Page 58 - The Muse 2019-20 Issue

into the unfinished humanoids one by one. In order for them to work, a button would have to be pressed to activate them.
“In there!” Dr. Lee shouted as the guards and scientists ran towards the double doors. Dot ran towards the button, and right when his finger was about to press it, Dr. Lee and the guards arrived with their weapons.
“Stop. Dot, you don’t have to do this. If you press that button, it will be over for you.” A tear rolled down Dot’s cheek. The mechanical eyes opened.
The Fear of Letting Go
by Isabel Walchli
8th Grade
Blue Ribbon
Walking around the cave once more, I grazed the wall, and slime slipped down my tan wrist, leaving a trail of green residue. The stone was smooth with fluorescent algae. That meant no way out. I looked up and glimpsed the never-ending tunnel of darkness that was the inside of this hollow, dead volcano. The only form of light in the small cave was a little pool of water. Steam slipped over the edges of the pool with a blue hue from the water. It looked calm, but when I stepped to the edge, it looked like it was going down for miles. I couldn’t help but walk away feeling nervous. I learned to swim when I was little, but I never planned on getting in the water again.
I sat against the cool wall searching for an escape - any way to get out of the situation. My mind went blank, however, and I stared at the pool of water in a daze. Something about it was so calming, yet so scary, and it was pulling me in while I was pulling away. I looked up to take my mind off it, but all I could see was the never-ending darkness which reminded me of how lonely I was. Ever since he’d left ...no! I wouldn’t think about it. I began to cry in the corner. I was trapped, no way out. I’d spent hours looking for a way to get out and I couldn’t find anything. I began to lose hope and was ready to give up until I heard a voice say,
“You wanna go for a swim Siena?”
“Who said that?” I yelled, my voice echoing off
the walls in tons of directions.
“The water sure does look nice, doesn’t it, Leo?” replied a deeper more intelligent-sounding voice.
“Ya, ya, ya! Let’s go!” said the other childish voice.
“Wait,” said the sage voice, “we can’t.”
“Where are you and who said that?” I asked again.
“We are right here,” said the voices. Two small figures appeared on either side of my head. “What a strange place to hang out,” said the sage voice. “My name is Fosfero, your personal
demon.” The creature bowed in front of me and looked up, his deep green eyes staring into my soul. He was small, maybe the length of my arm, and he was floating. He wore black clothing that cut off in
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Elena Pignata, Grade 7