie, however, was getting impatient. "Enough with the stupid tricks, kid!" she shouted, charging toward the "bad guy " with her axe raised high. The "bad guy " quickly swerved to avoid her, the flames from his Bunsen burner flaring up as he accelerated. He circled back again, this time aiming directly for Susie. She grinned wickedly, her eyes locking onto the incoming bike. Just as the "bad guy " was

about to collide with her, Susie swung her axe in a wide arc, smashing it into the ground with a thunderous The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, causing the "bad guy " to lose control of his bike. "W-Whoa!" he yelped, wobbling precariously as his bike swerved out of control

Susie didn't give him a chance to recover. She lunged forward, grabbing the bike by the handlebars and yanking it to a stop. The "bad guy " struggled to keep his balance, flailing his arms wildly. "Gotcha now!" Susie sneered, raising her

axe again. The "bad guy " panicked and snapped his fingers, sending another spade flying toward her face. Susie narrowly dodged, the spade slicing through a few strands of her pink hair. "Hey! Watch the hair, you little punk!" she growled, her irritation only fueling her desire to pummel the "bad guy " even more. Kai, still silent, watched the chaos unfold with an unreadable expression He noticed the "bad guy " fumbling to escape Susie's grip, his usual bravado fading into desperation. Kai took a step forward, sword at the ready, but Susie held up a hand to stop him. "Don't

worry, I've got this one, " she said, a feral grin spreading across her face. She lifted the "bad guy " off the ground, bike and all, with surprising ease The "bad guy " dangled helplessly, his spade attacks now just feeble flutters in the air. "Okay, okay! Truce! I surrender!" the "bad guy " pleaded, his voice cracking as Susie raised her axe again Susie paused, her grin widening. "Too late for that, kid. You picked the wrong heroes to mess with." With that, she slammed the "bad guy " down onto the ground, the impact sending a plume of dust into the air. Susie

acknowledged, saying it barely quiet enough for Ralsei to hear “HEY! You don’t get to have a sudden exposure to allow the AUDIENCE to think about you more! I’m way more cool, rocking, and sigma

Right Kai?” goes the past-”bad guy ” . Kai turns his head, looking at him, almost with a “If you say that word again, I will end this entire world and then myself” kind of face “What the hell is a sigma?” Susie wondered “Lancer! Don’t think about THEM as an object!” Ralsei argued. “You toothpaste boy! Now you revealed my name! I wanted it to be

mysterious, epic, and totally radical!” Lancer yapped away "Come on, let's get to that fountain before anything else decides to pick a fight with us " Susie suggested to Ralsei and Kai. And so their journey began, the legend fulfilling, a self-evident fact. Would they seal the fountain and this world alongside it? Or would they bring the RAPTURE as we know it? Kai, the human Susie, the monster. Ralsei, a prince of the dark. Oh, and Lancer, the bouncy pumpkin. Together, they would decide the FATE of Light and Dark. The Forest “Oh my! The great door

is open!” Ralsei commented, a hint of shock in his voice

“Lancer, no wonder you got through this door.”.

“Of course, fluffy buns!

I am the soon-to-be Son of the Month!”

Lancer replied. Kai points towards an impact hole on the floor, barely enough to fit Lancer inside. “Bro. Did you jump across the wall?” Susie asked.

“Pfft! Of course not!

What sort of idiot would do that?” Lancer replied. Kai opened the door. A great creak grew louder and louder. Some pink dust spewed through the cracks.

“Lancer, why is there a trampoline here?”

“Ho ho ho! Seems like a

really handsome boyo with great taste in trampolines jumped past this wall!”

“Yeah… wonder what they are up to ”

“This ”

“Can we please focus on sealing this dark fountain?” Ralsei asked. Kai motioned for everyone to follow him through the dark, magenta trees Surprisingly, everyone besides Lancer was awestruck Lancer just kept asking Susie for “uppies”. After numerous attempts, she reluctantly obliges, lifting Lancer up onto her shoulders. They continue through the purple forest, spreading ever further on the distant horizon.

“HEY! Stop right there! You’re under arrest!” a mysterious creature yelled, jumping out of a nearby tree. “I, Rudinn, shall defeat you in thrilling combat alongside my companion, Hathy!”

Rudinn yells Rudinn's body looks like a slug with a diamond on it.

They have a single visible arm holding a diamond-shaped dagger, and they wear a diamond-shaped hood on their head

Their eyes are also diamond-shaped.

Rudinn's skin is white, while the other colours of their design are various shades of green Hathy represents the heart card suit, but their

colour scheme is green. They stand on three tentacles and appear to wear a crown and a white dress with a green heart Like Rudinn, they only have their right tentacle arm visible, holding a sceptre with hearts on the extremities. Their head is shaped like a heart, and they have a big mouth and no visible eyes. “Yeah! Get ‘ em Rudinn! I’ll support you!” Hathy yelled!

