Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 471

The New Tales of Old Shanghai
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Myers, Hayley - 11
I
stepped into the capsule decorated with golden paint and beautiful patterns. It was cold. I looked up and saw the shining
white rock, The Crescent Rock placed carefully into a small hole, carved for that particular stone. It gleamed like pretty
diamonds. When I was inside the glass door slid shut. I pressed a few buttons and I heard the sound of my machine tinker
inside. Suddenly there was a blinding light and a bang and I disappeared from the time machine.
When my eyes cleared I saw where I was. Strangely I saw beautiful streets and cafes. At first, I thought I was in France, but as I
saw the locals walking around I realised that I was not in France, but in the French quarter of Shanghai. I walked to a local
newspaper stand and picked up a newspaper. I looked up and saw the date, April 17, 1942 it read. I dropped the newspaper and
shouted with joy. The locals there thought I was a lunatic, but I was so happy that I didn’t even care.
When I finally calmed down I decided to sit in a cafe and feel proud of what I have achieved. Then I realised that I didn’t know
what to do next. I reached into my pocket and took out a blue gumball size pearl. I looked at it, admiring the inside of the pearl.
It looked like the Aurora Borealis that paints the northern sky with beautiful colours. As I sat there wondering I saw some
policemen walking my way, at least I think they were policemen, I thought nothing about it at first but as they slowly closed in I
sat up straighter and asked,
‘I’m sorry, but have I done something wrong?’
One of the policemen grabbed my left arm while another grabbed the right. I tried to twist my way out but their grip was strong.
They threw me into a car and we left.
It was quite a long ride and the windows in the car were covered, so I couldn’t see where we were going. Once we arrived at our
destination the two policemen dragged me down a dirt road. We crossed the dirt road and I saw flat land and what looked liked
a military compound. I saw a building that I suppose was the headquarters. As we slowly got closer to the building I saw a man
wearing military clothes and who had a stern look on his face. When I faced him the policemen dumped me onto the ground
and the man punched me in the face, knocking me out!
‘Wake up’! I heard a calm manly voice say.
My eyes slowly began to open letting in the blinding light. When my eyes started to focus I saw the same man that punched me
in the face sitting across from me. He crossed his arms and looked at me.
‘Wha- what- where am I?’ I stuttered.