Saint-Akzena

Chapter One

Deep into the greyish of the mist, a teenager was standing on the pavement of the empty street.

This one, named Steve, was under the bus station. He stood there, as he was alone. Looking the tall apartments in front of him, hidden behind a large mask of fog.

He waited for the big truck to come by and pick him up. Leading him to his new school. Knowing only that it was here that he has to wait. The young man didn't know a lot of this town that he moved in a week ago.

As he began to have his imagination spring like a dream in his mind. Steve finally began to hear the far sound of the bus rolling. Invisible to the eye in all this mist. But visible by the sound of silence.

The bus stopped, decompressing the pressing into the engine. Steve walked to his transport and remarked all the dust and dirt that recovered it. When the gates open, they screeched a sound that would make any ear scream a short agony.

For him, he let the pain inside and said a « hello » to the driver with are right hand and a smile. While looking at who was way too much old for his job. His skin, directly on his bones, gave the old man an image of a mommy. His eyes, filled with emptiness, looked straight to the front of the vehicle.

Steve sat at the last bench. Far away from the undead who didn't even look if someone else was coming. He began to sense the vibrations of the engine under him. As he realized that he may be the only one here to go to is new school this morning. Thus, he began to pass time looking at the window. Watching the apartments defiling as the bus was rolling in a lifeless street.

During his journey into the streets of his new town. Steve saw a lot of school buses that passed by. Filled with kids as much agitated as the new scholar year began. Of all the vehicles that he saw, Steve remarked a lot of them have an umbrella that was open. As a sign of an insult towards the drivers. He laughed at this, while giving him an idea.

He took his backpack while opening the zipper. Taking off his copy of a book written by Jane Austen. Steve opens the page where the marker was and continues to follow the youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance that the pages of Emma were filled with.

As the outside covered the window with water by the stormy rain. Steve continued to read, along the symphony of all the drops that made their music on the surface beside him. As long as he enjoyed every word and every sound. Time passed by and nobody joined him in the bus.

Looking at the forest along the road. Steve had his hand placed under his jaw, holding it while being bored. Seeing the leaves scrolling over and over. He was surprised to finally see something different.

It was a large river, descending from the north, when the trees were seeing towards an infinity of firs. Lost in the greyish landscape of the fog that covered everything on sight. After, the leaves and their tree came back with their multiple scales of green. The teenager saw all over again the randomly and chaotic surfaces of life made into tall plants. Until a dark figure tall as the rest stood unlike what made the forest. It was for only a few seconds that Steve was able to see the great statue of what looked like a dragon. Lost like this, close to this highway that only this bus was present.

Steve looked straight in front of him. Thinking that the road towards the school each morning will be this long and as painful at it is during this first day. Then, his boredom stopped when a car passed by on his side. Much faster than the old, depraved school bus that he was in. He followed the vehicle that exceeded them and lost it into the emptiness of the fog.

He then decided that enough is enough. Took back the book he stopped reading a while ago and he continued to follow the story of Emma Woodhouse.

As the bus finally stopped, Steve rose from the bench.

Coming out of the bus, Steve was welcomed by the rain that watered him with the cold from the dark clouds. Swearing as he took on his cap, the teenager ran towards the huge school. It looked like a pillar of made out of stone, metal and civilization within all this wildness of nature. With the inside of the four large windows that each made their floor. While giving a good view to the outside by making the wide of each surface of the school.

Steve looked down and saw the entrance with the gates wild open. He began to run towards it. As the bus behind continue to roll on the road. Disappearing into the deep of the greyish fog.

Steve looked at both sides, seeing no one and any school bus outside. Thinking by himself that he was the last one to enter this morning. And also, being the first to being picked up into town. Thus, making the journey a big half and hour. While having a private transport just for him.

