St. Sebastian's Boarding School:A disciplinary School

Chapter 2

The headmaster's voice broke the quiet, her tone as unyielding as ever. "Beth, take Rachel to my office. She is to remain there, in the corner, until school closes today." Rachel's eyes widened with fear, but she nodded obediently, her bottom lip quivering slightly.

In the stark, cold room, Rachel sat in the chair that had seen countless students before her, facing the corner with her legs tucked underneath. The wooden chair was unforgiving, and Beth knew that even the slightest movement would cause Rachel's bruised bottom to ache. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as she looked at Rachel's bowed head. "You are not to speak or move," she instructed, her voice firm but filled with a hint of sympathy. Rachel nodded again, her eyes welling up with fresh tears.

Beth watched Rachel closely as she settled into the chair, her young body stiff with tension. The silence of the room was a stark contrast to the cacophony of the school outside. Rachel's sobs grew quieter, but her mental anguish was palpable. Despite her own reservations about the school's methods, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as Rachel remained stoic, not once breaking the silence or moving from her designated spot. It was as if Rachel understood that any deviation from Mrs. Grimm's orders would only lead to more pain.

Throughout the long hours that Rachel was confined to the chair, Beth couldn't help but think about the girl's resilience. Rachel had taken her punishment with a stoicism that belied her age, and she had not once complained or protested. It was a stark contrast to the defiance Alex had shown, and it made Beth question the effectiveness of such punishments. Were they truly a means to an end, or were they merely a tool for the staff to exert their power over the powerless?

The minutes stretched into hours, and the only sounds in the office were the ticking of the clock and Rachel's occasional sniffles. Each time Rachel made the smallest movement, wincing from the pain in her bottom, Beth felt a pang of guilt. She knew that Rachel was suffering, that she was being mentally tortured by the enforced stillness and silence. Yet she also felt a strange sense of pride in the girl's unyielding obedience. It was as if Rachel had internalized the school's harsh philosophy, and was demonstrating that she was capable of bearing the burden of discipline.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Beth approached Rachel with a mixture of relief and trepidation. "You can stand up now," she said softly. Rachel unfolded herself from the chair, her movements stiff and awkward. Beth could see the deep, dark bruises on Rachel's bottom, and she had to look away, feeling a wave of nausea. "Let's go to your room," she said, her voice gentle.

Rachel followed her silently, her eyes red from crying and her cheeks stained with tears. As they entered the dormitory, the other girls averted their gazes, knowing better than to ask questions or offer sympathy. They walked down the long corridor, the sound of Rachel's sniffles echoing off the bare walls.

Once inside Rachel's small, Spartan room, Beth turned to her with a gentle smile. "You did well today," she said, her voice soothing despite the harshness of the words. Rachel's eyes searched hers, looking for any sign of disapproval or anger, but she found only kindness. "You were brave and strong."

Beth knew that Rachel was in pain, both physically and emotionally. The punishment had been severe, and she couldn't help but feel guilty for her part in it. But she also knew that Rachel needed to hear something positive, something that would help her get through the night and face the next day. "You're going to be okay," she assured her, reaching out to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze. Rachel's eyes lit up briefly with hope, and she nodded.

Beth knelt down to Rachel's level, her eyes searching the girl's face for any sign of rebellion or anger. Instead, she found only a deep sadness, a look that was far too familiar to the students of St. Sebastian's. She took Rachel's hand in hers, her thumb gently rubbing small, comforting circles on the back of her palm. "You're a strong girl," she murmured. "You can get through this." Rachel's lip quivered, but she managed a small smile, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.