The Winners:
Megan, Core 3
A girl stood peacefully at the edge of the brick wall. He watched her, mesmerized as her hair floated and sparkled in the sunlight. She was folded over a thick book, absentmindedly running a gentle finger down the side of the page. The nape of her neck was exposed by the wind’s bitter breath; auburn locks flashed and glittered against the white snow backdrop until they settled back into a twirled column. Her hair…twisted into a shiny ponytail with a thick, elastic tie. He was amazed the band had such a strong grip. He was jealous too, for he longed to hold someone with the same amount of force and security the rubber circle did.
Asher, Core 4
I looked at the boy with pity. As a principal, I like to see whether new kids are trouble or not. This kid was the troubled one. His tan skin was weatherbeaten, like he worked too much. Due to his working life he had grown very strong. Another strange thing about him was that he only had one eye. The other replaced with an eyepatch and a scar running across his face. Obviously this kid was beaten up by bullies. He showed all his pain, sorrow, and misery through that one brown eye. I would do everything in my power to make his life better. He continued walking past me, like I wasn't there.
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The principal was looking at me with pity. Big surprise. Everybody does. Except the bullies that decide that I am a lamb in a lion’s den. I kept on walking and ran straight into a kid that looked like he could use some Weight Watcher therapies and better grades.
“Hey there,” he said. “My name’s Bill.” I knew from his crooked smile he meant trouble.
This school, I thought, is just like the others.
Hewson, Core 5
I don’t know how long I’ve been walking anymore. I know it has been days, but numbers are meaningless squiggles to my muddled brain. My rations are gone, and the backpack that contained what little bits of myself I could scavenge has been discarded, its weight too big a burden. Sweat encases my body like a wet cocoon, and my headaches have only gotten worse now that dehydration has become a norm. All that’s left of me is the torn cargo pants sticking to my legs, my tanktop, and the indigo colored sweatshirt that’s tied around my waist. My feet are bare, resulting in a two calloused messes of caked dirt, mud, and dried blood from scabs that have repeatedly broke, making them resemble mythical monsters advancing across the desolate landscape.
The center is close now. Once a spec marking the horizon, the military base now looms, like a foot waiting to step on the miniscule bug that is me. Soon I know I’ll reach the barbed wire that surrounds their property, and the gateway in that I’ve imagined so many times since I set out. The watchtowers have already come into view, and I know it won’t be long before I can see my way into the base, and my escape from life. Weeks before this, I would’ve never imagined making this perilous journey. Weeks before this, I didn’t need an escape. Weeks before this, Maya was still alive.
Maddie, Core 6
I self consciously tugged at my teal dress and and tucked my long brown hair behind my ears. Allison smiled at me.
“Ready to go?” she said.
I nodded, and began to chew on my lip. It was one of my bad habits. I had not found a good reason to break it lately, though. I had been nervous about this banquet for the past few days. I followed Allison into Mrs. Jones’s car and quickly strapped myself in.
“Where are we going?” I asked quietly, cringing at my low voice.
I still wasn’t accustomed to speaking unless I was spoken to. Mrs. Jones smiled at me.
“A seafood restaurant near the beach.” she replied, her eyes returning to the road.
There was an awkward silence and I began to braid my hair. I hated the way it was two colors, dark brown and a light rusty brown.
“The banquet is going to be so much fun!” Allison chirped.
Nodding, I smiled at her. I stared down at the right corner of my hand. Two freckles were joined together there to make a heart. The silence was there again, but I was too shy to break it.