As he ran under the rain. Steve saw a sign at the entrance of the parking that laid in front of the school. Suspended after a wooden post with rusted chains. The teenager read the same as you could understand here;

Bienvenue

Welcome

Steve looked back at the tall foundation that stood in front of him. Doors open, with a black abyss of darkness behind his entrance. He wondered if the school had a power cut due to the storm. But when lighting broke the sky and roared its thunder. The teenager ran to the gates. Reaching the theatre-like entrance with two posters of what seemed to be schools plays.

Then, he stepped one of his feet into the dark hallway. A second one, followed by a third.

And finally, the fourth made him being protected by the cold rain. But the gates behind closed in a clash that vibrated everything that made this part of Saint-Akzena.

Looking back, Steve walked to the doors that weren't moving. He stopped, turned towards the black darkness and asked;

-Is anyone here?

The silence answered him by the inexistence of his presence. With far screams that sounded like a lion-like beast was wandering the corridors. Closes breaths coming from nowhere that expired death to the ears. And some moaning made by a pain filled with boredom. From things that weren't human and neither animal.

Taking off his cellphone from his pocket. Steve turned his screen on and activated the flashlight application. Making the flash of his camera permanently open. Thus, he illuminated the floor of this hallway. He looked back at the gates, trying to open them by forcing the handles. He quickly gave up. Knowing it will take more from his arms and will to open this entrance and to get out.

Cursing his anger out, the teenager begins to compose the numbers of is parents. At least to the first call for help, but also to know where exactly he had to go. Because it was clear for him that this place wasn’t the school his father and mother paid for.

He could hear the phone being taken at the other side. And at this, he already said;

-Mom. Sorry for calling but…

-…Vrtuwuwèthu wuztuhätu waèbonbonshì tumè vrtuwspvrtu èspmwusp. Were saying, all in heart, a trinity of feminine voices.

Without answering, Steve closed the call. Having is panic boiling in his blood.

Saying to himself that he will need to find another way out than the one beside his presence. The young man began to walk on the floor of this corridor. Watching with the light of his cellphone the sides of the way. Made by lockers with a greeny colour as green as the firs outside. He then began to remark that only the sounds of his steps were there to be heard.

He stopped, listening to the silence that was present with the inexistence of anything else to his ears. But it stopped when he began to hear some drowned screams far away in the dark void that his light couldn't reach.

Raising his flashlight, Steve continued to walk forward. Until he saw between two lockers what looked like a trash can. Something was moving in it and the boy, pushed by his curiosity, he decided to go to inspect what was in it.

It first had the appearance of a head, recovered with a dark, blackish hair. Steve wondered what exactly it was. Thus, he took the skull by raising it in front of him. Holding the decapitated face that was smiling at him. With a cold, white skin that showed the absence of life in it.

Dropping the head that returned in the trash can. Steve made the same with his cold blood and ran towards the gates. Only to have the same response as a few minutes ago.

He collapsed on the floor, his backpack against the surface of the doors and his consciousness drowned in his own fear. Steve looked at the darkness that was present everywhere and on everything. Excepted when he brought his light towards the blackness that conjured itself. Showing the lockers, the floor, the Exit sign on the ceiling and the flange of the trash can.

Knowing he will have to go through the unknown of this school. Steve picked up his own self. Breathing the cold of the inside. He began to walk and didn't even bother to look back at where the head was. Ignoring that it was not there anymore.

Having finished this corridor, Steve looked at both sides, while the hallway continued forward into darkness that it's filled with inhuman sounds. Terrified to get at what he may find there. The young man turned on his left and continued his journey inside this place.

After he got thought this new corridor, with an old Coca-Cola distributor placed between two long rows of lockers. Steve arrived in a great room. It had two columns that showed themselves at the light that he brought with him. The teenager could see the windows placed at the height of the pillars. Inside of them, there were some old symbolic clothes that showed the sports emblem of Saint-Akzena.

The one on the left had a black sweater, with a bear that charged towards the one that looked at it. The animal didn't have any eyes. Only two profound patches of darkness, which plunged the teenager into a series of questions.

