The Dictator

Chapter 6

Alina looked at Mrs Singleton, the deputy head as they strode down the corridor. It was clear to see that Mrs Singleton was not quite her calm self. In fact she was extremely flustered.

Finally they reached the door of the headmaster's office. Mrs Singleton opened it and pushed Alina through. Inside, at his desk, sat the headmaster, Mr Elstone. He gestured Alina to sit down. "Alina, I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you." He said. Alina looked at him, trying to predict what he was about to say. It suddenly struck her that Mr Elstone was a very old man; his grey hair was married by the countless wrinkles on his face that folded around a calm expression. He looked quite gaunt and tired.

He looked into Alina's eyes and spoke softly. "Ok, I want you to try and take this calmly. Alina, your mother is dead." Alina stared at him for a moment then she laughed. "That's a rather cruel joke to try and play sir." She said. The headmaster stared at her for a moment. "Do you think I am the sort of man to joke about such things?" He asked her.

Alina sat in her seat, frozen, the laughter gone in an instant. "But... How?" She choked out the words.
"She was killed in a car crash." the headmaster told her. "It was all over in a second. I am sure she was not in pain." Alina just stared at him, her brain trying to connect the little bits of information he was telling her together. But no. It was just to much. A dark cloud of madness descended on her brain, silencing the voice that was shouting at her to calm down. Alina groaned; her head felt as if it was on fire, and her breath was coming in short bursts.


Before the headmaster could do anything, she had risen out of the chair and had raced out of the door.