Thoughts on the "Tunnel" by Sarah Ellis

In all honesty, my first interpretation of this story was a little out in left field, with little to no support from the text. But whatever, this is just what I got from it. The end of the book reminded me of an episode of Torchwood, called "Small Worlds" in which 'fairies', humanoid entities native to Earth, attempt to abduct a young human girl as their 'Chosen One'. Jasmine, said 'Chosen One', is friends with the fairies, but is unable to see them as the terrifying creatures they can truly be (see picture to the left). When Ib returns after disappearing in the tunnel, she tells about how she was playing with 'the girls'. To Ib, these girls seemed just as harmless as the fairies appear to Jasmine. Due to this similarity, I believe that the tunnel might not have been a representation at all, but perhaps a hint that there could be terrifying things in our world that many have yet to notice.

Flash Fiction: One Sentence

Kai had returned without Jade; Lavender turned and ran, tears streaking her face.

Flash Fiction: 27 Words

Lavender waited. Kai came back, alone.

"Jade?!" Lavender cried.

"She... I couldn't ..." Kai murmured.

Tears streaked down her face. "I can't believe I trusted you!" Lavender turned, and ran.

Flash Fiction: 54 Words

Lavender sat on the pavement, waiting for Kai and Jade to return. Kai turned into the alley. Alone.
"Where is Jade?!" Lavender cried.
"She... ran out into the street, I couldn't help..." Kai replied.
Tears streamed down Lavender's face. "I can't believe I trusted you!" Lavender screamed. She ran, unable to  stand the sight of him.

Flash Fiction: 108 Words

A nudge awakened Lavender; she had become a light sleeper while on the street. Kai stood above her.

"Get up," he said softly, "Jade needs a proper meal."
Lavender's sister looked incredibly fragile, solely skin and bones. Lavender nodded.
"Jade, you and Kai getting a meal," Lavender whispered.
"Mmm... Food... Good..." Jade replied.
Jade followed Kai; Lavender remained.
Late in the evening, Kai returned. Alone.
Lavender became anxious. "Where is Jade?!" She cried out.
"She... She ran into the street this afternoon,she saw free food and..." Kai didn't know what else to say.
Tears streamed down Lavender's face. "I can't believe I trusted you!" Lavender screamed as she ran off, she couldn't stand the sight of him.

Flash Fiction: 218 Words

Lavender and Jade had lost their parents in a car crash, the same crash killed Kai's parents. They were forced onto the streets after only one missed payment of rent. That night, Lavender dreamed of when her parents were still alive, days she deeply missed. A gentle nudge awakened Lavender; she had become a light sleeper during her time on the street. Kai was standing above her.

"It's time to get up, earn some money," he said softly, "Jade could use a proper meal."
Lavender glanced over at her sister, while sleeping she looked incredibly fragile, solely skin and bones. Lavender nodded, and walked over to Jade.
"Wake up Jade, you and Kai are going to search for a cheap meal today, okay?" Lavender whispered.
"Mmm... Food sounds good..." Jade replied.
Jade followed Kai off to find a meal. Lavender remained on the street, trying to earn as much as she could.
Late in the evening, Kai returned. Alone.
Lavender became anxious. "Where is Jade?!" She cried out.
"She... she ran into the street this afternoon. She saw free hot-dogs and..." Kai didn't know what else to say, nothing would help.
Imagining Jade's broken, mangled body, tears streamed down Lavender's face. "I can't believe I trusted you!" Lavender screamed at Kai, as she ran off. She could no longer stand the sight of him.

Ordinary World

In Stephen King's "Cell" the protaganist, Clayton Riddell, is not in his ordinary world for very long. Clay is a struggling graphic artist who was in Boston for business, selling the rights for his first graphic novel and it's sequel. After the success of his books being sold, he decides to buy himself some ice cream, and all hell breaks loose. While waiting in line, Clay notices that many people had been using cell phones, and at 3:03pm those people began to go crazy. From a man ripping off his dog's ear with his teeth, to a pilot of a plane crash-landing in the middle of the street, it was impossible to disagree that the world had gone mad. Clay, along with a man named Tom and a young girl named Alice; must now make the journey to the other part of Clay's ordinary world, Kent Pond, Maine where he hoped to find his wife and son safe from the harm of the animalistic crazy people.