WELCOME TO THE VOID
B Y A DDISON S MITH – M IDDLE S CHOOL W INNER I looked around, my eyes wide with terror. I had fallen into the void- a space of nothingness with only your worst fears inhabiting the darkness. Many children had been condemned to the void, but no one has ever lived to tell the tale. Today’s society is run by The Mannequins. Lifeless dolls with a harsh sense of judgment. No one knows how they work, or how they came to power. But I can tell you one thing- once you’re on trial, you are never found innocent. Theorists say that if The Mannequins are in power much longer, humankind would be no more. Because The Mannequins found everyone guilty, and the only punishment fit for all crimes is execution. Therefore, it brings the worst in people out, neighbors turn on each other and without a second thought accuse each other of crimes the accused didn’t do, just for an extra ration of food. Many people believe The Mannequins are merely puppets being controlled by a higher power. This higher power, however, takes most of our food, leaving many families starving and relying on stealing just to see another day. This was how I was found guilty. I had stolen an apple so my little sister could eat. Soon after, I was thrown into the void with nothing but the clothes on my back. A loud thud and the sound of water jolted me from my thoughts. Shakily, I stood up and walked towards the sound. I kept walking until I saw something that terrified me- the ocean, and I was teetering precariously on the edge of a cliff overlooking the waves. If I took one step closer I would be facing a watery death. Then I felt a hand on my back and next thing I knew I was tumbling into the murky water. Panicking, I flailed my arms and took hold of anything I touched. The thing that had pushed me in looked over the edge with an eerie smile, and I almost screamed in terror. The face I saw had been contorted so gruesomely that it was hardly even human. Flesh was falling off of its cheeks, and the skin around the mouth had been cut away to reveal razor- sharp teeth that were tinted a rather human shade of red. My grip started to loosen on the branch that separated my life from death. I should just let go, drowning would probably be easier than whatever that thing has planned for me, and with that thought, I let go. I groaned in pain as my back hit solid ground instead of water.
Those awful creatures were surrounding me. Their exposed mouths were open wide and releasing horrible guttural screams. But their eyes were… pleading, as if their body was acting against their will. They all lunged for me, like a wall of flesh coming down on me. I bolted up and ran as fast as I could to escape a gruesome fate. The creatures let out a joyful screech, as if enjoying a chase. Wait… that’s what this is, I am the prey and to them this is just a game. I stopped running and spun on my heels, ready for a fight. I imagined them advancing and me landing blow after blow until I could escape. Taking a shaky breath, I prepared for the attacks. But surprisingly, none came. I looked around and saw the creatures quivering on the ground, like I had imagined them. Except I hadn’t laid a finger on them. Taking the time I was given, I ran. It could have been hours later, or merely minutes until my legs felt as if they had been replaced with jello. Collapsing to my knees, I decided. I would be the first person to escape the void. Not long after my encounter with the monsters, I decided to see how large the void really was. I turned in a random direction and counted my steps as I walked. I had gotten to 100 steps without running into any walls. Maybe the void really is endless… No. It can’t be, it’s not possible. My thoughts wandered, but I couldn’t scare myself about silly things like that. Then I realized something. When I had encountered the monsters, I imagined them afraid of me, but I never laid a finger on them. When I saw them, they were like I had imagined them. Maybe I hadn’t run into a wall because I imagined the void being endless. While I was walking I felt hot, foul breath on the back of my neck, and I quickly closed my eyes. As if what I couldn’t see couldn’t hurt me, I tensed up, preparing to run, but then imagined the creature disappearing. For a moment the breathing on my neck disappeared. As I began to relax, I felt it again. Squeezing my eyes shut, I realized the breathing wasn’t just behind me. It was all around me. Hot tears ran down my face as I thought of my family. If I couldn’t make these creatures leave me alone, I would never see them again. The day I stole that stupid apple that condemned me to this fate played over and over in my head, no matter how much I tried to stop it, to think of something else. Mom called from the kitchen, “Emery! Are you going into town today?” I had just finished lacing my boots when I walked out of the tiny bedroom. “Yeah, I’m going to get something for May, she’s getting worse,” May was my little sister, who had gotten sick, and would not eat anything. I was worried she was going to starve. We didn’t have
enough food for my parents and I alone, and she refused to eat anything we offer her. I walked into May’s room, and knelt beside her small body on the floor, “Hey May, I’m going into town to get something that will make you feel better, I’ll be back soon,” Her bony hand reached for mine, and she looked up at me. “I want an apple,” I was shocked, she had hardly said anything. Much less ask for food. I stood up, determined. “I’ll get you an apple. I promise,” Then with that, I left. I never did give May that apple. I wondered where she was now, and if she was any better. Then I felt a clawed hand on my shoulder. Frozen, I held my breath, hoping they would leave. A minute later, I was close to fainting from lack of air. So I took a huge gasp, filling my lungs with oxygen. The creatures screamed and started their advance towards me, I imagined them walking away, leaving me alone. The breathing stopped for a second, and then it started again, only heavier, and louder. I opened my eyes just in time to see countless beasts lunging for me. I screamed, and then everything went black. Waking up to darkness, I tried to move. Only to find that I couldn’t. Something was positioned above my head, and a weak ray of light glinted off of it. The realization came to me quickly, and I struggled frantically to escape. After a minute of frustrating paralyzation, I could move again. But I didn’t have enough time to move before the guillotine came down. I was a fool to think I could escape the void.