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Every November is Novel Writing Month and every year, Grove Academy students jump at the chance to demonstrate their literary skills. This year, the brief linked to Veg Pledge which also takes place during November.

The brief was to write the opening chapter about a Dystopian world, where the demand for food has put tremendous, catastrophic strain on our land and sea resources through extensive farming and over-fishing.

Students were asked to describe the state of the planet and introduce the main protagonist who has some ideas to improve the situation.

This theme is in keeping with November being "Veg Pledge" month, the aim of which is to encourage us to have a more plant-based diet. 

Read the winning entry here.

FOR THE LOVE OF A BROTHER by TRR, 11G

BOOM! 

A gentle soul heard in far-off range, muffled by the distance. The morning rays trickled down her pale face and the dust tickled her nose reaching a slender hand to itch it. Ah.. morning already? The pitter-patter of tiny steps ran up the creaky stairs and before she knew it, the young woman was bombarded by two small figures.

"Nayyara! Nayyara! Wake up!" The voice of her little sister rang out, the poor girl almost tripping over.

"I'm awake, alright." Nayyara's slender fists rubbed at her weary eyes. She sat there taking in the sight of her two little siblings. With her brother, Kaiza, leaving home for the front lines of war, the role of victim to their little siblings mischievous schemes fell to her.

That's when she looked down at her hands to see.. ink?

"LIEVE! EIRIAN!" The older sister scolded, leaving the two to giggle at her reaction. This isn't the first time they've drawn on her face during the night but today she really didn't have the time for this.

She almost tripped over her own thin blanket while rushing out of bed. The orange sunlight casting a shadow through the small, dusty window.

Nayyara threw on her black track top, green, patterned trousers and belt. Almost ripping majority of her mud coloured locks while attempting to comb it. And, of course, scrubbing the daylight out of her face that her siblings decided to vandalise.

It was necessary for her too look presentable today. With the state of the world right now, the remaining civilisations can only pray for another meal on the table. Extensive farming and over-fishing from centuries ago have destroyed the Earth humanity once has known. Replaced by yellow, short grass and thin deprived trees mimicking the rest of the malnourished survivors.

Not even flowers grow anymore... she had always wanted to see one. Not just in books, but for real.

She sighed. Ocean eyes glancing out the window only to see more fumes and smoke corrupting the remaining clean air they had. If only they hadn't needed to resort to war over the remaining quantity of fertile soil and plants maybe they could help each other instead of causing more death to this world.

But this isn't a time for self-pity. She had an important meeting with political figures to attend. As a journalist, naturally she wanted to hear the thoughts of the people in charge of their remaining civilisation. Even if she didn't agree with most of it...

She hurried through the barren halls of the Government's headquarters. Camera clutched tightly in shaky hands. Her eyes scanned the letter she had been sent. She needed to go to room 105... her eyes landed on the door.

Her heart racing, she knocked on the door.

"Um.. Hello? I'm Nayyara, the journalist you requested.."

Her voice spoke to an empty hall. The door was opened and she decided to peak in and she saw...Nothing?

Her feet lead her aimlessly inside, eyes scanning the mostly barren room. All that stood inside were a desk and a couple of woollen sofas, arranged in a circular motion all facing a small wooden table in front of a lonesome closet that was wide open.

Without assistance, Nayyara decided to wait until the politicians arrived on their own. Taking a few steps back until- BAM!  

Her head rapidly collided with hard wood and the world faded out as all she heard was the sound of the doors slamming.

Are those... is that them..?

Consciousness crept back in through the back of her head, eyes shutting tightly to try and focus on the words being spoken.

"We can't. We can't give in. If we do, the famine will become even worse than before. Many more will perish due to hunger and the people are sure to begin revolting"

"Then what can we do?"

"For now, you must not tell a single soul about this. If this information gets out it will start country-wide freak out. The last thing we need during this war is pedestrians trying to start a 'revolution'"

"Speaking of which, isn't that journalist supposed to be meeting with us? Where is she?"

"Who knows. Perhaps she didn't care to show up. One less problem off our plate anyway. Lets discuss this issue another time."

