We have been writing the lead up to the climax of a story, where our character encounters a terrifying beast in his fetid burrow. We made sure that:
Our imagery was vivid
We used punctuation to control the pace
We changed the sentence length to control the pace
We also used recurring themes to reflect the wellbeing of our heroine, such as her cleanliness/muddiness.
Prepare to be scared! Whose made you the most terrified?
How did Class 6 use language to make you feel scared?
How would you describe this monstrous creature? 
As she looked around the lonely, mistreated forest, she spotted in the corner of her eye a hole in the tree. As she walked to take off her icy white dress her patent leather shoes stepped in a thick, sticky substance. She took off her dress, put down her auburn dress and reluctantly crawled into the ominous, eerie hole.
When she had crawled into the hole, she immediately knew something was going to go wrong. She crawled further and further into it being surrounded by more and more bugs. After what she thought was hours of crawling she stopped. She looked around to see if anything was following her. Nothing was. So she kept on crawling through the nightmare cave. Again she stopped. She heard something. A croak. She looked around. The croak again. It was from behind her! Hesitantly she turned around. It was a grotesque, revolting, ominous toad! But not any toad, a toad ten times bigger than a normal one. Its decaying skin was covered in crushed bugs along with rough muddy scales. Its menacing, bulging eyes were bigger than her face. Its putrid green lips had thick, grey, mucus like drool coming out of his mouth. Its breath smelt of death, and when the girl smelt it she staggered backwards.
“Hola,” she said. The toad looked at her and groaned back. She started to crawl backwards and backwards but every step she took the toad grew nearer and nearer and nearer. She blinked and the toad had disappeared. She turned around and started to crawl to the end. She blinked. There was no end…
Lola
The Tunnel of Toads
She was dressed in an icy, immaculate pinafore with perfect petticoats underneath. Under her arm there was a book, it was well-thumbed, with a crimson red cover and snowy white pages. She glimpsed at the dark opening in the tree, and then gazed up to the sky, her patent leather shoes covered in revolting, bubbly mud. The girl with pitch black silky curls slipped off her pinafore and petticoats and crept silently in to the midnight black tunnel.
She crawled over thousands of large woodlice, one tip-toed up her skin; she flicked it off leaving a trail of mud behind it. She started to breathe rapidly. She could see something. A light. But where was it coming from? She held her breath and then went on, her heart pounding. The light, suddenly, became brighter and brighter until it was blinding! She stared at the light, not caring about being blinded, trying to make out what the enormous, ghastly figure was. Then she saw, it was a toad. The most horrific toad you could ever envisage. Its bloodshot eyes, bulging out of their sockets, stole her soul. Its skin, covered in algae and green, murky water. She held her breath, “Hola,” she whispered, trembling with fear. The toad thundered a roar. It shook the whole cave but not the fearless, valiant, determined young girl. Nothing could stop her – nothing.
As the wind blew, the girl walked towards the tree, shivering with fear, she didn’t know what to do. She hung her ivory white pinafore on the shrub branch and walked to the mysterious plant. She looked to her left and to her right and silently muttered, ‘Here we go’. She took a deep breath then skulked inside. The girl was confused, she didn’t know what was in the tree, everything looked damp, muddy and greasy, it wasn’t an ordinary tree, and it looked like a dungeon, a swampy dungeon. As she crawled forwards, mud was splattering on to her, like a sprinkler making everybody wet.
She wanted to go out but it was too dark; she couldn’t see the light of day. So she crawled forwards and forwards hoping that there was an exit. But as she was going forwards she could hear a noise. She could hear rumbling, tumbling, grumbling, croaking, groaning and roaring. The girl didn’t like the sound of that, so she went forwards further, hoping that the noise would stop. The noise became louder and louder and LOUDER. The noise made her tummy swirl like a washing machine, her eyes were bloodshot red like the richest wines, and her face was flushed as if she was singing in front of the whole wide world. She didn’t know what to do. Her mind was having so many thoughts and ideas, she couldn’t even think straight. She was scared to death as the noise became louder. She could not think of anything happy to calm herself down. She went forwards and forwards and forward. She knew the noise would get louder and louder and louder.
Finally the noise stopped. She could only hear a quiet sound of fluttering. She turned around and then she saw the most queer figure. It was repulsive and his breath smelled like rotten egg and spoiled meat. She could not believe her senses.
Underground
She crept towards the gaping hole, clutching her reddish, leathery manuscript to the crisp, clean folds of her snowy white pinafore. Taking an ancient-looking rag from her pocket, she unfolded it to reveal a couple of smooth round stones, glowing weakly in the half-light of the tumble-down forest that seemed to close in on all sides. The strong beams of sunlight had now grown faint and irregular, to the point where they were hardly there at all. Hesitating at the edge of the steep slope that led into the cavernous opening, the girl placed her old (yet well-cared-for) volume upon a natural ledge that protruded out the side of a strong branch, just above her head. She made sure that it was well wedged in before turning to the business of stripping off her smart, neat clothes, right down to the much more practical, if slightly ragged, plain under-dress.
