War of the schools (Revisited) III

War of the schools episode 3

The fall of the white citadel




As he pulled his dried out mouth away from the microphone, all eyes came to rest on the single piece of paper he held in his hand.

Samuel: I really don’t think this was a good idea.

Shane: Heads up! The search team is behind us!

Joshua: You know what, I think we should concentrate on whats in front of us now.

Samuel turned his head and noticed the remaining portion of the army, which had not entered the school, was forming up again. This time, facing them.

Ryan: We are so screwed.

Shane: Shut up! Can you say something constructive for once?

Ryan: Well theres a gardeners shed over there, maybe there’s a bolt cutter we could use to cut a hole in a fence or something.

Kyle: Ryan you genius!

Nadia: Stop! (Panting) Stop or we’ll order them all to take the certificate by force! (Points to the awaiting army)

Samuel: Crap. Kyle, think we can make it if we run?

Kyle: Well, considering the fact that our only option is to run anyway, (turns and runs)

Joshua: I’ll take that as a yes.

Like white blurs across the green grass, they sped in the direction of the shed. An ear splitting high-pitched whistle sounded in the distance. The rush of hundreds of footsteps accompanied by the deafening screeches began to engulf the field.

Ryan: I’d probably lose about 10 pounds after this.

Kyle: Look on the bright side. No more TAF club eh?

Shane: Lawn mower, sprinkler hose, gardening shears, bolt cutter! There we go. Hurry!

Joshua: Whoa that seriously is a lot of blue!

The advancing units had covered half the field and were approaching fast. The search party too was right on their heels as Kyle grabbed Joshua by the collar and pulled him around the corner.

Ryan: There! Cut open that fence!

Shane: That leads to the canal!

Samuel: Yes Shane. And the canal leads to school.

Joshua: It’s full of --nevermind.

With four quick cuts they tore a hole in the fence. Big enough for them to squeeze through.

Shane: Ryan go first.

Ryan: Bonsai! (Jumps into the canal)

Ryan jumped into the canal and was followed by Samuel. The search party had reached within a derringer range of them. Shane and Joshua quickly dove in. Kyle tucked the certificate into his shirt and proceeded to leap in when a hand caught his collar and yanked him against the fence.

Convent prefect: Hand it over now!

Kyle: Never! (Tries to break free)

As Kyle struggled, more hands grabbed him through the hole that was made.

Samuel: Kyle! Hurry! The army is near you!

Nadia: Kyle, just give it back and we’ll set you free.

Kyle: No! (Uses all his strength as he leans forward)

Nadia: Kyleee! (Grabs his shirt)

Kyle: I’m not giving it back! This is for the honor of my school.

Kyle leant forward at a sharp angle and one by one thew hands let go. All except one. Till the last moment as he fell from their grasp. Nadia’s hand that was latched onto his shirt ripped it open as he fell down. It all seemed as if it was in slow motion. The ripples of Kyle’s cotton shirt flung the certificate away from his body. As it fell out of his shirt, he scrambled for it as he plummeted into the green murky waters. The certificate caught a gust of wind and flew upward over the fence and landed safely in the hands of Nadia.

Kyle: (Falling back-first) Noooooo!

With a loud splash, he sank into the green depths of the Siglap canal. He floated to the top gasping for air and floated downstream as the rest of them did. The army of Katong convent students had massed at the gate.

Convent student #1: Look at those patricians floating with sewerage.

Convent student #2: A rightful place it is for them too. (Picks up a plastic bottle and flings it into the canal where they were floating away)

The rest of them followed as they each grasped pieces of litter from the ground and hurled it at the five of them. It was like a rain of garbage followed by loud rallies of taunts and jeers.

Samuel: Let us swim back before we get hurt even more.

They swam along with the drift and eventually were clear of the taunts and litter. However the sound of battle could be heard once again. Rishic’s troupe of scouts pushed the catapults back toward the courtyard as the invading armies proceeded.

Justin: Rishic, station the catapults at the foot of Alban block. They’ll have to come through Kiely square and when they reach the courtyard, we’ll make our stand.

