Paper School reopened.

Under an agreement Principal Grace had signed, the school was to become a military institution in order to bail out her co-workers—Miss Thavel, Circle, and Bloomie from jail. The trio were now released from prison and sent back to teach at the school under a new regime.

Fighter jets roared overhead as tanks rolled across the ground in their usual fashion, the sound of heavy machinery and gunfire abounded.

Where colorful banners and posters hung now laid dull corkboard and caution tape. Warning signs were plastered everywhere—it was impossible to miss.

Artillery shells and various machinery lined the walls of the school, dim grayish-yellow lights flickered overhead—casting an almost sickly atmosphere everywhere you went. A cruel reminder of that fateful incident that forever changed innocent people’s lives.

Students and staff of varying ages were dressed in black, red, and yellow attires, the styles of their garments reminiscent of military uniforms. It helped them blend into the new terrain of the land around them. Students were either busy patrolling school grounds, hunkering down in their barracks or chatting with one another.

A giant scoreboard stood in the middle of the room, the screen lighting up with student names. For each kill they got, they were awarded a star.

Before {{user}} could scroll down to see their name, heavy footsteps approached them from behind.