Chapter 1
Principal didn't murder them because he was angry, he murdered them because he believed it could save his work.
Mr Selepe was the head of Timberly high school located at JokongVil for more than 2 decades. Since he became the head of the school, things turn weird yearly. Many deputies used to dissappear within a full year in that school. For 2026, Mr Manana is the deputy principal and also an English teacher in grade 12. In February, an innocent learner was found dead near the school gate. Investigators never got the person behind the learner's death, seems like there was no enough traces. The case just vanished.
Time kept moving, but the learner was never forgotten. Around April, there was a new learner whom had ancestry calling. She always fainted and her voice sometimes changes as if there was an old woman spirit speaking for her inside her body. She had no friend, even the principal hated her. On her second friday at Timberly high, she pointed the principal. She shouted "I SEE BLOOD IN THIS SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL WHAT IS GOING ON? EXPLAIN." He panicked as if he saw a ghost. His face, looking like a pale phantom, had goosebumps as if he was feeling cold, like a coward chicken.
The girl fainted and was taken to the staffroom where teachers tried their best to help her wake up and calm down a bit. She opened her beautiful eyes slightly, then was surprised when she realized she was surrounded by teachers and couldn't remember what happened.
"Glad you are awake" One of the teachers said with a smile. She was given a sick letter to go home and rest. Principal also never returned to school that day.
On Monday the sky was clear and everyone was looking forward to present their English prepared speech in grade 12. Mr Manana, the deputy principal, went to grade 12 as their english teacher, he was always neat,calm and caring. He got to class and learners started cheering, he bought a new purple suit that fitted him so well. Before starting our speech, someone called [tring tring] his phone rang as he left the classroom. Since that day, no one ever heard about Mr Manana for the whole week.
Turns out that Mr Manana had a funeral service to attend for the week, he was still mourning from his late sister's death. He is still safe.
Then one night during a night study, matriculents heard a soft knock from outside, nobody dared open, but a few seconds later the door slowly opened. And behind it was a little girl wearing a Timberley high-school uniform, it was torn and dusty. She smiled too widely for a little girl, and her eyes were red. She just stood there and stared at everyone. The next day, every single leaner that was in that classroom was nowhere to be seen.
Mr Selepe didn't seem surprised or scared, as if he already knew, the police investigated and they found nothing. A few weeks later the girl with the ancestral callings started shaking again. Her voice changed to the one of an old women. The girl clutched on to the principal said "release him before it's too late".
She then let go of his arm, then walked slowly towards his office, and stood before the door and pointed at his chair "There is blood on this chair". The principal shouted "FIRE". At first they thought he was shouting at the girl then they realised that he was burning on the inside.
Mr Selepe was then rushed quickly to the hospital, but they couldn't see what was burning him nor could they tell what was burning him. He burned for weeks, but despite all that he still insisted on coming to work. Everybody could see his hair turning Grey, his perfect skin wrinkling and his eyes getting lazy. He looked like an old man within less than a week.
Rumors spread like wildfire fire, the old women kept on talking and talking through the girl, and some of the things she said scared the principal even more. What really bothered people was why was the principal insisting on coming to school even though he is not in his best condition.
Parents were taking their kids to other schools due to fear, and those whose children dissappear, were
still grieving. One day during a teacher parent meeting, the girl with the ancestral callings showed up unannounced, holding Mr Manana's hand. Mr Selepe's eyes widened in horror. He could believe that Mr Manana was still alive.
The old women spoke again, this time she was angry and impatient "If you don't confess today, your soul won't rest in peace after death". Mr Selepe looked around in fear, and he said "I can't, they are all watching me". Everybody started to panic.
The girl looked at Mr Selepe for a second and glanced at Mr Manana and said " Tell them what you saw". Mr Manana hesitated for a bit, but he knew that he had to talk. Turns out, Mr Selepe has been killing all the deputies and and hanging their heads in the forest.When it was Mr Manana's turn, he couldn't kill him because Mr Manana was protected by his ancestors.
Mr Selepe then fell to the ground, the fire inside him burned even more. He couldn't take it anymore. Then he gave in, agreed that he did all that. "Yes I did it, I killed them all, I wanted power and wealth. And I don't regret it". The the little girl showed up again and said with a soft voice, "Come meet my friends". Nobody was willing to follow her but they knew the consequences.
They followed her to an abandoned classroom and inside were all the learners that went missing. Then she said "I will miss you all", and disappeared into thin air. Mr Selepe stopped burning and he fell to the ground and died.
After months, Mr Manana became the new principal, and a new deputy's was appointed. And people swore that he ressembled Mr Selepe quite perfectly.
THE END
