TRAPPED

A story by Meredith Hildebrand

It is late in the evening when a loud bang pierces the stiff night air. I jolt awake, and run out of
bed. My limbs are still infused with sleep so when I try to run to the door, I trip on my binder. A
sharp pain shoots through my ankle and I wince. By now I am fully awake and open the door
quickly. I scramble down the hallway and down the stairs. It is cold and the winter moon
creates a faint glow in the kitchen and highlights the chairs in the living room. I slowly walk
towards the living room because that is where the glow is strongest. When I peer around the
corner, a gasp Ive been trying to hold in in case my mother wakes up escapes. I hear the sound
of my heart beat thumping in my ears as I walk towards the glow. There is a strong purple glow
outlining the TV and the couch, but the glow looks like it is coming from behind the closet door
with all the blankets and sheets. As I walk towards the door, my breaths come wheezy and
forced. My legs are shaking and sweat collects on my hands so often that I have to wipe them
on my pants seconds apart. I hesitantly grab the door knob, squeeze my eyes shut and turn it.
When I open it, a gust of wind nearly knocks me off my feet. Walk through walk though walk
through my mind screams. But I cant I dont want to dont make me my mind argues against
my will. I push the voices out of my head and walk, one foot in front of the other, into the wind.
There is a burning sensation in my legs and arms, but I keep walking. I can do it I want to so I
will I say to myself. Suddenly there is a loud bang that vibrates through my body and I almost
fall to the ground. When I open my eyes, I am in a different place. It is sunny and the sky is a
light blue that is similar to the colour of my room, back home. Bright yellow and orange flowers
stand out against the blue sky. I start sprinting, not knowing where I might be going. The tall
pine trees tower over top and rays of sun shine through the leaves and seeps through the
ground. In the distance I see a faint outline of a large building that looks like a hotel. I keep

sprinting, until I reach it. It is big and round and abnormally looks like a giant mushroom. The
door opens and person comes out. She has long red hair and about my height and looks my
age. Her eyes land on me, and she walks toward me. I tense, not knowing if I should stay there
or walk away. She says, Hey, Im Ro! Whats your name? Umm, my name is Ana! I reply,
looking down at the ground, and fiddling with necklace around my neck. I look back up, and
shes holding a muffin and a cup of what looks like milk. Oh, you must be starving! Here, have
my muffin! she says handing me the muffin. I take a bite, and it tastes like blueberry. She
grabs my hand and drags me over toward a bench, and we sit down. Hi! What brings you her
to Kryptonite Ana? She asks, sipping her drink and looking at me. Kryptonite? Umm I dont
know, really. I went downstairs and I got swallowed into this vortex, and now Im here, When I
look back up, her sunny smile disappears and a look of concentration and subtle confusion take
place. What? Youre looking at me weird, Ro! I say, my voice smaller than I want it to be,
more vulnerable than it should be. I look away, and took another bite of the muffin. It tastes
like bile in my mouth, so I swallow it, and look back at Ro. Her eyebrows are furrowed, and
shes looking straight ahead. When I try and ask her what is wrong, the words disappear in my
mouth and I swallow again, trying to relieve some of the pressure that is building in my lungs. I
breathe in, whats going on, and breathe out. That pressure is still there. I close my eyes and try
and focus on the positive. Im fine; Im fine I am fine! I tell myself, and take calm, steady
breaths. I dont want to be here, but I have nowhere else to go, so I have to stay. Finally I cant
stand the still silence, so I break it with saying, Listen, Ro. I dont know whats going on, but I
would really appreciate it if you told me! She looks back at me, and sets her jaw. When she
talks, her voice comes out low and almost sounds monotone. You have to listen to me. Im not
supposed to tell you anything about this, but here goes. She takes a deep breath, and looks
over her shoulder like someone is coming up behind her, and continues. The people here are
in grave danger. The evil king is creating a dangerous potion that if he pours it over the edge of
the protective barrier, it will diminish and we will all die. I dont know what to say, so I just nod
and fold my hands in my lap. We cant survive because the elves in this realm cant deal with
the cold and snow of winter, so if winter erupts, the elves will all freeze to death She finishes,
and purses her lips. I know that there is something more her answer, I just need to push hard

