1st: Heng Ying Ting Elisa, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
A WITCH’S SACRIFICE
”Evil sorceress,” they whispered in harsh tones.
“Cursed house,” they muttered behind cupped hands.
“Never go near the Sorceress’ Forest,” they warned, fear apparent in their old, rheumy eyes.
”She kidnaps children and boils them down to their bones,” they said.
‘Superstitious old people,’ Echo griped inwardly as she set off into a forest. ‘I hope Rayne is feeling better now. It’s been days since she was well enough to come to the door herself.’ Echo kept her eyes on the forest floor, silken patches of sunlight streaming in and casting archaic patterns on the damp foliage. Suddenly, a hand fell heavily on her shoulder. Turning around in a jerky, scared movement, she heaved a sigh of relief when she realised it was only her mother. The mother she loved more than anything in the world, and who loved her back as much.
“Don’t forget to be home before five,” the petite lady reminded.
“Okay Mom,” Echo replied dutifully.
“Have fun, okay? And beware the witch,” the older of the two smiled and left. Echo watched as her maternal figure took her leave, not moving from the spot until her mother’s back had disappeared from sight.
As she walked deeper into the forest, black roses began to wind themselves around the tall, towering trees, as if choking them. “Rayne,” Echo mumbled, pricking her finger on one of the roses. A drop of blood fell onto the petals, life on death. A large mansion shimmered into existence, midnight petals settling onto the path in an abyssal blanket of nothingness. The door creaked open ominously, an invitation into the house.
Treading lightly, she walked in, the door slamming shut behind her the moment she entered. The entire house was white, a pure white harp in the centre of the room, immaterial fingers playing a soft, melancholic tune. She ascended to the second floor, the steps transforming into feathers in her wake. They floated to the ground, whispering across her vision and reminding her of the first time she had entered the house. She had been scared of Rayne’s magic at first, but they became friends over the subsequent three years. Echo would do anything for the frail, orphaned Rayne.
Searching the house, she couldn’t find Rayne anywhere. As she meandered, she noticed a stench wafting from the bathroom. Entering, she saw nothing out of place. A toilet, a shower, a cupboard pushed against a far wall and other necessities one would find in a toilet. Closer inspection revealed that the inside of the cupboard was a shade darker than the outside. After a few minutes of pushing, a secret door was finally revealed to her. The slab of wood swung open on rusted hinges, daring her to enter.
Echo couldn’t help but descend the rotting wooden steps, fear and curiosity riding the waves of anxiety into her heart. Following the breadcrumbs a halo of light fed her, she soon emerged into a room painted entirely black. Smudges of crusted blood were spread along the walls like decor. Black roses lay in the corners, crumpled and withering. In the centre of the room was a symbol etched into the stone floor, blood blooming on it, beautiful and yet terrible.
Standing in the gruesome centrepiece was Rayne, a bloodied hand reaching up to a hideous creature. Clawed arms were mashed together haphazardly, heads crushed and spilling a disgusting cocktail of cerebral fluid and blood. The creature saw Echo and screeched, a medley of different voices as a single wail of agony. It stumbled towards Echo blindly but with surprising speed.
Echo screamed, a sharp sound that was clamouring with terror. Rayne finally took notice of Echo and the abomination that was charging towards her friend. Her eyes widened and she shouted, “Stop!”
The monster floundered, unsure of what to do. A spray of blood painted itself across Echo’s face and she screamed again, her eyes held wide with fear.
“You can’t kill her!” Rayne commanded. “She’s my most precious-!” Rayne didn’t manage to finish her sentence as the monstrosity lunged at Echo. Her body moving before she could think, Rayne closed the distance between herself and her only friend, throwing herself between the monster and Echo.
Echo felt the blood on her body before her mind registered what she was seeing. Rayne was standing in front of her, the monster’s claws invading her body. Silver hair, blessed by starlight, was flecked with blood and cascaded limply downward.
“Echo… Get the lighter… in my pocket. Burn it…” Rayne gasped, her sentence punctuated by pained grunts.
Digging hastily into the pocket of the dress Rayne was wearing, her fingers closed around the lighter. Reaching over the injured girl’s shoulder, Echo touched the lighter to the monster and set it alight. The abomination caught fire immediately, the thing giving out a dying scream as the flames claimed it. Rayne pushed herself away from the burning pile of bodies and staggered, her white dress slowly stained scarlet, the cloth soaking up the dark liquid to quench its thirst for colour.
“Rayne… I’m so sorry,” Echo’s voice wavered as she supported the young magic user.
“Echo… What… would you be willing… to do for me…?” Rayne ground out.
“Anything,” Echo breathed.
“Good, my most precious… body,” Rayne weakly lifted her hand to touch Echo’s forehead. Daggers of pain knifed into Echo’s abdomen and her body felt incredibly weak. She stared up into chocolate eyes and a familiar face. A face she saw in the mirror every day.
“What.. did you… do?” Echo managed to articulate.
“You said you’d do anything,” Rayne giggled using Echo’s voice.
