Chapter Three: The Stage Have Been Set

Rhein Wilward

The noise of pen scratching the paper filled the room. It was a busy morning, considering the arrangement for the new school year. It’s almost time for me to take over this school, I just need to supervise Class A since I’ve been their homeroom teacher since they’ve become first year. I removed my eyes on the papers and lift my head to look at the clock across the room. It’s already 7:00 a.m., I only have 30 minutes before class starts.

I continued to browse the documents until the door flung open causing a huge sound, making me startled. A female student walked inside with authority in the air. I was caught off guard by her action, I quickly regain my composure and about to scold her when she kicked the front of my desk. She just put her foot on the edge while looking at me like a piece of trash. It made my eye browse meet.

“The future chairman looks busy, isn’t she?” the student playfully asked.

I lean back to my chair, looking at her with a serious face. I already have an idea why she’s here, so I calmed down. As long as she’s in this school, I can handle her. The student displayed a face having fun, observing some kind of experiment and waiting for a reaction she wants.

“Young Lady” I said with a deep tone. “Do you understand what you have done? You’re a student in this place, you are just a mere player following the rules. I’m one of the Game Masters. You have no right to do such things. Either apologize and leave or I will call the council to give you the rightful punishment.” I speak calmly and maintaining a deep voice to sound like a threat. The student stared at me with the same mischievous face, I also stared at her, putting up my defense and not giving her a chance to see a crack in me. It took seconds for their staring contest to end, the student grinned at her.

“You know you can’t call the council, right? Game Master. As long as the cards haven’t scattered, the game haven’t started yet.” The student arrogantly said. I sat there in silence, still looking her with the same intensity. I already knew what she said was true, the game hasn’t started yet. She looked at me confidently, a sigh and open my mouth.

“What do you need?” I asked in defeat.

“I want to enter the Joker Hunt.” The student said seriously. It took minutes before I could progress what she had said. I stood up and slamming my hands on the desk, I felt a stung on my hand but that doesn’t matter. I gave her an unbelievable look; how could she even know it.

“That’s ridiculous! The Joker Hunt was forgotten 7 years ago! No student knew about this, just who are you even to know that?” I said, screaming at the top of my voice making my throat hoarse. Then the student let out a soft laugh, then giving me a deep look, swallowing me wholly.

The Joker Card was banned for many reasons. The academy has rules to follow to maintain the hierarchy among the students, and the Joker Card is the lowest of the deck. If a person gets the Joker Card, that student will be the target of that class. That person will lose every right to be a human. It was named as the Joker Hunt. But if the student survives being the Joker then he/ she will have a wish. Unfortunately, no one has survived the game, except one person. So, we banned the Joker Hunt, students that gets the Joker Card will still be the target of the class but we implemented rules to at least not kill the student.

“What if I tell you that I am the daughter of the only survivor of the Joker Hunt? You know the terms of her wish, right? You all thought that because she’s no longer here you can escape her, do you?” I opened my mouth then closed it again, lost with words I could only stare at the desk. I didn’t dare to look at the person in front of me. I was scared, the mere possibility of what she had said is enough to tremble make me with fear.

The student threw a folder in the desk. I quickly grabbed it and carefully scanned through its content. Looking every single word to prove that the student is wrong. A shiver went down through to my spine when my eyes ended up on the end of the paper. My legs lost its strength and ended up sitting in the chair behind me. All of it was true, I lowly whispered to myself. Progressing what had just happened and what will happen. At that moment, I knew the class is doomed.

“T-then according to the terms of the wishes of your mother ̶ Kyrine Frownman. The J-joker Hunt will be implemented this year.” nervousness made my body tremble. My voice lost its power and spoke so weakly.

I only knew little about the survivor, Kyrine Fronman. Only the council and the board of director knew that name. From her first year up to the second year she was just a bystander, getting mediocre cards so nobody knew how crazy she was until she had the Joker Card. As soon as the game started, she started hunting rather than being hunted, she killed her classmate one by one. The King and Queen have no control over her and so according to the rule they will be punished by the council. The day before their graduation the school held an execution for the royalties. While Kyrine was the only survivor of the class and the Joker Hunt.

She demanded to have a share of the school and to personally handle the hierarchy of the school, especially the Joker Hunt. If ever she uncapable of her responsibilities, her child will take her place. She created games and events for students that ended up being gravely injured, not until the news that she was mysteriously died. We knew nothing about her having a child so be removed the hunt, not until this day.

The student let out a loud laugh, her laugh became deeper and deeper as time passed by. ‘She’s a demon in a human’s clothing’ I thought.

“Y-you do understand that you have to find the Joker Card. Or the hunt won’t be acceptable. Plus, the names will be posted, I will make sure you will be hunted the moment your name is displayed” I said trying at least threaten her. But it was a useless effort the moment the student smiled at me. Of course, she’s enjoying this, it was sickening.

“Don’t worry dear, how could they possibly suspect me? I’m a two player after all. By the way, I’m Angelisse Frownman. It was long before I enrolled here, but this is the first that they’ll know what my true name is.”

The bell rang all over the academy. With last smile she left the room, leaving me alone and terrified. She is right, they won’t know. I closed my eyes, praying that someone could stop her even though its ironic because we started this kind of system.

Aziekyell Dawn

The same silhouette. The same scent. The same face. All of the things I love is now in front of me. Angelo, the person that I knew dead was standing in front of me. The one I’m holding now. I tighten my hug not letting him go no move. I can’t lose him anymore. I can’t hold back my tears, I cried while hugging him. Not until he forcibly pulls me away with irritated look.

“Look miss, whatever your thinking I’m not the one you thought of.”

“B-but you’re…”

“I’m not him! I will never be him!” his gripped on my shoulder tighten every second passed while staring beyond me. My shoulders started to sting so I flinched in response. He noticed my reaction and let me go.

“Whatever is dead will stay underground, accept it before you drown yourself in the past” that’s the last thing that he said before he left me. Again. I was alone.