The Rules of Shadow

As I opened my eyes, a loud warning filled my ears. “All students must enter the building by 07:45, you will become the lunch of the school cafeteria.” The sound of the broadcast was deafening, and what it said was even more frightening. What did it mean to 'make students into lunch'? As I listened to the constant announcements, I couldn't help but freeze a little. Glancing at the wall, I saw that the clock already read 7:40. I was still wearing my school uniform. But hadn't I left school and worked for seven or eight years? I looked out the window and saw a tall school building coated in red paint. It seemed like the paint was still drying, as if it were dripping with blood. I was puzzled and went downstairs to investigate. As I approached the building, I noticed many other people who were just as bewildered as I was. It wasn't until the bell rang that I cautiously stepped onto the stairs. At 07:45, I turned my head to look and saw a loud bang. Those who had not yet entered the school building were caught in the explosion. School uniforms were torn to pieces and blood splattered onto my face because I was too close. As I watched a machine collect the ingredients that had fallen on the ground, I suddenly woke up from my drowsiness. Lunch is no laughing matter. Upon entering the school building, a second announcement blared through the corridor, urging all students to promptly proceed to their designated classrooms and begin their classes before 8 o'clock. Those who fail to do so will have to wait until lunchtime to enter a classroom. Teachers must write the rules for their respective classrooms on the board 30 seconds before the bell rings. It is important to follow these rules precisely. The broadcast around me repeated these three warnings repeatedly, causing my scalp to tingle slightly. Despite feeling confused and intimidated by the bloody scene outside the school building, I followed the guidance of the broadcast. I knew that disobeying orders was a death sentence, so I rushed to do as I was told. I wasn't sure if I would survive. After wandering through the corridors for over a minute, I couldn't find any pattern between the numerous classrooms, all with half-covered doors. The classroom contained 30 sets of neatly arranged desks and chairs, with a silent teacher present. Despite their different appearances, the teachers all had consistent expressions on their faces, staring icily at the stage without reacting to anyone entering or leaving. The atmosphere in each classroom was extremely bizarre. The announcement stated that each classroom should have its own rules. Therefore, most people searched the corridor to find the best classroom. After a few quick glances, I confirmed that all classrooms were identical. I gave up on relying on metaphysics and found a nearby classroom to sit in. I sat silently on the edge of the last row, waiting quietly for the bell to ring. After the one-minute countdown bell rang, many observers entered the classroom and quickly filled the seats. The teacher finally got up with only 30 seconds left on the wall clock. He picked up a piece of white chalk and began to write the rules on the wall. The teacher's movements were slow, and his strokes were so precise that they looked like typography, as if he had timed them perfectly. He finished the last stroke and put the chalk back in its case when the bell rang. Only then did we see the rules in their entirety. Classroom rule: everyone need to be seated five minutes early. The rule caused panic in the classroom as most people were stuck coming in at the last minute. A muscular man stood up and aggressively challenged the authority of the teacher, inciting others to join him in rebellion. He raised the plank and charged at the seated teacher. Chaos erupted, and girls screamed from the classroom. The teacher remained expressionless, quietly turning over the books in his hands. At the last moment before reaching the teacher, the burly man's body stiffened, and he became unable to move. The classroom's broadcast then turned on, emitting a nuisance sound. To establish a student code of conduct, any student who attempts to harm or attack a teacher will face disciplinary action. It is important to create a safe and respectful learning environment for all students and staff. The use of violent language or threats is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any behavior that goes against this goal will be addressed promptly and appropriately. The burly man and everyone else in the classroom exploded as soon as the words were spoken. The sound was deafening, and blood flew everywhere. Some of the surviving girls were so traumatized that they vomited on the table. Machines were brought in to clean up the mess. They worked precisely and even stored the strong man's body in a separate compartment. The teacher on stage acted as if he hadn't seen the scene and continued lecturing calmly to himself. The air in the classroom was suffocating during the 40 minutes. Finally, the bell rang, and the teacher promptly stopped speaking. The classroom door opened, blowing in the wind from the corridor. The strong smell of blood filled the room, making me both scared and relieved to breathe. It appears that following the rules on the blackboard will prevent serious trouble, even if the entire class wasn't listened to, the teacher didn't seem to have any problems with the content of the class. As I left the classroom, a new announcement from the school building caught my attention: “Congratulations to all of you who are still here. You will be able to continue the class. With 3,000 students in this school, today's lunch in the cafeteria is expected to be sumptuous after 800 left following the first class.” I felt my heart race when I heard this. It is unclear what the rules are in other classrooms. The mortality rate is concerning, and it should also account for those who did not make it into the building before 7:45 am. There will be a 20-minute break between classes, so please use this time to relax in the playground, cafeteria, gym, or boardroom. The school building has nine floors. The fifth floor is the cafeteria and recreation room, while the other eight floors are classrooms. Please avoid attending two classes on the same floor to prevent confusion. The announcement paused briefly before discussing school cafeteria lunches. On hearing this, I promptly proceeded to the second level and entered the nearest classroom by the stairs.