It was a stormy night. We were three friends on a cruise. We were playing cards when, suddenly, a flash of lightning struck on the end part of our ship and it shattered into pieces. We quickly took our rucksacks and dashed for the emergency boat. A quarter of our ship had already sunk. We had to hurry. But before we could reach for the emergency boat, a strong gush of water took my friends away. I could only stare. I felt like my whole body was paralysed. It was only after another flash of lightning that I realised I had to get out of the ship before I possibly met the same fate. I took out the boat and sailed off. I started rowing hard with all my might.

I don’t know when I dozed off. I collided with something hard and woke with a jerk only to see that I had reached an island. It was a sunny day and the sun gleamed so bright, it seemed as if it was laughing at my solitude. I took my rucksack, got out of the boat and decided to explore the island.

As I was wandering, I came across many absurd species of trees, insects and birds. The island had wild vegetation, but very scarce habitation. I collected a few fruits and when I got tired, I came under a tree and sat down. I searched my rucksack for something useful, and simultaneously kept eating the fruits I had collected. When, completely out of the blue, I heard a shrill sound. In an instant, I climbed up the tree and sat perched there until I had decided that it was safe to go down.

After some time, a strange looking creature sprang out of the bushes and was coming towards the tree that had hidden me. There was something very obscene about its body. It had four legs but three eyes placed in a straight line. Its eyes showed more menace than any other monster. It had bright, glittering maroon coloured mane around its face and its body was covered with red fur and purple spots, quite similar to those of a leopard’s. It had taller hind legs, in comparison to its front legs. Its nose was screwed up and its mouth came out like a pout. Its movements couldn’t have been more treacherous. I felt cold as I saw it heading towards me. It was as if it had sensed my presence and was coming to pounce on me. I dared not breathe; what if it heard my heavy breathing? And then, suddenly, the branch I was sitting on gave way and I fell on the ground with a thud. I saw the creature looking at me with a smirk on his face and that was all.

After what seemed about an hour’s sleep, I woke up inside a dark cave, with a swirling head. I didn’t like its atmosphere as it was very damp and gave me goose bumps. Thankfully I still had my rucksack hung on my shoulders. As I rummaged through it, I found a torch and a map (which I had brought, to be on the safer side). Well, I also found my phone inside it! But it had only 10% charge left. I took out the torch and started my search for an opening in the cave. Thank God, that horrid looking creature wasn’t around. After wandering for some time, I finally found a gate. What next? I had reached the same place where my boat had collided! Luckily my boat was still there. I took out my phone and tried to contact my parents but there was no network there. Gloomily, I kept my phone back and climbed onto the boat. I rowed as hard as possible. After sometime, I heard a cry behind me. I turned around only to find that creature swimming towards me in a threatening manner. I rowed harder, putting more strength than I possessed, but in vain. The creature jumped onto the boat and I was thrown out of it. I didn’t know how to swim. I was splashing my hands and kicking my legs frantically in water but I couldn’t reach the boat. That horrible creature had taken it away from me. I didn’t know what to do.

Just the next moment I found myself on the floor and Mother was shaking me vigorously to wake me up. Apparently, I had been dreaming about the ship wreck, about that creature and about me drowning in the middle of an ocean. Mother helped me to my feet, told me to freshen up and come quickly for breakfast. It was Sunday and past 11 AM. I told Mom – Dad about my incredible dream and we all burst out laughing.