Aziekyell Dawn

I still can’t believe it. Angelo never mentioned that he has an identical twin brother. Now that it sinks in, what I did earlier was embarrassing. But I can erase the feeling of sadness within me, knowing fully that Angelo will and always at six-feat underneath. I tried to focus on front but I can’t stop looking at him. They really do look alike. The same messy hair, thin lips, slightly pointed nose and even their scent was the same. I let out a soft laugh when I imagine them in a same room, acting the same and speaking at the same time. I heard a heavy sigh and saw him with eyebrows met. I quickly shut up; he must really be irritated with me so I pay attention in front.

Five people walk into the room. Their faces were covered with white mask. Its eyes were slightly squinted, like a sad mouth. While the mouth of the mask was smiling, grinning from ear to ear. Its mouth and eyes were covered in black thin cloth, it was hard to see any of their features.

“This year they will be the council, they are the outsiders of this school, so their faces must never be seen or give. So, to start this day, I’ll first explain the system of Wilward Academy.” The council hanged a poster, it has a triangular shape and writings in it. “Wilward Academy is a govern by a caste system. It will be the hierarchy of students in a year. This system is implemented to train you for real life. The hierarchy will be determined by a card.” She lifts up a black deck with golden linings, like Angelo’s card. “As you can see in this poster, these are the caste using the cards”

The Royals

KING- The person who has the King Card will be the class representative. He holds the most power in the caste. His words will be the law in the class. He will be responsible in maintaining the hierarchy, to make sure no one will go against the caste and to keep the joker being the target or planning to take his place. If the King did not maintain the hierarchy, he will receive punishment in accordance to the Council.

QUEEN- Queen is the next to the power before the King. She must always beside to the King. She can command other lower class. She has direct control in maintaining the target, in accordance to the King’s will.

JACK- A trusted friend of both King and Queen. The Jack must never betray the King and Queen or he will receive a punishment in accordance to the council. He will protect the King at all times and follow whatever orders will be given to him.

The Higher Class

Ten of Spade- The Wannabe. He will act as the attendant for the Royals. He must always praise the King in whatever he would do. He has a great desire to be the King and plans to overthrown him.

Nine of Spade- The Messenger. He will serve as a messenger to the King of any plans or rumors happening to overthrown the King. Failed to report within 15 days will result to punishment in accordance to the King.

Eight of Spade- The Entertainer. He will serve the King to be entertain in whatever means. All talent or intelligence that the person has must kept hidden. If failed to keep it hidden punishment will be given in accordance to the King. He mainly focuses in entertaining.

The Middle Class

Seven of Spade- The Bad Boy/Girl. They will and must act as a bad boy/girl, harassing the lower class. If the King needs their assistant, they must be present. They also have no need to enter the class, but they must at least achieve average score in the exams.

Six of Spade- The Preps. They’re the one who are the source of answers in examination. They will give the answers to the Royal while on the other cards it depends on the person if they want it or not. They must also have the highest score in every examination. Failed to be on the top of examination punishment will be given in accordance to the council.

Five of Spade- The Slackers. They will be the idiot on the class. They must have the lowest score in the examination. They will receive a special examination outside the campus for them to pass the grade. They must never speak with a chance or punishment will be given by the King.

The Lower Class 

Four of Spade- The Nerd. The clothing style and look will must change into nerd. They always read books and be nervous. They will receive harassment only to the Higher Class or even the Royals.

Three of Spade- The Goth. They must act like a goth, from their clothes to their style. They will also be a loner from the class, having no friends. They will be targeted by the Middle Class if needed.

Two of Spade- The Geek. They will be the Otaku of the class. They will always bring figurine and be addicted to anime. They will be targeted by the Higher Class.

The Target

Joker- The Target. The target will receive any harassment from the class in a whole year, either lower or higher. He can’t go against any of the card, much more harm them. If so, punishment will be given by both the King and the council.

The Special

Ace of Spade- The Ace, he will be exempted to the hierarchy. Any of the cards cannot harm him or force him to follow, but in exchange he must never interact to the cards in the King’s domain which is the classroom. He will be left as a loner with the privilege of escaping the system. Failed to do his role will result punishment in accordance to the council.

“These are the roles of the hierarchy. Each class has a hierarchy to follow. Break any of the roles given to you will result to punishment. But in this class, there will be difference, the Joker Card will have the privilege to approve the Joker Hunt or not.” Miss Rhein stopped. Her face shows she’s in a deep thought.

“Miss Rhein what’s the Joker Hunt? And why is our class different this time?” a boy with an eyeglass asked. I think his name was James, he always followed Angelo last year. Miss Rhein cleared her throat before continuing.

“As you know, whoever gets the Joker Card is the target. The Joker Hunt is a challenge made by those who hold the Joker Card, they will be hunted by the whole class and not just be the target. There will be no boundaries in how much harm can you inflict to that person. In exchange for that they can fight back in any means, and once they survived the hunt they will be rewarded by the council. While the Royals will receive execution for letting the Joker run wild. As of, today only one had survive the hunt. For why your class is different, unfortunately, one of you knew about the Joker Hunt so they came to me this morning saying they want the hunt. If that person got the Joker card, then the hunt will automatically begin.”

“What do you mean by execution?” Alyssa said. I think she was the Queen last year.

“As I said. Execution by hanging. As you know that the council can inflict harm to any rule breakers, but there are limitations, the most possible punishment that they can give is coma or eternal injure. But in this case, it will result to death.” She said with a deep tone. Silence filled the room, trying to accept the situation where in. It took at least three minutes before Miss Rhein spoke again.

“So next will be the rules. The rules only consist of five, including a rule for the Joker Hunt. So, the council will post those rules.” The council post another poster.

The Rules

1. The Cards are absolute.

2. All shall act in accordance to their roles on the Card.

3. Any means are allowed in taking a card

4. One card per one person.

5. The faculty will have a separate caste system.

6. Kings and Queens only rule in their respective class, unless declaring war for mock battle.

7. No one is allowed to spoke about the rules nor the system outside the campus.

8. All must follow the rules in this school.

9. No one shall harm the council

10. The time limit for this system will be one year.

11. The Ace and the Joker are the only cards allowed to kill.

12. Killing between the cards is prohibited.

13. Find the Joker and kill it to win the hunt.

NOTE: IF ANY OF THESE RULES ARE BROKEN PUNISHMENT WILL BE GIVEN.

“To clarify what punishment will be given if you break the rules are either death or exposure. Every one of you are chosen to be in this school because of your past. Past that you want to be kept hidden forever and some has a family business that are illegal. It depends on who you are for the punishment.”

A tensed atmosphere filled the room. I never want to believe what everything she said. But seeing the faces of all the people in room is enough evidence that all she said was true. They all look stiff yet their lips are quivering. My heart started beating louder and louder, reaching the sound into my ears until it’s the only thing that I can hear. This is the world of Angelo that I never knew of, the world rules by a system and bounded by rules.

“The moment that you will saw this black card box in this desk then that will be the signal for the card hunt. You will find cards scattered in this school, and after you found a card your satisfied with come see me at my office. That is all, the remaining time will be your preparation time” Miss Rhein and the council left the room. All of us was still sitting silently, thinking a way of how to secure a card and how to avoid the hunt. But we all knew, no one wants the Joker Card. No one is willing to be the target of the whole class, not even me.