“My… Mom…” Echo’s eyes closed slowly as the darkness dragged her into its embrace.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your mother. I’m sure she’ll love me. My parents didn’t love me so I killed them. Now, please die,” Rayne picked up a knife from the shelf and stabbed her old body repeatedly, laughing at the girl’s naivety. Laughing at the girl’s sacrifice.
2nd: Myat Hmu Khin, 13, Xinmin Secondary
Zombies
The night was dark, gloomy and silent. A low yet ominous rumble of thunder rolled above me breaking the silence. Dried leaves danced wildly on the secluded road. A large, crunchy dried leaf landed on my forehead blinding me. I immediately grabbed it away regaining my sight. My husband and I were strolling on what used to be a zombie-inhabited street. We had to go find a pharmacy to get medicine for our son who was seriously injured.
After aimlessly searching for an hour, lady luck shined upon us. I thanked God with a simple prayer and made a sprint for the pharmacy.
There it stood, deserted and worn down. It emanated eeriness. The signboard was covered with algae and the colours had faded out. My husband and I exchanged a smile. This was a sign of hope amidst all the deaths and misery we had been going through. Armed with a 38 special in my hand, I made my way up a short flight of steps that led to a small verandah outside the pharmacy. As I stepped on each step, the wooden step creaked nosily as if warning us against going in. My husband went up next. I leaned my back beside the door of the pharmacy still gripping the gun that was pointed towards the door. Anything could be inside the pharmacy– a zombie or even a herd of them. But, I wasn’t scared. Just the thought of my son returning to his original health was enough for me to muster whatever courage I still have left and get that medicine. My husband held a revolver in his hand. He pointed the gun directly towards the door. It’s now or never. He signaled to me that he was opening the door. I nodded in acknowledgement.
He turned the door knob and the door creaked open. My eyes started to probe the interior. I could hardly make out the outline of the things inside. We cautiously walked inside back to back. The ceiling was high above me and heavy, dark beams supported it. There were cobwebs hanging down from the ceiling. Grey dust coated the shelved items. I whipped out a torchlight from my backpack and scanned around the surroundings. Zero zombies. It was safe. My husband closed the door and I immediately hurried to look around for the medicine needed. I selfishly placed many rolls of bandages and bottles of iodine into my backpack. My husband guarded the door as I did so. Next, I dumped packets of painkillers and antibiotics in my backpack. I zipped my backpack and got ready to leave. Just as I was about to get up, I heard a guttural sound. A zombie charged at me from behind. My heart skipped a beat. My husband was too occupied guarding the front door to notice me. I let out a loud piercing shriek and without thinking I shot the zombie. It slumped onto the ground. Its face was decaying and there was visible sign of emaciation on its face. It had bloodshot eyes that glared at me like I was its next meal. My husband rushed over. I stood there too stunned to react, my legs turning into lead. Then, there were many more moaning sounds coming from behind. Before we could even react, a herd of zombies were limping towards us. They must have entered through the backdoor! The gunshot and my scream must have attracted them here.
I stood steadfast with my mouth agape in shock. Those warning from the creaks just now were correct! How stupid of me! The atmosphere intensified with doom as a tingle crept up at the nape of my neck. This was then that my husband pulled my hands and we started sprinting out of the pharmacy.
On the road, I looked behind, the zombies were nearing us and there were so many of them! We would never make it out alive. I was trembling like a leaf. Lactic acid started building up in my legs and I started slowing down. Then, my husband turned to me and said,
‘‘I will stay behind. Run away from here and give the medicine to our son. I will distract them. Go.”
His words were like knives that pierced my heart.
‘‘No! Never! ” I refused to leave him behind.
‘‘John needs his mother. Tell him I love him. And, I love you. Now go! Don’t look back!’’
He pushed me away from the grip of his assuring hands and I continued running. My heart tore into two at the thought of him dying.
Then, I heard it. A loud scream rang out like a shotgun through a vast room. I turned around and saw him slumped to the ground with zombies hungrily tearing his skin apart and devouring his insides. His fresh, red blood splattered everywhere. A zombie greedily pulled out his intestine and gobbled it down while the others bend down and licked the blood on the road like ants after candy. I watched in shock. That was my man.
It striked me like a hammer blow. My eyes started brimming with tears and my heart ached with nostalgia of the memories we had together. The first time we met, our wedding and the birth of John. All the memories flashed through my mind like a projector projecting our past. My moans started dissolving into tears. I felt as if I was treading over an emotional minefield and exploded with every step I took. I was ready to exchange my life for his. This is just too painful. He was my first love, the father of my child and he was willing to steal the sun from the sky if I wanted it. God cannot take him away. He is everything I ever stood for. I shook my head in denial. No, this is all just a bad dream.
‘’Don’t look back…’’
I kept reminding myself and continued running. He sacrificed himself for John and me.
3rd: Priyahdharshini, 16, Tanjong Katong Girls School
EUTHANASIA
Ten years ago, Li Ann was just like any other young girl. She was cheerful, bubbly and friendly towards others. Her life was just as ordinary. She attended school, excelled in examinations and participated actively in co-curricular activities. Li Ann was her parents’ only child. They adored their only daughter greatly. Life was going smoothly for Li Ann until a tragedy struck.