Soon she was ready, and – still gripping the pebbles in her sweaty, and slightly sticky, palm – she entered the opening. Taking one last glimpse of the outside world, where a misleading ray of sunlight was filtering through the gaps in the higher branches, she plunged into the never-ending maze of passages and underground paths that lay before her…
It was darkness such as she had never seen before; it seemed to swallow her forcing her to go on. The roots of the variety of oak, beech and willow trees seemed to be emitting a strange glow that gave no light. Giant millipedes and woodlice crawled up her arms, producing a small shiver that travelled down her spine, leaving a long trail of mud and slime on her once clean skin and shoes. She stumbled on. Now striding along open passageways and caverns of the greater kind, now crawling along on her hands and knees her head bumping along the top of the tunnel. She began to go slower, and slower, and slower, stumbling, her eyes half closed, not even bothering to wipe off the slime that now covered her face and body, coating it in an uncomfortable, crusty outer skin. She just wished that it would end. She just wanted to lie down and go to sleep…
“GRRRRRRRRR!” a rumbling noise flooded through the miniature passageway that she had forced her way into. It seemed to be coming from behind her. It seemed to be coming from the enormous cavern that she had just, that second, left. Twisting into a painful, barely possible position so that she could see behind her, the girl let out a tiny shriek. Staring back at her, was the most enormous eye that she had ever seen. It was a pale, watery, film-covered eye, orb-like in shape. It belonged to a very formidable, very forceful, very ugly toad.
By Eleanor
THIS IS A TERRIFYING STORY WARNING: DO NOT READ BEFORE BED TIME!
Her ruby-red book was clasped between her arm and her crisp white, silky dress. As she lifted her shoe, oozing slime squelched on the sole of the leather boot, consequently a disturbed expression forged itself on her face. She heard a noise from behind and silently she turned around; the mortal soul had evidently been playing tricks on her and her trepidation evolved to a heart-rending pulsation of striking fear. However with the strength she had left (which was not much), the youthful frightened girl journeyed on.
Our victim to come was wandering around, trudging along in revolting mud, getting dirtier and dirtier and dirtier. The girl walked for a mile and then there was a tree, but this tree- it was different, unordinary maybe even mysterious. She walked around the tree a couple times and then noticed something queer. There was an entrance into the tree, which she inspected before gradually taking off her pinafore to creep inside.
Now she was all the way in and her surrounding was an underground tunnel! Questions and thoughts raced across her head: Turn back! This underground over-grown tunnel is too much! Should I be here? No, turn back now! What could be in here? However, with one final step, the darkness swallowed her as she fused with the shadows. Pale and in isolation, she crawled into the Devil’s Playground. Fear had consumed her as what first looked like a mere hatchery for small bugs transformed into a lair of grotesque beasts. What happens next? I hear you say. It evolved into a hive, a slice of feisty ferocious pie. Cockroaches crawled on her. Head to toe she was covered in them. Each leg of the insects felt like an injection by a syringe. Her heart raced faster than a lion on the chase. Now it was so muddy you couldn’t see her own skin. Then there was a noise. With her heart in her mouth she turned. Horror was unleashed.
With one peep at the monster’s coarse scales smothered in slime, she swelled up pale and was so frightened she couldn’t even find the strength to scream. Involuntarily all she could do was choke as striking fear swallowed her. She felt as vulnerable as a mouse being chased by a cat, but that was all she could feel as she knelt to wipe a tear.
The hole
The little girl emptied her precious, midnight black bag and there fell out three special rocks; she turned around looking confused and looked at her feet. Her luxurious, black leathery shoes ruined with some grim, slimy, damp and repugnant mud. She did not look very pleased, as she walked over to the mistreated, abandoned and dirty hole. Next to it was a mossy log where she placed her snowy white and crystal blue clothes and put her ruby red book on top, she entered the hole…
Her shoes blended in with the mud. Bugs all over her, smothering her with mud. As only a few specs of light shone behind her, she was captured by darkness. As she crawled nearer and nearer to her worst nightmare. She looked behind her. There it was. The Toad. His eyes were bloodshot, his torso was rough and scaly and his deadly warts were revolting and fetid. The little girl went pale and said with a croaky voice, “Hola.”
The underground beast
A plain ordinary girl dressed in swan-white holding a polished bark-brown book, paced; day dreaming of her next adventures, taking in the fragrance of her surroundings. She took out her gems, as a good-luck charm, to ward off the monstrous spirt she had felt inside for days; then she took off her crisp, swan-white dress, when suddenly a waterfall of oozing mud came out of the tree. Then the girl noticed the bubbling mud dripping constantly; our heroine, ready to explore the underground tree slipped out of her dress, and crawled towards the growling tree mysterious hole leading to a unknown lair!
As the girl got deeper, deeper, and deeper into the hole, the darkness swallowed her up. The light began to fade away, as the darkness took over. As the heroine got further in the hole, it got dirtier, dirtier, dirtier. Millipedes began inching up her arm, the first time she swept them away with fright, her heart pounding in seconds! But the second time she did not care about the creatures crawling up her arm. But she did care what the hissing, rumbling, growling, croaking, behind her. She turned around and faced her enemy.
