Torture in the Reform School

The dynamic 10th-grade high school students are preparing and packing their luggage. They are going to a village called Athens in Greece, and they are happy and excited, gathering all their stuff.

Their class teacher comes in and announces, "We'll depart in 10 minutes."

"Okay, sir!" they shout, and he leaves.

Peter, whose luggage and belongings exceed his bag's capacity, keeps trying to squeeze everything in. He has the most items among them, and he is the happiest and most anxious one. He has always been enthusiastic about traveling to ancient villages; it has been his dream since he was a child. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all archaeologists, so it runs in his family.

"Are you planning to live there?" Derek mocks him, and the class laughs. Peter focuses on what he's doing, ignoring them.

"Don't you hear me? Are you going to live there?" Derek shouts at him. The class falls silent. Derek has started again; he is the class bully and the principal's child. He has never liked Peter. Peter is the most brilliant student in the class, always achieving the highest scores and winning many competitions. He is a slim boy with a fair complexion, of average height, and has a handsome face. His hawkish nose complements his cheeks, and he has curly hair. On the other hand, Derek is a sturdy, rude, and inattentive student. He often jokes with the teachers, and his father happens to be the principal.

Peter stands up from his seat and tries to make his way out, but Derek blocks him, joined by his gang (Mike, David, and Owen).

"Why do you think you're going? I'm asking you a question, and you should answer," Derek says, and Peter can feel his hot breath on his face. He can't handle Derek; he is stronger, both physically and in age. Peter is only sixteen, while Derek is eighteen.

"No, I'm just preparing myself," Peter quietly replies.

"Oh, what's with that ragged bunch of yours?" Derek says, and his gang laughs. The other students remain silent; they despise him, but what can they do?

Peter tries to pass by him again, and this time Derek punches him hard in the face. Peter's glasses fall off, and everything becomes blurry. Peter, being patient, quickly bends down to pick them up, while Derek laughs at him once again, calling him a "blind boy." His gang joins in the laughter.

Then Sandra walks in and witnesses what is going on. She runs to stop Derek and yells, "Please stop! Why must you cause trouble?" Sandra is Derek's girlfriend; Derek had pursued her and she accepted, although she is attracted to Derek's looks and not his character. Sandra frequently talks to him about stopping his bad and barbaric behavior. She has even threatened to break up with him, but Derek doesn't pay attention. All he wants from her is sex, but Sandra never gives in.

"What's your concern now, huh?" Derek retorts.

"Why? Leave him alone. He did nothing to you," Sandra defends, referring to Peter, who is now on his feet with his glasses intact.

"Oh... so he's your boyfriend now? The one you've been cheating on me with?" Derek accuses. Sandra feels irritated and says, "How could you say that?"