As the sound of footsteps gradually gets closer with each passing second, everyone’s feet are rooted in place with each and every one of us eagerly waiting to see what the future holds. To our surprise, 2 people walk around the corner of the hallway. Upon closer inspection and judging by their school uniforms, it seems they’re students at the school. “Sarah! Chris!” Max calls out and waves her arms frantically around. “Max! Is that you?!” The girl across the hallway, presumably Sarah, answers with a question. Both of them start walking towards us as Max nods her head up and down. (She sure is excited… And how come she knows everyone? Then again, I don’t know why I’m even surprised by now…) I think to myself before our two classmates finally reach us. (Now that I see them up close, they’re most likely in our class…) Sarah, a short girl with brown hair, cut in a short-bob style. Chris, a somewhat tall and lean guy with short unkempt blonde hair and a pair of circular happy potter eyeglasses. “So you guys were here this whole time too?” Sarah asks, snapping me back to reality. “Yep, we got stuck just like you too, I presume.” Max, the social one, replies once again. “I didn’t think we’d find other students after spending so much time here already.” I come out and say, as the two newcomers turn to look at me, making somewhat self-conscious. (Jeez, have they never seen me talk…?) “Yeah, we thought we were all alone too.” Chris, the guy with the glasses, replies with an awkward smile. (I can immediately tell that he is awkward too. Welcome on board pal.) I smile back and we all exchange greetings, introducing ourselves for those who don’t know us. I learn that Sarah’s surname is Watkins and Chris’ full name is Christopher Williams (talk about generic… He could be the main character for all I know.) “Now I feel bad that we didn’t search for other students after we all got together. We could have found you guys way earlier!” Max states apologetically. “Nah, it’s no big deal, the school’s pretty huge anyway!” Sarah playfully slaps her shoulder, giving off the impression that they get along pretty well. “Anyway we’ve been searching for the keys this whole time, and we just got one!” Max enthusiastically announces. “Well, we’ve already got one too.” Chris quickly replies, taking out an ornate key, similar to ours, from his pocket. Everybody lets out gasps and sounds of surprise as we gaze at the item. (Our luck might be finally turning around for good..!) “That’s great, then we only need to search for 2 more.” Anette voices, in the most amused way I’ve ever seen her react. “That’s amazing guys! Where did you find it?” Max inquires, tilting her head to the side. “It was in a room with a crumbled floor. I managed to jump to the other side of the room, where the floor was still intact. There I found a box, which had this inside.” Chris explains, pointing at the key in his open palm. We all turn to look at each other, with what I’m assuming is the same though. “We were in that classroom too… yesterday.” Max looks down, as if relieving the moment we all want to forget. “Did you happen to hear any sound from below the floor?” Chloe asks out of nowhere. “Uhm no…” Chris answers, taken aback by her sudden interest, “We lost Liam there…” I let those words slip out of my mouth as I clench my fist at the bitter memory. “Liam? As in Liam from our class?” Sarah asks and we all fall silent. Max’s nod is enough to convey the message to the newcomers. “Oh no, I’m so sorry…” Sarah replies, while Chris makes a disheartened face. This grim reminder makes it hit home once again that one of our classmates is dead, and we could very well follow after him if we’re not careful. (I wish I could have saved you, Liam.) I bitterly think to myself before Max breaks the heavy silence. “Anyway we’ve already got two keys a map of the school that is somewhat useful and our physic, Anette, that can sense danger!” She lights up the mood by updating Chris and Sarah on our current status. “Anette’s been helping us keep away from danger with her powers this whole time, she’s really awesome!” She continues, pointing at the person she’s talking about. “Really? What powers?” Sarah cocks her head to the side. “I’ll give you the deets later, first let’s go back to base!” Max suggests and a few more question marks pop from Sarah’s head once again “Base?” She sounds even more confused than before. “You’ll just have to wait and see!” Max excitedly waves at Anette, who nods and leads the way. “Oh now that I remember, I have to cross off 2 rooms from my map!” She whispers to herself as the rest of us start following them. 


