[fieldbox=Synopsis, #ffd6c3, solid]
When the principal of Avalon High decided to reveal the identities of those whom the students have been corresponding with for the past six months, things immediately go out of hand.
The sole purpose of instigating the 'Penpal Project' had been purely out of desperation to bring one school together in peace and prosperity. Principal Jackson promised confidentiality and a safe, welcoming environment to help encourage students to open up and talk to one another - anonymously of course. And for the first few months all was well and dandy. The students seemed to get along well more and tension quickly dissolved. But then one moment changed everything.
When Principal Jackson announced the names and identities of each assigned penpals, he didn't expect two things to happen; 1. confetti of papers with a screenshot of private conversations flying from above and 2. a malicious force simply known as "King" coming out to take over the entire school.
Just who is this mysterious entity?
And what is he really after?
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[fieldbox=Then, #cc4f4b, solid]
Six months ago, the faculty of Avalon High decided to instigate a new project. Having observed their students for ages, it had become common knowledge that people were being left out and others were being bullied. Sides were being taken, fights were breaking out and their campus was no longer welcoming; having turned into a battle of the cliques.
Parents from all over the city had heard of this and were choosing to send their kids to other schools. It was then Principal Jackson decided to take action.
His plan was was perfect. He called it The Penpal Project. This project began by giving every student a number and then each student would pull another random number out of a hat. The number they pulled matched the number given to another student -- the student they would be sending their letters to. The rules of The Penpal Project were simple: once a week the students would send a letter to their penpal. One week, for example, they could send a detailed description of how their week went, what they had been up to, their secrets; anything, so long as the two were conversing.
The only other rule was that they were not to give away their identity, nor give away any information that was too personal. Students would write under alias, as to make sure no one would find out who they were.
The project went along perfectly for the first couple of months. But, as time went on many students became far too curious concerning who they were writing with and broke the rules by revealing their identities.
Because so many of the students were finding out the identities of their penpal, Principal Jackson thought of another brilliant plan. His conclusion was simple: if some students were finding out the identity of their penpal then everyone would.
So he set up an out of nowhere school assembly where students and staff had been summoned to the auditorium for his supposed 'important' announcement. The first thing they saw upon coming inside was a list of names of every student attending Avalon High, and right beside them where names of other students. What did this mean? Why were there names printed beside someone else's? What was going on, really? Was this another one of the school's stupid way to bring them all together? Confused and completely fed up with the principal's ridiculous mind games, the students broke into whispers and protests, demanding to know just what the purpose of this whole thing was. Finally, after minutes of struggling to keep boisterous students in line and once the auditorium had filled out, the principal made his appearance and told his students exactly what they had been dying to know.
Those names projected up on the screen?
Yeah. Turns out those are the names of the people they have been exchanging letters with for the past six months.
Their penpals.
The one person they've told all their twisted little secrets.
Their reactions were priceless. There were some who breathed out of long sigh of relief -- relieved that they have been assigned to someone who'd never use their words against them and was trustworthy enough. While others didn't quite seem to share the same feeling. In fact, they were shocked to find that the person they spilled out their entire life story to, talked about things that not even their closest friends knew about, did not turn out to be someone they expected.
But the worst had yet to come. . .
. . . because in a few moments time, another surprise would make its way into the lives of those attending Avalon High.
And it came in the form of articles of papers flying from above the ceiling with screenshots of conversations between students exchanging emails, talking about their day, and secrets revealed. Panic ensued almost immediately. Screams, doubts, fights unfolding between friends, and students praying desperately for none of it being real. But it was all real. All too very real. Everything was spiraling out of control. Heck, someone even passed out from the shock.
The staff and teachers did all that they could to calm the students down, turning immediately to Principal Jackson for help, but one look at him changed everything. It was a look that told them clearly he had no idea what was going on. The situation was no longer under his control.
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[fieldbox=Now, #5f4343, solid]
What now?
It took nearly the whole day to remove every piece of paper piled up in the auditorium spilling secrets after secrets, and even longer to calm the students. Although not all secrets have been exposed, ones that have were personal and humiliating while others were so life altering, it discouraged students from leaving their dorms. Principal Jackson took immediate action and demanded every camera and computer in classrooms be checked. For the next couple of days, no one was allowed to leave campus until the culprit responsible for the damage done was caught and punished. Lockers and dormitories were checked for evidence and students were expected to cooperate and tell all that they knew. But it wasn't enough. No witnesses had been called in and everyone was growing impatient, all too anxious to figure out who did it and finally put the pieces of the puzzle together. The students took matters into their own hands, losing faith and trust in the principal they once looked up to. Fingers were pointed and blames were pinned on one another. Friendships were put into test and sides were taken, once again turning the school into a battle of the cliques -- the one thing that the Penpal Project should've ended. The situation had gotten so out of control that many students felt unsafe and too scared to stay, choosing to transfer from Avalon High while they still had their heads held up high.
That was until one morning, Principal Letterman arrived at his office to find a cryptic note taped to his computer screen. The color drained from his face when he realized the note was from the culprit. The one who caused it all.
[fieldbox=The Letter, red, solid]Let's play a game.
If you are able to solve the mystery in one month, I'll call everything off and leave Manchester High alone. For good.
But if you guess wrong or run out of time. . .
I'll expose the truth and let the whole world know of your secrets! You and your precious school's reputation will be tarnished in no time.
Don't believe me?
Just wait and see.
Yours Truly,
The King[/fieldbox]
Word quickly spread like wildfire, reaching the ears of many students as they braced themselves for what was to come. What happened there at the assembly was just the beginning. He has so much more in store for them and clearly knows how to use it to his advantage. The entity known as "king" is no laughing matter. He's a force to be reckoned with and not someone to challenge, but one thing is certain; he -- just like the rest of them, is a student of Avalon High.
But who is King?
And how do you stop him before it's too late?
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