Chapter 3
1280 Words
When Katarina opened her eyes, light flooding her vision. She blinked, adjusting to the blinding light.
She sat up, disoriented. Around her, the other students were stirring, groans and moans escaping their lips, murmurs filling the air.
“Where are we?” Isabella asked, rubbing her temples as she looked around.
Tristan quipped, glancing around. They were no longer in their classroom but were in a grand hall, lavishly decorated with banners and ornate chandeliers.
A throne sat at the far end, where a regal figure clad in flowing robes observed them with an expectant gaze. Beside him was a woman, her hair decorated with expensive ornaments.
A large group of people surrounded them wearing what seems like medieval clothing, eyes observing them like they were a newly discovered animal inside a cage.
“Looks like we’re not inside the classroom anymore”
“Is this a joke?” Marcus squinted, his voice incredulous. “We just died, right?”
“Right” Hiroshi replied, his brows furrowing. “But this doesn’t look like... hell?”
“Or heaven,” Luna added, glancing around at the others. “What the heck is going on?”
Suddenly, the figure on the throne rose, his presence commanding, radiating an aura of authority, the students fell silent.
“Welcome, heroes of prophecy!” he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the hall. “You have been summoned to fulfill the prophecy!“
“Excuse me?” Their teacher Mr. Richard Kim asked, his tone sharp. "Who are you?" Stepping at front, shielding his students with a protective stance.
“I am the Holy Emperor beside me is My Empress” he announced, his voice booming yet smooth. “You have been summoned to fulfill the prophecy—”
“Ugh, not this again,” Marcus interrupted, crossing his arms. “This is ridiculous. We need to find a way back”
“Did we just got kidn*pped by a crazy person?“ Leo looked at the emperor confused.
“Damn it Oliver this is your fault!“ Ethan annoying yelled.
“HUH?! What did I do?“ Oliver shot back.
“Isn't obvious, elections are coming“
“What does that got to do with us getting kidn*pped?!“
“Your dad's literally a politician! We probably got kidn*pped by one of his rival!“
“Ethan, Isn't your dad also a politician“ Maria asked.
"My dad took a break this year so it's definitely Oliver's fault“
“Why are you blaming me? Katarina's the one who comes from a wealthy dynasty“
The emperor's figure faltered, confusion flickering across both his and the empress's face.
“I have no desire to defend myself with that one“ Katarina chimed in. “I apologize in advance if it's really my family's fault“
“Hey old man! Release us this instant!“ Sakura shouted pointing a finger “You might even get a lesser sentence“
Before anyone could react, a fist flew through the air, connecting with the figure’s jaw. The hall gasped collectively.
“FATHER!“ “DEAR!“ “YOUR MAJESTY!“
“Katarina!” Mr. Kim gasped.
“Did she just punched him?” Hiroshi whispered, his eyes wide.
The empress stud up in shock, her mouth agape. “You... you punched him!”
Katarina blinked, her heart racing. “I didn’t mean to... but it felt good.”
“Good?” The empress echoed incredulously.
“You just declared war on the empire!” A man roared from the back-probably a loyal subject.
The tension in the hall thickened. The empress's expression hardened, and Katarina noticed a young man running towards beside the emperor, his eyes narrowed at her.
He had an air of authority, with dark hair and striking features—his kid, she realized.
“You insolent woman! You will regret this!” The prince’s gaze flickered between his father and the defiant students.
“Enough!” The emperor finally interjected, his voice slicing through the chaos.
“Crown prince apologize to her this instant!“ The emperor scolded.
“Father what are you saying, why must Arthur apologize?“ A male voice said, causing the students gaze to land on two figures.
“Father are you alright?!“ A young girl rushed towards her father, her voice full of worry.
The emperor staggered, clutching his face. "Arthur apologize to-“
"-Katarina" Maria finished
"Apologize to the Hero Katarina for raising your voice" The Emperor shouted, stepping back as the crown prince stumbled, shock etched across his face.
"He...hero?" The prince's brow furrowed, and he looked momentarily taken aback.
“That bitched that punched you is the hero!“ The second prince exclaimed.
The sun hung low within the sky, casting long shadows over Greenhill Academy.
The once-gleaming building, a symbol of privilege and excellence, now stood covered in a veil of mourning.
The air was thick with grief, punctuated only by the flashing cameras of reporters and the hushed whispers of concerned parents gathered outside.
“Why? Why did this happen?” Diana's voice trembled, her face buried in her hands as she sank to the ground, her body wracked with sobs. David, her boyfriend, had been one of the students caught underneath the rubble.
The world felt unreal, as though she were strolling through a bad dream that refused to end.
“Diana!” A familiar voice broke through the mist of distress. It was her friend Jasmine, her brow furrowed with concern. She crouched beside her, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder. “We're going to get through this. You need to stay strong.”
“Strong?” she choked out, looking up at him with tear-streaked cheeks. “How can we be strong? He's gone! They're all gone!”
Nearby, Maria's mother stood frozen, her eyes hollow and distant.
The news had shattered her world, and she felt as if she were watching a cruel play unfold.
“My baby…” she whispered, her voice barely capable of being heard. “She was just... just in class.”
“Mrs. Garcia,” a reporter interjected, his notepad poised, “can you tell us how you are feeling right now?”
“I want to know why!” she shouted, her voice rising in pitch. “What happened in that classroom? How could this happen to our children?” Her eyes burned with anger, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Across the street, the parents of the students gathered. Katarina's father, a powerful businessman with a reputation for getting results, stepped forward.
“I demand answers!” he howled, his voice carrying over the crowd. “This is unacceptable! My girl was in that classroom! Who is responsible for this?”
“Sir, please,” a police officer attempted to calm him, but Katarina's father brushed past him. “Don't 'sir' me! My girl is dead, and I need to know what caused that ceiling to collapse!”
His Wife, Katarina's mother, stood beside him, her hands clenched at her sides. “They didn't even get a chance! They were just kids! How can you let this happen?” Her voice cracked, crude with emotion.
“What about the school's safety measures?” Hiroshi's father, another parent, chimed in. “This is a high-end institution! They should have guaranteed the structure was safe!”
“Exactly!” Marcus's father shouted. “We pay a fortune to send our children here! They're supposed to be safe!”
As the parents continued to voice their outrage, the camera lenses focused on their anguish. Reporters jostled for position, eager to capture every minute of despair.
- Writer
