WHAT if a phone didn’t just distract you… but swallowed you whole?

Chulmleigh College is absolutely delighted to share that Year 7 pupil Alex Chant has been Highly Commended in the BBC 500 Words competition, placing his short story “Sucked In” in the top 100 entries nationwide - an incredible achievement.

What makes Sucked In especially powerful is how timely it feels.

As governments and schools debate age restrictions and social media bans on mobile phones, Alex’s story explores the pull of online validation and what can happen when the screen takes over.

Dark, imaginative and unsettling in all the right ways, Sucked In is a story that will stay with you long after the final line.

It begins: "The sky hung heavy hungry for a storm. For days dark clouds had been gathering. Waiting. Greyer than a pack of wolves hungrier still they consumed the blue beyond and sat there. Ready.

"Raven was also ready. Skipping breakfast, she headed straight out the door without a word to her dad. Phone in hand as always, she effortlessly tapped in the passcode as if it was etched into her fingers.

"The ghoulish blue light emitted by her phone engulfed her features. Five red dots clasped at her concentration and each beep that accompanied them aroused rapture deep within. Unaware of any and all surroundings Raven strolled to school in a haze.

"Just before reaching the school gates, she checked SapApp once more. Three new comments. Raven's eyes shined with delight. All was going to plan.

"Her endeavours were paying off and as she had PE second period she would be able to check in again in just over an hour."

The story continues.

Read the full story in the latest edition of Optime here: https://tinyurl.com/3f63tnj9

Huge congratulations to Alex - a future author to watch!