TITLE : THE MYSTERIOUS BOARDING SCHOOL WRITTEN BY : THAT ORDINARY KIDPROLOGUE :My name is Star Khumalo l grew up in South Africa where I used to play games. Not the kind you'd find in a playground, but the kind that tested our wits, our strength, and our will to live. We played hide-and-seek in the shadows of gang violence, dodged bullets, and ran from the police.At night there was the loud screams from our parents yelling at each other. As a child, I witnessed the harsh realities of crime that plagued our nation. I saw the devastating impact of murder, with 69 lives lost every day. I heard the cries of families torn apart by violence, and the whispers of those who'd lost loved ones to the streets.In South Africa, crime isn't just a statistic; it's a part of life. The Western Cape alone accounts for 4,467 murder cases annually, with gang-related violence fueling the bloodshed. The conviction rate for homicides is abysmally low, at less than 10%. It's a system that's broken, where justice often seems like a luxury.But amidst the chaos, we found ways to cope. We played games, told stories, and laughed together. We formed our own communities, our own rules, and our own ways of surviving.As I grew older, I realized that these games of survival weren't just about having fun; they were about preparing us for the harsh realities of life in South Africa. They taught us to be resourceful, to think on our feet, and to fight for what we wanted.I am now Sixteen years but l know many ways of survival, I'm part of a game that will push me to my limits. A game where the stakes are higher than ever before. A game where I'll have to use all the skills I've learned on the streets to survive.