DARK RAVEN

Chapter 3 - Depravity

" Mrs White, we need answers now! Is Michelle dead?! " , Ryder, the most popular boy in the school asks. Mrs White's face drops, as she struggles to speak... The whole class starts shouting and arguing with each other , trying to get answers ! The chaos in the room begins to heighten, as the students get into physical altercations !

I freeze in shock, wondering what my next move will be. I turn my gaze to Mrs White and Mr Reynolds, as they carefully walk to the large cupboard in the corner of the classroom. Mr Reynolds pulls out a key from a pocket in his trousers and unlocks the cupboard. I see multiple stacks of cardboard boxes on each shelf in the cupboard, as he begins to examine the contents of all the cardboard boxes. Mr Reynolds looks at Mrs White with a huge grin on his face, and he pulls out a Megaphone.

The class continues to loudly bicker and Mr Reynolds turns on the Megaphone! "HEYYYYYYYYY!!!!!" Mr Reynolds shouts into the Megaphone. "WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A SEAT AND KEEP QUIET!!!!" Mr Reynolds shouts in frustration. Everybody including myself listens to his orders. I make sure that I'm at the back of the class. We all stare at Mr Reynolds and Mrs White, hoping to get answers... I look at the front of the classroom and see Becca's tear stained drooping face, as she cries softly. Mrs White clears her throat and everybody looks at her, as she paces in the classroom contemplating today's events for a few minutes...

"It is with immense sadness that we will have to say goodbye to our fellow Dark Raven High School student, Michelle Parker.", Mrs White says, coldly. Cries are heard in the entire classroom. "I was told that Becca and Kate found her dead in the storage room of the Chemistry Classroom." The cries get louder and louder and Becca storms out in tears! "I will be alerting the police now and I would still like you all to show respect towards your school, as soon as they arrive. ", Mrs White says, sternly. Some moans and groans of disagreement and frustration are heard in the class. Mr Reynolds points Mrs White to the door, indicating for her to leave.

Mrs White sighs and leaves the classroom. Mr Reynolds stands in front of the classroom, looking at everyone's face with sympathy, and he says," I'm sorry about Michelle's death. No words can describe how devastating this news is... We should all send our support to Michelle's family and pay tribute to her life. We should not pay attention to how Michelle died...we must remember Michelle for how she lived... Let us take a moment of silence to remember Michelle. "I close my eyes and try to think of Michelle, but to be honest I barely knew her...

Michelle was a very sweet, but quiet girl. She was one of Rachel's bully victims. Rachel constantly bullied her for her innocent nature, but Michelle always ignored Rachel. Rachel hated being ignored, so she got her partner in crime, Shauna, to help torture Michelle! Shauna and Rachel have other people apart of their gang , Ryder , the most popular boy , also known as , Rachel 's younger brother , Todd, the quiet one and Kira , the new goth girl in the school . If I had to describe them in one word... it would be ... DANGEROUS! The whole school calls them a gang for a reason!

Rachel acts as a gang leader that manipulates the principal to cover up all her dirty deeds. I've heard rumors of Mrs White and Rachel's gang associating with each other often.... It is as if the principal and Rachel's gang are business partners ! It makes sense, if you think about it ... Rachel's gang attracts the attention of future students for DRHS, due to their "amazing" athleticism and popularity ! The principal enjoys making DRHS look better than it really is ! What a corrupt, evil , old woman!

I snap out of my thoughts and notice Mr Reynolds writing something on the board. "Class , can I please have your attention?" , Mr Reynolds says , while staring at all of us. Mr Reynolds moves away from the board, so that we can all see the writing. The writing on the board reads, " Write a poem, Eulogy, Obituary or letter to your late friend , Michelle Parker. You will have 3 weeks to complete this ! I will decide on a due date tomorrow ! If you have any queries do not be afraid to ask for help. " Mr Reynolds clears his throat and speaks, "As you can see on the board , you have the option to write a poem , Eulogy, Obituary or letter to Michelle. When it comes to writing the letter, pretend that Michelle has gone on a trip , left the city or country. In the letter, include things that you have always wanted to say to Michelle. How much you miss Michelle ? How Michelle made an impact on your life ? Do not be afraid to get personal ! "

The whole class stays quiet, as they contemplate the writing assignment we have to do. I can tell how this assignment will make a positive impact on my class ! I hear whispering in the class and watch as everybody tries to brainstorm ideas. I notice that Ryder is the only one neither brainstorming nor socializing with others... Ryder stares at his phone, completely in distress. He quickly puts his phone in his DRHS Sports jacket. Ryder looks even more frustrated and bangs his fist on his desk, destroying it completely! The whole room gasps in shock at the mess and the loud noise that was created. Ryder begins to monstrously growl like a wolf! The whole class leaps out of their chairs and they try to move further away from Ryder. Shrieks and cries are heard, as people quickly run out of the classroom. Half the class remains, while also trying to stay far away from Ryder. "Ryder, what is going on? Are you ok? ", Mr Reynolds asks, while carefully walking towards Ryder. Ryder's eyes turn an unnatural grey color and he begins to scream in pain. When Mr Reynolds finally got close to Ryder, Ryder speeds out of the classroom, like a flash of lightning!

