21 August 2012

Sienna Davis – Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Young genius Lucius Dalworthy climbed from his Subterranean Tunneller, straightened his top hat, and strode into the underground chamber. ‘Surrender!’ he cried. ‘There is no escape for you now!’

Standing amid the steam and dust, Cressida Mandeville – his equally young and equally brilliant arch-enemy – raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s odd. I was just about to say the same thing to you.’

Lucius Dalworthy rummaged through the old, rotting house. The smell of mouldy wood filled the air. He passed a knife on an antique glass table and slipped it into his trousers. The room was full of photos and old crockery locked behind antique cupboards, gathering dust. Footsteps came from down the dark, empty hallway. He quickly turned his attention to the hallway and straightened his top hat and glasses. ‘Lucius!’ a raspy voice called out. ‘What on earth are you doing?’

A figure emerged into sight. She was wearing fluffy pink slippers and a soft pink nighty. Her old, shaking hand slowly moved to a switch on the wall. The room illuminated as a bright, comforting light filled all the dark shadows and warmed the old furniture. ‘Lucius, are you okay?’ she asked. Her old face resembled someone he remembered. Fine laughter lines framed her mouth and tiny wrinkles appeared at the corners of her brilliant green eyes. Her grey hair curled at the ends as if it had been professionally styled. She grabbed Lucius’s hand and led him down the hallway. He passed a mirror and an unfamiliar figure stood before him. The figure was old and wrinkly with grey hair and navy pinstripe pyjamas.

He looked at the old woman. Lucius opened his mouth and whispered ‘Where am I? Who are you?’ He was no longer wearing his top hat and his youthful complexion was gone. ‘I am your wife, we have been married for 48 years. You are in the house you grew up in.’ Lucius knew she was lying. He knew that the only way to get to the bottom of this mystery was to find out all he could about this woman.

She turned out the light and the smell of mouldy wood filled the air again. Strange figures appeared, they started running towards him. Lucius jerked back and started to run. He ran through the old room, knocking down the old clock. An ear piercing noise filled the room as the clock hit the cold ground. Lucius could hear the figures getting closer to him. Their cries of laughter and ring of swords sounded in his ears.

He ran through the front door and stumbled down the slippery stairs. The sound of laughter and screaming dispersed and he was standing all alone. A thick layer of fog covered the ground. His hands raised to his head and his top hat and glasses were on his head. He lunged into the mist and found his Subterranean Tunneller, he knew he would be safe in there. He peered over his shoulder to see Cressida Mandeville. She ran towards him and disappeared into the mist. The young genius Lucius Dalworthy climbed from his Subterranean Tunneller, straightened his top hat, and strode into the underground chamber. ‘Surrender!’ he cried. ‘There is no escape for you now!’

Standing amid the steam and dust, Cressida Mandeville – his equally young and equally brilliant arch-enemy – raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s odd. I was just about to say the same thing to you.’ A wave of evil creatures stood behind her. Their growls echoed in his ears. For a brief moment, they disappeared and Cressida was an old lady in a nighty, innocent and defenceless. Lucius knew better. He grasped his hand around the handle of the knife tucked away in his trousers. He ripped it out and ran to her. With a single swing of the silver blade, Cressida fell to the floor.

He was momentarily stunned. The body at his feet wasn’t his arch-enemy. It was his wife of 48 years.

By Sienna Davis, Year 9 (Female)


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