The brunette arms started to shake. Eyes darting around the darkness unable to comprehend the words spoken around her.

"Would you like some tea? I'm sure there's some extra in the supply closet" She heard footsteps walking towards her. Her breath hitching as she slapped her hands over her lips.

"Hm... no, how about we go to that tea place instead. The tea here tastes quite rubbish."

She almost let herself sigh in relief as she heard their footsteps fade away. After making sure they left, she gathered the courage to push the closet doors open and crawl out.

Her entire body tense and shaking. All she could think about was the nuclear weapon. The cries of her baby siblings.. the death of her mother. The empty house her brother will return to.

No- no-no she can't stay here. She had to get out!

Her feet ran through the halls all the way back to their tiny, cracking mess of a house. The door swinging open to reveal a crippled woman around her 50s, her tender marine eyes reminiscent of the ones that stood before her.

"Mom..." Nayyara panted and coughed. Holding her chest to keep her heart from beating out of her chest. "We need to get out."

It didn't take much convincing to get her mother to agree to pack their bags and leave this country. Erian's small hand holding onto his older sister's as she helped him board the train. His brown eyed shook with uncertainty as they looked up at Nayyara. Her tired features curled into a reassuring smile, patting his head gently and ushering him up.

Right as she was about to board the stern voice of a woman stopped her dead in her tracks. "Hold it!" The younger woman spun around, eyes landing on a woman about 5 years older. She wore worn military attire, paired with her crimson locks and the battle scars that littered her body.

She hopped off the steps of the train as she realised that the Lieutenant's words were directed at her. 

"Nayyara Saleen. That's you, right?" Her stern eyes almost pierced through the girl, making her a little nervous. 

"That.. that is me." Her body threatened to shake again under her gaze.

"Don't give me that face. You're not in trouble, Kid." The woman sighed. "Rüya. Lieutenant of the British army. I have a special delivery for Saleen Household."

The young woman's ocean eyes scanned her in confusion as Rüya slipped her hand into her pocket. Pulling out a series of letters all marked with the names of each family member.

Her eyes naturally landed on the one that was engraved with her name. Warily, she opened the envelope and begun reading:

"To my beloved sister, Nayyara. Heya. It's Kaiza, hope you didn't forget me with all the excitement of becoming an adult. Or have you already gone past that stage in life yet? I hope you have. If you're reading this I am dead. It feels surreal to write that. Everyday I'm surrounded by it yet I still can't seem to comprehend it all. But I have no regrets. This position has given me the ability to fight, not only for you but for the country as well. And well, for the world as a whole.

Nayyara. I'm sorry you had to grow up in a world surrounded by death and famine. That even as a young child you had to face the struggles of starvation and poverty. But never once have you let that consume you. You're strong. You just lack confidence sometimes. And I know that doesn't just change overnight but I hope that... maybe one day you'll be able to grow into someone who's able to fight for what's right. And that more people will give to mother nature rather than taint and destroy it.

Don't forget your dear brother. Take care of mom and our siblings for me, and never ever, ever forget how much I love you.

Forever your dearest, Kaiza."

The only thing she heard was droplets of water hitting the letter. A choke and a sob slipped out of her as she held the letter close to her chest- as if the love put into the letter alone was enough to revive her brother and hold him in her arms once more. But love isn't enough. Love isn't enough when the trees die and the flowers wilt. When the Earth overheats and the animals perish. When death comes and collects sinner and Saint one by one. Her tears came to a halt when she felt the stern hand grip her shoulder.

"Don't cry now. Don't let yourself fall into that despair." Rüya's flaming eyes met hers, but there was more beyond that flame. There was understanding.

"Don't allow grief to cloud your senses. Your brother may be gone but you're not. The only way is forward and don't let these tears cloud your vision." ...she was right.

The brunettes slender fingers gripped the paper as she made a bold yet risky decision. "Lieutenant..." Her head tilted up, revealing her navy eyes. Determination finally shattering the constant fear within them. "Does the army need recruitment?"