SCHOLAR

Behind those high brick walls and beautiful trees hidden are the secrets that you might not like to know. I suggest you not set foot in this school, or in the end, you'll end up regretting all you did.

Geniuses are what people look up to. They rely on their intelligence and their thinking. Well, why would you ever rely on such an idiot?

But in this school, relying on everyone will lead you to your death. The danger is just around the corner, and it will get you anytime.

Morrissette School of Geniuses. A school where successful legends graduated. Named after it, the school is keeping its reputation by hiring genius students and if they pass the scholarship exam, they enter the school and will be claimed as a real 'GENIUS'. But a student should keep her profile down when it comes to this school. Maybe they will feel unusual since they are always on the top, but they have to. Unless they want danger to get them. Risking is such a big sacrifice for such a lucky student. Risking will never take you anywhere. But there would be one, to your own grave.

Sounds scary? I don think so. 

My first day was really fun until I met the seniors and faced the headmaster. This school, and the seniors, might sound kind outside, but their demons will overcome them anytime.

...

A week after my graduation from elementary, a piece of big news was brought to my email inbox. 

I played with my pen for a while. I'll start a new life in a new school. But I haven't picked one yet. As a known genius in my small village, everyone has high expectations of me since I was lucky to have such a big brain. But it is very stressful. Sometimes I blamed my mother for giving birth to me. I never knew why. Competition at its finest. People don't see how it is like having a competition with the other nerds. They sometimes say it is just a child's game. Well, it isn't. fighting for high grades to be known as smart is not that easy that looks. Some students struggle to just perfect a single exam or write a single perfect essay. Well, kids like me can only understand it anyway. 

I stare at the calendar, it has been a week after our graduation. Graduating as a valedictorian is only a small achievement for me. I want a bigger achievement, like; passing an exam for a very prestigious school. That's my only wish. Why not make it happen?

I realized that this wish will ruin my life and bring me to my heels when I finally set foot into one.

My phone vibrated. 

I stared at it for a few seconds and grabbed it from the stack of finished novels. 

On the lock screen, I found out it was a new email. 

"That's odd, I never received an email my whole life." I sarcastically said to myself. 

I opened my phone by swiping and tapped the email app right away. 

I was shocked by what I saw. 

Dear Miss Lily Jenkins, 

This is the Headmaster of  Morrissette School of Geniuses. 

You are picked to be one of the scholarship students because you were recommended by last years' principal. 

We expected to meet you in person and test your skill by holding a scholarship exam with the other applicants. 

Please study for the exam so you can have a little luck to enter the school.

The exam will be held in the school's gym outside the main campus. The exam will start at 9:30  and I suggest you come early. The exam is gonna happen on the Fifteenth  (15) of May.

            Sincerely, The Headmaster.

I stared at it for a few minutes, and I didn't feel a teardrop from my eyes. My wish, I can finally make it happen soon. This is where I can prove I am smart, and I can outsmart people who are older than me. If I really have a big brain.

I cuddled my phone. My wish is going to come true soon.

 If I had an idea of what is going on inside, I would decline it. 

My nightmares started because of this. I wished that I never set foot in this school. 

...

I entered the car with a big smile on my face. Today is the day the exam will happen, and I myself am confident I can pass. Will I?

My mother closed the door of the car and then the car started. It was the school's car, where they pick up the applicants and join their way to the campus where exams are held. 

I stared at the driver's reflection. His face was not happy at all, he looked like he was pitying someone.

"Child," He whispers.

I was startled and jumped off my seat.

"Ye-yes?" I replied.

"Are you sure you want to continue to the campus gym?" He asks as he stops the car on the side of the road. I watched other cars speed their way in the direction of the gym.

"Why, why did you stop?" I asked. And tries to prevent the question.

It seems like he knew everything that is happening in there. Perverts?

But that wasn't actually what he meant, if only I knew what is happening here, I will say a big 'YES'.