Rishic: Alrighty. Pull all the forces together, take up at least half the courtyard.

The sounds of metal crashing to the floor sounded from the science block.

Rishic: Too late! They are upon us. Gather whatever forces you have here, my catapults will support you. I’ll get the NCC contingent.

The armies funneled into Kiely square through the tiny corridor at the science block.

Justin: Well that should hold them there for a while.

The NCC contingent ran to the courtyard to aid the rest as they abandoned their gate posts. At least 200 of them came as the army of VJC and KC gathered.

Justin: Rishic, we now have 400 students here. Darren and Ivan have another 400. That makes 800. But then where are the other 500 plus people?

Rishic: What? You mean 500 patricians are missing?

Justin: I don’t know! Where could they have gone?

Rishic: Let us not ponder about that now. They are almost ready to attack. Be wary for their movements.

Ivan and Darren’s units began to retreat to the front of the school. They had no chance to hold them off anymore as the whole army bypassed them without notice.

Darren: We should go back to the courtyard. They may have already started the attack there.

Ivan: Right. We’ll enter from the front gate and charge to the courtyard. That’s where we’d have to make a stand.

Their units quickly trudged back towards the school via the Siglap canal walkway. Ivan spotted Samuel and the rest swimming in their direction.

Ivan: Samuel what are you all doing in there?

Joshua: We’re having a jolly old Thursday morning swim.

Samuel: But seriously, we were almost caught by KC and had to jump in.

Ivan: Okay try and climb up. We’ll pull you up once you get close enough.

Darren: We have to go quickly. So stop playing around in the water Ryan!

Ryan: Oh sorry. I was looking for mussels.

Shane: Numbnut.

Kyle: (climbs up the wall) I can’t believe I lost it…

Samuel: Kyle this isn’t the time to think about that. Sure we lost the certificate but we did achieve the aim! We made a diversion. Now its time to capitalize on it.

Joshua: He’s right Kyle. Just shrug it off. Let’s go.

Darren: Quickly, we must make haste.

In the courtyard, about half of it was covered in white and the other half and pretty much the whole of Kiely square was filled by blue and cream.

Justin: Archers ready!

Rows of students carrying wooden bows with suction cup arrows formed up on the first second and third levels of Alban block. These arrows weren’t toys. They did not go thwap on glass but instead went crash. They were crafted to do damage but not to seriously injure. As were the bows and now was the time to put them to the test.

Justin: Ready, aim and hold!

The archers pulled back waiting for the order to release the rain upon the enemy. There was an awkward silence before them. No one moved a muscle. The 400 patricians stood before the thousand plus of them. The archers held their arms stiff as they waited.

Marcus Arriola: Oh crap I got an itch on my arm!

Marc van Huizen: Don’t let go of your bowstring. Keep still.

Brandon Wong: You got an itch? I’ll help you scratch it.

Marcus: No!

Brandon foolishly let go of his bow and sent an arrow flying through the air. It sped over the white and into the cream and blue. All in a matter of seconds, it struck the head of a VJC student and he fell to the ground. With that, the charge began.

Justin: Here they come! Fire at will. That means you catapult crew!

The small courtyard was filled with war cries as the two forces met in the center. Like a rugby match, they pushed into each other causing the same knock-back effect as before. They fought and they pushed. Wooden swords splintered as they met and arrows flew into the crowd from over head.

Rishic: On 3! 1-2-3!

10 scouts, 2 on each side pulled down the launching pole and the 5 catapults flung the huge water balloons into the air. They pelted the army before them turning their uniforms into a darker hue. They were reloaded and were ready to fire again as the fight raged on.
Darren and Ivan’s units entered the school compound and charged toward the courtyard.
Suddenly, like a white water rapid from the right, they ran through the foyer and into the courtyard. They pounced on the invading armies and pressed them back toward the center. Another 400 of them had come. 200 of Darren’s unit and 200 of Ivan’s. They attacked from the right as Justin and the NCC cohort pushed them back.

Samuel: Good we flanked them this time. Heh heh heh.

Kyle: For St. Pat’s!

