Hell School

Chapter Seven

  Cutting edges...

 I was no longer at ease and it was obvious. 

 "What is the meaning of this?" Johnson said, his eyes blazing like a sun on fire.

 "Meaning of what?" Ronald asked, puzzled.

 "You think this is a prank, right?" He flipped the phone over to Ronald. My eyes nearly popped out, when I saw the video. It was Ronald's s*x tape. But how is this possible? Ten minutes earlier this video was nowhere to be found and now out of the blues it pops up. Something's definitely off. Someone is messing with our heads.

Ronald froze, speechless and embarrassed. I felt sorry for him. I felt sorry for myself. 

 "This can't be, how come?" Ronald spluttered helplessly.

"What is impossible? Not you in the video or what?" Johnson said in a cold tone. 

 "No. I mean yes. It's me but that is not the video," Ronald tapped in his phone hoping the video we watched would show itself.

 "Where is it then."

 "This video did not exist fifteen minutes ago."

 "And here it is."

 "I- I just don't know how it happened."

 "Wait, you boys attend Meldow high right?" he asked and we responded with a nod.

Before we could say a word, a call was put through to the principal. Our backs was against the wall and nothing will have us now.

At that moment I realized how foolish I was for following Ronald. We were detained for hours, then we were asked to put down our family's contacts. I put down my mum's phone number. While Ronald sat beside me without making any attempt to write anything down. His face was void of expression, pity burned to my innermost core.

  "What about you kid, you got nobody?" Johnson asked Ronald. He didn't say a thing neither did he move. Sometimes I can't help but envy his courage. He wouldn't budge a bit, not for anyone.

Johnson led us into his office, we had no idea what we were into, as we followed studiously. He offered us a sit and we complied. His eyes darted at us, giving us a cold feet, most especially me. 

His office was awkwardly chilly, the chills practically went down my spine, smelling strongly of black coffee and rotten pizza, that made my stomach turn. He didn't care what we think about him when we saw the rotten pizza on his table, who are we to think anything about him? He stopped the mixtape that was playing when we entered, and switched on his transistor radio. It was the 10pm news and we started feeling uncomfortable. His office was more of a library than a police quarters. He had books stacked up on the office table, some arranged neatly in a vertical library shelf. He tossed one of the ones stacked on the table at us as we sat opposite to him. The title went 'Truth or Lie' passing a message to us. He was very selective in the things he did to bring out the guilt in us and he was doing it to perfection.

 "You see that?" he said pointing at the book, "what do you think?"

If this was a game I was losing badly at it. Then I turned to look at Ronald, his face was hard as a rock, the look on his face could not be read. It was as if the air conditioning froze his face - so cold and staid. 

I tried to compose myself as Johnson scanned our faces keenly, from Ronald to me, back to Ronald, then he paused at me. He realized Ronald was not going to say anything, he turned to me noticing my restless look.

 "What do you think boy? Truth or Lie?" He capitalized on my weakness. I wondered how Ronald was able to pull off such a look an experienced police officer like Johnson could not decipher.

 I blinked reflect, swallowing my fear, "what do you mean?" I said boldly. 

He smiled. Then turned back to Ronald "what do you think?".

 Ronald said nothing. He sat there like a statue, words passing by him without flinching. Flawless.

 "You," he said pointing ate, "I know your mother. She is a matron at Lifewell hospital, right?" 

At this point I broke down completely. How he knows mum? I don't know. But I definitely know what would happen if she meets me here or finds out why I am here. Johnson's mind games was getting to me real good, but had no effect on Ronald. He made us feel like criminals. 

 "Sir we did nothing wrong," I said manning up my speech,"we saw something and we reported it."

 He chuckled softly. 

 "s*x in the school premises during school hours? Not bad at all," he went on, "but what baffles me the most is how you got that tape. It must be from the school's database, isn't it?" 

He really got us this time. And for the first time Ronald made a movement. I whimpered silently.

 "Ah. Yes. Illegal break in of the school's security system, now that is bad," he said, resting his back at the chair. He picked up a pen tapping it slowly on the table.

"I bet the authorities are gonna be mad." He tuts quietly.

He was right we will be in big trouble if the principal, who is probably on his way, and the rest of the school's management authorities gets to know. Our silence speaks volumes of our guilt. 

 " - and finally, the police says there is no news yet about the whereabouts of nineteen year old Yvonne Sanders, a student of Meldow high, promising they will give it whatever it takes to find her, thank you and have a good night rest-" the news ended.

Johnson raised his eyebrows, glaring at us, "you heard that right? We promised," he said. My ears froze after listening to the news. Ronald lost his composure. I'd just realized how foolish we were, thinking we could help, and now only heaven knows what will happen next. We knew nothing about Yvonne's disappearance.

 "You boys know something?" 

Ronald cleared his throat, breaking his defense, "I swear, we know nothing," he went on, "to be honest, the actual content of this tape was about her death, and that is why we are here."

 "Death?" Johnson said with a puzzled look.

 "Yes sir. We could not see the man's face. It was a gory sight to watch."

Johnson leaned forward, "you boys got yourself in something." His voice echoed in my ears.

We lost it completely when the principal entered the office.