Standing there in shock, I froze nervously as I looked up and saw the colossal castle. It was bigger than I ever imagined. I shivered, unsure if it was because of how intimidated and anxious I felt or if it was because of the strong winds pushing itself through the crowds of thick trees. It was as if the castle was hidden, the towering trees tightly surrounded it undoubtedly leaving no blank spaces on the ground, like an army of knights guarding the perimeter of a queen’s castle. However, this wasn’t the home to a friendly face who many people knew to be a kind and loving figure. This was the home to a cold and sadistic vampire. Count Dracula.

Piles and piles of ageing brick and stone were stacked on top of each other almost reaching the sky which was already engulfed with fog. Leaves and vines were slowly slithering up the exterior like groups of sly snakes. There were many dust-filled, stained windows. Small windows. Or at least they seemed like it in proportional comparison to the castle. Most of the castle was partially covered due to the branches clutching onto the trees but the towers stood over them tall and proud. The walls were stained from the effects of weathering although they may look weak and drained it was rumoured that behind those decaying, grey, weathered walls hid all of his darkest secrets.

I’d always been praised for my lack of fear and curiosity but at this moment, it felt more like a curse than a blessing. I glanced upwards, above the trees and at the very top of a tower I saw a window. Strings of sunlight shone through directly through the small, arched, stained glass creating figures inside. Those figures started dancing in the light. But those shadows weren’t shadows or people. Everyone knew that nobody other than Dracula himself entered the castle willingly. Were they ghosts? Spirits? Figments of my imagination?

Curious, I took a step closer in hope to get a better view. As I continued glaring at the window, I saw the same faint silhouettes. Closing my eyes, I shook my head then rubbed my eyes and looked back up at the window but no other shadows from the window, as if I conjured all of it from fear. It couldn’t have been all just mental fantasies playing in my mind. I told myself it was my overreactive imagination and not a sign indicating horror to come.

I took my glare of the window once again, analysing the castle. I was greeted by the strong winds again. The same sun except now it wasn’t glaring at a window. I noticed the thick trees and the walls of brick; the elevated towers and the vines. It was all the same as when I first came here except now, there was no shadows dancing.

Read some of their work here:

The beauty shines across the ripples of the water. The sun’s rays glittering across the transparent liquid. A pure beauty with no imperfections reflected on the water. An innocent, young face, brighter than all stars, more beautiful than a garden of flowers. More beautiful than any other. Enchanting is his gaze. Blue eyes glimmering, red lips haunting all those who pass

Here is another beautifully written paragraph:

His eyes are the first thing I notice. Hauntingly beautiful, a deep electric blue- that didn’t forgive nor take into account the mere actions of others. He was above them all. The sun’s bright rays skim the water, leaving glittering, glistening pockets of light to enchant his face. Perfect. Beautiful. I shouldn’t want someone this badly: but I did.

And a third:

From the water’s edge I leant forward to sip from the deep, blue pool and then I saw it. The most beautiful thing to walk the earth and the land of the Gods. Eyes shimmering turquoise, staring deeply into mine, as if searching for my soul. The creature’s complexion was perfect, not a mark upon its radiant face. Purer than anything I had ever seen before. Rosy lips, plump and smiling. It was as if whilst I was searching for the necessity of water, I had found another necessity, something that would complete me in ways I couldn’t understand and I had never known before. I reached for the creature and the clear water rippled away from me, as if the creature was shying away, the mirror-like surface cracked then instantaneously repaired. Nothing else mattered to me anymore, all I wanted was the stunning beauty who lay beneath the water, it was the first time I have longed for anything more than I longed for this now. No matter what I did, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. But I couldn’t have what I longed for. The creature remained out of reach in the iridescent water of the pool. I was the only one to face competition. Battling the water for my one true love whilst it’s beauty remained unrivalled. It was like something from a myth, and I wanted dearly to be able to dive down and save my one true love. Alas, I could not, the best I could do was stare right back into the perfection that was the creature in the pool. I grew hungry and cold but no longer cared, if I couldn’t have my love, then life wasn’t worth living. And so I lay, mesmerized by the magnificence.

COVID TOOK OVER THE WORLD MARCH 27^TH 2020

Boris Johnson announced the first lockdown with no schools or anything on the 16^th march 2020 at 8pm- no words…

Corona virus took over the whole of Englan. On march 23^rd we went into national lockdown, no restaurants, no holidays, no school, no seeing your friends. Everybody was going “OMG” “800 DEATHS oh no!!” “800 that’s so much wow!!!!!!!!!”

Everybody was scared to go out. You could only go out ONCE!!! Once a day for a walk, run, cycle… the police was patrolling the streets seeing if older people are going out telling people to go back home and be safe. They were saying “You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary”.  

Due to it being the hottest months everybody was going mad for gardening stuff, painting for fences cutting grasses and making their garden nice for summer.

Around June-August you could only travel to certain places for a holiday, some you had to isolate when you got back.

Shortly after it was announced, the first lockdown was extended for another three weeks, before restrictions were eased slightly in May

Around in the summer time corona died down a little bit with only a little amount of deaths (500-800) because people were just out in their front gardens on the street talking to their neighbours

Unessential shops Trafford centre, town, Bury, Cheshire Oaks, were allowed to open around may June time.

But then they had to close around September October for 4 weeks but then it opened up again around November, people began to Christmas shop. They announced you could spend 5 days with 3 different people for like Christmas day boxing day, New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve. A few days after they said NO we have decided to not allow this no more. Due to there being so many deaths After Christmas everyone went boxing day sales. Shortly after that everywhere had to shut except essential shops on the 4^th January when we went into another national lockdown again, no un essential shops, no restaurants, bars pubs….

