196. The Assembly

The sun had barely begun its ascent on the horizon, casting a gentle glow over the quiet school campus. Students were trickling in, their backpacks slung over their shoulders, oblivious to the impending chaos. It was a crisp, ordinary morning at the boy's High School until it wasn't.

At precisely 8:15 AM, the serene atmosphere was shattered as an entourage of police cars screeched to a halt outside the school's imposing main doors. Uniformed officers spilled out of the vehicles, their stern expressions a stark contrast to the typically serene surroundings. Right at the forefront, the head of education for the city, Mr. Hugo Harrington, emerged from a sleek black sedan. He was a formidable man known for his strict policies and no-nonsense attitude, and he was not alone. Armed policemen flanked him on either side, creating an intimidating presence that sent shock waves through the school.

Inside the school building, the principal had been going about his morning routine when the commoti