The second, on the right columns, was a girl skirt and the sweater. It didn't have any bear on it. But the sweater had on the back that was shown. Two wings made of multiples astral tentacles; with a blueish colour that made itself show compared to all the dark colours and the environment blackness that surrounded everything that Steve looked at.

He continued to go forwards. While he wasn't able to believe that the old man brings him to this place with is decaying school bus. 8-5-14 Steve discovered two other pillars behind those that he first saw. He turned himself to see back those he looked at and guessed that this place was a social one. Seeing now with the wooden benches at the height of his knees. Those were placed around the columns in circles. He looked up at the other pillars and saw the windows that protected the trophies that this school has won over the decades. A lot of them were made with silver and had on top of it what looked like cheerleaders.

For the rest of the prizes that the school won. Steve couldn't see them, due that its light wasn't capable of reaching the top of the window. Letting is curiosity go, he then continued to look for a way that will guide him towards an exit.

At the end of the room, he reached his ends by stepping into the middle of a new corridor. Naked of lockers, but dressed with photographic portraits of former students.

All in the colour of the black and the white. With the quality of the pictures and the hairstyles of the boys and girls. It was clear for the young man that theses were probably made when his grandfather was his age.

But that didn't interest him at all. He turned at his right to continue is way. This time, lockers on both sides started to show themselves as is light illuminated only what he wanted to see. Contrarily to all theses sounds that were far away to listen to. While being so close to be with. Inside theses walls and their endless darkness.

At his left, on the wall, between two sides of lockers. Steve heard a door that was creaking. Moving towards and coming back all by itself. At the edge of his patience and his cold blood, Steve shouted;

-OK seriously, is there anybody in theses shitty ruins!?!

His voice filled with anger and fear. Resonated in the close hallways that gave their echoes to other corridors that were too with lockers and indescribable things. Theses last screamed in response with their inhuman howling’s as their answers echoed to the one who heard them all.

Steve, frozen by his terror that grew like a tree from his heart. Looked at the door beside his presence, remarking that it stopped. Due to the humanoid silhouette that Steve has problems to figure out what it was. He raised his light towards what got light on its face since forever. It had the appearance of a young human girl. With her black hair beside her head, while covering parts of her face. A part which it made him screams due to her absents eyes. Those were replaced by a void. One that was as dark than the skies of midnight.

Without eyelashes and eyelids on her face, it opened the mouth. One that was as profound as the infinity of the night. While having the same absence of colours as where a pair of eyes should be there.

It screamed. Letting a sound that was alive, in front of the one that turned and ran away.

Exceeding the room with the columns showing the sportive victories.

Steve came back the intersection that he was before. He knew that at his right; it was the gates that were closed.

To the left, it was a way that would get him even deeper inside this school. Filled with fear, Steve couldn't think and returned once again to where he entered this hell.

As he saw back the entrance in front of him. With his light that reflected on the surface. He could see the ceiling crashing by itself. Letting a piece of the ventilation shaft blocking the locked exit. In the air duct, Steve saw what looked like the head of a humanoid being that was debating itself. Contained by the narrow space that he once took inside of theses conducts.

Steve retreated himself, turned back and ran towards. Exceeding once again the trash can and the thing that looked like a girl of is age. He saw the two sides that he took the one on the left before. Due that now, he doesn't know where to go anymore. He continued towards, till he saw an open door on the right wall. Inside his circle of light.

Stepping inside, as those above, under and behind him were screaming. Steve closed the light of his cellphone. While getting deeper and deeper inside the classroom that only the void of the darkness could be seen.

Putting a hand on his mouth. He could hear them running is in front of the open door. Over and over again. Until they all vanished over time, by getting lost inside all the corridors that Saint-Akzena was made of.

Putting off his hand from his mouth. He took his cellphone and turned on the light of his flashlight applications. By only illuminating the floor at his feet’s. Steve walked though the door and closed it as slowly as possible. Thus, he could inspect the office of this class. Hoping to find anything that could help him survive getting out of this hell.