But people thought 800 was bad compared to now there is hundreds compared to the start-summer (800)

 March 31- 2021

 “The rest of March depends on how well the reopening of schools has gone and whether cases are still declining.

The current lockdown legislation ends on March 31, meaning that it would have to be approved by MPs once again.

It is very unlikely we’ll see normality return before then, so MPs could be asked to extend lockdown once again.”

(the deaths now compared to summer-the start)

Monday 22^nd February Boris Johnson announced

• From 8 March – All schools will open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Recreation in an outdoor public space – such as a park – will be allowed between two people, meaning they would be allowed to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic
• From 29 March – Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. It is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts will reopen and organised adult and children’s sport, such as grassroots football, will also return

Secondary school pupils can access tests and will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms and shared spaces like corridors.

There will be a gap of at least five weeks between each of the plan’s subsequent steps to allow for the impact of changes on infection rates and hospital admissions to be assessed.

The second step from 12 April would see major parts of the economy permitted to reopen:

• Non-essential retail opens, hairdressers and some public buildings like libraries
• Outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways, beer gardens, zoos and theme parks
• Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms
• Self-contained holiday accommodation, such as self-catering lets and camp sites

But wider social contact rules will continue to apply in all settings – meaning no indoor mixing between different households will be allowed.

Mr Johnson confirmed the end of hospitality curfews – and requirements to eat a substantial meal alongside alcohol.

He said a review of international leisure travel restrictions would be announced by 12 April at the earliest.

Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms

Self-contained holiday accommodation, such as self-catering lets and camp sites

But wider social contact rules will continue to apply in all settings – meaning no indoor mixing between different households will be allowed.

Mr Johnson confirmed the end of hospitality curfews – and requirements to eat a substantial meal alongside alcohol.

He said a review of international leisure travel restrictions would be announced by 12 April at the earliest.

Whitby Gazette – Your local newspaper                                                         

9th August 1897

Striking Storm Drags Ship into Harbour

Yesterday a terrifying storm hit the coast of Whitby as the ship Demeter was entering the harbour. Crowds come to gather at the harbour as the ship was approaching land. The ship went back out to sea many times as it was dragged around by the powerful winds and tides. When the ship finally reached the harbour, it was discovered that all crew on board were dead,including the Captain who was tied to the wheel of the boat with ropes cut through his flesh to the bone and in his right hand was a crucifix held tightly!

The Doctor confirmed that the Captain had been dead for at least two days but there was no evidence of how he died. However his face was chilled and full of fright. A local bar owner said he had never seen such a sight; it was very disturbing.

It was also reported that the ship was carrying crates of soil and a strange sighting of a dog that has disappeared. All in all it was a very strange event and has left the town of Whitby frightened and curious about what has really happened. This is the kind of thing that starts strange rumours and legends and many unanswered questions – like where are the rest of the crew?

Part 1 – Encounter with the lost girl:
A young woman approached me. She was dressed in rags and her face was covered with a hood asking for help and that she was cold and hungry. As she approached me, I could see that she was very bony and had extensive sharp nails that looked like claws. She then snarled again saying she was cold and hungry and suddenly lunged forward with her razor-sharp nails making me fall back onto the floor. At that sudden moment, Dracula entered and told the woman to get lost and feed somewhere else.
Part 2 – Impressions of Castle Dracula:
I followed Dracula to his home and I saw a tall, dark and ruined castle that stood half fallen on the top of a steep and rugged cliff.  It was very foreboding and gave me an uncomfortable feeling, I felt mesmerised and scared at the same time; it was a conflict of feelings that didn’t make sense to me but I know the castle was dangerous. I will have to be careful and keep my eyes out.
Part 3 – Impressions of Count Dracula:
Dracula had a very scary personality. He was friendly but not, because he is scary if this makes sense; I am confused. He has a very unusual personality, is well-mannered but serious, his bladed white teeth match the same colour as his pale skin colour.   There is something about him that inspires fear in me and I’m not sure what it is he is a puzzle that I do no think I want to solve, I just want to finish my work and get home to Mina.

Bang! The loud sounds of gunshots deafened the soldiers. They ran, swiftly, for safety but soon got tired. Bent double like old beggars under sacks, they staggered into deep, dirty trenches, underground, anywhere to cover themselves from the horrors they would witness. Each step taken was painful, tripping over razor sharp wire, falling down to the filthy ground. Wounded. Bruised. Agonized. Tears hidden behind the strong yet beaten faces of bravery and duty. In a feeling of lonely isolation and weak helplessness but still hopeful, wondering minds. Questions rushing through their injured heads like the adrenaline racing through their veins.

“Over ‘ere! Over ‘ere!” injured bodies littered the fields and cries for help could be heard even by the deaf. Gas slowly burned the soldiers through their soft skin to the core. Broken bodies. Broken minds. The fear hurt more than the brutal pain. Their sense of reality was blurred along with their scarred mentality. The sting of the raw wounds could not replace the grief they had to experience and the thoughts of their families encouraging words. Violent yells coming from every single direction but no way to move. Still. Lifeless. No energy left.

The heavy looking clouds turned an ashy grey colour like an antique photograph and a thick fog rolled in. As a crisp chill shuddered the fragile soldiers’ spines, furious lightning bolted and scattered through the gloomy sky. The bitter breeze picked up into a nagging wind that forced each man to tremble. Severe. Harsh. Threatening. Cowering, the remaining recruits -that were shivered with the grim cold – hid in muddy, infested trenches, waiting, praying for the storm of bullets and rain to pass. They could not tell the difference between the thunder, the explosions and their innocent hearts pounding with fear.

Would it ever end?