Creative Space

This page is to showcase student's creativity across different subject areas; a place where students are encouraged, through their teachers, to contribute work they would like to share.

Science Camp

by Kira Boyle, Yr 10

I clung to the rickety ladder, splinters digging into my palms as I continued to climb. The wooden ladder that turned and twisted in odd ways, never seemed to end. Reaching higher and higher into a deceptively cloudy, blueless sky, I left the cold, barren metal maze below me.

"I'm almost out, I'm almost there..."

I repeated that in my head over and over again like a mantra, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat.

It only worked for a couple of minutes until I heard the venomous growling coming closer. I climbed faster, with sweaty palms. And I regretted it almost immediately.

The choppy, wooden ladder shook, alerting the giant cat as to where I was. It yowled as it jumped onto the rickety sticks and climbed towards me at a frantic, hurried pace, its mouth drooling.

I shrieked, practically running up the fragile ladder, not caring about the noise I made. It'd be pointless trying to remain quiet now.

The panther bolted right up after me, hissing as it got its hind legs stuck between the rough hand-holds. I took advantage of the little time I had and clawed my way up the ladder. My breath hitched as I finally pushed through the fake fog/mist/cloud - whatever the hell it was - as the metal trap door came into sight.

The relief that flooded my tired, aching limbs was short-lived, as I felt pain shoot from my foot up my leg. I cried out, startled. I tried to kick the panther away from me, socking it right up the snout. It fell back a few steps, digging in its claws at the last minute, almost falling to its death...almost.

I cursed under my breath, before my eyes started to widen. Behind the panther, one of the hand-holds was broken, barely clinging to the dangerous structure.

I drew in a deep breath, thinking I must have finally snapped after all these experiments. My body faced the writhing cat, as I looked below to where I was going to land. Bunching my muscles together and putting most of my weight onto my good foot before lifting off, I catapulted myself over the panther, desperately clinging onto the wooden frame as I got my bearings.

As soon as the panther started moving towards me I switched back into action, adrenaline controlling my body. I grabbed the broken hand-hold and broke the joint free with my good foot.

My breathing grew erratic as I heard the panther jump down the steps, closer to me. As I broke my mini-stake away, I looked up just in time, driving my weapon down on the panther's head.

I got comfortable on the wooden hazard and stared numbly at the panther's corpse. A heavy feeling weighed on me, seeing that the panther was just skin and bone.

I sighed. Seeing animals suffer like that happens far too often. I clenched my fists in anger, swearing I was going to burn this experimental science camp down to ashes. Far too many people and animals have died down here.

I got up, rolling the panther off the slightly swaying ladder. I didn't hear the body hit the ground; it was out of my hearing range.

I took my jacket off, ripping some of the fabric to bandage it around my bloody ankle. After dealing with a great deal of pain, I wiped the blood off my face with the rest of the material before throwing it off the side of the ladder too.

I slowly climbed back up the ladder, taking my time undoing the trap door, preparing myself for what was on the other side.

"I really don't want to go back to this hell hole", I thought to myself.

As soon as I pushed the door open, sterile air smacked me in the face and I heard people...scientists, talking. I cannot put into words how much I hate those people! My stomach rolled as some guards came over, shining a blinding torch in my face before they hauled me out of the 'training'...bone-breaking, torturous...room.

They shoved me in front of one of the messengers who worked for The General. She scrunched her nose, probably smelling my stench. To be fair, I had been down there for DAYS. She brought out her clipboard, sighing heavily.

"Let's get this over and done with. My coffee's getting cold ." She didn't even bother to look up to see if I was listening or not. We were always expected to listen. To be obedient, liked trained dogs.

I cleared my throat, trying to make my voice stable as my ankle got worse, throbbing angrily. Hell, I might even be bleeding to death. I spoke, recalling the first few nights down there.

"We lost 36 and 401. A mutant bear attacked us, taking out 401, and 36 died from an infection caused by saliva from where the bear bit him...I..I had to put him down." I cleared my throat again, trying to hold the emotions at bay. 

"I can mourn soon, I can push through it for a little longer", I told myself.