Eruption

one of my writings for the Power of the Pen, State competition at the College of Wooster.

A clear, sunny, ordinary day seethes in as the sun merely rises in the city of Pompeii. I wake up with theday and begin reviewing the tasks that are needing to be completed. I get the morning bread ready, for my children need to begin their days as well.

All is still, all is calm.

Clunk.

Some clay pots and bowls drop to the floor with a clatter. How odd, i think to myself, as i picked them up off the dusty floor. But more things begin to fall and rattle. A menacing rumble awakens lethal danger as i feel my heart drop to my feet. I know what this is.

What a regular sunlit day it was at Pompeii would soon be a bottle of eruption.

I peer outside the door to confirm the upcoming chaos, and see the colossal mountain in the distance quaking with anger. I'm locked in my place, immobile in fear, completely unready for the explosion. What is only a few minutes feels like several weeks as i wait for the deathly poisen to leak from the volcano.

And then it comes.

Red-hot lava emerges, oozing from the tip of the rocky volcano. The burning stench hits me, and panic arises as the fire comes nearner and nearer into the city. It unmercifully pushes its way through the houses at the end of the street. And its coming closer and closer.

As soon as i gain reality, I let out a terrified, bloodcurdling scream. My two sons and my daughter start wailing. I dash for them across the room, scoop them up, and hold them close to me as i sprint out the door just as the lava reaches our house. I run for my entire life, and for the lives of my precious three. But the fire is just too fast. As it nears my heels, urging me to go only faster, not daring to take a breath at all, i grip my children only tighter.

This is over, i thought. Our blessed home of the cheerful Pompeii is going to be deminished. How will we make it?

I cannot run any longer. My legs have given up, though i beg to continue running. i feel the ground slip beneath me, the lava strangling my feet, forcing me down

The lava is so icy hot against my feet, spreading throughout my body, swallowing me whole. "Run! Don't stop!" I yell to my children. All i want is their lives to be saved, as hopeless as it probably is.

And i let go, leaving behind my happy life in Pompeii.

Reviews

[Ace_Spades]

Tori! Thats AMAZING!! Thats unbelievable!!