THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA COLLEGE 2023 51 “Wake up.” Immediately my eyes shot open, and I sat up. Four people surrounded me, the red-haired girl and three others. “Where am I?” I squeaked. ‘‘It’s Okay Jenna. You are in the Hidden Cities. You are safe. We are the Councillors. I am Grotto and that his Mellow,” he announced pointing to a girl with purple eyes. “And that is Silver,” gesturing to the last member of the group, who had silver hair and misty grey eyes. “And I am Maia,” said the girl who had kidnapped me. “You took me from the hospital!” I said accusingly. “Maia was told to do that by us,” Silver spoke. “Do not worry. Everything is happening for a reason. Follow us.” I stood up slowly, following them to an opening door, and what I saw through the door made me gasp. The room I was in looked over a large city with many tall buildings seemingly made out of crystal. I imagined it once being more beautiful but now the air looked polluted, and the greenery below seemed dead. Ashes flew in the air and the crystals seemed dimmed and dull. “What happened?” I asked. “Our world is dying, Jenna, and we need your help to restore it,” Mellow explained. “I would love to help, but I don’t have any power,” I said. “Yes, you do, Jenna,” Grotto said. “You know you are. You must have felt different from others at times in your life.” “Well, yes. That’s true. My massive headaches and I feel that my senses are enhanced,” I acknowledged, everything beginning to click into place. “I have powers?” I whispered to myself. The three Councillors went on to explain I was a magical being and their saviour. Only I could travel to the centre of their world by acquiring a powerful crystal from the Cave of Mysteries. Maia was to go with me and once I had the crystal, I would be able to heal the heart of their world. “Will you do it?” asked Grotto. “Yes, I will.” ‘Woah,” I whispered as I entered the Cave of Mysteries with Maia. The cave was covered with crystals of all shapes and sizes. “This way, Jenna” called Maia. She had explained that she had hypnotising powers which is how she had got me to calm down and transported me to the Hidden Cities. While we were walking among the crystals a voice spoke out, “Welcome”. A middle-aged woman with black hair and a purple cloak appeared. “I am Mage, and I have the gem you require. This is it,” she announced holding up a purple stone about the size of a tomato. “Thank you, Mage,” I said as I took it. The gem radiated magic and felt cold against my fingers. We were about to leave when she grabbed my shoulder. I turned to face her and she said, “You have great power. Use it well, Jenna.” I was about to thank her when all of a sudden, she disappeared. “Okay, just hold the stone and ask it where to go,” Maia explained. “Where next?” I asked, speaking to the gem. In a split second we teleported to a large cavern and in the centre stood a giant crystal. It was glowing only dimly; shadows covered the walls and darkness lingered everywhere. I seemed to know instinctively what to do, and I put my hands on the crystal. It was as cold as ice but in the middle, I felt a faint heartbeat. I shut my eyes and concentrated, harnessing all my power and thought back to the times when I felt I didn’t belong. Now I knew who I was. I had an opportunity to belong somewhere, and I couldn’t let that slip away. I had to help this world. I felt my energy draining from me into the giant crystal. I was so close. I could feel it. I could see the light and I reached for its warmth. I felt like I could drift away but then a blinding light snapped me out of my haze. I stumbled back into Maia’s arms. “You did it Jenna!” she said. I felt I didn’t even have the power to stand up, but I wanted to see what I had accomplished. I opened my eyes and I grinned. The cave was glistening a bright red. Light filled the cavern and it looked so alive. I felt such a rush of joy and before everything went black, I knew I’d finally found home.