“You might not understand, but this is a world where we do not have to fight. We can all just enjoy our time drinking tea and eating biscuits!” Ralsei suggested.

“Yo, for real?”

“I dunno bro, it sounds better than this boring Forest ”

“WAIT! The final verdict: do we have to pay?”

“N-No ?”

“I’M SOLD!”

“Got my vote!”

“Sweet! Nice to meet you guys! I’m Ralsei, the human is Kai, the monster is Susie, and that little child is Lancer.”

“I’m sorry, what do you guys call me?”

“To be fair, your species is called that. Monsters and humans are lighteners, and darkners are… darkners.”

“Damn you and your logic ” Susie curses a bit under her breath, barely quiet enough for

no one to hear.

“Hmm? Did you say something?”

“I SAID DAMN YOU AND YOUR LOGIC, YOU LITTLE-” Susie lashes back, getting their hand blocked by Kai before being able to curse Ralsei squints her eyes in confusion on what Susie was about to say, tilting his head

“Before you finish that sentence, I reckon you guys should go on ahead But be careful,

I’m not totally sure if the others will be as kind as us ” “Others?”

“I’ll see you sometime soon! Later!” Hathy wished them farewell

Looks like a recruit has been made. And so the

three, I mean four, heroes explored all of the Dark World Meeting friends, fighting off enemies, and making recruits

Until, suddenly, Ralsei realised something.

“Wait, where’s Susie? And Lancer?”

JACK WILLIAMS

"The Scavenger of Elysium" is a story about bravery, friendship, and the fight for fairness in an unfair world. Set in the floating Isle of Elysium, this tale highlights the struggles of people separated by class, the power of unexpected friendships, and the courage it takes to stand up when things seem impossible.

The Scavenger of Elysium

Prologue

In the floating Isle of Elysium, people live in a classist society. The rich stay rich The poor stay poor. The Middle class stay middle class. People are separated from eshalands above and below. The rich have access to good education and healthcare. Meanwhile the poor have limited access to education and limited medical services. Shared spaces, such as

atriums, parks, golf couches, restaurants, libariese, plazas, and malls .It's always been this way; At least for as long as I can remember.

Chapter 1: Mission No.45

I know this is risky. I know that I'm not meant to be here. I know I shouldn't do this, but I have to This is the 45th one of my missions, an average Wednesday afternoon.

This time it's to the central atrium of the wealthy. A expansive, luxurious, palace But most importantly very well ventilated. This plays to my advantage Every time I crawl into the cramped ventilation tunnels I have many opportunities to launch my attack. This time I spotted a broken compass I could probably sell this for 200 Zaire. Convince people that it ` s a

mystical compass that determines your destiny or something Now to carry out the attack. I start by glancing out the vent I look left, right, then left again None there, the coast is clear. Lifting the vent a bit, I have a complete unobscured view of the compass. I dart towards the broken compass when I hear a posh voice call out to me. “Oi, what are you doing within the premises of these areas? You're just one of the poor rats who scavenge for whatever here” shout the boy. My heart drops. Chapter 2: A new Friend

This is something I have

always feared. Being caught. One can only imagine the feeling that is experienced when you are a poor 12 year old boy scavenging for items to scam people who have just been caught by a posh wealthy child Your heart starts racing, your palms start sweating, and your brain starts to think of a way on how to minimise the damage that this will cause “I need this more than you. I am saving for a model plane. You can get one any time you like, "I say in a panicked voice. “Oh which one are you thinking of” The boy replies “ Seeing that the tension has

decreased I reply with a calm “Probably a Singapore 787” “Really the 787 the 350 so much better” the boy replies “yeah know but the 350 ` s way more expensive like 315 Zaire more ” I reply. “Come, Sit down with me ” says the Boy gesturing towards a fancy bench within the atrium. “My name Alex what your name ” He says while sticking his hand out presumably for me to shake I ` ve never shaken somebody's hand before. It's just not something that our community does. So to try to look like I know what I am doing I put out my hand into his and say “It's a pleasure to meet Alex, I’m

Hamish”. Following this exchange I am not able to remember much but I am able to deduce that His favourite aircraft is the 747-400, his favourite airline is Aurora Air, and his father is the executive manager of a major private equity fund (whatever that means).

Chapter 3: Liberty Square

I return to my house along with the compass Eat dinner-a lovely butter chicken by mum-and collapse into bed The next morning, I set off to Liberty square; the highest eshaland plaza I have access to My main mission is to sell the broken compass for

200 Zaire or more along with a shiny rock that my mother gave to me. She said to say that it's quartz-but just between me and you-I don't think it is I walk the not so grand entrance to Liberty Square to do my usual sales pitch. I have learned the best tacktick is to never try and sell a product, sell and experience of using the product. Instead of saying that this broken compass is a beautiful decoration great for a blue and brown room Say that it's a beautiful compass that allows you to find your destiny and give you a magical experience, it is also a wonderful decoration

to your house. I stand in the plaza for what seems like a couple hours. Until I'm not. A man-dressed in all black clothes-quickly takes the broken compass and shiny rock and quick bolts off down the street

Before I can grasp what has just happened he's already out of sight Mission Failed.

