**Pages of ink discussion

Congratulations to all of the entries posted here!

1st writing contest: DESCRIPTION
Winner: REA
challenge: description.
Genre: (3) adventure.
Title: The Lost Relic.
Description: Jonas, a mercenary, has been hired to take his companions to a lost temple in the middle of a rainforest.
Word count: approx. 650.

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Jonas slashed at the curtain of hanging vines with rather more force than was necessary. The incessant chatter coming from his companions was not only irritating, but distracting. If it hadn’t been for the promise of gold upon their return to England, he would have slit their throats himself by now. He was still sorely tempted to do so. As it was, he refrained from any brash actions he may come to regret later. After almost two weeks in the jungle, he was sick of it all: sick of his companions, sick of the green and sick of this stupid quest. He couldn’t understand why they thought any Holy relic would be found in this armpit of the world but he didn’t question the money. He never questioned the money.
A large rock protruded from the ground before him, the deeply etched rivulets across its surface testament to many years exposure to the torrential rainstorms that frequently accosted the area. Jonas carefully picked his way around it, exaggerating his movements just enough that his companions would be made aware of its presence. A dull thud, followed by a string of colourful words that could have given any sailor a run for his money, told him that they had failed to interpret his movements. He sniggered to himself but didn’t turn around, didn’t stop.
Yet another curtain of yet more vines blocked his path, an intricate latticework of rubbery branches, green leaves and thorns the size of his hand. His sword made quick work of it, the once fierce wall now in tattered shreds at his feet. A spider emerged from the debris and attempted to scuttle into the undergrowth. Jonas brought his booted foot down on it before it could get far, repressing a shudder.
His heart fell as he realised that there would be no more advancing down this path he’d wrought. The vines had kept their secret well, but now that they were gone he found himself standing on a cliff edge. A scuffle sounded behind him as one of his companions came to stand next to him, one hand held up to shade his eyes as he surveyed the scene before him. The careless movements caused a number of the limp vine clippings to cascade down the rocky surface until they were lost to view, their outline merging with that of the sea of green below. It stretched as far as the eye could see. It seemed almost uniform from his position so far above it all, though common sense told him that in reality the trees would be from a host of different species, sporting leaves of a myriad of shapes and sizes. The faint sounds of the inhabitants of the green sea reached his ears, though he could perceive no movements from his perch. Whether it was the caw of a bird of the screech of a monkey, he couldn’t quite tell. Everything seemed to merge together; all as one, until somewhere far, far away, the sky reach down and caressed it.
He felt like a god, gazing down on his creation, and it was breath-taking.
A frenzy of excited chatter and mad gesticulating brought his attention back to his companions. They were pointing off to the right somewhere, their faces lit with accomplishment, their voices several octaves higher than usual. Out there in far distance, so small he almost couldn’t see it clearly, stood the peak of a temple, just poking from between the treetops. He hardly dared believe that it could be the temple they’d spoken of back in London, but from their excitement-gargled words, he took it to be the place they were seeking.
Well, he’d be damned. Apparently there could be a potential Holy relic out here in the armpit of the world. Now all he needed to do was get them to it.
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Grade: 18/20

Thank you! :)

That was really hard to write as well, as I'm not one for the adventure genre! Adventure, for me, is Indiana Jones and very little else - which you can see in my text!

2nd Writing Contest: PAST
Name: Andrea
Title: My Prophecy
Genre: historical fiction
Synopsis A diary was recovered, the dates take us back to world war two, where a soldier's daughter falls in love with a Jew
Word count: 1501
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The remains of a diary were recovered. A girl’s diary. The dates start from 1939 to 1943, when she wrote her last entry, from the ones that could be recovered. The book was written in English, we assume, to protect the girl’s identity and any kind of statement that might get her arrested. The diary was found in burned ruins; only some entries could be retrieved. These are some of them…


December 6th, 1942

Things have gotten worse every day. Threatening letter against my family. People I used to know, gone from one day to another. Everywhere I look soldiers, shooting people in plain sight. And I think to myself, “Who is the monster behind this?” And I know it’s my vater. My own father. Killing people for a living, people who I used to know. Gone forever. It breaks my heart to say that I’ve learned to hate my own father.
But there is one person that’s still with me, he’s not gone, not yet. Abraham. The love of my life, my true half. And a Jew. Abraham makes me forget about my dad, the war, everything. Living in Germany right now, looking at all the massacres, it’s made me realize what I could loose. Abraham.
How could a soldier’s daughter date a Jew? It started way before the war, and now our love was stronger than ever. He lived in hiding and so did I, but the few times we had together were the best.
But I really couldn’t believe it when two days ago, he asked me to run away. He had family in America and we would be free from all chaos and persecution. I accepted. We would run the first chance we had. The boat would leave from France, it was a long run, but we could manage. At least I hope we could.
But what if we got caught. I knew the fate that awaited for Abraham. Death, torture, concentration camps. But what about me? Would my father spare my life? I believe he would. And if I begged for it, would he have the courage to kill his own daughter?
If something happened to Abraham, I hope he would.



