Winning Story - BSC Writing Competition

As promised in the previous newsletter, please find Jake D’s winning story below. This story won the Middle Years Category for the BSC Writing Competition. The judges’ feedback was that 'Jake’s piece was entertaining, clever and very relatable’.

Once again, I commend all students who submitted stories to this competition. We absolutely loved reading your stories and hope that you continue to pursue your love of creative writing. Also, thank you again to our fantastic expert judges.

Aimee Shattock

Communicate and Relate Teacher and Literacy Coordinator

Every Student’s Worst Nightmare

By Jake D

Okay, okay fine, I’ll start from the beginning.

It all started off a normal and boring day at school, the classes were different but repetitive. I reckon I nearly dozed off about five time before third session, I know it’s not something I should be telling a teacher but it’s important for the continuation of the story. Anyway, there I was sitting in maths (eyeroll) learning about Pythagoras theorem (even bigger eyeroll) when suddenly it happened. 

I had heard a voice in my head saying ‘Jake, wake up. Can’t you see? It’s right in front of you.’

‘I am awake, what’s in front of me?’ I asked.

‘What?’ asked one of my friends, Poppy.

‘Oh nothing, you know me just talking to myself,’

‘Of course, you are,’

‘That was close,’ said the voice ‘don’t let it happen again. I need to show you something,’

‘What?’ I asked it.

‘Try and fall asleep and then you will see,’

‘You just told me to wake up though,’

‘Don’t be smart,’ it said, with a frustrated sigh. ‘Just do as I say and close your eyes,’

‘You know what, fine, I have nothing better to do anyways,’

I closed my eyes and after about a second the voice told me to open them, as I did everything went hot and musty. The walls around me were burnt and charred. There was no one around me. The room was deserted, and the only sign of life was what looked like a demon; the creature was short and red with black horns. Upon further inspection, I realised that it looked similar to a teacher. 

‘Why are you showing me this?’ I asked the voice ‘my project is on another world, not, here. Wherever here is,’

‘This technically is another world,’ the voice said, ‘the UNDER-WORLD, so don’t say it isn’t’

‘Can the demon thing see me?’

‘No, because you are not dead. I can though’ 

‘Who even are you?’

‘Let me show you,’ Suddenly thunder cracked and in front of me was a red demon man. He had black horns and a perfectly trimmed goatee, he was around six foot two and was wearing an all-black suit ‘I am Satan, I go by many names; Beelzebub, The Devil and Lucifer. Lucifer is my first name,’

‘Um, so, you’re real? Well, I mean you clearly must be if you are standing in front of me,’

‘Aha yes,’ He laughed. ‘You must be wondering why I am showing you this. I felt bad that you didn’t have an idea to write about for you project. Then it all came to me in a dream, I must help this puny little human,’

‘Puny is a tad rude, don’t you think? Also am I actually in hell or is this some figment of my imagination?’

‘Oh no you are quite actually here,’ He showed me a bubble and in the bubble was my classmates, they were looking for me. It seemed like I had just vanished into thin air.

‘Wait, time out. I’m actually in hell?’ I ran to the window closest to me and looked out. Hell was one giant ring of buildings, schools. In the centre of the ring along the outskirts was a giant running track, people were being chased by what seemed to be large dogs. The people had chains around their ankles so that it was harder for them to run and easier for the dogs to eat them. Once they had been eaten, they suddenly reappeared a few metres in front of the dog and started running again. 

I turned to Lucifer. ‘Lucifer? Firstly, can I call you Luci?’ 

‘No’

‘Secondly, Luci, why is hell a bunch of schools?’ That’s when it hit me. ‘Wait, school is hell?’

‘Quite literally’

‘Are teachers demons?’

‘Most, yes. Just in a “human” disguise’

I felt confused and sick. I ran to the classroom next door and peeked my head in. The room was filled with around thirty people and thirty demons. The demons were stereotypical red with black horns, they were also holding large, hot metal rods. The demons walked over to the humans and started poking and prodding their arm with the rod. I realised that the humans were tied down to desks in front of them. The humans screamed in anguish as their arms were stabbed. As soon as the arm no longer existed and was burnt off it reappeared.

‘What’s with people reappearing?’

‘It’s how the torture can last forever,’

I needed to leave, I had to get out of that hell hole. Pun intended.

‘Get me out of here,’

‘You are in control,’

After hearing that, I slapped myself across the face to wake me up. When that didn’t work, I shouted out for help.

‘No one can hear you,’ Luci said cunningly.

I thought of where I wanted to be, then I did the Wizard of Oz thing. 

I closed my eyes and clicked my heels three times then said, ‘There’s no place like school, there’s no place like school’ 

Over and over. Suddenly the heat left, and I opened my eyes.

‘There you are,’ said Poppy ‘I started worrying.’

‘I’m fine.’ I replied.

‘JAKE, WHERE DID YOU GO?!?!’ It was my teacher, ‘GO TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW!’

I made my way to Ms Chaves' office and sat down. I started telling her about what happened, but she didn’t believe me. Why would she? I’d been to hell and back. She made a phone call and then my GOAL teacher walked in. That’s when I started telling him, and here we are. I’m now writing what happened in hopes of winning some challenge, and I think that this piece of writing is enough for me to win.