The Dreadful World Of Siren

Chapter 2 - The Deafening Alarm

Chapter 2

It was at least forty degrees above warm. The day felt like the heat of the oven was left open and somehow made it's way surrounding the whole school. From a distance you could see the heat waves and the steam escaping it's way out of the dry soil. The sun was welcoming too much warmth that no matter how wide the person tries to inhale there wasn't enough oxygen to breath.

Siren tried to cool herself by fanning her notebook. She was so dehydrated that she felt her knees almost touching her thighs. She heard the school bell rang and snapped as she hurriedly walk her way into the hallowed corridors.

Every student wore their dark grey uniform: A grey sweater, grey slacks and a black tie. 

The school was as grey and dark as the student's uniform. It looked like a mental institution instead of a secondary school. There wasn't much to begin with. There were no paintings hanging on the walls as decorations. The desks and chairs were neatly placed on each classrooms. The flagpoles standing in front of the school looked nothing but colourless pieces of cloth that tragically hanged themselves. The teachers had to wear masks that had a smiley face drawn on it to show the students a bit of enthusiasm. Siren always had the creeps on the teacher's smiling masks. The blackboard was also neat and tidy with no sign of any chalk that landed on the board. It was a dreadful place. 

A huge sign was placed on the front of the teacher's desk. 

"NO TALKING!" 

Of course no one brave enough would ever speak when the teacher was lecturing or else they get an immediate punishment. The teacher gives out three warnings:

1st warning: If the student does interrupt the teacher's lesson, he/she will get a form of punishment by three slashes on the person's arm. 

It was a cruel thing. When the class ended the teacher's would ask for their notebooks to sign them. When the notes you wrote wasn't complete the student gets three lashes more.

2nd warning: The student who still does not follow the rules will get a form of punishment by three weeks suspension and a red notice from the school principal.

A red notice could mean you were being thrown out of school or a whole year of community service.

3rd warning: If the student does not follow the rules and has received all two warnings. He/She will be sent to the commander and will be immediately punished by whichever he sees right.

No one knows what the commander will do as punishment but no one brave enough had ever tried and figured out.

Siren sat on the nearest table on the front row seats. She took out her notebook and ball pen and quickly jotted down the notes the teacher had written on the board. 

In Zianada only the toughest survive and if you aren't strong enough to follow the rules than you might as well be dead than be of no purpose to The Order.

The teacher was lecturing about the history of Zianada about how the world crumbled and ended up building the enormous walls. 

"As every single one of you know, on the year 2050 a disease broke out and spread across the whole world. Many died from this disease and everyone thought it was the end of the world. Until, Tiamus stood out from the rest and thought of fighting the disease rather than healing it. He believed that curing the disease would take a much longer time needed that there will be no more people left to cure so instead he wanted to prevent it. He compiled groups of the most talented doctors, engineers, architects and builders around the world. They started constructing the walls dividing it into three and called the place Zianada," The teacher said while walking around the classroom gaping at every student around. 

The teacher slammed her pointed stick on the person who was eating beside Siren. His face was full of crust from the small toasted bread. Thud! "You!" the teacher said screaming her throat off. The boy was trembling in fear. He dropped his small bread to the ground, making it roll over to Siren's seat.

"What is the disease called that caused so many people's death?" The teacher stared at the boys eyes.

"Uhmm..Uhmm.." The boy said stuttering the words out of his mouth.

Siren felt sorry for the boy because he was too afraid to answer the teacher's question. Siren inhaled slowly as she steadily raised her arm to help the poor boy.

Every student turned from the boy to Siren who was trying her best to put on a brave face. The teacher noticed and immediately walked closer. Her heels thumped as she approached Siren. "You girl! Would you like to answer the question?" The teacher's eyes smiled as she peered through Siren's poor soul. 

"Yes," Siren answered with valour.

The teacher raised her eyebrow and made a small grunting sound. She wasn't interested to hear Siren's answer. She just wanted to embarrass her in front of the class.

"What?" The teacher asked.

"Andromeia," Siren answered as she swallowed her fear inside.

"That's right!" The teacher exclaimed. She hurriedly clapped her hands as she continued the lecture. Siren lets out a short sigh but her relief was quickly cut off by the teacher's loud voice.

"You fat boy. You broke the rule, come on. Walk closer," The teacher invited the boy to stand in front of the classroom.

The boy stood. His hands and feet trembled because he knew what would happen to him. The teacher took out a long leather strap that was used for the student who disobeys the rules.

The teacher swung the leather strap as it hits on the arms of the boy. The boy wept in pain as the teacher continued again and again. Everyone closed their eyes because they did not want to see the poor boy suffer.

Siren couldn't stand the inhuman way the teacher had given the boy. She stood up and quickly ran over to them. 

The teacher stopped and smiled. "Ohh. So a little brave girl comes to rescue her friend," She said as she raised her leather strap however just as the strap landed on Siren the alarm bell rang.

Everyone stood up. They were horrified for they knew what happened. The alarm bell had never rung behind the walls of Zin before. There was only one explanation: someone from Zan had intruded the walls.