Beyond the Blackness
By Katie Grant, age 12

The corn, which had gleamed in the California sun suddenly, looked gloomy and threatening. It seemed to be so deep it would be impossible to escape. It swaying left and right in the nightly breeze. Flakes of the corn ripped away from the plant and had covered the floor.

The old convertible slept dilently like its driver. A young blonde man lying peacefully, unaware of the danger that lurked that few meters ahead of him. Earlier that day his car had skidded in the field making much noise. The passenger had gone to look for help and as it became dark our driver fell asleep. He was not aware that his acquaintance had not returned, neither that the noise he had made awoke a beast in not a great mood!

The stroke of midnight came. The town clock, just a mile away, couldn't be heard. The town was home to only three families. The Greenwoods, an Irish couple with four children all with the same striking red hair. Mr and Mrs Johnson. An Elderly couple who were enjoying the beauty of retirement. And finally a tall, dark haired man which nobody knew the name of. He was only seen to leave his cottage at night around 11pm and return about 3am. Strange, one would think however the Johnson's and Greenwoods preferred to keep themselves to themselves and let him come and go as he pleased.

The corn swayed left as a fast gust of northerly wind swept across the field, as if it was telling the creatures within it that midnight had come. Our young drivers eyes opened with a start. Had the wind awoken him? Or was something was sinister behind the fear in his eyes. He sat up and tried to pull the car roof over him. It was jammed. He gave up after a feeble attempt and returned to his car seat.

He began to relax again. How was he to know that revenge would take place just a few minutes later? He was mortal. Blinkered to all other life forms. He was not aware that the forest ahead was home to fairies, trolls, elves, and of course the leader of all magical beasts and beings- but we'll come to that later.

There was a sudden, movement ahead. A second a few inches to the right. The lights of the dirt track, that had made these movements visible, flickered and went out. A tide of total blackness drifted over the field.

He sat up and walked forward. He stood perplexed. "What had caused this blackout?" he thought aloud. There was no time to consider his question as a warm breath heated the back of his neck. A smell of rotting flesh filled the air. Followed by a load thud. There, covered in her own blood, was his passenger, his fiancée.

He tried to scream but no sound came out. A claw suddenly appeared and slashed his face. He tried to turn to see what had the passenger but another pushed him back. The pain became so strong he fell to the floor and passed out.

The hair-covered beast began to walk down the dirt track once more. He transformed into a large dark haired human. The leader left. The werewolf's duty was done.