Emily was a normal girl with an ordinary life. Last Saturday everything changed. Emily loved reading more than anything. Every week she visited the library. As usual she rushed straight to the mystery section. Running her hands along the familiar bookshelf, one old, tatty book seemed to call to her. She’d never seen it before. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt she bring it home.

With a knot of excitement filling her stomach, she opened the dusty book. To her surprise a motheaten parchment fluttered out. Nervously she began to read,

Dear Reader,

I’m a monster-catcher. If this letter has found you, I need your help. I’ll have been captured and my powers weakened. A terrible night-time monster is spreading anger and sadness across the world. To defeat it you’ll need to trust the power of this letter. When the time comes, I’ll help you….

May good fortune guide you.

Black-Scar

Now the knot of excitement had turned into fear and confusion. Her head was flooded with a million questions. Who is Black-Scar? Could an ordinary girl defeat a monster?

Emily was afraid. Her body tense. She jumped at every sound. She smelled it first – a horrible rotten stench. Slowly she turned around. There looming in front of her was a terrifying jet-black octopus-like creature with wriggling limbs and piercing purple laser-like eyes. Trapped in its arms Emily saw an ancient wizard. “Use… the power… of the letter….” he called out weakly. Gathering her courage Emily hurled the parchment towards the beast. With a flash and ear-splitting screech, the monster vanished, leaving Black-Scar standing in a pool of slime where the monster had been.

He smiled.” You have not only saved me but also the world. You’re braver than you know. Thank you.