52 The Necklace of Hope By Nartana Rajeevan | Yr7 Art Eva Di Iorio | Yr10 A small, isolated house stood solitary amongst the crunchy green blanket of grassland, spread through the vast fields. Crashed windows and broken doors gave the appearance of no souls alive within. To the outside worlds only the loneliness of the house was visible. Inside the dampened spirits of a shattered family roamed around. Mum lay in bed as her weakened bones shrivelled with her face deeply sullen. The utter silence was broken by an aggressive cough signalling for help. Abruptly, Melissa slammed the creaky door open in worry as she rushed towards her sick mum. “Mum, are you Okay?” “Yes. I’m fine,” Mum reassured. “It’s just that…” began Mum and then suddenly paused… “I need your help.” “On my last quest to the forest, I lost a very special necklace. But I need it back, I really do. You need to retrieve it for me,” pleaded mum. An awkward silence fell between them. A storm of thoughts entered Melissa’s head, worrying about leaving her mum on her own, worrying about how she, a 15-year-old girl, could go to the forest alone. Melissa hoped her mum would change her mind, but mum said, “Oh… don’t be anxious, Mr Morrison will help. He was my partner on my quest before I got sick. He will be a great help to you.”
THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA COLLEGE 2023 53 Just then the door creaked slowly open and a tall, old man entered. His wrinkles were clearly visible, and his grey beard covered most of his face. “Ah, Mr Morrison,” welcomed mum. “This is Melissa. It is time for you both to retrieve the necklace I spoke to you about.” As Melissa began to open her mouth to argue, her mum pulled out from under her pillow a small grey shiny pen that glimmered in the dim light of the bulb above their heads. Melissa’s eyes widened as she gazed in astonishment. She had never seen it before. “This is for you, Melissa,” began her mum in a weak voice. “You must only use it for emergencies, however,” she continued in a more urgent tone. Melissa took the pen just as Mr Morrison lifted his wrist and played with his watch. Immediately, a bright yellow light shone towards Melissa’s face. She squinted tightly and instantly Mr Morrison and Melissa were transported out into the forest. “Here we are,” announced Mr Morrison. “Now be careful. Nothing is what it appears.” Melissa’s forehead scrunched up in bewilderment and astonishment. Trees stood as solitary soldiers in the desolated forest. Gnarled and bleak branches reached towards the sky as if pleading for salvation. Withered leaves spread out as far as the eye could see on the damp ground and an orchestra of harmonious crunching of leaves and twigs welcomed them as they walked. All of a sudden, a person appeared in front of their eyes with no warning. He looked like a part of the forest, but he wasn’t welcoming and pointed his sword perilously towards them. Melissa stepped back in terror, but Mr Morrison stood still assertively. He seemed to know him. “How dare you invade? You must leave or you shall face the consequences of my sword!” he threatened. “We are sorry to disturb but we are here to retrieve a missing silver necklace and we cannot leave until we have done so,” announced Mr Morrison firmly. “Necklace…?” questioned the man, laughing. “You mean... this?” He pulled out the necklace from his back pocket and held it up in the air. “Well, you can’t have it!” Melissa’s eyes grew wide with amazement at having located the locket so easily and wondered what to do next. But then, in the blink of an eye, Mr Morrison pulled out a pen and clicked it thrice. A long, sharp sword emerged from the pen, and he began to swing it around in precise and fierce movements. The forest man swung his sword in a similar fashion and Melissa stood back in terror as she watched them begin to fight. Loud clicks and clacks disturbed the tranquil environment of the forest. Her legs swayed, her feet felt numb, and her jaws clenched as she watched the two men fight. It wasn’t going well for Mr Morrison. Suddenly a thought flickered in her head. She forced her trembling hands to take the silver pen out of her pocket and she clicked it three times, just as Mr Morrison had done. It formed into a fiercely sharp sword and Melissa stepped forward to take action and help Mr Morrison. Despite the fear running in her body, Melissa entered the fight. Click! Clack! Smash! Within moments the forest man fell to the ground too weak to fight back anymore. The necklace had come safely back into their hands. Melissa and Mr Morrison used his watch and transported back home to return the treasured necklace to her mum. As the necklace was placed in her mum’s hands a sense of joy spread over her. “Oh, Melissa. You don’t know how much this means to me. The truth is … this was a gift from your dad before he died. This is the only thing I have left of his,” said mum as a tear spilled from her eye. Melissa smiled, thrilled to have overcome her fear of the forest. Her first adventure and her first quest had been one to remember. The grief shattered family had begun to heal and unite together once more. “Necklace…?” questioned the man, laughing. “You mean... this?” He pulled out the necklace from his back pocket and held it up in the air. “Well, you can’t have it!”
