Starter paragraph: Moonlit Beach by David Dale Samantha stared out of her bedroom window overlooking a moonlit beach. The sea shimmered with light and the dark clouds drifted against an iridescent sky. The moonlight shone through the window casting an eerie duplicate on the stark colourless wall behind her.Ìý This was the first time she had come with her mother and father to Denvagan to visit her uncle Craig and she'd been in bed two or three hours, but the bright moonlight and the sound of the waves lashing onto the shore kept her awake. The environment was unfamiliar and she didn't like being left alone. Apart from the hypnotic sounds from outside, the house was deadly silent, except for the clock on the bedroom wall that ticked relentlessly with a ghostly echo. Chain 1: Hazel Stevens Samantha squeezed her eyes shut and tried to sleep. The ticking grew louder. Somewhere outside an animal screeched. The eerie sound made Samantha jump, her eyes flew open. A sound nearby made her twist her head on the pillow. In the moonlight she could see the door knob turning slowly and almost silently. Chain 2: Nick Fletcher The door opened slowly.Ìý The clock seemed to get louder.Ìý The sillouette of a tall man stood in the doorway.Ìý Samantha sat up, her face was as white as the wall.Ìý The man slowly stepped out of the shadows.Ìý His face was lit by the moonlight.Ìý Samantha could not believe her eyes. Chain 3: Janice Rennard There stood her favourite person, Grandad Tom, but he couldn't be real, she must be dreaming because her Grandad had died a month ago after being ill. 'Don't be scared poppet', he said, 'we can have some fun before the grown ups wake', and his eyes twinkled just as they always had. Samantha was out of bed in an instant and felt Grandad's whiskers tickle her chin as he gave her a hug. Chain 4: Anne Micklethwaite "Grandad Tom, they said you'd died and gone to heaven." Samantha whispered. "In a manner of speaking they were right Sammy-gal. Though I've not gone very far yet. There's something I need you to help me find, how do you feel about us having our own treasure hunt?" Eyes still twinkling Grandad Tom watched Samantha for her reaction. "Cool, what sort of treasure is it?" Samantha had always had a direct manner. "It's something I hid long before you were born. No-one else knows about it, so if we manage to find it I reckon it's yours. Now you'll need warm clothes and shoes you can walk in. I'll wait outside for you." Grandfather Tom faded out as Samantha hastily dressed in her warmest clothes and put on her new walking boots. Finally she stealthily left her room and hurried out to where Grandad Tom was waiting, all the while she was wondering what the treasure could be. Chain 5: Anne Micklethwaite It was growing dark and Jonny was becoming increasingly worried. His Mum should have been here by now. Who were these people? They'd been kind to him and he was worried or scared, or so he told himself. It would soon be time for him to go to bed, his Mum would be here by then. Jonny felt certain that his Mum wouldn't let a stranger put him to bed. He decided to make an excuse to use the toilet. While he was out of the room, away from the ticking clock he'd try to escape. | 
