Prompt: "Create a scene of chaos."
Meg watched out the windows as the bus drove through the town. People were running down the street, with what seemed to be blankets or clothing in their grasp. Some with children in their arms, a suitcase or bag in their hands. Others with boxes of things she couldn't make out. And she saw people in uniforms. With guns. What was going on?
Mere minutes ago, she was sitting in her math class, when the alarm went off. Everyone was startled, even Mrs. Evans, the teacher. And then they gathered in the gym, to be told it was an emergency, and that they had to leave the building. No one seemed to know what was going on. Even on the bus, everyone was clue-less.
The bus eased through a wire fence. When were there wire fences in Malton? The fence entry was heavily guarded with military. Maybe there was an uprising? A war? No one seemed to know.
The door slid open and a tall man in uniform came on the bus and stood at the front.
"Students of Malton High, can I please have your attention," he said in a firm voice. The bus went silent. "We need you to disembark and go orderly into the white building ahead of you. Once you enter, please go to your left into the main auditorium. You will be instructed from there. Are there any questions?"
Several hands went up.
"Yes?"
"What's going on?" Jordan asked. He was the star basketball player and it was obvious that he was concerned.
"You will find out in due time," the man said.
"When will we be going home?" Sandy, a grade 12 student and the school president, asked.
"You will find that out in due time as well," the man said.
Meg wondered, What good was asking if there are questions when the answer is the same thing? And, where is everyone else? Have all the students been brought here? She looked behind, and it seemed there were no other busses behind them.
The students were muttering among themselves as they disembarked from the bus. Meg heard words of 'government' and 'war' and 'coup' and 'chaos' but no one knew any more than anyone else. As she looked around, she realized there were no teachers with them. Only students from Grade 11 and 12. Odd.
Once they were all in the auditorium, they found rows and rows of seats, and many other young adults already in the seats. They all looked to be the same age.
"Please find a seat in this area," a young man in uniform motioned to a section central left to the main stage. There was a flag on the stage, but not one Meg had ever seen before. And there were three seats, two were already occupied with men in what seemed to be battle fatigues. And the chair in the centre was empty. Meg's classmates sat where indicated and as the room filled up, the chatter also began to die down. A sense of expectancy was building.
"What do you think this is all about?" Katie, Meg's best friend, whispered to her.
"I have no clue. Have you heard anything on any of the socials?" Meg whispered back.
Suddenly, Jordan, who was sitting in front of them turned around. "Something has been building," he said. "My father works for the city, and he mentioned to my mother the other day to get ready. I didn't know what he was talking about, but it was obviously this."
"Ready? Ready for what?" Katie asked.
"Well, you know there's been a building of tension and anger," he started. "So many ..."
He was cut off when a man in formal military attire took centre stage and raised his hands. The room hushed to silence.
(From: https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/creative-writing-prompts-for-writers)
No comments:
Post a Comment