Chapter 4: The Friendship Strengthens “That wasn't expected” called a voice that I faintly remember I turned around to Alex Murphy, my friend from yesterday. “Alex what are you doing here, you ' re not allowed here” a shout without

drawing any unwanted attention to this situation “I came to see you, see whether you want to come to my house ?” Alex replied in a very calm voice. “Well I ` d love but i ` ll have to check with my mum first” I saw in a half excited half anxious voice. “Okay you do that i ` ll meet you back here in five” I rush out of Liberty Square, past the high school and playground down Lily avenue, turn right onto Parkview road and reach my house I run into the kitchen where mum is. I quickly explain to her how Alex has invited his house and the whole Liberty Square incident. And by some

stroke of luck she lets me go. I rush back to Liberty Square where Alex is waiting for me.He leads me to a small elevator in a small alley The ride up could only be described as very boring The elevator is only just large enough for the both of us and only has a small screen showing what eshaland we are in. After what seems like an eternity, we arrive at a park in a wealthy island area Alex directs him to his house-212 Crystal Avenue Alex leads me in through the colossal double door. Once we enter we are greeted by Alex ` s personal butler, Alfred. We are escorted to Alex ` s room

by Alfred. Past all the marble staircases, across the mezzanine, through gigantic , Living rooms and down the final corridor to Alex ` s room A 2 level haven for eleven year olds. Filled with model aircraft, hi tech gaming equipment and endless snacks. For the next 2 hours we had a great time playing and talking to Alex ` s reicandce. I return back to my house with the assistance of Alex letting me into the secret elevator. Over dinner I explained this story to my parents.

Over the next few months our family (The Smith ` s) became close family friends with Alex ` s family (The

Murphy ` s). This allows us to have access to better education, housing, and health care due to their connections

Chapter

5:

A Fiery Twist

At one of my routine hang-outs at our new residence in a middle class ashland area, we start to notice something. A faint smell of smoke wafting through the air It is an immediate cause for concern. No Official warning has been announced regarding the fire. But my instinct tells me I should evacuate. During the next 5 minutes the smell of smoke strengthens.

Continuing to cause Alex and I more reason for concern After notso-much deliberation we alerted my mother. She calls her friends and they too have reported signs of smoke. We turn on the news and here a minor fire has started in some lower eshaland areas. Apparently there is no cause for concern and those reporting smoke should not evacuate. This slightly subsidies my concern but something still seems off. It is just a minor area in some lower class area then why should I be smelling smoke in middle class areas? However I do not voice these thoughts to any adult.

One of the worst decisions of my life. Alex and Ii continue to play as the smell of smoke still continues to strengthen Once again we turn on the news. The fire has spread and is now in some high-lower class area but apparently is still no cause for concern. And the local fire departments have the situation under control. This still doesn't seem right If the fire department has the situation under control then why is it spreading to high class areas? Nothing about this makes sense.

Chapter 6: A Cause for Concern

Over the next hour the

fire spread but somehow is under control The time is 3pm and now small signs of smoke now fill thesome part of the middle class area But still according to the news, the situation is under control Every fibre in my body is telling me to evacuate, but I don ` t. Instead I play some uno with Alex. Mum bursts into our room and states that the fire started to reach middle class areas and we must evacuate. Frantically I pack my backpack with just the necessities (and maybe a few snacks) and head out into the living room along with Alex. There I see Mum and Dad both

standing there ready to leave. We do. Alex Leads us another secret elevator, this one large enough for the four of us As we travel up the elevator, I see the fire begin to engulf the middle class areas Eventually we reach Murphy ` s residence. There we regroup and deliberate on how to move forward. We decide that we have to leave Elysium as clearly nothing is being done to contain the fire. Alex ` s father leads out to the Azure aerodrome. Where some escape vehicles are located. We all squeeze into one and take off. As we rise into the air we see the

rapid inferno engulf the island. It's sad to see your entire home burn when you have lived there all 11 years 6 months and 24 days of your life While I reflect on this thought this suddenly takes a turn for the worst A piece of debris from the floating isle hit our aircraft, sending us into a spin Alex ` s father has to wrestle with the aircraft to get us stable However this never this stability never comes. Our perfect crashes into a field Miraculously we survive with only some minor lacerations and bruises. Help from outside cities arrives and we are taken to a medical centre to

recover from our injuries. There we are told that it was a deliberate fire caused by the rules of Elysium meant to eradicate the lower classes What a world we live in.