enough to find it out. But you can save the barrier, right? I ask. I really dont want to
pressure you, but the only way to save us is she stops, and lowers her voice so quietly I can
barely hear her, Is a human potion that is only capable of being created by a human. When
the last word leaves her mouth, I go into shock. My hands start to shake violently and my heart
beats ferociously. I dont know why I feel this way. I feel my stomach twirling and bile rises in
my throat and I throw up, onto the grass. I gasp, and with my head still dropped forward, I
throw up again. Minutes later, I hear Ros soothing voice telling me that its alright and that she
will try and help me but yet she cant and I sit back up, push my hair back into a ponytail, and
look at Ro. Her expression is blank, her pale green eyes swimming with concern. What are you
talking about? I cant save you!! Im only 14!! Im not special, Im not amazing, and I can NOT
help you, Ro! I say, my voice rising with each word. Ro looks calm and quiet, but her face
remains motionless. I know that you think you cant, but I know you can. You can do it! I know
you can! She says, and stands up, and pulls me up with her. Im going to go show you around,
kay? she finishes. We start walking, and its hard to not fall over because my legs are stiff for
sitting for so long. We walk past a small field with small children playing, tossing a ball back and
forth, with one occasionally yelling, haha! Youre in the middle now, no Im not, and yes you
are! they say to each other. For some strange reason, I actually feel kind of at home, wherever
this place is. Ro stops at a small building, which looks like a house. The house is brown with a
porch and a rocking chair in the corner. We walk up the stairs and Ro opens the door and
beckons me to come inside with her. The smell of cookies baking wafts through the house, and
reminds me of when I and my mother made cookies together with my younger brother, him
asking if he can lick the beaters, but my mother saying no, later. I feel a pang of longing to go
back home, but I push it away, and follow Ro upstairs. We go into a room painted a light green,
and I suspect that it is her room. There is a window overlooking a lake, and I sit down on a chair.
So, this is your room? I ask. Its really pretty, by the way. I say, pointing at the window.
Umm, yeah! This is where I spend most of my life, for the time being She replies, smiling and
sitting down on the bed. Suddenly I hear footsteps thundering up the stairs and then a small
boy pushes the door open. Ro, come play with me! Im really bored and my friends are busy at

soccer practice and I have no one to play with! he says, dropping his ball and falling down onto
the floor, and he crosses his arms. Not now, Brayden, later. My friend is over.

A couple hours later, Ro tells her mom that we are going outside, to show me around.

When we get home, the sunset is beautiful. Ro and I have been walking around the small
neighborhood where Ro lives and she introduced me to her friends, Juliet and Ariana.

When I wake up, I see Ro packing a small bag. I see a flashlight, sleeping bags, snacks,
water and extra batteries. Also a pad of paper and a pen, and some other things that I cant
quite make out, since my eyes are still blurry from sleep. I push the blankets, smooth my hair
back, and sit up. Hi, Anna! Ready for some breakfast? She tosses me a granola bar and I rip
open the wrapper and take a bite.

Ready for the quest? She says.

Ready as I ever be, I think to myself.

It is midday and we have been walking a long time. The sun is very hot, and I am getting
exhausted. Ro, on the other hand, has no problem walking and has been briskly walking for the
entire trek so far. Come on, Anna! Ro says. Can we please just take a break? I gasp for air.
Im tired and want to take a break! Ro looks at me, sighs, and then says, Fine, I guess. But we
have to keep walking soon if we want to at the kings castle by nightfall with that I collapse
onto the ground and take a big sip of water. I never realized how thirsty I was. My throat is as
dry as a desert because of lack of hydration, and when I swallow, my throat stings. Ro checks
her watch. Kay, Ana. Time to go now! Only 4 and a half hours to go! I sigh and push myself off
the ground.

The sun is just beginning to set and dusk is slowly creeping out. We reach the
foot of a big forest. The trees are swallowed by darkness and the sound of rustling leaves
carries through the breeze. I shudder. We keep walking, and the darkness of the trees swallows
us.

By nightfall we have reached the end of the forest and both of us are exhausted.
I see a faint outline of the kings castle in the distance- A tall tower is most noticeable- and a
drawbridge stands opened, unarmed. Ro and I start to sprint towards it.

