I’m King

2) He was Right

t was only dark for a brief moment. Like an Eclipse. Everyone went still. Holding their breath in anticipation.

When the light came back, Gia’s heart leapt into her throat. She was going to be sick. This could not be happening. But it was. The space where Mrs. Wood had just been was empty. She whipped around to see the teacherless space behind the group of high school girls.

She was definitely going to be sick.

A soft voice broke the panic in her head.

The first thing you have to do is gather all of them

A calm washed over her. The doomsday prep wasn’t for nothing after all.

Gia was the first to move. She walked to the front of the group. All eyes on her. She really wished she had written down what her demon had said.

“I know everyone is freaking out right now.” She shouted across the stunned silence. “Myself included. And I will explain everything but for right now I need everyone to listen to me.”

She took the wide-eyed silence as their agreement.

“Matrics: I need you to gather all of the high school in the hall. 2 matrics go to each house and gather them. The rest get everyone on the lawns inside. Keep them all calm.

Grade 11’s: we are going to collect the junior school. Half of you come with me now. If you went to the junior school wait here. You need to bring the other Grade 11’s up when they get to the lawns. Matrics relay that information to each house. Got it?”

It's like a spell had been broken. The matrics murmured their agreement and started to move. The Grade 11’s were a little more hesitant but Gia managed to split them and started the brisk walk up the hill.

“What's going on?” A scared voice spoke out. The Grade 11’s had gathered so close to Gia as they hustled up the hill to the junior school.

“It’ll probably freak you out if I tell you and we have things to do before we can freak out.” Gia said as calmly as she could through her pants. She hated this hill.

“We promise we won't freak out.” Another voice sounded from the group of 10.

“Okay. We are in an apocalypse. A sort of reboot of the earth.” Gia panted harder as she talked and walked. “The adults have all been removed so we can restart and lead the world to a better place.”

“Holy f**k!” Was the general consensus from the girls.

“But we cannot freak out now. We need to make sure we get the junior school kids together and do not tell them anything. The last thing we need is a bunch of freaking out small children.”

“What about the preschool?”

“They went with the adults. A way of making our lives easier.” Gia stopped under the archway to the art and science room. Both looked empty thank goodness.

“How do you know all this?” A sickly pale girl asked.

“That I'll have to explain later.” Gia took a gulp of air. “Who was at this junior school?”

“Me.” One soul whispered.

“Take someone with you and check upstairs in the library and then go to the pool. Make sure there are no kids there or in the bathrooms. If there are then gather them on the stairs outside the grade 6/7 classes.” Gia managed to remain calm even as she loathed herself for sending the girls off by themselves. “Everyone else follow me. Watch and listen carefully to what I do. One person will remain with each class and one person will wait by the path from the junior to high school to inform the other grade 11’s where to go and what to do. The aim is to wait for 2 more grade 11’s before moving the classes to the ARA. Fill in from the back. Got it?”

“Yes.” They all looked determined.

“Okay then.” Gia led them down the stairs to the first grade 7 class.

She knocked softly before entering. The young girls in the class all looked petrified. So calmly Gia said, “hi ladies.” She entered and her grade 11’s followed. She could vaguely hear more Grade 11’s making their way towards them.

“We're here to take care of you, okay? I'm going to leave a Grade 11 with you. She’ll introduce herself and you’ll start making your way to the ARA and we’ll explain what's going on.”

She did this with the next 2 Grade 7 classes. Then grade 6’s, 5’s, 4’s, 3’s, 2’s, 1’s and 0’s. leaving behind 3 grade 11’s each time.

Once she walked out of the last class, Gia had 5 Grade 11’s left. She took a steadying breath before turning to the tiny group.

“Okay,” her voice was not nearly as strong as it had been earlier. “You can all head to the ARA and take care of the junior school while I talk to the high school. I'll be there shortly to explain.”

They all made their way to the auditorium. Left Gia alone.

She remembered this courtyard so well. Running around out here at aftercare. Doing recycling. Lining up for choir. Being a child. She wasn’t a child anymore. As of this morning she was an adult. She just hoped and prayed she could rise to the occasion.

