Lost Students
Chapter 2: "A Bad Introduction"
We still had no idea how we ended up in this strange high school—standing alone in the middle of an endless sea. The building itself looked like a relic, rising from the water like a ghostly lifeline. We explored every corner, found enough supplies to last us a month, but… no boat, no radio, not even a Wi-Fi signal. The outside world was simply gone.
The first day passed like a bad dream. Now it was day two. We were still trying to wrap our heads around the reality we were stuck in. Needing a distraction from the creeping panic, we—us boys—headed to the gym. Basketball was still basketball, after all.
We split into teams. I was with Haroun and Ammar, up against Ziad, Hani, and Louay. The moment the imaginary whistle blew, the game was on.
Ammar took possession, breezing past Louay and Hani like they were traffic cones. Then came Ziad—more aggressive—but Ammar outplayed him too, scoring the first point for our side. For a fleeting moment, we forgot the sea, the fear, the mystery. It was just us, the ball, and the game.
Outside in the courtyard, Khadija sat chewing gum, watching us from afar with clear disapproval. She exhaled sharply and muttered to herself:
"Boys… We're stuck in a damn nightmare, and they're out here playing like it's recess."
As if summoned by boredom, Salma passed by—quiet, shy, and keeping to herself. Khadija's eyes lit up with wicked intent.
"Hey! You!" she called out, snapping her gum.
Salma stopped, confused. "Me?"
"Who else is here?" Khadija smirked.
"S-Sorry..." Salma stuttered, her eyes dropping to the ground.
Khadija leaned forward, her tone mock-sweet. "Nice watch."
"T-Thank you…"
"I want it."
There was a long pause. With trembling hands, Salma unclasped her watch and handed it over. Khadija sneered, glanced at it, then tossed it to the ground and crushed it under her shoe.
That was when Narjis appeared, eyes wide with fury.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" she snapped, storming toward Khadija.
Khadija turned, utterly unfazed. "And who the hell are you? Her bodyguard?"
Narjis got closer, her voice low and dangerous. "Say one more thing, and I swear I'll mess up your face."
Tension crackled. It was going to explode any second.
But Salma, panicked and shaking, stepped between them. "P-Please... stop…"
Narjis backed off, still seething. Khadija just rolled her eyes and muttered, "Idiots."
At that moment, Fatima emerged from the girls' bathroom, walking past. Khadija tried to provoke her too—but Fatima didn't even look her way. She just kept walking, calm and distant.
"Great," Khadija scoffed. "We're stuck with brainless boys, dumb girls, and a total weirdo."
Back in the gym, the game was starting to fall apart. Ziad played rough—too rough. He shoved Haroun hard, knocking him to the floor. Ammar stepped in, took the ball, and dribbled past Ziad like he was nothing.
Ziad snapped. "You bastard!"
He lunged and threw a punch at Ammar.
Ammar didn't hesitate. He punched back.
Just like that, the court turned into a battlefield.
"Stop it!" Hani yelled, trying to break it up. "We were just trying to have fun!"
But Ziad wasn't done. "Shut up, you spoiled brat!"
He punched Hani square in the face, sending him sprawling.
Haroun jumped in, fists clenched. "I've hated your attitude since day one!"
He joined Ammar in confronting Ziad. The scuffle only stopped when a sharp pop echoed from the court entrance.
It was Khadija, still chewing gum, watching the scene like a bored queen.
"You're all pathetic," she said mockingly. "Just a bunch of toddlers playing war."
Her words, dumb as they were, seemed to snap Ziad out of it. He spat on the ground, scoffed, and walked away.
Hani slowly got up, holding his jaw. His eyes were full of disappointment. Without a word, he left. Ammar followed, fuming.
Haroun stayed behind, staring at the floor. "We need to do something about Ziad..."
Louay, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. "No. We need to do something about this place."
I—Adam—had stayed quiet until then. But I couldn't hold back any longer.
"I want to ask you something…"
Louay nodded. "Go ahead."
"When—and how—did you see the smoke before we got trapped here?"
Silence. Then Louay, sharp and cold, replied, "I don't want to talk about that."
I turned to Haroun.
He looked away. "Me neither."
One by one, they all left, disappearing into the building, leaving me alone on the court.
I picked up the ball, tossed it toward the hoop, and scored clean.
Khadija whistled from the sidelines.
"Well, well. Aren't you a pro?"
I glanced at her, uninterested. "Does that even matter anymore?"
With a long sigh, I turned and walked away.
She remained behind, staring into nothing, muttering to herself:
"Are they all conspiring against me…? No way. They're too stupid for that."
The sea, ever still, wrapped the school in silence. A witness to our confusion... and our growing despair.
– To be continued –