March 18th, 1943

I was reading a book when my father got home. I always read books, it was a way to escape the sick world I was living in right now. But no more. We would leave within a week. And within a few months, we would be free. My love and I.
Then my father came in, he took the book away from me and slapped me hard. I let out a cry of pain and looked at him.
“Harriet, we need to talk.” He said.
“Ja, vater.” I said sobbing. I suspected what this was about. But I begged it wasn’t true. That he didn’t know.
“I know about you and the Jew.” He said, his voice monotone, his face cold and serious. I couldn’t help it, my eyes widened. The moment he lay hand on me I knew he knew. I wished mutter was here. She always knew what to do.
“Well?” He said angrily. He raised his hand again to slap me. I stood up.
“Yes! I am in love.” I replied. “I am in love with ein Jude, a Jew! And you know what, I don’t care! I am in love with him and not even war can separate us. Gas chambers may suffocate us, but it won’t kill our love. Bullets may pierce out body, but they will not kill out love. And a thousand soldiers might step over us but will ever tear our love apart!”
My father slapped me again. I looked at him outraged. He grabbed my books and tore them apart before my very eyes. Even though for him it was just writing, for me it was everything. The only thing that kept me asleep, away from the war.
“All this! This has filled your head with nonsense!” My father said. “Jane Austen? Shakespeare? Forbidden love that ends up in a happy ending, it doesn’t exist. All this, what is it? Magic, love, prophecies, they don’t exist.”
“You don’t believe in prophecies?” I said. Raising my eyebrows.
“Only if I know it will happen for certain.” Vater said. “Like how you’re going to stop seeing this boy and if we can’t find him, he’ll be lucky enough to leave. And you will never leave this house again!”
“That’s not a prophecy. Want to hear mine, vater?” I said. “Before the war ends, a bullet will end your life as a Nazi, you will ask for forgiveness to a Jew and you will ask for my forgiveness as well.”
I don’t know where that came from, but it was enough to make my father laugh. I turned and left. I grabbed my bag, it was already under my bed. And left.
And tonight, while I tried to sleep in a hiding place, wrapped in Abraham’s arms. I could still hear my father’s voice ordering me to come back.



May 10th, 1943

Today we would leave to France. The city was filled with soldiers. Ever since I ran from home none of us has been able to leave. I had almost forgot about my prophecy, but as I read it over and over again, I hoped I wouldn’t be there to witness it. I don’t even know what it meant. The literal meaning of it.
As we left the basement in which we were hiding, we ran to the train station. Walking as if nothing were wrong. But there were posters with my face everywhere, someone was bound to recognize me.
Then it all happened to fast. Abraham being taken away from me. Arms grabbing me, pulling me back. I screamed and he did too. Suddenly, the chaos stopped. Abraham was being restrained a few feet away and I was held in place.
My father clapped his hands as he approached me. I didn’t want to look at the man who had caused so much pain to Germany. He claimed to be helping but he didn’t.
“Brava, you managed to hide for two whole months. Clever, but not as much as me.” My father said. “Now you will watch as I kill this filthy Jew and you will be punished. You will be lucky if you ever leave your room again.”
My father approached Abraham and punched him in the face. I screamed and struggled against the guards. Another punch, followed by another and another. I struggled, but they were so strong.
Finally, my dad pulled his gun out. He pointed it at Abraham. “Seems like you were right my child. There are happy endings after all.” He pointed and charged.
“NO!” I screamed and managed to get free. I ran to Abraham.
And then everything seems like a blur from then.
I heard a gunshot and felt something cold pierce my back. My dress started to feel wet and my legs couldn’t hold me any longer. I fell to the arms of my loved one and my vision was blurry.
“Sweetie, please don’t die.” Abraham said over and over again, stroking my hair . I smiled. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” He said, knowing that was my favorite poem.
“Bullets may pierce out body, but they will not kill out love. “ I said. And I kissed him one last time.
Father approached me, he stroked my hair. “Get the hell away from me you murders! You Nazis! Look at what you did to my daughter!”
A bullet will end your life as a Nazi…
“Sweetie hand on, we’ll get you to the hospital.” My father said over and over again. I smiled.
“It was you who killed her! Might as well kill me as well!” Abraham said to my father. And him, instead of anger, showed compassion for the first time since 1939. I saw a tear fall.
“I am sorry. I am sorry Abraham, I was blinded by what the government believe was right.” My father said, still stroking my hair.
You will ask for forgiveness to a Jew…
My eyes were staring to close, I coughed. “I love you Papa. No matter how many lives you ended, how many Jews were tortured on your account. I will always love you Papa. And right now, I’ve never felt so proud of you.”
My father kissed my forehead. “I love you meine Tochter, my daughter.” He stroked my cheek once again. “I’m sorry.”
And you will ask for my forgiveness as well…
I gave one last kiss to the people I loved most in the world.
And when I closed my eyes, all was well.



Whether this woman lived or not is still undetermined. Since there was a page with an unreadable entry dated in 1944, in America. All that is known is that this woman believed in love as much as she believed in destiny. For that last entry wasn’t based on a prophecy, but on destiny.
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Grade: 18/20