Ria Puran May 15, 2021 Collins Big Cat Writing Competition 2021 Shinoy and the Chaos Crew: The Day of The Haunted Fortress of Doom
It was a dark and gloomy Saturday. The rain was pouring heavily, thunder clapped and lightning flashed its streaks in the dark sky. Shinoy looked out his bedroom window. It seemed rather peculiar that there was a thunderstorm that day. After all it was summer and its usually bright and sunny during this period. The meteorologists reported that it was merely a freak storm but Shinoy felt that it was otherwise. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something really bad was about to happen. At that same moment, Shinoy gasped as he stared into the sky. Was it just his imagination or did he see two gargoyles fly by in the air? Shinoy wasn’t sure but what he saw next confirmed his fears. The gargoyles were pulling something big and heavy through the sky. It looked like a throne of some sort and sitting in it was Shinoy and The Chaos Crew’s worst enemy, S.N.A.I.R. There was only one thing to do. “Call to Action, Chaos Crew!” he cried dramatically. Salama appeared next to Shinoy and looked at the sight before her eyes. The fierce warrior shrugged as she said, “Looks to me like S.N.A.I.R.’s going somewhere and he just wants to make an entrance. Let’s follow him!” She donned a raincoat, rainboots and carried an umbrella. Shinoy did the same. They trekked through the rain. They could barely see ahead of him but eventually they reached the edge of a river. In the middle was an island and on it stood a massive fortress looming high over them. “The Haunted Fortress of Doom! I didn’t know it was so close to town!” Salama gasped. A green forboding light shined out from the fortress and went up towards the sky. Shinoy shuddered. This was not what he expected. S.N.A.I.R. landed on the island and proceeded toward the castle’s door. “Looks like the gargoyles are mechanical and S.N.A.I.R. found a way to make them waterproof as well.” Shinoy observed. “You’re right! Let’s see what he’s up to.” Salama said determinedly. They crossed the river by building a raft and walked up to the door. Fortunately, there were no guards or booby traps so they entered freely. They looked around in awe. They proceeded into the dimly lighted passageway. The torches on the wall threathened to blow out any second but never did. They walked on through the passageway. It was eerie the way that it narrowed and widened at every turn. What was even more scarier for Shinoy was that a peculiar sound could be heard. It sounded like a moan of some sort. It sent chills up his spine. “I think we should go where the green light was shooting out from the building. S.N.A.I.R probably might be there.” Shinoy said with a shrug. “Absolutely! I have a feeling this same passageway will lead us to it.” Salama answered. They walked on but stopped short moments later as numerous pairs of red eyes appeared surrounding them at the sides and the back. “The only option is move forward. Run!” Salama instructed as she started toward a door ahead. Mechanical goblins were chasing them. Shinoy could hear spears clanking against the walls of the passageway behind them. When they were both safely behind the heavy wooden door, Salama closed the door with a bang and latched it securely. They shuddered as they heard the goblins’ spears banging loudly against the closed door. “That was close!” Shinoy said
with a sigh. He squinted in the darkness surrounding him. He thought he could see a green glow of light about 30 feet away. Before Salama could answer a voice boomed from the far end of the room, “Well, well, if it isn’t Shinoy and the Chaos Crew member, Salama!” Shinoy instantly recognized the voice. It was S.N.A.I.R.’s! Salama fumbled for a light switch and put it on. Light flooded the entire room. There on a raised platform sat S.N.A.I.R. on his throne. In front of him was huge metal object in the shape of an orb. A series of cords and wires were attached to many different places around the machine. In the middle a green light shot out from it towards the ceiling where there was a hole to allow it to pass through. S.N.A.I.R. cackled loudly. In his hand he was holding a remote with a huge red button in the middle. It was obviously a self destruct button and once it was pressed the whole fortress would collapse due to the force. “You distract S.N.A.I.R. while I try to find a way to deactivate this machine. I think it’s causing this storm!” Shinoy whispered to Salama. Science was one of his favourite subjects so he thought he could easily deactivate the machine. Salama nodded and went toward S.N.A.I.R. and the gargoyles surrounding him, her only arm holding a sword she had brought with her. “Where is the boy!” S.N.A.I.R. demanded, his voice echoing through the room. Shinoy hid himself cleverly and began removing wires from the motherboard of the machine. A loud groaning sound had filled the air and the machine began to rumble and a gren liquid began oozing out of it. The green light that was shooting upwards suddenly vanished. Salama approached Shinoy and handed him a coin. “A Chaos Crew Void Transit Disc! Awesome!” Shinoy exclaimed. They fizzled out of sight just as the machine exploded. When Salama and Shinoy refizzled, they were back in Shinoy’s bedroom. The dark skies vanished and turned into bright ones and the storm ceased. “Good job today, Shinoy!” Salama exclaimed. “See you next time!” Shinoy said as Salama waved farewell and disappeared. It had been a rather eventful morning. Later that afternoon, Shinoy took a walk. He found himself heading for the river. When Shinoy arrived at the same spot he had seen the fortress, he was shocked to see the island along with the fortress gone. “That’s probably one mystery that will remain unsolved!” Shinoy thought laughing.