Naya Saigal, 10, "The Remnants"

What stood in front of Jane was a mutilated version of Axel, whose uniform had been stretched and torn to expose grayish green skin. His teeth had fallen out of place, his incisors sticking out above his lower lip. There were human bite marks in his neck where teeth had torn him open. The most unsettling part of his disheveled appearance were his eyes. A hazy white fog showed through his corneas, making him seem not completely there, but rather focusing on something in the middle distance. Even though his messy dark hair was now soaked with blood, somehow Jane still managed to find it attractive. Her crush had become infected with a virus that extinguishes all brain signals except for the primal urge to feed, mentally killing the victim.

Axel used to sit across from her in chemistry class, making it hard to focus on the whiteboard. Jane vividly remembered the times he had asked for a pencil or charger, and how after every class he would ask what period was next (even though every time it was 3), hoping that he wasn't just forgetful and that really he just wanted to talk to her. But, she knew that her hormones were just making her delusional. Now, the two stared at each other, paralyzed. The door to the classroom was wide open, yet Jane stayed put. Instead of launching after her, even though Axel was more than close enough to get a good bite, he simply stood there, eyes lazily pointed in her direction.

Jane wondered if the boy she had liked for just over three years still remained within. Did he recognize her? Was that why he did not devour the meat standing before him? Or was this just a delayed reaction to the virus? Did it take a minute for it to fully hijack the brain?

Surely these could not be the same beautiful black eyes that she had spent so many class periods staring into (making sure to look away whenever he looked back towards her). Finally, her instincts took over and she stepped into the hallway. Standing just beyond the threshold, she took one last look at him then ran, hearing the door shut behind her.

Jane dashed across the hall and down all three stories to get to the basement, wondering where this speed was when she was running the mile.

Oddly, she didn’t hear footsteps following her, not understanding why she wasn’t being chased. Did Axel save her, even without consciousness? Or did Jane just choose to believe he did?

As she slammed the metal door shut, listening to the faded groans and screams of her classmates, she remembered that she wasn’t the one who closed the door to the classroom; Axel must have shut it for her, protecting her from himself.

Sterling Halad, 11, "Untitled"

Graysen Stratton, 10, "Beatrice"

I look around and I see white everywhere White walls White floors and a whole bunch of White people

I grew up with White walls

Back then I didn’t care what color the walls were I was thriving I was happier Until my environment changed

But now It seems I'm in the same hallways With different walls

No one can see what I see Or hear what I hear

But I’m surrounded by walls So I get why no one can sense me

I find it quite a struggle Trying to bridge the gap between the old me and the new one

All I need Is to go back to how thing used to be

And when I could just be Me

So I wrote a letter to the past me In hopes of finding myself again

Dear old me, Without you I feel empty A goal With no net Feels

My life was Broken, Shattered, Like puzzle pieces In my head

I can no longer fit Will you Help me heal

Stay with me

Let’s enjoy life

Like we used to Like a star

Stealing sun

Shooting through the sky

Burning up together

Jennie Matos 11

"Yeah, I Guess the End is Here"