The Playground!

Elizabeth and Jennifer were walking home from school, just like any other day. They passed the house where Peter, one of their classmates lived, and crossed the bridge that connected the old neighborhood to their own, newer one. Now there were only two blocks to go. They passed a wooded area with a tunnel.

"Hey Liz, have you ever seen that tunnel before?" asked Jennifer, pointing to the right.

"No, where did it come from?"

"Maybe we just didn't notice it before. Do you want to have a look?"

"I would," said Elizabeth, "but I promised my mum to be home in time for tea."

"Ok," said Jennifer. "Maybe another time."

As they left, Liz thought she heard a sound, almost as if a little child was whimpering in pain...

Liz and Jen both lived outside London, England. They were twelve years old and had been best friends since the first grade, where they had met.

The night was cool for July; the air was still and saturated with the sweet fragrance of flowers. The two girls agreed to meet at seven for a walk. They started walking and ended up in front of the mysterious tunnel.

"Let's go in there and see what's on the other side," said Liz.

"S... sure, but only for a short while."

They went through the tunnel and on the other side they saw a playground. The playground was made out of wood and looked very old; some of the wooden planks were missing.
The playground looked so different and such fun, that they felt a need to play.
There was a foggy mist on the ground, surrounding them and the playground.
Liz grabbed Jen's hand and ran across the playground to the base of the tall wooden tunnel. It had a long slide coming down from it.

"Let's climb up there," said Liz. "You could probably see London."

"I don't want to," said Jen, "you go."

Liz climbed up the tower and stood on the top, looking at the city lights, when she thought she heard a small voice next to her on the edge saying:

"No, don't push me Oliver, I will go down when I am ready. Oliver! Nooooo!"

She turned to the place where the voice came from, but no one was there.

"Maybe it was just my imagination," she said out loud, mostly to convince herself.

"What was just your imagination?" Jen asked from down below.

"Nothing," said Liz, hurrying down the slide, away from the tower. "Let's go see the rest of the playground."

They played for a little while when Jen suddenly heard the same small voice saying softly:

"I want to play..."

"Did you hear that," said Jen, turning to Liz.

"No... what?"

"I want to play... please play with me."

They turned and face each other.

"THAT!" said Jen in fear.

"Maybe it was just the wind," said Liz.

"But Liz... there is no wind tonight."

"Let's get out of here Jen," said Liz frightened, "I want to go home."

"Yeah, let's."

They started walking towards the tunnel when they heard a voice behind them:

"I want to play."

The girls turned around and a little boy was standing behind them.
He seemed to be about eight years old; he wore old-fashioned clothes and looked like a tramp. His neck was slightly bent, in a strange way, almost as if...

"What's your name?" asked Liz.

"Jack," said the little boy.

"What are you doing here by yourself? It's late."

"I am waiting for my brother. Play with me!"

"Well, we can't, we have to get home."

"Come on Liz, let's go," said Jen. "He will be allright."

"Where are you going?" asked Jack. "I thought you were going to play with me."

"No, we have to go home. Bye."

"No," said Jack with a suddan anger in his voice. "You won't leave me like the rest of them did."

Liz and Jen faced Jack suprised.

"What do you mean?"

"I was playing with my brother Oliver on the tower, we were playing pirates. I slipped and fell, my brother just looked at me and ran away, they all did. I don't know where he went, I'm really scared, I don't know when he will be back. Oliver... where are you? Where did you go_? I'm scared, I'm all alone..."

Slowly, as coming out of a trance, he looked at the girls with tears in his eyes and said:

"Don't go, please play with me."

Liz put her arm around his shoulders and he flinched, as if in pain.

"What's wrong?" Liz asked.

"Nothing," he said, pulling away from her.

Liz pulled his shirt up before he moved away.

"What happened to you?" she asked, her eyes wide in shock.

His back was covered with horrible bruises and bumps.

"I told you, nothing. Let's play."

Jen and Liz backed up.

"No, we can't, we really have to go now."

They turned around and ran towards the tunnel. They ran through it, hearing him call after them:

"I want to play!"

They reached the other side of the tunnel and in front of them was... the playground!
They saw Jack standing in front of them as he said:

"I said I wanted to play," his eyes glowing red, "and I mean forever!"

- THE END - Annalill Pollack 15, Rachel Smith 13

©Annalill Pollack