Looking at the tables that, should normally have been desks. Steve saw that he was in a sort of mechanical/science class that took the engineering part of the year. All of the places, with their respective duality of chairs. Had on them what looked like a copy of an everyday flashlight. But older than the ones that Steve had held in is life.

Theses ones looked like they dated at the same time the people in the photographic portrait were. He took one, turning it on and making another light being born in this classroom. This light, however, was less powerful than the one of his cellphone. He knew that he was better with the vintage than the new one for not being spotted. Thus, Steve put his cellphone in his pocket and took the flashlight as his new eyes to see in the eternal shadows of this place.

He continued to search for anything that would help him getting out of here. He took all the batteries of the other experiences that were now empty. All the rest was only big books on how mechanical worked. He didn't have time to read them.

At last, he opened all the drawers of the teacher office.

All it was were paperwork, paperwork and lots of paperworks. Many of them were homework that weren't even corrected.

He leaved the pages among the rest. And after all, he didn't find anything valuable to his surviving in the teacher office. Not even a plan to evacuate in case of a fire.

Cursing about that Steve didn't even bother to close the drawers and walk towards the door. He took carefully to only illuminating the walls to guide him. Due to the risk of exposing his presence inside the classroom. By letting his light on the surface of the corridor with monsters.

Before he stepped out, he thought to himself if anything was there. At the other side of the door. Thus, he got to a table with a pencil case on it. Took one of the many pencils and returns to the door.

He opened it as little as possible and threw the pencil far at the corridor. In the direction of where he came from. The object resonated in the hallway. 14-15-3 With the sound of the screams that were far away. And the constant silence that didn't bother to be replaced by the hellish presence of theses things.

Steve decided that it was time for him to getting out of is hideout. As so, he walked away. Opening the rest of the door in the same silence as his feet made by all the steps he did.

Illuminating the sides of the corridors and not far away. Steve didn't want to attract theses things by reaching is light towards an infinite darkness that would absorb what he brought here with him. The young man began to think about how he will come out of this place. He knew that he couldn't take the classical way of the door. And the floor upside the first one that he walked in didn't have windows when he saw the gigantic building when he was outside. So, even if he was at the second one. He knew that breaking the glass and jumping will make is death. And again, a long rope, here in the school would be near impossible to find. Except if he would find the gymnasium and all his athletic accessories.

Stopping in front of an obstacle that collapsed from the ceiling. Steve could see all the desks and the parts of those bricks that strewed on the ground. There were so many of theses that passing to the other side was impossible.

He returned on himself, looking at the way he took to come here, which he also cursed the F word out loud!

He couldn't go to the floor up there. There was no slope on the dumping that he could climb after to reach the big hole.

He looked at his right, seeing that between two sides of lockers. There was a duality of classroom doors that were both open. One of them let a low roar that didn't stop. Like the worst harmony that a human could hear in is life. This one knew that danger was present in it. So, he let his light only on the ground where he walked.

He exceeded them. Not wanting to attract any danger in this urban limbos. Knowing he wasn't in the typical hell because he didn't do anything wrong. Or being in any form of paradise, due that no beautiful teenage girls were to be found.

He came back to the social room with its artistic subjects of the sportive warriors. He returned to that same corridor that he first met one of the many monsters that lurked in this school. Illumining the door that showed him what they looked like. Steve entered in the classroom. He passed between the desks that still had the material that a student requires to be in every class. While he tried to understand, what could have happened here. Steve reached the office of the teacher. Opening the drawers to find a cigarette pack that was half full. A discovery that he put in one of is pocket.

He also found documents that were about the mathematics. A subject that he didn't have time to read or the will to. But he took a long ruler made of iron. He touched the end of it and find it to be pretty sharp.

-Well, at least I can cut someone with this…

Excepted for the ruler, Steve didn't find anything that could be helpful in the drawers. Which gave him the decision to quit this classroom. He didn't bother to close them and he took the direction of the open door.

As he walked in the middle of the place. His flashlight illuminated in front of him a little reflection that played him towards is eyes. Directing his light towards what reflected. He saw that it was a black shoe made of leather.

