Page 30 - KCN 2020

PROSE (SR1,SR2&SR3) : FIRST PLACE

a SCHOOL W I T H A

D I FFERENCE

Ng Choon Hau, SR1A

It was a cloudy Monday afternoon and I was on that could bore people to death. The other students
my way to Chromidia High for a week long exchange pro- subconsciously agreed with me, since half the class was
gram. I was pretty ticked off for the entire rickshaw ride fully asleep. The day dragged on until my final class,
to this crazy school in the middle of the woods, as all my where something odd happened. The teacher was speak-
friends got to go to Arizona High or New York City High. ing in a boring drawl when someone in class raised
Some Googling on my phone told me that Chromidia his finger and spun it in the air. The teacher’s words
High was littered with rumors and tales, mostly about started to jumble spontaneously, like a recording going
missing people and suicides, yet all were proven to be on rewind. I could’ve sworn I was seeing things, right
false. “Great,” I grunted as I thought to myself, I’m getting then and there, or I just needed some coffee. I looked
sent to this school of outcasts in the middle of nowhere, at my watch, 2:37 P.M. Wait, I could’ve sworn it was
and I can’t even make it out alive? This was madness, I 2:45 just now. I sat there in more panic and bewil-
was ready to make a run for it as soon as the rickshaw derment while the teacher appeared to repeat the
arrived at the school. Not like anyone from my school exact things he was saying like ten minutes ago. I kept
was going to stop me; they left me to come here alone. repeating over in my head, what is up with this school?

When I arrived, I was already prepared to book On the last day of my stay, I finally found the
it until I saw the school itself. My jaw dropped. There principal The next few days went on with the same thing
weren’t any pictures available of the school, so I expected happening; students spinning their finger in mid-air
it to look like a shabby abandoned shack, not a three to kind of rewind or speed through time. This sense
story marble building with gold everywhere! A tall man of amazement combined with confusion continuously
in an elegant mauve coat greeted me and introduced stayed with me with no explanation being provided, due
himself as the principal. He took me around the school to everyone I’ve talked to being clueless and reproach-
and brought me through massive hallways lined with ful and the principal being no where to be found. “Don’t you think these lanterns resemble lanterns. The entire talk was really memora-
silver, classrooms with state of the art technology, foun- something?” ble but what really ingrained in my mind was this:
tains overflowing with champagne and an auditorium In front of the school, looking out into the lush Lanterns… Hang on…
bigger than my entire house. I was bewildered through- forests a distance away. Being horribly desperate for “Skulls?” “People think they have all the time in the world,
out the entire tour. Was this school really filled with the answers, I ran hurriedly towards him and asked him about “Yes, skulls of those who abused this power.” but regret soon when they realize they don’t. But, what
ones forgotten by society? Was the man with the ele- the phenomenon I kept seeing. His answers confirmed my “You murdered your students?” if you actually gave them all the time in the world? How
gant coat next to me a psychotic, murderous principal? suspicions; time manipulation was possible in this school. “Bah, that’s what everyone says nowadays. No, many of them would use that gift wisely? Alas, it is the
Were the rumors so elaborately fabricated, that even my lad, any time they decide to relive or skip is auto- curse of mam that leads to many downfalls – greed.”
the Wall Street fell for it? This school was the epitome “Oh my God, that sounds so amazing!” I said matically added into their actual lifespan, and tripled.”
of wealth and prosperity, the only thing that seemed excitedly. “So, if I skip five minutes of time…” I came into this school undoubtedly with
off about it were the lanterns hanging on the walls. “Not quite,” his elegant voice replied. “Your life expectancy would decrease by fifteen dread and fright but left with some new sense of insight.
“Why? Isn’t it great having all the time you minutes.” This was no ordinary school, that was for sure, it was
My sense of dread turned into anticipa- want in the world? All you need to do is spin your fin- a school with a bit of difference. Yet this little differ-
tion on the first day of school. I headed towards gers and you’ll never have to worry about time again!” This conversation was really wild, as it ence held more weight than meets the eye, something I
the classrooms to attend my classes for the day. The “Dear lad, this all comes with a price.” revealed the school to be some morbid heaven. still reminisce during cloudy afternoons when I’m pro-
teacher’s weren’t as great as the facilities, as every “A price?” The students who used up too much of their time crastinating on homework. I often wonder, what would
single one of them had the same monotone voice were turned to dust and their skulls made into become of the world if everywhere is like this school?

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