1
Into The Sands

Alex Jaylor was a fourteen-year-old boy from the little town of Ia. He was quite tall and muscular. His skin was lightly tanned and rippled at the stomach and chest. His hair was a stunning shade of silver which matched his eyes. He lived at number 24 Roseplant Place, one of the most beautiful places in Ia. A road consisting of 30 houses, the two rows of gardens made it look like a public flowerhouse. Beautiful blossoming roses stood tall over the fences of the gardens, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. A wonderful place to live. So peaceful...

Alex woke up lying on the floor with one foot on the bed chewing his blanket. It wasn't until he sat up yawning that he remembered what that day was. 'Sunday 13th February,' his calendar read. It was the twelvth annual beach féte that day. He got to his feet, stretched and opened his wardrobe. He changed into a red t-shirt and baggy jeans and went downstairs into the kitchen for breakfast.

His mum was waiting for him there. "Mornin', sleepyhead!," she said happily, laying out a plate of toast and a cup of coffee for him on the table.

"Morning, mum," he said, yawning.

"'Ere," she suddenly said, making Alex jump, "you rememberin' about that féte?"

"Yeah, mum."

"You're takin' that pest of a bruv of your's ain't ya?"

"Yeah."

"W'ere is 'e anyway? 'E ain't slept in again 'as 'e?"

They heard a bump from upstairs, then someone running down the stairs.

"Nope," Alex replied, as Stu ran into the kitchen.

Stu was 5 years old. He had brown hair and blue eyes. He was very small and had fists not much bigger than a golf ball. His voice was always loud.

"Mornin', mum," he said joyfully, "mornin', Alex."

"Morning, Stu," they both said together.

"You takin' me to the féte, ain't ya?"

"Yeah."

"Woohoo!" Stu danced around the kitchen.

"If you're goin' to that féte, Stu," his mum said sharply, "you betta get dressed, and quickly!"

Stu ran up the stairs again and into his room.

Soon after, Stu came back down the stairs dressed and ready.

"Okay, you two 'ave fun!" Their mum gave Alex a £10 note. She walked them to the door, kissed them both on the cheek and they walked out of the door, Alex's first breath of outdoor air that day soothing him with the fragrance of the roses.

They walked out of the garden and up Roseplant Place. "We gonna go on da fun fair rides?" Stu's voice was high and hopeful. "Sure," Alex replied. "Yay!" Stu started to dance again, Alex gesturing him to stop. As they passed Merryfield Drive they saw the rides and stalls. Ali started to chant "rides, rides here we come, on your seat I'll plonk my bum!" He started to run and Alex ran to catch up.

The beach was crowded like the town centre. Around 7 people on each square metre of sand, apart from the sand next to the sea. They made their way there to look out at sea for boats. Alex smiled when he saw a tourist cruise ship with lots of people waving to him. But suddenly he felt something wet around his ankles and looked down, yelping. He was gradually sinking into his sand. Now at his knees, now his waist, now his chest. "Alex!!," yelled Stu, grabbing his hand and pulling with all his might, but it was no use. He held on and eventually they were both sucked under the sand...