The young man raised his light to see the rest of the clothes that were a black jacket with a striped gray that came down. Steve understood what he saw and didn't even bother to look at what hanged himself. -1-13-19 This one had as neighbours what looked like longs strips of films that were also hanging from the ceiling.

Steve took one of them, snatching it with a yank and deposit it on the desk towards him. He looked at the pictures taken one frame after another. Seeing the dead men above a desk that was reversed on the ground. -15-12-5 He continued to see the tapes on the 16mm film and saw that the man raised his head and is legs towards the camera.

Stepping back with a fear that drove him nausea to is floating heart. Steve took the film and rushed it inside is a backpack. Knowing his place was real, dangerous and mortal. He wanted to gather as many proofs he could bring to the civilization. Hoping to get help to destroy this place that he was currently one of is many guests.

He walked quickly towards the exit. In an effective silence, compared to the sounds of footsteps that he could hear outside the classroom. Steve placed himself at the corner. Far await while he closed is light. Plunging him into the blackness of the eternal obscurity.

While he felt is heart being alive like never before. The teenager could easily hear all theses things running in the corridor just at the other side of the wall. They were so many of them that their footsteps were like an earthquake in the calm silence that was everywhere to hear. The door opened, they brought a cold wind inside the place, with all their presence and the rapidity of their racing.

When he could only hear the absence of sounds. Steve stepped one by one towards the gate. Having is right hand as his eyes and touched the handle of the door. He pulled it towards himself and turned on is light to see where to go. 15-13-5 Thus, he escaped the place of a death man and his last film.

The hallway that lay in front of him and behind also had lockers at are sides. However, he could see that the left side began to have bricks on it as he moved. While being recovered with numerous posters that were protected with their large showcases.

He came close to the first one. Inspecting how it was all made at the time when the school was filled with a teenage life and an artificial light. He could see that theses were placed in the wall with huge nails that entered the rocks and the cement.

The porter showed him a picture without colours of a young teenager that would probably have the age of twelves. With a trumpet that he was playing raising it white showing to be making music. 8-5-1-18 At the side of the child, there were men recovered with black blankets. While also wearing, what looked like the legs of spiders. On the poster, we could easily read;

The Great Parade

The story of a young boy that wanted to participate to a parade for is school.

5,50$ each ticket

From the 20 to the 25th of November of 1962

Another poster, that were at the side of the first one that he saw. Had on its surface what looked like runes painted on the surface of a wall made with old bricks. That had at his feet thousands of spiders with their legs all over the others.

The Mummy

A mysterious school bus that the next stop was nowhere

0$ each ticket

From the 18 to the 18th of October of 1963

Another poster, that in contrary of the others that were protected in a standard frame. Had been placed in one that got two holes for the candles to be placed in. He could see that they had been half-consumed by the ancient’s flames that were now absent.

Thus, he looked at what kind of poster would have such an artistic frame. And the young man saw the painting of a back mask without any mouth. That was floating in a curtain of green fire all in spirals. In these eccentric flames, we could read in a golden writing;

2999

The chaos in the youth of The Forever

10$ each ticket

From the 17th to the

30 of October 1965

The next one had been connected to the wall, with boards of woods that were placed inside the surface of bricks. We could see an engraving that illustrated a bear in front of a school bus that opened its doors. At the bottom, the title was painted with a reflective pitch-black.

The Adventures of Johnathan Critt

The adventures of Johnathan Critt the Guardian and is sister.

Come see the play organized by your littles.

10$ each tickets

From the 29 to the 30th of August of 1965

Finally, at the last one. Steve could see the image of a teenager that was standing is a hallway. With his flashlight that illuminated the poster that he looked at. He didn't bother to read the title and he stepped back.

As the one in the painting did the same in front of his eyes. With the exact same body language.

Suddenly, the poster stopped moving and the one in it collapsed on is knees. -12-5-12 His head down, with the blackness of the dark colours getting on the others. Then, it took above every surface.

