The Watchers
700 Words
INT. HIDDEN SHAFT – CONTINUOUS
"MAYA!"
Jordan dove forward, grabbing for her hand.
His fingers brushed against hers...
...but slipped away.
Maya crashed through rotten wooden boards and tumbled down a steep, dusty chute.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Then—
THUD!
She landed on a pile of old canvas sacks.
For a few seconds, she couldn't breathe.
Everything hurt.
Above her, Jordan's voice echoed down the shaft.
"Maya! Answer me!"
She coughed.
"I'm okay!"
Jordan let out a relieved laugh.
"Don't ever scare me like that again."
"No promises."
Even in the middle of danger, they both managed a nervous smile.
INT. SECRET CHAMBER – MOMENTS LATER
Maya switched on her phone's flashlight.
She found herself in a circular stone room beneath the bell tower.
The walls were covered with faded murals.
At the center stood a large stone pedestal.
Resting on it was a heavy bronze box.
Its lid bore the same school crest she had seen on the silver keys.
Above the crest were engraved two letters.
D.A.
"So this is what Noah was looking for..."
She stepped closer.
The box wasn't locked.
She slowly lifted the lid.
Inside...
There was no treasure.
No documents.
Only an old leather journal.
Its cover was cracked with age.
Stamped into the leather were the words:
PROPERTY OF THE HEADMASTER
INT. BELL CHAMBER – SAME TIME
Jordan and Mr. Ellis searched for another way down.
"There!" Mr. Ellis pointed.
A narrow iron ladder was bolted to the inside of the shaft.
Jordan didn't hesitate.
"I'm going."
He climbed down as fast as he could.
Mr. Ellis followed.
When they reached the bottom, Maya was still staring at the journal.
Jordan rushed over.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'll have bruises."
He sighed with relief.
"I thought..."
"I know."
She held up the journal.
"I think this is more important."
INT. SECRET CHAMBER
Jordan carefully opened the first page.
The handwriting was elegant but faded.
October 3, 1931
Westbrook High has accepted its first members into Project Hallway.
Jordan frowned.
"1931?"
Maya looked at Mr. Ellis.
"You said Project Hallway started fifteen years ago."
Mr. Ellis slowly shook his head.
"That's when I learned about it."
He looked at the journal in disbelief.
"I never imagined it was this old."
Maya turned another page.
Each entry described strange "tests."
Students chosen in secret.
Teachers sworn to silence.
One sentence had been underlined several times.
The Bell chooses those who seek the truth.
Jordan whispered,
"What does that even mean?"
Before anyone could answer—
A folded photograph slipped from the journal.
Maya picked it up.
It showed a group of teachers standing in front of the completed clocktower.
One teacher had been circled.
His face looked strangely familiar.
Jordan stared at the photograph.
"He looks like..."
Maya finished the sentence.
"...Vice Principal Grant."
Mr. Ellis frowned.
"That can't be."
Jordan flipped the photograph over.
On the back was written:
Assistant Headmaster Adrian Grant
1931
The room fell silent.
Jordan looked from the photo to Mr. Ellis.
"That's impossible."
Mr. Ellis nodded slowly.
"Unless..."
"No one lives that long," Maya said.
A cold breeze swept through the chamber.
Someone else was there.
Watching.
INT. SECRET CHAMBER – CONTINUOUS
A slow clap echoed through the darkness.
Clap...
Clap...
Clap...
The three of them spun around.
A tall figure stepped out from the shadows.
Dressed in a black coat.
Wearing black gloves.
The person's face remained hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat.
The mysterious figure looked at the journal.
Then at Maya.
"You found it."
The voice was calm.
Older.
Neither male nor female was immediately obvious.
Jordan stepped in front of Maya.
"Who are you?"
The figure smiled faintly.
"I've had many names."
A pause.
"But around here..."
"...they call me The Caretaker."
Mr. Ellis's face drained of color.
"No..."
"It can't be."
The Caretaker looked at him.
"Hello, Ellis."
"You disappeared years ago."
"I had to."
The Caretaker turned back to Maya.
"And now..."
"...it's time you learned why The Director is afraid of the bell."
The chamber suddenly shook.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Far above them, the ancient bell began to swing once more.
To be continued in Episode 4 – Part 4...
- Writer