Darren, Ivan, Ryan, Joshua and Shane: For St. Pat’s!

They entered the ranks and poured through them as if they were flour on a sieve. Kyle forced his way into the heat of battle with the rest of them following close behind. The seven of them ran like bulls leading the 400 of the students. Kyle ran into the center, knocking VJC students off their feet with thunderous blows of his wooden sword. Shane did the same as he fought behind Kyle with his cricket bat. Ryan followed plowing through the armies like a bulldozer. Joshua stood from afar as he picked out targets with his air rifle. Samuel ducked into the white uniforms and proceeded to Justin.

Samuel: Good job holding them up Justin. If we keep this up, we’ll win.

Justin: Maybe, but theres one small problem. We are missing 500 students!

Samuel: What?! (Ducks as a barrage of arrows and water balloons flies over head)

Justin: We only have 800 men here! We should have at least 1300.

Samuel: Where could they have gone? (Gets a call on his cellphone) Hello? Wei Jie I’m in the middle of a damn battle!

Wei Jie: Relax la. I just called to ask you what I should do with the 500 students here.

Samuel: 500 students? Where the heck are you?

Wei Jie: In the hall la!

Samuel: What the hell are you doing in the hall! We are being attacked!

Wei Jie: I told them to follow me because I thought we needed a safe place to hide. We were being attacked right? What do you want me to do.

Samuel: Fool of a Kok! Get your ass down to the courtyard and bring the 500 of them with you!!!! (Hangs up) What the hell man? Justin, apparently, someone Kocked up but the 500 will be here soon.

More white uniforms rushed down the stairs and through the foyer into the courtyard. There were now at least a thousand plus students defending the White citadel. They collided into the ranks of KC and VJC and pushed them back. They were gaining ground. The patricians had taken at least 2/3 of the courtyard. But in Kiely square, the number grew bigger.

Kyle: Everyone keep fighting! We can win!

Ryan: Damn straight! I make the cheddar baby! (Headbutts a VJC student)

The white overwhelmed the blue and cream as they squeezed them into the square and out of the yard.

Samuel: We can win this. Just a little bit more.

Rishic: Yeah! Come on St. Pats!

Kyle caught a glimpse of more white uniforms behind Kiely block and they were running in the direction of the courtyard.

Kyle: More reinforcements!

Shane: Yeah! We are going to kick their asses!

Samuel glanced at the people coming in as well.

Samuel: That can’t be right. We have the whole school population here. Unless—

In the hues of white, suddenly appeared Khaki. Khaki shorts among the full white uniforms.

Joshua: Oh crap.

Marcus: It can’t be

Justin: Oh my God!

Samuel: Victoria Secondary!

The Victorian flag flew as they charged toward the courtyard. The ranks of patricians suddenly fell back and were losing ground quickly. KC and VJC were pressing hard and to the left, came VS. Marc van Huizen, as king of the fellowship of students knew they would not last. He said the words he wished he would never have to say.

Marc: Retreat! Fall back!

Kyle blew his bugle as he and the thousand plus patricians fled from the courtyard. Within seconds, the invading armies filled the yard and the patricians were sent running in all directions.

Shane: How did VS get in?

Kyle: They must have entered through the gate near the power station. We left that unattended!

Marc: Don’t fret about that now! Run to the bicycle sheds! We have to ride for SJI!

Samuel: Yes. We have to leave behind the white citadel.

Ryan: Why can’t we fight till the last?

Kyle: Its obvious that we will lose. We’ll have to regroup at SJI and maybe just maybe launch a counter attack.

Ryan: Crap (panting)

They ran for the bicycle sheds and began to ride out of the gates. The invading armies were totally overrunning the school and they had no choice but to leave it. As Kyle jumped onto his bike, he looked back. Too see his school in such a state was a crushing sight, as was it for many patricians that day. Out into the streets they sped without turning. They would ride to SJI their brother school for help. They would form together once again to fight for Lasallian pride. As Kyle pedaled faster and faster, he then knew what the greater power the convent prefect spoke of was. Victoria secondary had joined the War of the schools.