Awakened fury

Questions with no answers

The teacher’s eyes lock onto us.

For a moment, no one speaks.

Her gaze moves from me to Elisha, then back again, taking in our expressions, our breathing, everything.

“What are you two doing here?” she asks sharply.

My mind goes blank.

Elisha doesn’t hesitate. “We heard a noise,” she says calmly. “We came to check.”

The teacher frowns. “From the restricted hallway?”

Elisha shrugs slightly. “Didn’t know it was restricted.”

I stare at her.

How is she so calm?

The teacher steps closer, suspicion clear on her face. “There’s been some kind of… incident. And students reported hearing a loud impact.”

My stomach tightens.

She looks directly at me now. “Did you see anything?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, ma.”

The lie feels heavy in my mouth.

Her eyes narrow slightly, like she doesn’t fully believe me.

Then she sighs. “Both of you, come with me.”

My heart drops.

Elisha glances at me briefly, then nods once. “Alright.”

We follow the teacher out of the stairwell.

The hallway is no longer quiet.

Students are gathered in small groups, whispering, pointing toward the damaged area further down. A few teachers are already there, inspecting the cracked walls and dented lockers.

My chest tightens at the sight.

I did that.

“Keep moving,” the teacher says, guiding us past them.

I keep my eyes down.

But I can feel it.

The stares.

The curiosity.

The suspicion.

We’re taken into an empty classroom.

The door closes behind us.

Silence.

“Sit,” she instructs.

We do.

She stands in front of us, arms crossed.

“Start talking.”

Elisha leans back slightly in her chair. “About what?”

“Don’t play games with me,” the teacher snaps. “You were near the scene. That already makes you involved.”

“We just told you,” Elisha replies evenly. “We heard something.”

The teacher’s attention shifts to me again.

“And you?”

I swallow. “Same thing.”

She studies my face longer this time.

Too long.

I look away.

She notices.

“Riley,” she says slowly, “is there something you’re not telling me?”

My hands tighten on my lap.

Say something normal.

Say something safe.

“No, ma.”

Another lie.

The teacher exhales, clearly frustrated. “Until we figure out what happened, both of you will remain here.”

My heart skips. “What?”

“You’re not going back to class.”

Great.

Just great.

She moves toward the door. “I’ll be back.”

The door closes behind her.

The moment she’s gone—

I turn to Elisha. “We’re in trouble.”

She doesn’t look worried. “Relax.”

“Relax?” I whisper harshly. “Did you see that hallway?”

“Yeah.”

“I did that!”

Her eyes flick to mine. “Not alone.”

I freeze. “What does that mean?”

She leans forward slightly. “That pressure earlier? That wasn’t just him.”

A chill runs through me. “Then what was it?”

She hesitates.

And that’s when I know—

Something else is wrong.

Before she can answer—

The lights flicker.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

They go out.

Darkness fills the room instantly.

My breath catches.

“Elisha…”

“I see it,” she says quietly.

A cold feeling creeps up my spine.

We’re not alone.

Something shifts in the corner of the room.

Not a sound.

Not a shadow.

Something else.

Watching.

Waiting.

My heart starts pounding again.

“Elisha,” I whisper, “tell me that’s not—”

“I can’t,” she says.

A pause.

Then—

A faint voice.

Right behind us.

“You shouldn’t have survived.”

I freeze.

That voice—

It’s not the hunter.

Slowly, I turn.

And for the first time—

I wish I didn’t.