PANIC

I started to panic. Where did Zack go? How could he disappear just like that? Where could he be? I needed to find him. Running wildly, I called his name. “Zack.” “Zack.” No answer! Where was he? How could he vanish without a trace? I was cold with fear. I could feel tears burning my face. My mind was racing. My heart was beating uncontrollably. My feet were stumbling. I was losing self control. I grew very tired and weary. I sat for a while to think. Maybe, Zack would find me.

But away in the distance, I saw a huge lumbering figure making his way towards me. I was scared and scrambled to hide amongst the bushes. I peered through the dark leaves and, as I strained to get a closer look at this strange creature, I heard a piercing scream. “AAaaAAaaAaa”. Was this strange creature calling me or just trying to scare me? He was scaring me. I tried to keep very quiet and still but I could not control my shaking. He screamed again. “MMmmAAaaAAaa.” I could feel the noise pulsating right through my body. My head was spinning like a top.

I pulled some branches of the nearest tree over my head and shut my eyes. I couldn’t see him. He couldn’t see me or could he? I was terrified and the scream kept coming towards me. The noise was deafening. It was breaking the sound barrier. It was breaking my control barrier! My heart was drumming, my body was shaking, I was sure he could hear me. I opened my eyes a little and saw the huge, ugly figure was heading in my direction. I was petrified with fear.

He was big and evil. His whole being was evil. But it was his eyes and the way he looked towards the bushes where I was concealed that made my lips quiver. I wanted to cry. Those eyes, his eyes, were evil. Eyes that were small, vertical slits peering into the void. Eyes that were weird and deceptive. Eyes that were terrifying. I could not tell what was going on behind those eyes. What was he hiding behind those strange staring eyes? Was he looking for me? Why was he coming my way if he wasn’t? I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. He gave me the creeps. But where was Zack? Had this monster found him? What had he done with Zack? These questions were swirling around and around in my head without any answers.

As he came closer, I could see those small slit eyes sat high on his small domed head. He had no neck, he had no ears, he had no hair. He was such an ugly and horrible sight! As he walked, he twisted his body from side to side. How could such a frightening creature look so queerly comical? Not that I wanted to laugh. No. I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I wanted to be a million miles away. I wanted to find Zack and to be safe at home. What was this monster’s evil intent?

Closer and closer he clumsily waddled. I could see a very thin mouth, devoid of lips, sporting a nasty permanent grin and from those thin lips, hung three narrow fangs. How ghastly! Each time he screamed, “DDddMMmAAaaAA,” the noise made my head spin violently. Would he never stop that deafening noise? I was so agitated. I was near to breaking point.

His skin was a pale sandy yellow, a striated yellow, like someone had coloured him with pencil. “AAaaNNnnDDddMMmmAAaa.” I could see him coming closer and closer towards me. My teeth started to chatter violently. I tried to clench my teeth together to stop the noise but still, they continued to rattle. I have never felt so threatened. He was lumbering and staggering down the road twisting his big round clumsy body on his stick-like legs and his two plate-like feet were awkwardly thumping the ground. Thump! Thump! A round flat tail flapped and wobbled from side to side like a sea sick rudder. Two stick arms stuck out from his body and each arm firmly grasped a spear. I was horrified! This made me even more fearful of Zack’s plight and of my discovery. I wanted to run for safety but how could I when Zack was missing? I couldn’t let him face this huge, evil monster on his own.

As he approached, I heard “GGggRRrrAAaaNNnnDDddMMmmAAaaAAaa”. Was he calling me or was it my imagination? He must have known that I was near. Horror of horrors! I was discovered! I was done for! “Please, please, monster, don’t find me.” I silently begged, “Let me find Zack and race home to safety”. Suddenly, I heard the familiar voice of Zack. I pushed aside the bushes and much to my relief, I saw Zack and only Zack. “Grandma!” called Zack, “I’m pretending to be Molten Man. Why are you hiding in the bushes?”

My mind was in utter confusion. “I was hiding in the bushes to escape an ugly monster. He really scared me.” I explained,” But where have you been? You have given me such a fright. I couldn’t find you anywhere and then I saw this terrible monster coming towards me. Oooohhhh dear!”

“It’s OK Grandma,” Zack soothingly replied, “sometimes Grandmas’ can get a little carried away. They let their imagination run riot. You see, Molten Man is my hero. He’s not scary. He’s brave and fights baddies. I want to be like Molten Man when I grow up.”

I sighed with relief and began to feel much better after Zack had explained the situation. “I love to do drawings of Molten Man. I’ll do one for you when we get home.” Said Zack, giving me a big, toothless smile, revealing his missing two front teeth.

And hand in hand, we walked home.