By Claire Hines, Year 13
The night wind whispered past the curtains, bringing the smell of freshly cut grass and summer
blossoms into the still room.
Daniel sat on the floor with his back to the wall, his eyes closed, and his faced bathed in the
moonlight. He knew it was tonight. Soon death would be here, and he was waiting for it to come. But
there was something he had to do first. He had to know their name. David needed to know who his
traitor was. He knew death was at his door before he heard it, and stood up silently. There was a soft
knock, and it opened. Gredna peered anxiously into the room, sweat glistening on his brow.
‘Daniel. Are you awake?’
‘Yes.’ He had always been.
‘David wants to see you urgently. Will you follow me please?’
‘Give me a minute.’
Once Gredna had disappeared into the corridor, he looked about him one last time. Selene lit up the
familiar room for him, just like in his vision. Walking to the mirror, he looked at his ghostly reflection
curiously. But he already knew what he was going to see. He was in the dark jeans and white T-shirt
of his dream, and his eyes were just as empty. He reached into the wardrobe and pulled out his
father’s jacket. The one he knew he had to wear. The brown leather felt warm and comforting
against his bare arms. He was ready to go.
He checked Gredna was still outside, and crossed silently to his desk. He had left the paper and pen
out earlier. He quickly scrawled Gredna on it, and turned away. Everything was the way it should be.
The soft light on the family photo, taken back when they were all together; the gleam of scales from
the fish tank; the old bookcase’s long shadow on the carpet. He knew he would never see the sun
rise.
Gredna jumped when he saw him, but quickly collected himself. He motioned Daniel to follow him,
and made his way downstairs. Daniel glanced over to the end of the corridor where his brother’s
room was, and murmured: ‘Farewell David.’
He made his way down the dark stairs, and his vision engulfed him. The shadows dancing on the
walls, the gleam at the back of Gredna’s skull, the floorboards shining goodbye, the door swinging
open … it was all there. The moon in the sky and the light on the garden path; he could already taste
the blood in his mouth.
They went along the wall to the old stables and Daniel glanced up at the dark spire outlined against
the night sky. As they disappeared inside, he knew he would never see the sky again.
They were all there in the light of the guttering lantern. Their eyes flashing with hatred, and murder
in their hands. But Daniel didn’t even see them. He said nothing when the first blow struck his face,
and he didn’t raise a hand as they knocked him down. When he saw the first knife flash above him,
he closed his eyes and smiled. He’d been waiting for it all his life. He was going home. He ran over a sea of light and saw his father in the distance. The latter turned as he called out, and smiled. He fell into his arms as they broke his ribs, and cried into his mother’s neck when they ripped open his lungs. But something was holding him back. He looked over and saw David, his big brother, watching them from far away. So far away. He wanted him to know it would be alright so he shouted out: ‘I’m with them David!’
He gasped as the blood washed up his throat and into his mouth and whispered: ‘It won’t be long.’
Then his heart stopped. But he had been gone for a long time. He had been born with heaven on his
mind.