"I don't recommend continuing. You look like a genius to me already, and if you ever enter that nightmarish school, it would be a waste of your big brain." He said as he turns to me with a very worried look. He looked like he cares for me. 

Why care for me, what is wrong with the school about this school anyway? I am just a few steps closer to my dream, why stop me from reaching it?

I knew I was dumb, I am no genius. If only I realized it earlier.

"Please, just continue, I think I won't regret it," I said confidently.

He turned and faced the road. His face remained sad. I had no idea what he was trying to say. 

He started the car once again, and he didn't talk to me until we reached our destination. There was a crowd of self-proclaimed geniuses in front of the campus gym's gate. I turned to him, he was going back to the car. He was about to close the door when I called out.

"Sir, what is bothering you?" I shouted.

He looked down and sighed. He averted my gaze and didn't even respond. 

I felt my blood run cold after I heard an unusual whisper. I was completely terrified. When I slowly turned, a senior was at my back, whispering at my back. The senior smiled and chuckled.

"Scared? That's good, you can feel it again after this passes." He gave him a smirk, which calmed her a bit.

He turned his back on her and walked into the gate. He was playing the key and she can hear it jangling loud. That guy maybe was the key holder that teased her by whispering in her ear with scary tones. She is sure she heard it in a horror movie before. 

These words that came out of his mouth made me think of a theory I thought will never happen... But well... it unexpectedly happened. 

I turned again to the man, he wasn't there, and a cold breeze kissed my face. I noticed the tall sequoia trees lining to make a circle around the gym. As I turn my body and check how tall they are, my neck hurts. I patted it and stop turning. I unwittingly stopped in front of the tallest sequoia tree. 

As I move forward with my feet, I can feel it was calling me...

CALLING ME TO COME TO HIM.

As I get closer, I can hear his voice clearer, I felt controlled. My brain had no idea what was going on. It's just my body moving. Before I realize what is going on, I was climbing a tree. A hand grabbed me and I fell on the cement. 

I blinked and opened my head as I moaned. I quickly touched my hand to see if I had a wound in my head. I stand up and hold my head. I didn't notice a  little girl standing and facing me, cuddling a weird doll tight in her arms. It was made of yarn and some ropes. Two black buttons stitched in the crochet ball resemble the eyes and a stitched smile. The body was made of ropes and it has no dress at all. The doll has short bangs, showing off a shining gem on its forehead. 

"Uh, Hello... Thanks for sav-" She interrupted me by glaring at me.

"Do not go there." She warned. 

"Huh?" I asked. I blinked, and she dropped her doll. She repeated what she said earlier.

"Do not go there. Do not. Danger." She raised her hands at her shoulder level. She disappeared in the air as she turns into ash. The only thing left was her doll she was cuddling and her white dress. Stained with blood and dirt?

I dropped to my knees as I stare in horror. I can see the reflection of the sun in the gem. I can see a picture moving. 

A girl was playing in the woods with a doll in her hand. They wore the same dress but this one is clean. The girl was happy and enjoying the day. There was a shadow walking towards her, carrying a big rock. The girl sat down in the leaves and without her realizing it, a guy dressed as a senior hit the rock on her head, and she dropped her head in the leaves. The senior ran away from the dead girl.  A  gem was left on the forehead of the doll. The girl's body is lifeless. The gem shone bright, the doll blinks its button eyes and stands up. It turns to the doll. The doll crawled at her body and checked if the girl is still alive. The doll carried it, showing it has more strength much than its size. It ran his small feet in the direction of the sequoia tree that Lily climbed earlier today. The doll placed the girl in a narrow hole just beside the sequoia tree. The doll covers it by throwing dirt at it. The doll jumps at the covered body of the girl and acted that it doesn't have life at all. 

The rain falls and lightning struck the covered body. 

As the raindrops fall, the doll lost its life.

FROM THE AUTHOR:

Hello! what do you think about this chapter?  You can leave a comment so I can know what do you guys think about the chapter.

THANK YOU :0

-ANNIE CHAN