PEA RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL POETRY SLAM WINNER

Halloween Horror By Lorrie Klein, First place

— The frosty night air had an eerie touch to it. It was an invisible coat, wrapped around me. It felt like you could actually grab a fist full of it. I shuddered as I took my first step toward doom. Ahead of me, shrieks of pure horror pierced the air like a hot knife through butter.

A chainsaw whizzed past my ear, and I spazzed out, hands flailing. Our eyes were magnets to the gruesome horror. Flames illuminated our terrified faces and a blood-curdling laugh boomed throughout our bodies. It sent violent chills up my already shaking spine. I felt the color vanish from my face.

We were caught at a dead end, and the only way out was through a fire pit. It was like hurling yourself into your own grave. I hesitated, tears flooding my vision. I vigorously shook my head, bawling, “Please, please let go!” I felt myself trying to turn but unfortunately I was a deer in headlights of a speeding car. I was frozen in place. Out of nowhere, the floor under me dropped. I thumped against a hard wood tunnel floor. I watched in dread as the trap doors above me slammed shut. Torches dimly lit the length of the tunnel. I could see my family. At a dead sprint, I screamed their names.

I barely noticed when I tripped. When I arose seconds later, the opening at the tunnel was gone. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I wished I would just jerk awake in my bed, hyperventilating, but, no, thiswas reality. I was trapped forever on Halloween.

School, Pages 12 on 10/27/2010