Soul by Hollie Downie

365th day trapped.

It has been a year. I should be grateful. Many of us have been here longer: three years or even four. Tonight is my chance. So if you are seeing this, you are the only one who can help.

Tonight is Christmas Eve. The night every child looks forward to, just as I had when I was free. There’s a much darker side to Christmas, underneath the thin layer of snow covering it. A side I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. The ice broke for me one year ago today. And a year later, I’m planning my escape. It has to be precise. I have to be careful. I can’t do it without you.

My story begins on the 24th December, 1967. I had gone outside in the evening whilst my parents were asleep. They would have been furious with me if I had returned that night. I wouldn’t mind hearing another one of my parents’ lectures about ‘stranger danger’. I would do anything to hear from them again.

It was snowing that night. Only thin snow but snow nevertheless. It was hypnotic, watching it fall. I was so completely mesmerised by it that when I saw a white flash behind a tree down my road, I couldn’t prevent myself from following it. My gut and my head were fighting as I walked towards the tree. I wasn’t stupid. I had seen horror films. The classic story of running up the stairs when you should be running out the front door. I was clever. I knew how to survive. Yet still, I steadily walked towards this continuous flash. I felt my house get further and further away. My feeling of mesmerisation grew as the world slowly began to change, becoming different. It looked beautiful. But different.

Suddenly I was in the light. All I could see was yellow surrounding me. Nothing had direction or purpose, it was all just yellow. Until, through my cautious spinning, I noticed a figure. A silhouette was watching me in the distance. Then there were multiple. They kept increasing until there were 11 of them, facing me. I walked towards them, hoping I could make out some sort of expression from their faces. I soon realised they were children. It didn’t take me long after that to find out I was trapped in a world filled with snow and trees. A snowglobe.

All year round we were stuck. Occasionally the whole world would shake, but only very occasionally. Only when a child got bored and decided to spontaneously shake us. We were bruised and scraped but we were strong and smart. I was the smartest, which is why this year, we are getting out.

I understand how crazy this sounds but my name is Christopher Harrold and I have been missing for a year. I’m sure my posters have been up all around. Mine and the 11 others. We found a small gap in this world. Not enough for a person but enough for this letter. I don’t know if it will get to anyone, but if you are reading this, it has got to you. Tonight, at 9 o’clock, leave your house and follow the flashing light. You will find 12 of us. Bring something long and sharp. Anything. We are breaking out of this snowglobe and you are our only chance.

Trapped

By Charlotte Hall