“…And since there’s food here we’ve decided to use it as our base.” Max’s explanation finally ends, and everybody’s inside our home base. “So you guys should get settled in here, while everybody catches their breath.” She suggests, referring to the newcomers. “Woah, this place is like a sanctuary!” Chris voices in awe. “It feels safe and cozy in here!” Sarah goes with the flow, excitedly praising our home base. But, as I’m not in the mood for all that I distance myself and take a seat away from all the commotion. “Ugh…” I groan as I rub my temples and rest my back on the chair. (My head hurts like hell…) I realize as I take a good look at the ceiling and feel a light tap on my shoulder. I hesitantly turn to the culprit and see the angelic smile of miss perfect, AKA April Davis. “What’s with that face?” She asks me, keeping up that same expression. “Is this place REALLY safe?” I ask, without thinking it through. “Woah, I didn’t think you were such a pessimist.” She shrugs her shoulders and looks away. “Sorry, I don’t like raining on everyone’s parade here, but we’re in a school where classrooms can switch spots on a whim. An invisible wall prevents us from leaving and not to mention monsters roam the hallways at night. How can we be sure this place is safe?” I spill out my worries, as I lay further back in the chair. “Well I guess we can just hope, right? Worrying about things you can’t do anything about, is just a waste of time and resources.” For a moment her expression comes back to her true self as she looks at me and I sigh in response. “I guess you’re right, no point worrying about it.” I say as I rub my temples once again. “You good over there, mister?” She nudges me. “Yep, just a headache.” I reply as I momentarily close my eyes. When I open them I realize April’s no longer next to me and I heave a deep sigh once again. (Was I rude or something?) I think as I close my eyes once again and I feel the same tap on my shoulder. I quizzically open my eyes a third time and come face to face with a glass filled with water and a white tablet slowly dissolving inside. “Here, this should help.” April hands it over to me and sits down once again. (And here I thought I drove her away.) “So you’re my nurse now?” I jokingly ask. “Shut up and drink.” She hisses at me, her angelic expression disappearing completely. (She has her back turned to the others anyway, they won’t be able to see those devil faces she gives me.) “Why do you bother keeping up this act, even now?” I blurt out, as the question has no time to register with my brain. She instantly looks at me, a puzzled expression on her face. “I mean that whole ‘I’m kind, caring and perfect’ thing.” I elaborate for her. (Did I go too far? Did I dug in too deep?) For a moment I’m certain she’ll snap at me for asking something as personal as that, but to my surprise, she just lowers her head. A brief silence falls upon us and I refuse to break it. (Why do I want to hear her answer so badly?) I contemplate on my curiousness while April finally speaks up. “This is me. This is who I have to be. I can’t be anything else.” Her voice comes off as soft, almost desperate. “This is me.” She repeats in that same, depressing tone. For a moment, I’m left speechless, unable to find the right words. “Why?” I blurt out once again, this time my voice is as low as hers. “Not yet…” Her voice this time, is barely a whisper. “Sorry, I got carried away there.” I reassuringly touch her shoulder, giving her a small but gentle smile. She raises her head and looks at me, and I swear for a moment I see fireworks. (What the hell am I doing?) I immediately think to myself as I look away. “Anyway…” I say, clearing my throat and gulping down the insides of the glass I’ve been holding this whole time. (Why did I think It was water?!) I immediately regret doing that, as I make a face and throw my tongue out in reflex. “Bleeeeeh…! You trynna poison me or something?!” I unintendedly light up the mood, while April just bursts out laughing, unable to contain herself. “Why are you laughing!? Man, I need water!” I cry out as the bitterness of the med I just had still remains on my mouth. “Ahahaha, here… here.” She hands me a bottle water, still laughing her face off. I gulp it down without delay. “Ahh, now that’s better!” I exclaim, after a big inhale. “Aah, and you tried to act cool and all…” The girl in front of me has just started to calm down, as she wipes a tear from her eye. (Yeah, a true smile is way better on her.) I think to myself as I look at her amused face. “What?” She suddenly asks me, after catching me staring. “Nothing, I was just thinking you enjoyed yourself… laughing at me!” I act hurt for the sake of it. “How could I not? You tried to look tough gulping it down in one go, and then that face!” April snickers after recalling the event. “Hey I can’t help it, that thing tastes like a dirty sock!” I try to defend myself. “You’ve never heard of paracetamol before, have you?” She gives me a cheeky smirk. “Para what? Is it like a painkiller of some sort?” I wear a puzzled expression. “Exactly!” She cutely winks, as she finally starts to act like herself. (Magically, my foul mood and headache, are long gone…) “You know, I was thinking, maybe we should search the library for any information on the school. Maybe we’ll find something related to all this. There must be some reason things like this are happening, right?” She suggests, while putting back on her default expression. “You know, that’s actually a good idea.” I reply, nodding to myself. “Indeed.” We suddenly