Another World

This is another story I had to write for English. We've been studying the movie "Bridge to Terabithia" (Ugh >_>) and had to write a story about a world of our own invention. This was mine.
==Another World==
Ugh, this worksheet is so boring, I think to myself. I already know most of this anyway! I am sitting in English class, completing a sheet about the difference between common nouns, proper nouns and pronouns. It is period six and I want nothing more than to go home. Ms Andrews is busy babbling to another student, who needs help. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I slack off a little, just for the last fifteen minutes of this lesson. Leaning my head against my hand, I close my eyes and imagine another world… A world devastated by a nuclear war…
 * 
I bolt through the destroyed main street, running as fast as I possibly can. Despite my best efforts, I can hear the explosions getting closer. Every time a bomb is dropped, I can feel the shockwave. Behind me lies a haze of heat and toxic smoke – and a fleet of jets carrying enough explosives to level the district.
The city is under siege. Ever since the war began, burning wrecks of cars, small craters in the road and living on the run has become part of my daily life. Staying in one place too long is fatal; sleep is a luxury I cannot afford, except in short two-hour bursts.
Hearing yet another detonation, I stop and turn to examine the scene to my rear. No sooner do I draw to a halt, another shockwave throws me forward as bombs rain down on a skyscraper to my left. The blazing structure collapses, throwing up a colossal cloud of choking ash and dust. I scream as I’m engulfed by the all-consuming cloud. Already my throat feels raw and dry from the granules of grit. I can’t breathe.
Desperately I stagger away from the source of the airborne residue, blindly stumbling forwards. My knee hits something hard and sharp and I cry out in pain. Big mistake. A group of nearby Ferals – savage, irradiated humans that ambush unsuspecting refugees and butcher them for meat – hear my howl and descend like rabid, silent wolves. Unaware of their presence, l continue to totter onwards, ignoring the throbbing pain in my knee. That’s when they attack.
The first to strike is a tall Feral with dark red skin, mad eyes and wild, tangled hair. He clumsily punches me from behind, sending me reeling. The smoke and dust obscuring my vision, I aimlessly lash out at thin air. The Feral is fast. Before I get a chance to land a solid hit, two more Ferals assault me from the sides. I feel a sharp metal object twist in my guts and I yell out with pain.
Glancing downwards, I see blood pouring out of a massive gash in my torso. One of the Ferals grins, holds up a knife, then prepares to finish me off and carve me up for a meal.
A bomb goes off before he can, interrupting the brutal fight. The world turns upside down and my senses vaguely register shrapnel pierce my body. Then I feel the heat.
The fire is everywhere. The hungry flames are devouring everything around me – my body included. The searing heat ignites my dirty clothes and gritty hair. It is indescribable, pure agony. My skin chars and shrivels in the inferno. My eyeballs go dry and the world goes black as my eyes burn. I can’t imagine a more painful way to die. Make it stop!!
 * 
Ms Andrews’ piercing voice cuts through the macabre thoughts running through my head.
“What did I just ask you, Jeremy?” She asks, glaring in my direction. The class laughs at my dazed expression.
“I don’t know, Miss…” I mutter, embarrassed. “Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”
“I thought as much.” She responds curtly. “I think I owe you a recess detention.”
“What!” I protest. “Can I work it off?”
“We’ll see.” Ms Andrews replies, then returns to the blackboard and resumes her talk about different types of nouns.
I’m less than happy about the detention – fuming in fact – but at least I’m in a safe, secure environment with friends and teachers to support me, rather than living on the run, surrounded by flesh-eating cannibals, burning to death in a nuclear war. Thank god for that!
Category:Articles by Telos