Steve, the backpack compressed between his back and the wall that he was scotched by fear on it. Saw the letters in white being born from the void of colours that were on the painting.

Accept

Then, the poster trickled is blackness on the bottom of is protection made of glass. It began to come out of the sides of the painting that climbed the sides of the window. Its surface began to crack and the liquid flew slowly outside. Pouring the unreal painting on the surface of a floor made of real tiles.

Steve continued to watch what flawed out on the ground and he gave up. Turning himself towards the rest of the hallway. He ran the rest of it, while not looking at the other potters on the Theatrical Wall. He continued his journey, alone in the darkness. Leaving the cursed artwork behind.

As he arrived at the end of the hallway. When the wall on his left began to have the normal presence of lockers. Steve wondered which way he should take. There was the one on the left that he illuminated. Only to find that it was a dead end, with two doors and what looked like a drinking fountain.

At the other side, the corridor continued in a close bend that turned on the right. Knowing it could make him lost in a place he was already. The teenager took this way and when he turned. He was in front of a separation. One that flew into the blackness at his left as the same for the right. Having his light already on the left side, he walked thought it.

He crossed the hallway and arrived at its end. Looking at the pillars that made the second thematic room be found. Only this time, instead of sportive elements, it was musical recordings that were present. -24-13-1 Seeing the old vinyl albums that he illustrations were made by hand. With the poor talents of the amateurism that were the teenagers here when it was once a sanctuary filled with young life.

Unlike the albums cover, most of the musical compilations were praised with their trophies at their sides. Best student musical play of 1945 for « Murder at Breakhaven ». Best student orchestra leaded by William Wallsifh for « Symphony No. 40 in G minor » by Mozart. Best student album of 1966 for « God's Ladder » by Samira Skyle, etc.

After he explored this part of the school. Steve saw at the end of it what looked like a new hallway that had at its end the beginning of stairs. He ran towards what would bring anybody at the floor above him. Thinking it was the case, Steve was disappointed when he opened the door that lead him in the middle of a long row made of wooden seats.

He walked down the little stairs and stopped at the edge of the fence. Facing the vast, empty and huge gymnasium that lay in front of him. Hidden in the darkness that he could only see some parts with the circle of light that he moved left and right on the place.

His flashlight turned to the side of where the long benches were. Longing the rest of the side of this gigantic room. He walked through it, as he could hear what he thought was chanting that were whispered from the darkness in the space of the vast gym. Like prayers that floated by themselves, singing;

Satuzspz jéstuéstu

Satuzspz jéstuéstu

Satuzspz jéstuéstu

Steve was now at the end of the public side of the deceased gymnasium. Having in front of him a double door that were each half opened. -12-5-9- He took the one on the right and closed the two behind. Not taking any chance if one of those things were to take the same path that he did to be here.

It was another pair of bleachers for the public. This time, the wall behind had paintings of the sea on it. With fishes, a blue sky that reminded him of outside and the small waves that were frozen at the bottom.

Where the public was looking at, were the tall room that had a vast pool that he could see with is light. Illuminating some parts with his small circle that loses half is light. Due to being behind a wall of tall windows. The water that he looked was as calm as the silence that could be heard. Excepted for the raw respirations behind him. As such, he turned and saw right in front of him, eyes to eyes, a thing with the appearance of a teenage girl, with a look of blackness.

This one had her mouth that opened. Showing the human being the void inside of it. An animalistic roar came out. The volume of the sound was so heavily to everything that the glasses broke in pieces. For Steve however, he putted is hands on is ears. Remitting the thing into the darkness, due that his flashlight was illuminating the ceiling.

He punched the thing that he couldn't see anymore with his feet. A move that he could hear it falling on the wooden benches that broke under the precipitated weight of the monster. However, his attack didn't stop it from screaming. Thus, making others imitate it, as the floors above were shriving all the footsteps that the runnings « students » were making.

In a panic that took him to the bones. Steve turned to the broken windows and in a desperate attempt. He jumped.