The castle is black ice and tall. It looks like a castle I saw in a book once. Ro looks at me,
shrugs, and sit downs. She opens her back pack and pulls out a gun. She swiftly beckons for me
to stand up, and as I do she starts running. I follow her. The castle is coming closer and closer
and over the sound of the wind I can hear yells. War chants. I cringe, and every time my foot
hits the ground, pain slices through my head. Probably from over exhaustion of my muscles, I
think.

The sounds of war chants raise higher and higher. Ro crouches down and pulls me with her. I
want to tell her that my ankle really hurts, but she puts a hand to my mouth and scowls at me. I
flick my eyes away, and look down.

We hear heavy footsteps thumping towards the collection of shrubs we are hiding
behind. I look at Ro. She slowly stands up, pulls out the gun; slowly starts walking out into the
clearing. I want to yell after her; to tell that it is not safe out there, but I bite my tongue to keep
my pleads in. I peek around the bush, and my heart nearly stops beating. There are ten guards
coming up over the hill that separates the castle from the clearing. Just before I can look away;
a loud bang pierces my ears. I hear yells, and more gunshots. Ro.

I dont know what time it is. My back aches, which could mean anything, actually. I have not
seen Ro for a long time. I check Ros watch that she took off and gave to me, just in case she
loses it.

It is completely pitch black outside when I hear quiet footsteps coming toward the bush.
My eyes are not adjusted, so it looks like I am looking into the backs of my eyelids.

It has been a week since the big fight, but nonetheless, Ro and I have been collecting
ingredients for the potion that will be my portal to go home, and the elves ticket to safety.

We are done collecting the ingredients when we hear a loud bang, crash, and then a bloodcurdling scream that makes my hair stand on end and makes my eyesight go black for a second.
Ro looks at me, her eyes wild with fear. Then I see almost like a blue cloud hover in the air, it
falters for a few seconds, and then it collapses. I feel a deep, cold shudder that vibrates through
me and I scream to keep my feet on the ground. I hear Ro whisper in shock, the barrier.
I open my eyes. I sit up, and gasp. The green grass once a bright green; it is covered with
snow. I look up to the sky. I feel small, delicate snowflakes raining down and coating my hands
and eyelids with snow. Ro sleeps beside me, soundly. She wakes quickly and sits up with haste.
She looks at me, and frowns. She looks concentrated or scared, but I cant really tell. I must be
sleep-deprived, I think, because everything is dis-coloured.

It has been a week since winter has erupted, and I have learned that Ro and I have to create a
potion to revive the magical barrier. We have been collecting many ingredients to create it. Ro
says that we have 3 days before winter reached the village, and then the elves will die.
It is the second day, and we are still collecting ingredients. So far Ro says that we are almost
done. By sun rise of tomorrow, we will be done the potion and we will pour it on the barrier
line.
Ro and I have created a little hut made out of sticks and leaves to shield us from the harsh
winds and cold evenings while we brew our potion. It is so cold and as I remove my shoes, my
feet are numb. Not a good sign I think as I sigh and laydown. The cold of the ground seeps
through my sleeping bag and chills my bones.

It is sunrise and we are done the potion. Ro and I wake up quickly, get changed, and crawl out
of our shelter. Ok Ana, We have to make haste if we want to revive the barrier and get you
home before sunset tonight Ro says, an edge to her voice. Yes, I know! Where should we
pour it? I ask. Over there She replies, and points toward the edge of a tall cliff. Even though
it is far away, I can see deep geysers, and I shudder with anticipation. finally its time to go
home I think to myself and Ro and I start running.

We have reached the geysers and my breaths come out shaky. My legs ache and my head hurts,
but I am fine.

We stand beside the biggest geyser. Ro and I look at each other, and exchange tight smiles. Ro
takes the vile of potion out of her pocket and takes off the lid. A gasp stops midway in my
throat. She looks at me, back at the geyser, and slowly pours the potion into the geyser.

Almost immediately the ground violently shakes; stronger than an earthquake. I scream, and
fall to the ground. I hear the roar of water, but over that, almost a low groan. The ground
shakes even more, and I see out of my sideways vision, I see a purple vortex appear. I muster
up all my strength, stand up, and run.

The vortex is closer and closer and before I leave, I stop and I look at Ro. She waves to
me, and wipes her eyes with her hand. I wave back, and step into the vortex.

I wake up, and I am in my bed.

Home.