Inkling 2025 - Flipbook - Page 18
ringing fades. The roof stops bending. Sigh.
All there’s left is me – and the black mess
of my nature. I brush strands of hair from
my face ... when, from the corner of my eye,
the liquid shifts. Spreading across the 昀氀oor,
thick and slow. I try to move away, my limbs
resist. But I force them. Nails digging into the
concrete as I drag myself backward.
It’s not enough.
The Black Juice begins to rise.
It spirals upward in a slow, twisting motion
When it stops … it looks human.
A shadow. A dark silhouette.
It stands just paces away – yet every part of
me screams: stay still.
It moves. A twitch of its 昀椀ngers ... then—
SNAP.
Without warning, its head moves sharply in
my direction, movements sti昀昀 and silent. The
shadow has no eyes, but somehow I know it’s
staring.
Huh? Ack! It grabs my left arm, dragging me
toward the ledge of the station. I scream and
yank. It won’t let go. Its grip sears, twisting
into my skin. I gasp, eyes widening in panic
as I glance over the edge. My heart pounds
harder, each beat thundering in my ears.
“I don’t want to go there!” I shout, the words
breaking through my chest, a desperate cry
for release. I yank and pull, but the shadow
doesn’t relent, dragging me closer to the
brink.
Then—oof. We drop from the ledge directly
onto the tracks. I wince in pain as my back
crashes against the cold metal. It stares
down the dark tunnel, still clutching my skin.
“I can’t—”
The words falter in my throat, and I feel
18 | INKLING 2025
a sharp sting in my eyes. A tear slides
down my face, the weight of helplessness
pressing harder than ever.
It halts. Slowly it turns. To me.
It didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just watched.
Then it lets go.
On the ground, I watch as it turns back to
the tunnel and then to me again. Slowly, it
o昀昀ers its hand.
I hesitate.
Their hand hovers — soft, gentle. So I take
it.
It helps me to my feet. We face each other,
silent. And for a moment – just one – I feel
…calm.
I glance back at the station— the 昀氀ickering
lights, the wooden benches. I know I could
sit there and wait for the train.
But the shadow is already walking ahead.
And in the silence that follows, I rise and
take my 昀椀rst step.
And for the 昀椀rst time, I choose to follow.
Brielle is the 3rd place
winner in the Short Story
category for this year’s Teen
Writing Contest.