hear Anette’s voice next to us, as we both turn around. “See, Anette thinks so too.” I note, trying to strike a conversation between the two. (You know, I’ve never seen those two chat before. Maybe if April becomes friends with someone from the group, her whole façade might seem unnecessary to her…) I let my train of thoughts consume me. “May I?” Anette politely asks, pointing at the seat in front of her. “Sure.” April replies with her all-time favorite smile and I nod. “Any thoughts on the matter, Anette?” I ask, hoping to break the ice. “I assume it must have been caused by some sort of a tragic event.” She speculates. “A tragedy?” April asks. “Negativity clings to a place. When too much is concentrated in the same spot, it can start to influence the physical world. Any sort of negative emotions can linger, especially grief and hatred. They’re the strongest and often prevent spirits from moving on, as well.” Anette elaborates further. “Oh, so was the tragedy you speak about the incident with Nora and her classmates?” I inquire, trying to piece things together. “That I don’t know. If the tragedy that befell Nora and her classmates was engineered by the living, its lingering horror could have made it reoccur now. But if the incident ten years ago was supernatural in origin, then the tragedy we’re talking about would have to precede that.” She answers my question and I throw my head back, overwhelmed. “You sure know your stuff!” I exclaim, after whistling in awe. “I’m sorry… I must tired out both of you.” Anette sheepishly lowers her head. “Hey, there’s no need to be sorry!” I quickly reply and April joins me. “Not at all!” She says throwing up her hands. “To be honest, I’m glad you’re here with us. At least someone understands that sort of thing.” I sincerely state. “Not only that, but we’d be completely lost without your powers too!” I add to my statement, to further enhance my point while April nods in agreement with me. “Thank you. I’ve always been ostracized because of my ‘powers’ from my peers. No one has ever said a good thing about them…” Her voice trails off. Me and April unable to reply, let her finish what she started. “Honestly, I’m happy that my powers can help you all. Yet… I’ve always been different. I know I am. Sometimes I wonder why… and wish I was like everyone else…” She goes off, letting us hear her inner thoughts. “Now, suddenly being who I am… is a good thing. Or at least a necessary one. I…” She stares down at her hands, and fidgets with the edge of her sleeve. “…I am afraid that once we are safe, my powers will go back to being a curse… No one will want to deal with me once I’m no longer necessary.” (Does she really think we’re that cold? Then again, most of our classmates just saw her as the creepy new girl, so she might have a point…) I immediately think back to yesterday, when everything was so simple. “I don’t know about the others, but I certainly won’t turn away from you when we get out of here.” I instinctively reply without thinking. “You acting differently or suppressing who you are and what you feel, just so people will accept you is wrong. You are, who you are. You’re Anette, you’re YOU, and that is fine.” I try to get my point across to the best of my abilities, looking her straight in the eyes. At this moment, all of my insecurities and trust issues have suddenly gone out the window. “You know, I don’t have any friends apart Max, but if that’s okay with you, then…” My lips instinctively form a smile. “…Yes! Uhm, sorry I didn’t mean to cut you off. What I mean is that I’d love to be your friend. I don’t have any either so…” She sheepishly fidgets with her hair, an innocent smile plastered on her face. “Jack’s right. I’d love to be your friend too, Anette.” April joins in and smiles warmly at her. But this time, I can’t make out if it’s a real or a fake one. But something, deep inside, tells me it’s real. “Yes, thank you!” Anette face lights up once again, her eyes sparkling. (It’s nice to see her make faces like these…) I think to myself and suddenly realize everything I’ve just said. (Is this really what I want? I thought for sure I didn’t need any friends after what happened… Should I place my trust on other people once again? Have I learned nothing after all..?) As my train of thoughts leads my gaze away, I notice April wearing a skeptical expression too. (I wonder what she’s thinking about…) “You guys seem to be having fun!” Max states, looking at the three of us, especially at the star struck Anette. “Yeah, we just told Anette that we’d be her friends even after this whole ordeal is resolved.” I announce with a grin. “Oh, you can count me in on that too, Anette!” Max jumps up and excitedly stretches her hand out to her. “Thank you, Max!” Anette lights up for the third time today and we all share joyful expressions (Can’t say I didn’t expect that from Max… that’s actually the reason why I mentioned it in the first place. And besides, a friendly atmosphere is surely gonna help in the long run, right? Maybe these bonds will save us all in the end… ) “So was that all you were talking about, tiger?” Max asks giving me THE look, and folding her arms. “Yeah, pretty much.” I fold my arms in response. “ Riiiight.” She voices, not breaking the eye contact. “You jelly, Max?” I smirk as I ask her. “Ha- As if!” She turns around with a “hmph!” “Look at you!” I tease her but before she can protest a shriek breaks out throughout the room, shattering the peaceful noises of the classroom. What happened? Whose scream was it and why? Is this place not safe after all?