Run

By Poppy

They were coming - and soon.

It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. But it was, and we were all forced to believe it. My life flashed before my eyes as I gazed into the ocean. Why? Why now? I wanted hope, but all I had was despair. I wanted them to feel our pain as our loved ones fell. I wanted this to be a nightmare, to wake up and find nothing’s true. But it wasn’t, and everyone knew it. I wanted it to end - and now.

It wasn’t fair. The end was near. I was full of that hope, the hope that when you needed it most, it’s never there inside you. I was full of that fear, the fear that comes and reminds you of the dangers out there ready to be discovered. I was full of that worry, the worry that it was too late and they were coming, coming closer and coming faster.

And maybe they were coming, maybe it was too late. And as I stared up into the clouds, it seemed more real, much more true...

I felt my heart pounding in my ears as they stood beside me. I daren’t look behind me - for they were the Vikings. It was true – they had come. It seemed too scary to be real. As the doors of the tower locked behind me, I suddenly realised I was alone!

I felt him stalking me. A bead of icy cold sweat dripped from my forehead. I felt this was the end. I knew I had to say goodbye to the world I loved so much. His image was haunting me, hunting me down as I took my last breath of air...

“Grrr...” The wolf was a ray of sunshine. He was the light. He had saved me but was now in immense danger. At first there was nothing I could do. The beady-eyed Viking was staring down at the wolf. My wolf friend needed help-and quickly. He sank his teeth hard into the Viking’s hand making him yowl in pain but was injured himself. However, this was our only chance. It was now or never. It was then we decided to run.

“Come!” An elderly man urged us on, gesturing wildly with his wrinkled hands. “Come! There is no time left. We are the only survivors.” I had my doubts about him but somehow I seemed to trust him. I glanced at the damaged tower. My father, the ruler, was up there. He was gone, but not completely. He was still there in my heart. He still lived on inside me. And then I looked at Wolf, looked in his eyes. It seemed that he wanted me to go on, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave him. Not ever. He saved my life. I knew I shouldn’t give up now.

“I’m sorry.” I yelled. “But I’m staying.”