Castle High

8. Birds Of Prey - I

“And we’re here, live at the Jungle Camp at where there is quite the situation. We are receiving reports of some sort of hazard; as students of visiting school – Castle High, seem to be in some sort of danger. The foundation and the school are being highly discrete here, by hoarding large chunks of information to themselves; but from the little we’ve been able to assemble – it would seem there are two students who have been compromised.

The pupils in question, are a certain Shelby Mendes and Jake Marshall. The former who is the school’s principal daughter while the latter just a newly-transferred student. As we can see, the loss of any of the duo mentioned earlier would spell total disaster for the school an….”

  “Preposterous!” Nicolas Harris, bellowed hurling at the TV Screen with the remote in hand in pure rage and fury. The emergency board meeting at Castle, had commenced moments just after the news of the Jungle Camp disaster had leaked online. The situation seemed to be under control, but it would seem – some Castle student found it amusing to tweet about the Jungle’s offerings.

Now the news had spread like wide-fire, a state of panic had descended in the country. The parents especially had been restless, plaguing Castle central with gazillion of phone calls – bordering on the well being of their wards. Even the ones, who didn’t have kids going into the jungle, still ended up calling anyway.

The board had assembled immediately, after Castle made contact with the outside. Their guidance and counseling was particular needed, especially when the principal wasn’t in the right frame of mind.

Jane Cassidy, a member of the board was probably the most traumatized in the room. It was just as she feared, danger had befallen her kids. But she had to be strong, for her kids especially now that their dad was away. Adjusting her spectacles, she reclined forward in her seat which was the first by Nicolas’s right.

“I’m not trying to sound unnecessarily paranoid or anything; but I think it’s an inside job.” 

Murmurs laced the atmosphere, as the room which consisted of eleven people began to weigh their chances.

Jane continued. “I mean this particular disaster has conspiracy written all over it. Why in the world, would they send our kids to search for a device which is non-existent, release animals which they claim to not have; and then have their own self-proclaimed life-guards abandon the kids when in greatest need of help?”

Another board member, Gregory Barrowman – sitting right across from Jane on the table, saw reason in her words and nodded his head in the affirmative. Clasping his fingers, he piled in. “Could it be the Gregsons?”

Upon the mention of the name, ‘Gregson’ – the collective unease in the air multiplied exponentially and the murmurs increased.

Gregory added. “Those son of a bitches said they’d get us back didn’t they? Surely they didn’t think of endangering our kids?”

Nicolas Harris’s wife – Violet, labeled such accusation bizarre. “I don’t think the Gregsons would stoop so low, and resort to such lethal means. Surely, our offence couldn’t have been that grave to include our kids in whatever payback scheme they are planning.”

Another female board member and parent – Beverly Summers was weeping gently. Her face buried in her palms. “I mean, what were we thinking? Sending all of our kids into such place.”

Nicolas grunted. “Oh please, Beverly. We’ve been doing this for the past thirty years. Our team at J.C. didn’t detect any form of anomaly or danger to our children that could have made us, call it off.”

Jane scowled, unimpressed. “What an efficient team it is then. You need to call such people to order, prosecute them if you might. I’m willing to bet they might know one or two things about this whole ruse.”