~

Standing outside the roaring hall Gia doubted she would be able to. She hated public speaking. And crowds. People in general actually. She wasn’t in a leadership position, she wasn’t popular enough for one of those, so why would anyone listen to her? What gave her the authority to stand in front of all these girls and tell them that they too had to grow up? But she would. She had too. The demon had come to her, told her exactly what to do. From now on she would be leaving a note pad by her bed to write down what he said.

She opened the side door to the hall. The matrics were trying to settle everyone down. The head and deputy head girls standing on the stage and shouting over the crowd to no avail.

Se saw Gia first and quickly latched onto her side as they headed for the stage.

“What the hell is going on?” Se yelled but only Gia heard her over the noise. “Where are the adults?”

“I'll explain everything now.” Gia started to ascend the stairs but paused. She leaned down to Se. “You still know how to whistle right?”

“Of course.” Se looked confused but followed Gia’s gesture onto the stage.

“What is going on?” The head girl turned to Gia. “Some of the other matrics said you called us all in here.”

“Maybe you guys should go sit down. I’ll explain everything.” Gia gestured to the front row. The 3 leaders were hesitant but went down to take their seats. Gia elbowed Seren softly in the side. Se let out the loudest whistle Gia had ever heard from the small body beside her.

The hall rolled into silence and all eyes were on Se who quickly jumped down from the stage and took a spot on the far-left wall.

Gia took a deep breath.

Take a deep breath, steady yourself. Then explain what is going to happen – her demon

“Morning ladies,” her voice echoed through the deathly silent hall, “some of you might not know me but my name is Gianna.” she looked down to see her shaking hands. “I'm one of this year's matrics. I’m here to explain what's going on and where we go from here. It’s going to be a shock. Some of you might not believe me. But I need you to trust me. I promise I am telling the truth. The crazy, messed up truth that we are now living.” Her voice turned a little shaky. “Our planet is under new management. The God that is running things now is here to try and fix the mess that was made before us. He has wiped out the old and left only us to rebuild civilization. We will combine with other schools in the area for now and get ourselves set up and sustainable. Soon the electricity will go out, the water stop running out of the taps and eventually the remaining food will either spoil or be depleted. So,” she gulps, “We will have to start providing for ourselves and hopefully, eventually, we will build into a force so great it will make what come before seem ridiculous. I promise we will find our way through this. Does anyone have any questions?”

Murmuring started and hands shot up.

“Yes?” Gia pointed at a grade 12 hand.

“How do you know all of this?” The voice sounded sceptical. It was from Katlego. Their meeting dated back to preschool and she had always hated Gia.

“I was told all of this in a dream where I was visited by one of the Gods workers.” She started to explain and the hall went into uproar so Gia shouted above the crowd, “But I can assure you that he gave me a plan. I know exactly what has to happen.”

Another matric stood up on the chair and shouted at Gia, “how are we supposed to trust you? You had a dream and now we should put our lives into your hands?”

“You’re not putting your life into my hands. You’re putting your trust in me to guide you into putting your life in your own hands.” Gia shouted.

“I can prove to you I know what I’m talking about. 12 hours until the phone lines go down. 2 days before the electricity goes off. 3 days until the water in the taps and tanks run out. A week of food left.” some of the girls started to quiet down and sit at her words. “None of us will survive if we split up but we will thrive if we all work together. I am asking you for 12 hours. If in 12 hours the cell service does not drop someone else can take over and we can all do whatever we want but until then,” her voice drops as the room quiets to hear her, “until then, we need to start preparing for the evening like I was instructed to do.”

The head girl, Leoni, walks onto the stage.

“This has been a strange morning. None of us know what to do but Gia seems to have a plan. Let's hear her plan and then decide if we will give her the 12 hours?” Leoni had a way with everyone, they trusted her. Which was evident at the murmurs of agreement. “Gia,” Leoni turned to face Gia, “you have the floor.”

“Thank you,” Gia said quietly to Leoni.

You know what to do – she could hear the deep voice whisper to her.

