CHAPTER TWO: Kingdom of The Creatures

The crème de la crème of Harken Academy arrived in class Thursday morning. It was their final year and a step into the real world. Bianca seemed to have navigated the treacherous waters of the school but Gina her twin, found herself surrounded by nine boys who were praised to hold the keys to the Harken empire.

First there was Tyler, a charismatic guy whose smile could disarm the most skeptical of souls. His father, Mr Wiser is deemed a powerful figure in the school’s administrative body. Who else would be surprised that his influence rubbed off on his only son?

“Tyler”, he called. “Can you tell me what makes a persuasive argument valid?”

“Confidence sir” the boy replied, smiling that devilish ray of sunshine. “I believe sir that if you are much authentic in whatever point you’re trying to prove, the sky is just your starting point.”

“Good” Mr Wiser moves over to the next.

“Merry” he grinned. “What’s your take on persuasion?”

This boy held the award for the most quiet and mysterious student in the final class of rich privileged monguls. Rumours had it that he could even see right through others.

“It’s not just about confidence sir”, his eyes narrowed to his golden pen. “It’s more about understanding your audience. More or less like advertising. Explaining manufactured products to consumers.”

“Impressive!” Mr Wiser wasn’t all that amazed.

“Eric” he looked by the left. “What’s your take Mr Basketball?”

The built athlete tossed his ball off his desk as that arrogance brewed in.

“No answer” he stared at the privileged Tyler. “Your golden boy already clarified it all for us.”

“Bastard” the professor sucks his teeth. “Hunter over to you. What’s your strategy for persuasion?”

Those light brown eyes boosted a fake smirk.

“Um sir…… Go big or go home. Nothing more”, he calmly cleared some traces of sweat.

The class silenced immediately as Collins was next. He was the creative son of a divorcee whose art sold almost a billion dollars.

“Sir…… repeat the question?” He scratched his head.

“Don’t sir me Collins, just tell me how persuasion intrigues you. Feel free to use your art as an example.”

“I don’t create art sir” the boy felt insulted. “It’s experiences revealed through patterns and shapes. And that is what persuasion looks like to me – fashioning an experience that brings out the raw colours in others.”

“That’s stupid” Tyler intercepted. “You shouldn’t have sounded persuasive idiot!”

“I think it’s a tribal thing”, Eric deduced. “He gets all this ambiguous words from his detective mother.”

“Nonsense with a basketball”, Merry jeered. “At least he said something.”

“Enough” Mr Wiser slaps his desk. “Over to you Luke! and for the love of Socrates take that damn device from your ear.”

“Sir” Luke quickly readjusted. “I….I didn’t say anything.”

“None of my business! Answer the damn question” Mr Wiser stared prudently.”

“I think it’s all about making sure the couple gets the consent for reproductive processes before making a move”, Luke looked at the disgusted faces around.

“Media player for brains” Eric giggled louder. “You should have just shut up like l did Luke. Wonder what Sophie saw in this guy.”

“For the love of God Mr Basketball, shut the zip” Collins retaliated for earlier.

Cedric then stood up clearing his throat and adjusting the umber tie.

“Sir I believe knowing your audience equals persuasion. This is more or less a boarding school in a town known to be haunted. Embodying rich kids like us, you would have to know us.”

“Impressive” Tyler stood up as well. “Was that what you said to the girl I caught you asking out yesterday?”

“Kyle!!” Mr Wiser’s scream deafened the classroom.

“Uhmm…..it’s about asking questions professor.” He stuttered. “Knowing and manipulating your audience.”

“Damn that’s dark”, Josie ushered in a couple of murmurs.

Mr Wiser sized her in rage signalling that he wasn’t done with the boys yet.

“Taves! I think you are the last of this bunch of morons.”

“Yes sir” he replied amiss. “I mean….No sir. Sir….I think Kyle is right but it’s not just about manipulation. Knowing your audience on a deeper level counts as well.”

“Josie is right” the professor then turned to the girls. “You all need psychological help except for Merry and Cedric of course.”

“Gina” he exhaled hard. “Wow me! What’s your take on persuasion?”

“A tool sir” she immediately responded. “To persuade is to shape reality in itself. A construct of one’s vision convincing enough to warp others.”

“Great!” The professor couldn’t say more. His eyes expressed freedom after hearing the most beautiful thing that morning.

“Jeez” Eric coughed.

“Josie is the most stupid of them all”, Tyler added, an aim to cause an uproar.

“And most inaudible”, Kyle contributed. “If we are morons then Amber is the queen of the Nile. Common sense that forgot to return.”

“Boys!” Mr Wiser suddenly moves over to his vibrating phone. They reduced to whispers but then he shuts the cell against the edge of his briefcase.

“I am being summoned. Maintain courtesy like the seniors that you are” he warned.

“Sir….can I be in charge of your period this time?” Collins asked abruptly.

“Tyler is” the professor snatched his belongings, dashing out with a smirk to Gina.

“Did Mr Wiser just smile at you?” Sophie approaches the wonder girl of the class.

“It’s me he smirked at” Bianca sought to steal her sister’s praise.

“You both are low and disgusting” Josie continued her taunts. “Just like Alex.”

Alex nevertheless said nothing, her teeth picking her nails in the dark corners of the class.

“Silence” Tyler jumped in front of the class. His shoulders raised and hefty. “I’m in charge…..again.”

“Boooooo!” They all tore papers and threw at him but Cedric and Luke successfully ducked under their desks. At the count of three, the sneak was of utmost certainty but Merry ducked under as well.

“Nobody goes out” he bent his glasses.

“My dad is out for the weekend”, Kyle climbs his desk.

Eric pulled him by his trousers almost cursing in mumbles.

“Wait! Wait! Wait!” Taves jumped in front alongside Tyler. “We are beginning full semester next week. Why not host a party at his place?”

“Too risky”, Cedric got up from under his desk. “The Secret Hall of Statues is better.”

The whole class immediately turned to Sophie, an earnest remembrance of the dirty fun they all had. Josie agreed to the plan as well stating that driving out of the school for the weekend could get them in big trouble.

“Well I’m in” Amber raises her hand first.

“Me too” Bianca followed.

The whole class now focused on the newbies as Gina and Sophie smelt the blood around them.

“Church rats are all welcomed to the party” Merry locks eye with the other boys. “Its gonna be a long night.”

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