Rachael Morris

written aged 13
Balwearie High School, Kirkcaldy, Fife

The Assassin

The cold, crisp winter breeze rustled the grass, still wet with the morning dew. A slight fog enveloped everything apart from the clear morning sun which shone brightly over Rycon Valley.

At the top of a large hill, just east of the valley, lay a small crooked house. Inside was John Prownal, just waking up. He pulled on some dark, dull coloured clothes, picked up a small brown package and had a quick breakfast before wandering out the door and heading for Rycon Valley.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the valley, sat a house as beautiful as Buckingham Palace and just as grand. Inside was Susie Grald, just waking up. She pulled on her best outfit, had breakfast which was provided by her chef and did her make-up before wandering out the door and heading for Rycon Valley.

John was a mysterious man; his eyes were as dark as coal and his hair was as black as the midnight sky. John did not have many friends and he lived well away from the nearest town. He never went out, lived alone and had no close relatives. However he always seemed to look contented and happy.

On the other hand, Susie was well socialised, as she had many friends and family and she loved going out. Susie was incredibly beautiful with 24 carat gold hair and big blue eyes like the summer sky.

Back at the other end of the valley, John was slowly but surely making his way down the valley. The cold, sharp air limited his breathing as he walked. The trees were bare, bland and boring. The grass was dead and no longer a lush green colour and the once colourful flowers wilted with the cruel, brutal weather. Yet none of this seemed to bother John as he strode down the icy, concrete path.

Susie was also well on her way into the valley. However, the eerie mist and dead wilderness had a much stronger effect on her. The slightest noise made her jump like a kangaroo.

John continued on, walking only in dark or shaded areas. His eyes scanned across the valley but he did not seem sure exactly what he was looking for. Suddenly he jumped as he spotted a figure not too far away. After the initial shock he did not seem too phased and so carried on his journey.

Susie was still walking, although she stopped abruptly. She too had spotted a figure not too far away. The frost on the grass crunched with every move at her feet and the wintry wind had made her cheeks and nose a rosy pink. Warily, she carried on but this time she walked more slowly than before.

The wind grew stronger, and whistled through the ever swaying trees. The weather was close to freezing and everything seemed dead apart from the two figures getting closer and closer to meeting.

Both John and Susie's bodies started to tense. Their fists clenched and their teeth gritted. They shivered with every gust of wind but still they carried on. Suddenly both figures stopped and turned to face one another. There was one final whistle from the wind then... CRACK! A spinning silver bullet sped through the air, implanting itself in the centre of the heart. There was a thud as John's body fell to the ground. The parcel fell out of his hand. The first snowflake of winter landed on the tip of his nose and the blood pouring from his chest dribbled along the path and over the small brown parcel, where neatly written were the words, 'Susie Grald, I love you...