“Okay, time to go,” I murmur to myself, exiting the classroom. Rain pounds against the windows, and thunder taunts me from outside. I already know it’s hopeless, but I pull out my phone to check for a signal anyway.

Except – my phone isn’t there.

“What?” I curse. “I swear I kept it in here.”

I plunge my hand into my pocket once again and find… a note.

I don’t need to unfold the paper. I already know what it says. The angry red letters are burned into my mind. I shudder as I recall the words:

Remember me? The same guy who put a little girl with pigtails to sleep. Oh wait, wasn’t that your little sister? Anyway, I’m writing this letter to assure you that I will give you a slow and painful death, so you can join her! You’re welcome!

Oh God.

I have to leave. I have to leave now.

I spin on my heels, creeping through the maze of corridors. “I’m okay,” I whisper. My mind races back to the previous murders. It’s not like he—

The lights fizzle out.

Darkness suffocates me, and the lightning only seems to highlight the shadows, skulking ever closer. A rhythmic pounding fills my ears, merging with the sound of my footsteps.

Wait… those aren’t my footsteps.

My heart pounds. I just need to make it to the front exit before he finds me. I can find someone. I can stop this. I sprint down the hall, passing rows of lockers, each one glinting sinisterly – like a knife. A knife that could plunge into my back at any moment.

“Stop. That’s not going to happen,” I whisper to myself, but the words are swallowed by the sound of my heartbeat and the relentless, echoing footsteps.

Are they getting louder?

Fueled by adrenaline, I race down the stairs – jump, step, jump, step, jump, step, until suddenly – 

I slip.

I gasp as I am sent soaring through the air before crashing onto the floor with a sickening crack. Pain shoots through my body, but I drag myself toward the glass doors.

“Almost there…” I whimper.

I force myself up, reach for the handle, and – 

I’m safe!

A grin spreads across my face, wild and manic, but I don’t care. I turn the handle and – 

The alarm stabs through my ears.

Its tell-tale wails echo through the school.

I’m compromised.

I dart into a nearby closet, pressing myself against the darkness, hoping my heartbeat doesn’t give me away. I gulp down shaky breaths.

A rasping sound slices through the silence.

He is here.

The world stills. The rasping sound is all that remains.

No. No. No.

I left the door ajar. He will find me.

I reach over to push it shut, but just as the door meets its frame – a scarred hand blocks its path.

Silence crashes down on me as the shadows creep menacingly forward.

What have I done?

I hold my breath and squeeze my eyes shut.

Someone save me. I’ll do anything. Please, please.

A shadow stretches across the room, flickering with each flash of lightning. A moment passes.

And as if my prayers have been answered – 

The door closes again.

I exhale.

I have to run. If I stay, I’ll never make it out of here alive.

I wait a few minutes before grabbing the handle and sprinting into the hall. I look left, then – 

Five feet in the air, something glints sinisterly.

And this time, it’s not a locker…

Author: Sovaan Bountra, 13 years old