Li Ann was walking home from school when it occurred. Being an obedient girl, she only crossed the road when the green pedestrian light was flashing. It took only one reckless driver to destroy Li Ann’s life completely. The driver was obviously speeding. When he saw Li Ann, he slammed the brakes, but it was too late. The car rammed into Li Ann and sent her petite body flying across the street. Li Ann’s head struck a hard object. That was the only thing Li Ann remembered before she lost her consciousness.
Ten years later, Li Ann had been reduced to nothing but a cripple. She was paralysed neck-down and depended entirely on her family members. Her parents were old and could not take care of her as they were battling their own illnesses. Li Ann’s relatives took turns to look after her reluctantly. She knew that she had become nothing but a living burden on her family. Li Ann’s parents had to pay a lot of money for her medical treatment, which didn’t really benefit Li Ann as she would still be paralysed neck-down. Li Ann and her family were suffering immensely and no one wanted to help them. One day, Li Ann offered a suggestion.
“Mom, Dad. I was thinking…” Li Ann faltered. She did not muster the courage to tell her parents the decision she had made.
“Yes, Li Ann?” her parents asked, patiently waiting.
“I have made a decision.”
“What decision?”
“I want euthanasia,” Li Ann finally said quickly. She squeezed her eyes shut as she did not want to see the reaction her parents faces. They were dumbfounded. They had not expected their precious daughter to come up with such a devastating decision.
“What?”
“Yes, I want to perform euthanasia. I feel that I am burden on you, on our relatives. You don’t have the strength to take care of me. Our relatives don’t want to take of me. Nobody can take care of me. Isn’t it better if I just died?”
“If you die, who will look after us? You are our only daughter. We treasure you, we don’t want you to die.”
“But I am nothing but a paralysed cripple. I am of no use.”
“No, Li Ann, we still love you.”
Li Ann broke into tears. And she could not wipe them away. Her mother wiped her tears off her face with her bare hands. Li Ann could not bear to leave her parents, but it was the only logical thing she could think of. The next day, Li Ann tried to convince her parents again, after much consideration.
“Mom, Dad. I am serious about euthanasia. I have thought over it carefully. I think this is the best decision. Yes, I know it’s hard on you but…”
“Why? Why do you want to perform euthanasia?”
“I wanted to have a career, get married and have kids. I wanted to live a blissful life. But look at me now; I am not living any life. I am a waste. After you are gone, who do I have? Nobody. I will just rot away and nobody will bother to take care of me. I am going through a lot of pain. Emotional pain. I think it’s better if I just…die.”
“If you perform euthanasia, won’t your Dad and I feel the guilt for the rest of our lives?”
“What guilt? If you let me die, you would be relieving me of my suffering. You would not have to take care of me.”
“But, I can’t bear to see you die just like that!”
“I know, I don’t want to leave you as well, but I am left with no choice. When you die, who will be there for me?”
With this, Li Ann stopped and went back to her room. Rivets of tears streamed down Li Ann’s cheeks uncontrollably. She pondered over her fatal decision. Li Ann wanted to die before her time was up. Was that going to really relieve her of her suffering? Would she be doing a sacrifice for her parents?
The next day, Li Ann’s parents came into her room. She was straddled on her bed, wide awake. She wondered what they had in store for her.
“Dear, we have finally decided.”
“What?” Li Ann’s parents were hesitant. Her father finally broke the news after a minute of silence.
“We will allow you to go ahead with euthanasia.”
Deep inside, Li Ann was happy that her painful, melancholic life was about to come to an end. However, she thought about her parents once again. What would her parents do without her? Li Ann convinced herself by saying that she would be doing a great sacrifice to her parents as they would not have to spend any more money and effort on her.
“Thank you mom and dad. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Are you very sure about this?”
“Yes I am.”
After one month of court trials, Li Ann finally got the approval to go ahead with voluntary euthanasia. On a rainy Saturday night, Li Ann lay on a hospital bed. Her life was about to end in fifteen minutes. Li Ann had thought about it very carefully. She had no regrets. The doctor then entered the room.
“Li Ann?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m Li Ann.”
“What a waste to kill this pretty young thing,” the doctor said to himself as he prepared the chemical injection. That injection which will end Li Ann’s life in just a minute.
“Do you have any final words, wishes?”
“Are my parents here?”
“Yes, they are waiting outside.”
“I want to talk to them.”
The doctor called Li Ann’s parents in. They looked depressed and guilt-ridden.
“Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I’ll be alright. This is my sacrifice to you. I hope I have been a faithful daughter to you all my life. Forgive me if I had hurt you in anyway.”
“No dear…” They could not take it. Li Ann’s parents stepped out of the room.
“In another five minutes, the chemical injection will be administered into you.”
Li Ann closed her eyes and recalled her entire life. She recollected her perfect childhood, her enjoyable youth. She reminisced the good times she spent with her family and friends. Before she knew it, the chemical was injected into her and slowly entered her bloodstream. The lethal poison killed her slowly, but painlessly. Li Ann’s life ebbed away, second by second.
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