Everybody including myself is left stunned! Mr Reynolds leaves the classroom, but he is not as fast as Ryder. Loud chatter is heard among half the class, while I try to process the madness of the day. I check the clock on the wall and notice that there are five minutes of the lesson left. I gladly wait for the five minutes to end and the bell rings! I immediately leave the classroom and check what my last two classes of the day are... I have Health class for half an hour and my favorite subject, Art ! Hopefully, the rest of my day will be more bearable...

Health class is taught by the P.E teacher, Miss Bell . Almost all the males in the school have a crush on her , because of her athletic and attractive physical appearance ! Some girls want to be her, while others are jealous of her. I enter the gymnasium , where Health class usually takes place. I am shocked to see at least hundreds of people in the gym , arguing amongst each other. Miss Bell storms in and screams into her Megaphone, "SHUT UP!!!" "Yes , Miss Bell..." all the boys say.

"I know that today has been tough for all of you, but can you please leave the gym. I have to teach Health class now! ", Miss Bell says. The people that aren't in my class leave slowly. "Ok everyone, please take a seat on the stands. Today I will like you all , to come up with five different health hazards, that we could come across in our daily lives. Tomorrow I want each of you to tell me what these hazards are and how you will prevent these hazards from worsening. No group work will take place!!! ", Miss Bell instructs. Most people groan after hearing Miss Bell's last sentence, while I try to work on the task she gave us. I continue to work, until the bell rings. All the girls leave the class giving Miss Bell envious, dirty looks, while most of the boys stay to flirt with her! I leave quickly, hoping to cure my hunger!

I quickly walk to the cafeteria and buy a cheeseburger with fries and a coke. I manage to get an empty table and I wolf down my burger and fries! I use a tissue to clean my mouth and I gather all my thoughts. I drink my coke, as if it is beer. I look around the cafeteria and notice that Becca, Darren and Steven are nowhere to be seen! I think of places where they could possibly be and I realize that they could be in the Auditorium! I make my way there and come across a policeman and a policewoman. "Hi, I am Detective Lockhart and this is Detective Johnson. Do you know who Michelle Parker is? ", the Blonde-haired policewoman asks, calmly." Yes, I knew her ...but we weren't that close. ", I respond shyly." What is your name? ", the African- American policeman asks, curiously.

"I'm... I'm Kate...Kate Foxx ", I respond nervously. Det. Johnson gives me a confused look and says, " Kate, there is no need to be scared, but there is something you should know... Michelle was murdered and we are trying to figure out who killed her! ""My friend, Rebecca Clarke ... and I found Michelle's body and we alerted Mr Reynolds and Mrs White. ", I tell them." We spoke to your principal and your stories match up, but if there is anything you need to tell us, please call us on this card or head to the station. ", Det. Lockhart says, while handing me a small card with her phone number and also Det. Johnson's number.

"Thanks for your co-operation. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day." Det. Johnson says. The two detectives walk away from me whispering to each other. I hope that they find out who murdered Michelle... The bell rings and I run to my locker getting all the materials that I need for my Art class. I quickly walk to class and I see my favorite teacher, Mr Edwards! Mr Edwards is a brilliant Art teacher and I'm so glad that he teaches me Art. He is the highlight of all my high school days!!! "Hi Kate, how are you? ", Mr Edwards asks clearly concerned. I respond, somberly, "Not too good, did you hear about Michelle?" Mr Edwards nods slowly and tears start dripping down his cheeks. I immediately hug him. "She was so young and imagine having to find out about someone you know ...being found brutally murdered", Mr Edwards says while crying softly. I pull back and tell him, "Her death hurts me too... but we got to do something to pay tribute to Michelle!" "I agree. Class, I would like you all to design paintings of Michelle or something that relates to her. ", Mr Edwards says, clearly empowered by my words.

I use the rest of the lesson to design thepainting of Michelle. Once the bell rings, I immediately head home. As soon asI enter my room , I walk to my bed and fall on it , hoping to regain sleep I lost last night ...