One week. It has been one week of a new term at Saint Anne’s Boarding School for Girls.

Katherine had only been the new Head Girl for a week. When she arrived at her dorm room, Katherine found an envelope. She was confused why someone would send a letter to her? It had no stamps and no return address, just her full name written on the front of the envelope, ’Katherine Alvarado’, in neat cursive writing.

Curiously, Katherine carefully opened the envelope, trying not to ruin the contents. When she finally opened the lip of the envelope and reached inside for the letter, Katherine dropped to the floor in shock at the contents inside.

A picture of her parents tied up and beaten. Her mother had tears welled up in her eyes, and her once-kept-up hair was now messy and unkempt. Her father’s once neat appearance was bruised and bloody from considerable beatings.

Chocked sobs left Katherine's lips, and large teardrops ran down her cheeks.

’Why would someone do this?!’ Katherine thought.

With a shaky hand, Katherine reached for the note attached to the horrid photo. She tried to read the letter, but her tears clouded her vision. Wiping her tear-streaked face with the sleeve of her sweater, Katherine took a shaky breath and read the letter.

”Dear Miss Alvarado,

Due to you and your family's choices, we, unfortunately, had to resort to blackmail and violence for our voices to reach you. If you want your parents to live, you will obey our orders until the end of your school year. If you try to contact authorities or tell anyone about this, your parents will instantly be killed. We will be sending your following instructions shortly.

Signed by those you have wronged

P.S.

We have eyes and ears watching you at all times, so please behave like the proper Head Girl you are. ”

Katherine rushes to the bathroom and pukes into the toilet as she starts to sob again, and tears sting her red-stained eyes and face.

Katherine stops abruptly; her blood goes cold. Someone had knocked at her door.