54 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA RETROSPECTIVE 2021 Monique Adolphe Bhavna Anand Alana Bartlett Isla Barwick Cynthia Castaneda-Moreno Charlotte Daly Olivia De Rose Himansa De Silva Lexie Demaio Anvi Desai Erica Donaldson Vivian Fan Ella Farrell Amy Ferbezar Zoe Foukis Miah Howard Jordan Kharbat Felicity Langford An Ye Leong Philomena Lin Alysha Luttick Amy Mawson Alexandra Michell Jax Molaeb Nadia Montenegro Anyaa Perera Joanna Praveen Nartana Rajeevan Soniya Rajendra Deeana Rapoojee Torah Rentoulis Chloe Shields Amber Shums Lakshmikha Sivananda Eilish Stansfield Natalie Tan Ursula Vonguyen Meet the Avila Writers The Curious Minds Project presents a collection of individual students' English literature throughout the year, shining a spotlight on the co-curricular writing of Avila's talented Quill and Ink Writers Guild. We hope you enjoy the rich tapestry of literary expression within this inspiring showcase.
THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA COLLEGE 2023 55 Isla Barwick Addison Carslake Lily Crellin Madison Cusdin Chiara De Caro Eva Di Iorio Aleia Di Scala Niki Dorozhkin Alicia Dragwidge Vivian Fan Tara Gerace Sameen Hamidy Joy Hua Amelie Huppe Maria Jose Valencia Andrade Bethany Juospaitis Grace Kelly Alexandra Lewis Tori Liatos Kiara Martenstyn Aneekah Messina Ella Musgrave Lucinda Prodan Deeana Rapoojee Poppy Roberts Bianca Rogers Gabriella Stokie Chiara Strang Lexie Trainer Emmerson Traplin Ashleigh Whitfield Livia Wilholt Erin Woods Meet the Avila Artists The Curious Minds Project illuminates students' creative excellence in Design Technology, Studio Arts, and Visual Communication, encompassing painting, printmaking, sculpture, and more. This initiative joyously celebrates the diverse expressions and imaginative depth of students within these disciplines. Absent: Isobelle Kite
Avila College | 35 Charles Street, Mt Waverley 3149 | T 03 9831 9600 | W avila.vic.edu.au Avila College acknowledges the Wurundjeri People as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. Sisters By Anvi Desai | Yr9 Art Ashleigh Whitfield | Yr10 There were two cousins. Their families jointly shared a home. Eight people in a two-bedroom apartment living life to the fullest. The two cousins became sisters; not tied by parents, but still joined by blood. They are “as thick as thieves”, their mothers would say, because one was never seen without the other. People wondered at their bond as they were complete opposites. One, the older, was dainty, careful with her words, respectful, gentle. The younger was rough, clumsy, strong-willed, loud and outspoken. Nevertheless, their thoughts always melded together. They were two but one. When the younger migrated to Australia people said, “They will grow apart … it’s only natural.” But they were wrong. The two were always talking, updating each other on even the most mundane of things. Even though they were parted by the largest of oceans, it never felt like it, because they laughed together, cried together and lived their day to day lives together. Of course, they had their own secrets – their own worries, their own pressures, their own friends from their own schools. They grew as individuals. But in the night they spoke and shared stories they couldn’t tell their parents but trusted to each other. Throughout the changes that each year brought, they were always each other’s constant companion, something that would never change. They would never drift apart – because they were sisters in every way. There’s this theory about sisters. Have you heard of it? That although there is nothing absolutely guaranteed in life – sisters will always be glued together.