Skip to content

2,071,041 books read so far

Eoin Colfer

Sybelle by Eoin Colfer

Sybelle awoke to find a cluster of strange beings leaning over her bed. At first she thought she was still dreaming, for creatures such as these could only exist in nightmares. Their heads were pitted and marred by unsightly bumps. Strange noises came from somewhere in their faces and bunches of animal hair grew above their eyes. Sybelle heard their strange talk and smelled the acrid stench of them and knew she was not dreaming but awake in some horrible world.

Where are my parents? she wondered. Where is little Gray?
The creatures moved closer, their doe eyes full of concern and Sybelle lifted her fore-claws to ward them off.

‘R-oo-ookay-onney?’ said one of the repulsive creatures and Sybelle lifted her fore-claws higher, a clear warning. But then she noticed that her fore-claws were not fore-claws, they were useless pink fronds, five at the end of each arm, just like the creatures.
I have become one of them, thought Sybelle, then she opened her beak and screamed and screamed.

Eoin Colfer is the author of the Artemis Fowl series. His latest book Warp: the Hangman’s Revolution is available now.

Terms and Conditions

  • The closing date for the competition is 8 September 2014.
  • Winning stories will be available on this website from 30 September. Stories may also be published elsewhere.
  • Your completed story (including the opener) must be no longer than 600 words
  • The work must be your own
  • Competition is open to UK and Eire residents only, and entrants must be aged 12 years or under. The judges’ decision is final.

Information for adults

Schools

Visit our School Zone to access free resources and Challenge ideas for your class.

Families

Visit our Home Zone, full of useful Challenge information for parents, grandparents and carers. For information about supporting reading in the early years visit our Pre-School Zone.

Libraries

Visit our Library Zone to find libraries near you running the challenge, and how to take part.