We asked you to write a short story under the title of The Wild Things. All entries were judged by Jon Ablett, Giant Squid Curator at the Natural History Museum.

This is the winning entry from Emma Robertson. Her prize is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum with Jon Ablett.

                         THE WILD THINGS

I will never forget that day when I was brave enough to take a plunge into the dangerous depths of the forbidden sea. My mother had warned me of the cold waters swallowing me whole. However, I knew I was going to be transported to a magical paradise. A paradise where its wild inhabitants lived amongst the sea bed.

Not knowing whether I was drifting into unconsciousness, I captured these moments of silence within this surreal and dream-like world. Spreading my fingers wide, I flapped my arms in excitement. I felt like a fallen angel submerged in holy water. I waited for a miracle to happen. My prayers were answered.

The quiet waters suddenly became interrupted from its tranquil state of peace. The soothing echoes introduced the phantom of the ocean as patches of its pale reddish skin flashed and then glowed in the darkness.

My heart seemed to skip a crucial beat and my blood froze from the sight of a vampire squid. It seemed to hover a few meters away as my presence had surprised the squid on its journey. Its piercing blue-eyed star noticed my stunned and vulnerable body, but it made no attempt to approach closer. Instead, it drifted and twirled in the deep ocean current. Its long legs danced as if it was performing an exclusive V.I.P appearance for Disney’s Little Mermaid.

I smiled and I’m sure I saw its powerful beak-like jaws beam in return. It was captivating and enchanting! I had fallen in love with this beautiful beast. That’s when a million thoughts bombarded my mind. I thought…maybe…possibly…its dance was a method to entice its prey and dine on its blood. My eyes projected the graphically violent visualisation of my death and my blood staining these pure waters. ‘This is crazy,’ I thought ‘A vampire squid being friends with a human being.’

These creatures belong in their wild habitats without any disturbance from human beings. A range of emotions were being processed through my mind and they patterned my limbs. The vampire squid seemed to notice this change of mood. Its eyes ran quickly over the contours of my pale face. It fed on my thoughts as a sudden heat sensation seared through my body. I felt dizzy. I knew I would be short of oxygen soon and the effects of this underworld were beginning to take its toll on me. I needed air. I needed air to breath, allowing my sensible state of mind to return.

In pity and in shame, I gazed at my gentle friend as it continued to sway from side to side. I hoped my eyes told today’s fascinating adventure and my forgiveness regarding my doubts for my safety. Amazingly, it seemed to understand that my oxygen time was over.

Before I could propel myself to the surface, the vampire squid slowly began to fade into the darkness, ready to accompany the ocean current. Who knows where the vampire squid will travel to next, its unknown. All I do know is that the wild things are the most beautiful experiences of a lifetime.