“The first thing we have to do is start preparing for the evening.” The whole hall was now deathly silent as Gia spoke. “All the schools in the area have a representative, like me, who will have been told the plan. Those schools will make their way to us so we can start getting a plan together and everyone is safe and on the same page. We will split tasks into Grades until they get here. Grade 12’s will split into 2 groups. 1 group will take the Grade 8’s and 9’s to the surrounding house’s and do a count of bed spaces. We will filter people into houses for the night. All of the gates and doors should be unlocked. There is paper in the art room. On each gate, post a list with the number of bed spaces so people can fill in their names so we know who is staying where. The other group will be waiting at all of the gates to welcome the other schools. The representatives will have briefed their schools on what is going to happen and they will all start their duties.

“The Grade 10’s will come with me so I can brief the Grade 11’s. Then Grade 10’s, you need to move all of the desks to the side of the class rooms and make sure all of the boarding house rooms are open. While going through the houses, Grade 9’s you need to bring any sleeping bags or camping matrasses that we can put down in the classes for the junior school kids. We need to keep them as close as possible until we can sort out the houses and sleeping arrangements properly. You can also look at the preschool and gym for any mats and blankets. I have to go speak to the Grade 11’s but if anyone needs me, I will keep my phone on or I’m at the ARA. Any questions?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Okay. Grade 10’s come with me. Everyone else can do what they have to. Saheti will be the first ones here shortly. They’re in charge of this evening's meal.”

Everyone stood up and started to filter out of the hall. Gia walked off of the stage and headed out the side door to stand on the lawns. The Grade 10’s quickly gathered around her. Se pushed her way through them to stand next to Gia.

“This is crazy!” Se whisper yelled, “Who knew your psychotic episodes would actually help us all stay alive?”

“I certainly didn’t.” Gia whispered back.

“Do you need any help up there?” Se offered.

“I could actually use your help.” Gia turned to face Se. “Can you please make sure that the matric’s greeting the other schools show them exactly where to go?”

“On it.”

Se walked away as Gia’s other friends started to walk towards her. Gia chose to ignore them and instead turned her attention to The Grade 10’s.

“Everyone here?” she shouted. They murmured an agreement. “Let's go then.”

~

Katerina felt a pit in her stomach for a few days now. She’d been having these awful nightmares and was running on minimal sleep. But right now, all she wanted to do was speak to Gia. She knew exactly what was going on, yet felt so unsettled about everything and needed to speak to someone who understood. Her and Gia had been friends since junior school but never had Kat thought that Gia would ever be any kind of leader in school.

On her way to Gia with the rest of their friend group, she caught Gia’s gaze before Gia turned away with all of the Grade 10’s. Her heart dropped. But Kat turned to the rest of their small group.

“Let’s go grab the Grade 8’s and 9’s and start with the house stuff.” Kat said a little reluctantly.

“You’re not serious?” Jen pipped in. The deputy head girl had been quiet the whole speech. “This is all crazy! We need to go home and see if our parents are there.”

“They aren't going to be there.” Dee interjected. “If none of the teachers, who are also parents, aren’t here then what makes you think our parents will be there. We have no idea what to do but Gia seems to have a plan and maybe we should listen to what she needs us to do for now.”

“I agree with Jen.” Thando shouted from her friend group coming out the hall. “Why are we listening to Gia? It sounds like she should be in a mental institution.”

“We said we would give her 12 hours and that’s what we should do.” Andzani, the other deputy head, said calmly. “But honestly, if all the houses are unlocked and the schools start arriving, I am a firm Gia believer.”

“Okay,” Kat said to all the matric’s now gathered outside the hall. “We said 12 hours so let's give her 12 hours. Break into 2 groups.”

Seren piped up, “Gia said I must help with the greeting group so anyone wanting to do that we’ll gather here.”

“And the houses group will meet by the front gate.” Kat started again. “And we’ll grab the Grade 8’s and 9’s on our way there. Let's try and split as evenly as possible.”

Kat started to walk away and some of the matrics followed her while some stayed behind with Seren.

Sarah, one of her close friends, walked next to her and whispered softly, “Did you have those dreams too?”

“Sort of,” Kat whispered back, “But nothing like Gia. She is going to be our saviour. Or at least that’s what I was told.”