The Goblin By: Bryan Ying

Chapter1

Siesta

At Siesta High school, it was a custom for new transferees to experience the whole school playing tricks on them. It was more like being bullied by the whole school. Because those students drive a lot of people crazy or have dropped out of their previous school, they say it’s just that those transferees  have poor mental endurance.

Brett, the new transferee, is going through it too, because tomorrow is his first day of school. He seemed to anticipate all of these, and without saying anything, turned off the little lamp by his bed and closed his eyes.

Chapter2

Loco

Brett got up early the next day, and after breakfast, he walked to school leisurely. On the way, he met a classmate, and when they saw him, they began to gossip at him, and he just smiled and continued walking to the school.

He walked into the classroom and tried to greet everyone. But the class pretended not to hear him, and he repeated himself, “Good morning, everyone!”

Then someone said loudly, “What’s that noise? It’s early morning.”  Book stood up and pushed Brett into a corner where there was nail sticking out on the wood. It was still horribly stained with blood, and don’t know how many people had been pushed to that corner like that. Brett ran right into it. Blood was dripping. Not only did those around him failed to help him, instead they laughed at him.

Book howled to him, “Be a mute in the future and don’t say anything. If you want to make some sound, just bark like a dog, okay?”

 Brett didn’t speak, pushed him away and walked to bathroom calmly. Book screamed loudly from the back, “You’re not going to have a good future! I am pretty sure of that!”

Chapter3

Dilemma

Brett went to the bathroom, cleaned his wounds and went into the stall. A sound of the footsteps echoed as Book enters with his minions. Book bellowed, “Do you think I don’t exist? It’s about time I teach you a lesson  for disrespecting me!”

Book winked at his minions. Soon a pail of mop water splashed into Brett’s stall, soaking him to the skin. Book cheered, “Good dog. Let’s go! He already knows what we’re up to.”

Brett returned to his class with his wet body, and his other classmates kept throwing paper balls and even blades at him during class. Brett didn’t say anything and glanced at Book. He was sneering at Brett, like he was saying get out of this place.

It was soon time for school, and Brett’s area was a mess. There were also ghastly words written on the table. After taking a glance at his surrounding, he took his school bag and went home. He also couldn't figure out why teachers would ignore these things, let alone understand what drives these students so crazy. Book is like the leader of a cult, leading everyone to destroy their lives one by one.

When Brett came to school the next day, Book found that the injury of the back of his head has healed. He was incredulous, but still didn’t say anything. Violence against Brett was still called, and he endured them all in silence. Whether it was broken with a stick or burnt by chemical agents, he said nothing. The wounds would heal the next day anyway, and the bullying cycle continued day in and day out.

Until the end of school on the 13th day, Brett took the initiative to find Book and whispered, “The game is over!”

By the time he reacted, Brett was already far away.  “You better come back and explain to me what that means. Or I’ll break your legs tomorrow, I swear. I will!” yelled Brett.

What will happen tomorrow, only Brett knows.

Chapter 4

Panorama

The next morning, Book was awakened by the morning light outside his window. It’s half past eight and he’s late. He changed his clothes and stuffed a piece bread into his mouth like he usual do. His parents looked at him with pity, and as he left his father cried, “Take care of yourself son. We don’t want you to get hurt.”

He was surprised because his parents should have gone to work early. Then he went to school wondering. At the school gate, he couldn’t believe it happened on him — two students jostled him to keep him out. He shouted, “Have you forgotten your last name?”

Two students said to him with scorn, “You are the bottom of the school, don’t forget who you are and where you belong!” Then he pushed him out of the gate.

He roared, “Are you crazy?!”

The two students ignored him and slowly closed the glass door behind them. Only Book was left yelling outside the door, and people thought he was just getting hysterical. He saw a shadowy figure behind the door. It was Brett. He warned, “Brett, open the door for me! I don’t know what the hell you’re doing, but I’m ordering you to let me in right now!”

During the last class, the doors opened. Book rushed in, frantically searching for Brett. Brett is chatting with his minions. When he saw Booker, Bright smiled with satisfaction, as if he had arranged it all.

Book glared at Brett, then charged like a bull. And then he was kicked out by Brett’s sidekick, and then Brett stepped on him. He whispered to him, “The drama is still in the future, the panorama is over for today.”

Moments later, the hall was in dead silence. He was left lying awkwardly on the ground. He felt a chill in his back and walked away quickly. All the way home he thought about what had happened today and what Brett had said. He had no idea the nightmare is still developing.

Chapter 5

Adios

The next morning, Book’s eyes were bloodshot, and he stayed up all night. He went out early because he didn’t want to be blocked at the school gate like yesterday. He doesn’t know if it was his psychological problem or he didn’t sleep last night, but he felt that the road today was very creepy. There is an indescribable strangeness, and the sky is cloudy. Although it has blue skies, it feels like there is an invisible black filter looming over it.

When he arrived at the school, several students were already there. They were all sitting in their seats with their faces facing the blackboard like in some horror film. They just stare, didn't say anything, and did nothing. He felt weird, but he realized something was wrong. He went to the bathroom and sat on the toilet to think. He was going to go out after class.

At 8 o’clock, what he remembered is not the familiar school bell. It was a harsh alarm sound, and as the game started, there was a chaotic sound of running outside. Book seemed to hear his name, and he felt uneasy. Then he cursed, “god d***.”

With the sound of the door opening, Book held his breath. He didn’t dare move. Someone tried to look at him through the crack of the door, and he swiftly turned to the next compartment. After a while, there was no movement, and he sighed in relief, looking up and staring at himself. He yelled and knocked the man down and rushed out of the bathroom. The man behind shouted, “He is here!”

Book sensed trouble and ran to the roof. The normally restricted rooftop was unlocked today, and he rushed in without thinking further. A familiar figure appeared. It was Brett. Book shouted, “What did you do?”

Brett smiled and answered , “I let you experience the feeling of being bullied.”

Booker thundered, “Why me? No one else was involved? ”

Brett did not speak, staring calmly at him. Then a few words came out, “You’re just the epitome of these bullies.”

Then the rooftop door opened and the students rushed in like zombies. What was unusual was that they did not jump on Book. They all stood behind Brett. Book glanced back. There was nothing back there. The playground which was usually full of students is now empty. Book will die if he jumps.

Brett scornfully asked him, “Is it time to wake up? The choice is yours.”

The thought flashed through Book’s mind that this was all a dream, that this was just a fantasy he had set up. He fumed, “See you later, idiot.” He jumped down.

There was a red stain of blood on the Siesta Middle school playground. It belonged to Book. He naively thought that everything would end when he jumped, but what ended was his life.

Brett looked across the campus and spoke slowly, “The School's bullied kid is there, and Book is just a microcosm of those poor people. We can't go into every school and punish these bad people, and we can't let these innocent kids be tortured like this. Since plunder gives a natural right to a few, the many must amass sufficient strength to regain their natural right to all that has been taken from them.

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