Spark

Wow, guys.I didn't realise how strange your fears were. But remember, the challenges aren't only based on fear, they are based on weakness.

 

Update!

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I don't get much sleep. I spend the night worrying about what I will face in the next week. Will I watch somebody die? Will I die? I don't know.

When morning comes, I don't hesitate. I light a fire using my memory of what Shannon did to Carl. After that, I started walking to my Grandmother's house to gather a few of my things.

When I get there, my Grandmother is still asleep. I climb through the kitchen window: Grandma always keeps it open, because it gets so hot downstairs; now, I can't feel the heat. Because I'm used to being so hot all the time.

I sigh and walk into the dining room. And that's when I see it. A small, black box sitting on the table. I approach it slowly. I already know what is inside. I pick up the box. It's light. My fingers shake as I open it. And there it is. The necklace Carl gave me for my sixteenth birthday just a few days ago. I feel a tear roll down my cheek, but it quickly evaporates. The charm, a spark, is made of silver, as is the chain. I pick up the necklace and notice writing on the back of the charm. It's small, so I can only just read it...

C and C? C and C...

Claire and Carl.

I smile, then put the necklace round my neck.

I walk upstairs and into my room. It's just as it was a few days ago. The bed is in the corner, and my desk faces the window that overlooks the street. The streets where Carl stood every morning.

A sob escapes my mouth, and I can't leave this place behind. I curl up on my bed, clutching a picture of me and my parents. I don't realise how loud I am until my Grandmother comes in.

"Shh, Claire, it's alright," she says, and sits on the edge of the bed. I can feel her combing my hair with her long, boney fingers. "It won't be that hard,"

I'm not surprised that she knows. If Alex was one, and so was our mother, there was a high chance my Grandmother was, too.

"What if I-"

"You won't get hurt, darling."

"OK." I wipe my eyes and sit up.

My Grandmother kisses my head.

"I love you, Claire,"

"I love you, too."

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"Ready?" Says Danny, as he puts the key in the ignition.

"Ready!" We all shout.

We are in Danny's Toyota Previer, a spacious, eight-seater car. Danny and Shannon are in the front, Aishling and Liam in the middle, and Carl and I in the back. Carl sits close to me, with his arm round my shoulders. It feels strange with Carl, but I like it.

In no time, we are at a motorway service station. Danny stays in the car, while the rest of us go to the bathroom and buy drinks and snacks.

Me and Aishling walk into WHSmith's together, and stand in front of the fridges.

"So, you and Carl?" Says Aishling.

"A bit," I reply. At that, we both laugh.

"I think it's cute!"

"Ugh," I hate it when people call a relationship 'cute.'

Once we've paid for our drinks, we go back to the car. Danny pulls out of the services, and I put my earphones in. I Don't Like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats comes on. I can't help but think about the meaning behind the song. A girl called Brenda Adams shot at some children in a playground from her house. She killed the Head teacher and the caretaker. When asked why she did this, she said: "I don't like Mondays."

What if I go mad like her? What if I'm driven insane by my task? I shudder to think.

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Thanks, Karl!