The Papers(Short Story)

My English teacher Miss Berry walks around the class handing out the homework sheets. “Anyone who doesn’t do it will receive an automatic detention.” Sometimes I wonder whether or not Miss Berry really has the heart to give a student a second chance about their homework. 

If a student doesn’t do their homework she doesn’t even ask them why she would just give them a detention straightaway even if they have a good excuse or if they had actual problems or reasons.

One more year. One more year and you are out of here Hanna.

“Hanna, I expect better quality homework than last time.” Says Miss Berry. 

If I hadn’t left it in the kitchen my little sister never would have poured milk all over it. Miss Berry didn’t give me a detention for it but she did give me a behaviour point for poor quality homework. 

“Hanna.” Whispers someone behind me when Miss Berry goes back to her desk. I ignore them. I have got too many behaviour points for talking and I can’t get another one otherwise I would end up on report.

They kept calling my name so I gave up and turned around. “Yeah?”

It was Aisha. The class joker. “I found this on the floor and I thought you should see it.” She hands me a piece of paper and I read the words written on there in seconds. In simple slightly messy handwriting it said the words “Your next Hanna Mohammad.” 

“Aisha? Did you write this?”

“No.”

I turn around and look at her. I stare at her for more than a minute. Someone could accuse me of being able to see her soul. Besides, she is the class joker after all. What if she did it as a joke?

“I swear I didn’t.”

I turned around but I wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her. 

On my way out of school, someone pulls me round the corner of the school out of sight of any teachers or students.

“What are you doing?” I almost shouted at the person. They had their hood up on their hoody. It covered half of their face.

They ignore my question. “If you manage to do something for me I won’t kill you or anyone you know.”

“Excuse me?”

“Get something for me and I won’t kill you or anyone you know.”

“Look I don’t know who you think you are but you don’t get to threaten me or anyone I know.” I make sure all my anger shows on my face so they can see I’m being serious.

They take the hood down. It was Mr Johns the guy who is responsible for all the kidnappings around the neighbourhood but somehow has never been caught even though everyone knows his face.

He takes a knife out of his pocket and puts it against my throat. “Do what I am asking of you or I will kill you right here, right now.”

“What is it you want?”

He reaches into his pocket and takes out something wrapped in an embroidered handkerchief. “Take this first and sign the piece of paper in there agreeing that you would do it no matter what.”

I take the handkerchief and unwrap it, taking the piece of paper out.

“Why is there a piece of paper in here?”

“So if any police men were to search me they wouldn’t be suspicious of it.”

Panic started to rise in me but I pushed it down. Now is not the time to panic. He can’t know what I am really feeling.

On the piece of paper it said “Hanna Mohammad has agreed to perform the task of Mr Johns and she will do anything he asks of her or she will be next.” There was a little space for me to put my signature at the bottom.

Mr Johns hands me a pen with his free hand pushing the knife harder into my skin. I could feel the blood pouring down my neck but I didn’t feel the pain. I was too panicked to feel pain.

“You have got 5 mins to decide.”