the classroom mystery

THE SECRET BEHIND THE CLOCK

Amara couldn't stop thinking about Daniel.

His voice had come from inside Room 13, but where was he?

And what had he been trying to tell her?

Don't trust… who?

After school, Amara and Tobi met behind the library.

“We have to go back,” Amara said.

Tobi looked worried.

“Back to Room 13?”

Amara nodded.

“We need to find Daniel.”

The sun was beginning to set when they quietly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The hallway was empty.

Too empty.

When they reached Room 13, the door was already open.

Amara took out the brass key.

The number 13 on it seemed to shine under the hallway light.

She pushed the door open.

Inside, everything was exactly where they had left it.

Except for the clock.

The clock was no longer showing 1:13.

Its hands were moving backward.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Tobi stared at it.

“Amara… that's not normal.”

“I know.”

She inserted the brass key into a tiny hole beneath the clock.

Click.

The entire clock moved aside.

Behind it was a narrow opening in the wall.

Inside was a small wooden box.

Amara carefully pulled it out.

There was writing on the lid.

FOR THE STUDENT WHO RETURNS.

Amara opened the box.

Inside was an old photograph.

It showed a classroom full of students.

Amara picked it up.

Her hands began to shake.

One of the girls in the photograph looked exactly like her.

Same eyes.

Same smile.

Same hairstyle.

Tobi stared at the photograph.

“That can't be you.”

Amara shook her head.

“I've never seen this picture before.”

Then she noticed something written on the back.

ROOM 13 — 1998

And underneath it was a name.

AMARA ADEYEMI.

She dropped the photograph.

“No…”

Tobi picked it up.

“Amara, that's your name.”

Suddenly—

BANG!

The classroom door slammed shut.

The lights went out.

Tobi grabbed Amara's arm.

“Amara…”

A faint voice came from the darkness.

“Help me…”

Amara froze.

It was Daniel.

“Daniel!” she shouted.

“Where are you?”

The voice answered from behind the wall.

“I'm here…”

Amara looked toward the hidden opening behind the clock.

The wooden box was gone.

In its place was a narrow doorway.

A cold breeze came through it.

Tobi whispered, “We shouldn't go in there.”

Amara stared into the darkness.

“We have to.”

They stepped through the doorway.

On the other side was a long hallway filled with old classroom doors.

At the end of the hallway stood Daniel.

He looked frightened.

“Daniel!”

Amara ran toward him.

But Daniel raised his hand.

“Stop!”

Amara stopped.

Daniel looked behind her.

“You shouldn't have come here.”

“Why?” Amara asked.

Daniel's face became pale.

“Because Room 13 isn't a classroom.”

He looked at the walls.

“It's a place where the past is trapped.”

Before Amara could ask another question, every door in the hallway opened at once.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A voice echoed through the darkness.

“WELCOME BACK, AMARA.”

Amara stared ahead.

And then she saw someone standing at the end of the hallway.

It was the girl from the photograph.

The girl who looked exactly like her.

She smiled.

And whispered:

“It's time to remember.”

TO BE CONTINUED...