Sucked Under by Z. Fraillon

1
    Jasper McPhee pulled himself over the top of the icy wall. He landed lightly on his bare feet and rolled across the snowy ground, just dodging the swinging blades that whooshed from the tree tops. That was close, he thought. He shot a quick look at his watch. He had two minutes left to finish the combat course. He might just make it.
    Only one more stretch of ground to go, then he had to get past the mud and up the rope. He commando-crawled quickly through the snow, keeping his head down and eyes up, like he’d been taught. One minute left …
    Jasper leapt over the seething pile of mud, trying not to think of all the things that could be in there. Their teacher Sir Tavish had told them that it was infested with Midgiemunches, but Jasper hoped he wasn’t serious. After all, the venom in a Midgiemunch was strong enough to paralyse a small child.
    Jasper sprang upwards to catch hold of the swinging rope. Twenty seconds to go …
    I’m actually going to make it! Jasper thought. No penalty points! He almost whooped with glee. The kids who didn’t finish the course in time were given ten penalty points. Twenty penalty points meant getting a punishment, and in the last year Jasper had earnt himself enough punishments to last a lifetime.
    Jasper swung confidently over the icy lake and landed firmly on the bank, just as Sir Tavish’s bugle sounded. Time was up.
    There was a groan from the students who were still doing the course. Jasper’s friend Felix had only just reached the rope. Felix shook his head as he collected a penalty card from Sir Tavish, and made his way over to Jasper.
    Saffy joined the boys, looking smug at having finished the course before both Felix and Jasper – again. It annoyed both boys that they were constantly being beaten through the combat course by a girl – even if she was a girl who could easily destroy both of them in a kickboxing contest.
    Of all the classes at Monstrum House, Combative Calculations was Jasper’s favourite.
    Each class was a huge obstacle course, and the stunts they learnt were brilliant. The best one so far was learning how to flip off a high ledge and land so it didn’t even hurt. It was just like being a stuntman in an action film. The only bad thing about Combative Calculations was that Sir Tavish always made them stand barefoot in the snow at the end of class while he told them how they could improve.
    â€˜A’RIGH’! LEF’ FEET! NOW!’ Sir Tavish bellowed.
    Everyone balanced on one bare foot on the icy ground. They had done this every day for almost a year now, so no-one thought it was unusual anymore. Freezing your feet in the snow was the only way to stop your brain from shrinking. The students at Monstrum House had been warned about brain shrinkage. According to their principal, most adults had brains the size of prunes. A shrunken brain meant that you couldn’t see monsters anymore. And if you couldn’t see monsters, you were in trouble.

    â€˜Tha’ was pathetic,’ Sir Tavish yelled.
    Jasper rolled his eyes. Sir Tavish gave this speech at the end of every class. It had taken the students a while to realise that if Sir Tavish didn’t single you out, you were doing well.
    â€˜Ye, McPhee,’ Sir Tavish turned, ‘Din’t ye even nootice the flyin’ Scramblers when ye flipped o’er the wall?’
    Jasper glanced at Felix. There were flying Scramblers? ‘Um, well ...’ Jasper muttered.
    â€˜PATHETIC! Ye need to watch for more than one monstar! Doon’t ye know tha’ monstars doon’t always go it aloone? They can team oop and git ye twice as good! Change feet!’
    The students dutifully swapped feet as Sir Tavish walked up and down the line, singling out students to yell at. Saffy, as usual, didn’t get a mention.
    â€˜Now, I want two lines nex’ teh each other. Be quick aboot it,’ Sir Tavish ordered.
    Jasper looked curiously at Felix.