The Faculty

 

by
Adam Collins

 

 

‘I was in the Principals Office. I didn’t know what I did wrong, but I knew I was in for it.’

 

“Do you know why you are here?” he asked me.

 

“No” I said politely.

 

“Well it’s because…”

 

My mind went blank before he finished the sentence. Sitting there dosing off as his Mouth moved up and down. Seconds went to minutes and minutes went to hours as I lay there in that hard wooden chair.  That is until he reached for my skull as if he was trying to crush it with his bare hands.  Then I Reached back at his face with my nails clawing deeply into his flesh, which is until I realized I couldn’t go any Deeper…

 

The day was as normal as any other, waking up to the smell of juice drops and pouched eggs crawling up my nose.  I would rise from bed while I slowly pulled the covers off. Standing up as the Ground walked me past bedroom and the nursery, finally reaching the kitchen.

 

“Good-morning Mum and Dad” I said politely.

 

“Hello Son” They both said at the same time.

 

My father was reading the Virtual News at the time, shouting out random events and facts.

 

“Did you know that New York City Finally went under, after over 100 years the Polar Ice Caps Finally melted…”

 

My Mother interrupted him explaining the overage on the Monthly Bill.

 

“This is unacceptable…!”

 

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I snuck out before the conversation ended; on my way to school I saw new sights every day. There was a new sight today; my parents had explained of the first one, I believe that it was called the two towers. The replica I saw stood very tall, only made of metal and elevators powered by men practicing for the tour de Africa. This was the only time I walked, I think… At school I would never remember. But I finally reached school and many other students stood standing in line waiting to pass security.

 

No one knew what happened after you passed security; it was always kind of a blur.  Slowly walking step by step your eyes would start to close, but flashing lights would awake you once again with a large slamming noise as the doors shut again… it was my turn now as the door opened.

 

“Next!” they shouted.

 

And I walked in… the next thing I knew I was on the ground.  Cold and hard the metal pierced my skin and I started to bleed.  Not the biggest of cuts, so I would go on.  Slowly rising from the ground I saw others walking past me as if there was no problem.  But as I stared closer I saw a plastic look in their eyes as if they weren’t even human; only focused on their location.  I didn’t know what to do so I just followed them. Class by class we walked past the doors, that is until one stood out to me.  The numbers ‘2326’ wobbled in my head hitting each side like a ball in a closed box.  So I walked in—

 

            -- And the atmosphere changed.  Every student was sitting at there seat waiting politely.  I also sat down, the teacher finally arrived and silence was immediately shown.  All the technology surrounded me and I realized what was happening here.  The fun was gone, answers were given, and we were changed into something we aren’t.  ‘What ever they were…’

 

The teacher interrupted me “Jacob” she announced “Principals office”

 

Still confused, But I left.  Walking past other students and out the door ‘crash’, I knew it closed.  Creeping by classes and staring in windows as teachers would give me a nasty look back.  I reached the end of the long hallway standing in front of the large metal door, yet it had no handle.  I had no way to get in so I slowly walked away.  ‘Click’ I quickly turned around to see what is was.  The door was wide open so I quickly slipped in before it crushed my bones.

 

Sitting down in the first thing I saw, strangely wood with little metal.  Just staring into space as eyes turned and saw me.

 

“Do you know why you are here?”

 

“No” I said politely.

 

“Well it’s because…”

 

My mind went blank before he finished the sentence. Sitting there dosing off as his Mouth moved up and down. Seconds went to minutes and minutes went to hours as I lay there in that hard wooden chair.  It was all fine…That is until he reached for my skull as if he was trying to crush it with his bare hands.  Then I Reached back at his face with my nails clawing deeply into his flesh, which is until I realized I couldn’t go any deeper.

 

“You’re a… you’re a …. A robot!”

 

So I ran, not knowing the consequences in front of me.  Out the huge door I went, followed by all the staff in the School. Every corner I turned I saw them behind my back.  I couldn’t lose them so I ran to the only place I knew they wouldn’t find me, the cellar.  Faster and faster I ran and I was gone from their site. 

 

So here I am, in the cellar, full of decaying bodies of expelled students.  There was old technology that I had never seen with dust still settling.  I have been here just waiting for my rescuer.  Every once in awhile I hear sounds, footsteps so close to me but so far away.  I’m lonely here.  My life is nothing now. With just a pencil and a pad of paper I write this story.  Hopefully somebody with fined it.

 

Their eyes are gleaming in now, I can see them.

 

                                           “There here.”…

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Based on a true story

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WillyCon XIII (2011) Short Story Contest - 1st place for Middle School Category