Thicker Than Blood

Chapter 9: The school

                                                                                  1880

"Absolutely one of the best there is... I intend for this school to be more than anyone expects!"

"Well, Albert, I'm sure it will be. I look forward to its completion." Mrs. Parkland replied. Watching the construction of her beloved husband's school filled her with joy. She knew it was going to be special, for she and Albert were already special. It was going to be made from the finest materials and be able to house all the wealthy families' children that were in the area, perhaps even further out. Mrs. Parkland smiled warmly at her husband.

"It'll be one of the best science schools in the country!" Mr. Parkland shouted.

"I don't doubt that dear..."

Park Academy History

Finished in 1883, in the fall of course, students were brought in from around the area at first, brought in to enjoy the fancy building and all the fancy courses it had to offer young gentlemen at the time. To teach them the finer things of science. The Parklands kept the school in tip top shape, not allowing other schools or buildings to be built nearby, making the area a breathtaking view of the mountains and forest. This ensured that the Parklands were despised among their circles, but it didn't matter to them.

As the ownership of the school stayed with the Parklands, they no longer kept up with the running of the school, they left it up to other academics, of whom they felt they could rely upon to do right by their students. By the early 1900s, the school was enrolling girls and created separate dorms for the boys on one side of the campus, and girls on the other. Sports were a big attraction, but was only secondary to the academics, for the Parklands wanted to be able to attract all types of students and become one of the best there was to attend. Many of the teachers and administrators were former students, coming back to, as they put it, give back. Scholarships began to help the less fortunate, originally 5 students would be awarded to attend the school, eventually growing to 15. All students were required to participate in community service.

Buildings were added during each decade of its existence, all painstakingly designed to look like the first, original building with a castle like feel and stone facades. Gardens flanked the sides of the cobblestone pathways as well as under the windows. In the back, it had a large maze with animal topiaries flanking its entrance. Parks were situated in the middle of the maze, with jogging trails around the outside of it. Only the perimeter buildings had turrets, all linked together by breezeways and skywalks, changing depending on the buildings. These buildings housed the administration, the different departments, and facilities. The inner buildings were the classrooms and dorms (boys to the left, girls to the right), it also included a greenhouse and state-of-the-art library that was constantly updated by funds from the Parklands and various other wealthy families. The north and south entrances housed security guards, with a station at each end (Jacob and Barkly had the north, Gerald and Debbie had the south) and one station in the east (where Dean and Randall were). The west boarder was a tall fence and trees.

When the academy began to grow even more during the 1950s, after WWII, allowing students from across the US and other countries, rumors began to flourish about students going missing. Although the rumors spread, parents still sent their children to the illustrious academy, it was the best in the region and the influence the Parklands had ensured a blind eye was turned. Parties similar to what was described in The Great Gatsby were held over the summer for the patrons and parents, fundraisers to request money to ensure the best remained. The parents were, by the start of the fall semester, so persuaded and influenced by all that the Parkland family did, that the parents, and their children kept coming.

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The family at this point shortened their name due to a scandal in the '70s that hurt the school, many families withdrew fearing they'd be considered a part of the problem. But once the name changed to Park, it was back to its glorious self. It was during the time that Dr. Park, Alec, began to work a bit with the school in the early 2000s that he obtained Mitchell and Harry. Then, once Park settled in, Harry came first, Alec decided that he wanted Harry's abilities to ensure that his students would come out on top. At least the ones that lasted. Harry coming on board was an easy job, Harry himself felt that it would help him atone for his mistake by giving back to the town. Mitchell was a few years after, for Alec had been working with him at the hospital for a while now, all to help Mitchell out of a serious ethics violation. Granted, Mitchell, the wonderful Stephen Mitchell, coming aboard was also to benefit Alec – to keep an eye on his own blackmailer.

Alec used his knowledge, and blackmail, to get Mitchell on board. At first Mitchell was suspicious, then when his suspicions came true, he was too into it to back out. Mitchell had the ability to also get Alec, but at what cost to his own freedom. Feeling trapped by their respective mistakes, Harry and Mitchell didn't have much of a choice. Alec found out that Harry's degree really wasn't his, for Harry had stolen his roommate's paper and initial research, claiming it as his own. Harry ended up doing the work to finish the degree, but it was not his initial research.

Harry was desperate for his degree and was running out of money. Not to mention the pressure from his family. Although his mom was a stay-at-home mother, before she was an English professor with a Ph.D. in creative writing and literature, his father was an MD - OBGYN. The expectations were high for their eldest. What haunted Harry though was his roommate died, he had killed himself, because he couldn't get anyone to believe him... and Harry wasn't going to talk. Although, what Harry didn't know was that the kid who he stole the paper from was related to Alec, they were cousins. He stole the paper, and the idea, and handed it in before his roommate could say anything. The kid begged Harry to tell the truth. Harry was awarded his degree; his roommate awarded a tombstone.

Mitchell and Alecworked together at the hospital. When Alec caught Mitchell stealing and sellingdrugs for his student loans, Alec had him; however, Mitchell caught Alec takingthe first kid. It was this incident that they mutually agreed upon theircurrent arrangement, which allowed Mitchell and Harry to obtain the studentsneeded for Alec's experiments and both Mitchell and Alec stayed medical doctors.Because of Harry's plagiarism and Mitchell's incident at the hospital, Alecknew he had them. Mitchell knew of Harry's predicament, but Harry was left inthe dark.