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Call I wouldn’t call it a longing or a call. More of an insane action you do, when you're freaked out and shelter is the spooky library at night. Sorry, I have to use high tense words as my teacher says. The super-natural library. My vivid imagination is why this story is very bone chilling. I was desperate, we all were desperate. Especially my teacher. She had just gotten her hair done and didn’t want it ruined. So after the six painfully long hours we spent wandering the library, we returned five minutes later as a sound breaking storm loomed over us. I looked up, my heart racing. The stone cold arches loomed over us entwining together as the shadows danced across the ceiling. The large doors stared down at us daring us to come into the ghosted library. I pushed to the front of the group, towards the door and out of the night. I stared up at one of the reflecting windows squinting in. Then a flash of lighting lit up the window a silhouette of a hunchbacked man. Staring at me. I suddenly hated being in the back wanting to scramble from this ominous library. Then the doors swung open, screeching in the darkness. As a sea of students swept through the door I creeped inside. Then I felt the call. Guide: very unique guide! I separated from the group, something drawing me to the staircase. The darkness engulfed me, settling on my skin. But I kept walking, my shoes clicking against the marble floor. The decorated floor swayed beneath me all I could hear, feel, see, was the call. The last of my classmates disappeared around the corner. I didn’t hesitate. The call wanted me. Then something hit me. Literally. I crashed to the ground. I breathed ragged long breaths. In the shadows, there was a movement. I could see an outline of a starving dog. No, it stepped into the light. How. In the library. A dingo. It took rasping huge breaths, I could see the outline of her bones. She was hungry. Her dusty sand stroked coat memorised me. She had intelligent eyes. I noticed. Right before she lunged at me. The dingo pinned me down, claws outstretched, on my throat. “Why are you in the Library? He'll get you.” She growled threateningly “you're the first person I saw”. She could talk. What the? Sizing me up she grunted her disapproval. “Now I have to be your guide, the names Leona” Mitchell Vestibule Room “What, how, no, I…urrr, YOUR A DINGO. IN THE LIBRARY!”I splutter. “ Wow thanks for noticing, '' she muttered sarcastically. I stared at my shoes. Breathing in deep breaths. Tears formed in my eye, I used to have a dog. He had looked like Leona, except less Dingo. I force back the tears and stand up. Staring down at the sarcastic dingo. “What did you mean guide?” I question, remembering what she had said earlier. Leona opens her mouth, taking in small breaths, then a crash emoted from the Mitchell Vestibule room. Leona sprung up, bounding towards the noise. I run after her, panting as I enter the room. I look around the room. The beautiful stone arches glow white. The decorated floor seemed alive with a story. I look at Leona. Her eyes are wide open, in fear. She’s staring at something on the floor. I follow her gaze. To a stain on the floor. A blood stain.

Full story From all the weeks 19/9/22 Alexandra could hear her heart racing. Excitement coursing through her veins. Her clothes had been taken to the boat but she was not going to wear a tunic and have her hair prettily braided. No, this was an expedition! This was a new beginning. She was going to Egypt; she would no longer be ruled by Julias Cesar. Alexadra crept into her brother Lucius' room; his old tunics were in there and they fit her perfectly. Alexandra crept past the moonlit pond. She stared at her pale white long tunic and a pale blue cloth over it embedded with jewels. Her hair, dressed in plaits and curls with flowers sprinkled all over them. It sickened her, this look. It was dangerous for a woman to be loud and bossy and Alexadra knew that, but this was her expedition no one else’s! Alexandra was bossy, she was loud and she was proud. Her hate for the boundaries for women was vicious, but not as vicious as her hate of tunics, hair and so on. Alexandra had hand-packed her own clothes, no servants allowed, tucking in a dagger knife and a scroll, which the servants would never have packed. Rome was once beautiful but now it was nothing but dangerous for those against Julius Cesar. Alexandra walked through the humongous villa, her plaited hair swaying. She walked with pride. Diary entry: 1 day left We have only one day left until our boat leaves. Papa says this is a scary experience but I disagree. This is an expedition, we are looking for a place in Egypt. This is our goal, but the hardships on the way is what makes it truly an expedition. Diana is going to be foolish enough to wear her long dress tunic on ship!! But I shall wear a man’s tunic. It will be much easier to move on the ship. Marcus, Leo and Lucius will all laugh and Papa and Mama wil scowl but there is nothing they can do when we are set sail and my tunics are supposedly missing! I do hope that this expedition does go forward because the dangers of the sea are nothing compared to our ruler. Bonus: “Jewel” Alexadra yelled, “you're such a frighty cat, it;s just water”. Nothing compared to Julius Cesar. Paws padded the tiles and a growl erupted. Alexadra rolled her eyes. “For an exotic pet you're quite dainty”. A large leopard with emerald green eyes stared at her. Alexandra wrapped her arms around her neck. “Thanks for coming, girl” she whispered. Then with one swift movement Alexandra wrapped a rope around her neck tying it not too tightly. “Sorry Jewels, Papa won't let you on the boat unbounded. Between you and me I’m certainly untying you!’ “Alexandra, hurry, Papa needs us!” Diana sweetly called. Always trying to perfect, Alexandra thoughts muttered. “Come on Jewel, I hear the boat will have your favorite meat!” With that the pair strode after Diana. The vicious wind whipped her face, tendrils of hair blowing wildly. The endless ripples of moonlit waves hypnotized her as they danced back and forth. The waves muffled the sounds of the ship. It enclosed around her comforting her. The endless sea could lulle her to sleep. Yet she could not face sleep. Not with the threats of her worries dangling above her head. The once beauty of the ocean turned into a nightmare. The deadly waves could trap you and the dots in the distance could very well be HIS ships. Alexandra tugged at her braids letting them loose in the wind. She tugged at her long tunic, her tunics were definitely going to disappear soon. She hated them! She scrunched up her face, everything was dangerous, but it was up to her to find the beauty in it all. This expedition, this dash to freedom was hers. She was escaping. Alexandra grinned, piles of long dress tunics blew out the window. Alexandra reached for her last fancy tunic but paused. She might just need one, just in case Egypt wasn’t so keen on her new look. She stuffed it into her drawer and looked out the window. Her clothes were flowing away in the sea. A huge gust of wind smacked her in the face, she hastily shut the window. She looked at her reflection. She wore a short male tunic tied together with a red sash, her wild blonde hair now free. Just then Alexandra was knocked into her wall. She stood up gripping the bed, trying not to vomit. She moaned, the one thing she hated the most about the unique ocean was the waves, the waves that could demolish any ship. Alexandra gripped the staircase, trying to walk to the main deck. “Alexandra” came with a dainty voice. She groaned. “What Diana?” she hissed. Alexandra turned around to see her beautiful sister's horrified face. “Are you wearing a man's tunic, never mind, you need to come back down, it's not safe for us up here! The waves” she whimpered. Alexandra rolled her eye’s. Then her hand slipped, her body crashed to the floor. She gripped her hand, looking at it she saw it was covered in blood. Diana groaned. Then a wave smashed into the ship spraying water all over the sisters. Diana screamed. Alexandra grabbed her sister's hand dragging her undercover. She searched for the problem, the main sail was being pulled down, almost tipping the ship over. She saw her brothers trying to heave a heavy crate of… the sail rope! “Jewel” screamed Alexandra. She grabbed the very sharp hair piece out of Diana’s hair. Clutching her bleeding hand to her chest. Her pet leopard bounded up to her. She grabbed Jewel's side and pointed to the boys. Jewel pulled Alexandra along, keeping her on her feet as the boat rocked. She ran over to the rope, ignoring Marcus screaming at her. The sail rippled and the ship spun out of control. Something hit her on the head, pain booming. The ship was leaning over the sail trying to get free. She started hacking the rope, cutting it. The rope snapped and the sail set back into place. Alexandra rested against Jewel. The pain settled in. Finally these stupid hair things were useful. Alexandra’s face burnt with rage, she suppressed the need to lunge at her brothers. Who smirked as Papa screamed at her, “this is the last time” he said in a calm yet ominous voice. “If you make one last slip up, your precious leopard is not going to have much of a life anymore” he whispered. “What’s your decision?” Alexadra stared up at him, “I’ve already made it.” Alexandra strode out grabbing one of her fathers quills. The frosty wind stroked Alexandra as she stared at the rippling sea. She hoisted her heavy pack on her back. She pulled out a glinting emerald dagger, as she urged Jewel onto the boat. “Come on kitty cat, I’ve promised I have food in my bag,” she coaxed as she climbed onto the boat. The leopard climbed in after her, sensing Alexandra's fear she curled up into a small ball, taking up half the boat. Alexandra held the dagger up high, slicing the rope, and the boat fell into the water. Water sprayed everywhere, Alexadra grabbed the oars, rowing towards freedom. Alexandra’s thoughts washed over her as she leaned against Jewel, the boat was drifting with the current. She was no longer a Roman girl, silenced in fear. She was no longer told “seen not heard”. The black sky was lit up with dazzling stars dotted like diamonds. The lapping waves stroked the small boat, pushing it forward. Alexandra stroked Jewel, the leopard nuzzled in. She was the only family Alexandra had. Then the boat thumped against something. Alexandra stood up, they were at the shore! Gorgeous trees stood up on a rolling hill covered in grass. The sunrise was breathtaking. Then she heard footsteps, a deep yet childish male voice started talking, “are you okay, how long were you at sea, wow you're pretty, did I just say that out loud, sorry, wait! Is that a leopard so cool? Oops sorry do you need help, wait of course you do come on my Grandpa and I will help” Alexandra smiled at the boy. This was freedom. Bonus: the letter she writes to her family Dear family, Your choice is wrong. We are leaving Rome yet you make me hide myself. I can never change who I am, I will never change who I am. Not for you or for everyone. I love you all but with love comes sacrifice. You will not harm my leopard Jewel, ever. So I am leaving. I have taken the spare boat. If you want to change me you have to find me. Alexandra

Alexandra gripped the staircase, trying to walk to the main deck. “Alexandra” came with a dainty voice. She groaned. “What Diana?” she hissed. Alexandra turned around to see her beautiful sister's horrified face. “Are you wearing a man's tunic, never mind, you need to come back down, it's not safe for us up here! The waves” she whimpered. Alexandra rolled her eye’s. Then her hand slipped, her body crashed to the floor. She gripped her hand, looking at it she saw it was covered in blood. Diana groaned. Then a wave smashed into the ship spraying water all over the sisters. Diana screamed. Alexandra grabbed her sister's hand dragging her undercover. She searched for the problem, the main sail was being pulled down, almost tipping the ship over. She saw her brothers trying to heave a heavy crate of… the sail rope! “Jewel” screamed Alexandra. She grabbed the very sharp hair piece out of Diana’s hair. Clutching her bleeding hand to her chest. Her pet leopard bounded up to her. She grabbed Jewel's side and pointed to the boys. Jewel pulled Alexandra along, keeping her on her feet as the boat rocked. She ran over to the rope, ignoring Marcus screaming at her. The sail rippled and the ship spun out of control. Something hit her on the head, pain booming. The ship was leaning over the sail trying to get free. She started hacking the rope, cutting it. The rope snapped and the sail set back into place. Alexandra rested against Jewel. The pain settled in. Finally these stupid hair things were useful.