By Tianna
They are some ggrreeaatt passages.
Francisco
He crept around the corner hearing an strange sound. He paused, took a deep breath and listened. It was a pecking noise, with talons scraping the wall, he froze – not making a single sound. The sound started to muffle; suddenly a claw shot out of a door next to him. No sound, nothing. Then a body emerged out of the door. His claws sharp and big; his body huge; wings spreading out; a beak thrusting through the darkness. He looked up and saw a…griffin.
The Enchanted Entrance
She skipped energetically through the woods, in her pure white apron; the algae-green bow tied in her dark, brunette hair, became undone by the blustery wind. She was isolated – only the ancient trees surrounding her. She slowly untied her slowly untied the knot behind her back (keeping her satin apron around her waist) and placed it upon a unusually-placed branch that twinkled mysteriously.
As she turned around to continue her journey, loud cry came from a near-by tree however, this tree was not only colossal but it was enchanted…
She slowly walked closer to the tree, knowing that something was in there – just as scared as she was. She was fully committed to her adventure now, so committed in fact, the opening was now unseen. Behind her, silver balls of dust-like mist travelled through the musty air. She now felt trapped – trapped in an enchanted tree, where anything could happen.
Only a few minutes ago she was clean, neat and beautiful however now, she already had woodlice crawling up her dirty arms. The viscous mud slowly became deeper and thicker – her expensive clothes were now ruined by stains of the revolting substance. Her pure skin was bruised and grazed by the entwined roots inside the tree. She was worried, lonely and weak. Her eyes grew wider with fear – what could she do? …
After a long period of discovery, she moved deeper into the labyrinth-like cave, feeling enclosed by the ghastly bark of the tree. She had no idea what to do. She had no idea what was going to happen to her. So she kept on going – until she heard a strange noise.
“Grrrruuuuurrrrrhhhhh,” it said, she did not know what this meant however she now had a face full of concern and regret.
“Grrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhh,” came the noise again but this time, louder – much louder. Although she was scared, she slowly turned around to see what was making the noise.
She stuttered “H-h-hello?”
The Hole
Ella trudged slowly into the desolate forest, in her patent leather shoes, with her pure white dress being held up by an algae-green bow. Her long blonde hair twinkled, in what light there was, her bright blue eyes scanned the forest, making sure there was no danger. Her long bony fingers clutched her velvet bag in her right hand and her fairy-tale book in her left. She looked up at the majestic tree, and saw light in the distance. “I wonder what that mysterious light could be?” Ella said to herself. She took of her beautiful satin dress, and hung it up on entwined branches. The once well-to-do girl was now dressed in a plain brown petticoat.
Ella dropped to her knees and crawled through the viscous mud, she groaned as pieces of bark fell down on her, making her day even less enjoyable. Eventually, she had the courage to crawl in, her legs began to disappear into the darkness. The roots were enclosing on her; every movement she took had a reply, and it was getting louder and louder by the second. She looked in front of her and behind her, and all she saw was endless paths (both ways). Cockroaches began to climb up her, but she hit them off, leaving a pile of mud on her skinny arms. The roar was getting louder and louder, when suddenly it was coming from behind her…
Slowly she turned her head round and saw a: huge, grotesque, vile, inert creature, which stood in front of Ella’s bright blue eyes. “H-h-h-hello,” Ella said nervously. This creature had its tongue out. And it was licking its lips!
She stood still. Her crisp pure white pinafore flowing in the wind; she gazed around her and she saw the moss and lichen covered trees entwining into each other, forming an arch over the stone pathway. Ella had delved into the depths of the woods, the birds had stopped chirping and the air was misty. Out of what she could, she saw a miniscule tunnel at the end of the woods. The path seemed to close as soon as she left. The only way back was to go forward. She ran fast, scared of what lurked in the woods when she came face top face with the hole that she had seen a few minutes ago .
Suddenly a voice cried, “Come into the tunnel and the secrets will be revealed!” Ella, left speechless and mute, peered in curiously at the hole, yet total darkness devoured the inside. After time pondering on the situation, she placed her old dress upon a natural ledge that was on the outside of a strong branch, just above her head. Before tearing off her pinafore to show a woolen second-hand dress. Slowly she crouched down hesitant, wondering whether to turn back but her head went in first and her whole body followed – she crawled into the tunnel.
Vermin and insects crawled in the tunnel, they had the found nesting in the roots of the dead trees. Ella stared, terrified at the state of her body but she crawled on and the tunnel sloped and wined in different directions. She turned back to see the dust catching the light like fireflies and then the tunnel enclosed on her, striding along open passageways and caverns of the greater kind, now crawling along on her hands and knees – her head bumping along the top of the tunnel. She began to go slower, and slower, and slower, stumbling, her eyes half closed.
Vibrations went through the roots of the tunnel, rumbling horridly and Ella closed her eyes praying for it not to be a monster. Again the vibrations came; again and she turned around slowly making herself comfortable in the position. Slowly she opened her eyes and the clear black eyes met hers and she took a deep breath the green scales and the ginormous body belonged to one toad and Ella whispered to it, “Hello.”