Chapter 1
The chapter opens with ninth grader Mykel and her best friend, Riley, walking down the hallway with their books in hand. The hallways are briefly crowded as everyone seems to be headed in the same direction.
RILEY: I wonder what’s for lunch today.
MYKEL: Hopefully it’s not spaghetti and meatballs again. I can still feel my stomach turning to the mere thought of eating it again.
RILEY: (Snickers) Oh yeah. I almost forgot about your encounter with the “Lunch Ladies’ special” the last time it was up for grabs. You had two other choices though. You should’ve just grabbed the chicken salad like I did.
MYKEL: Well, i’m never making that mistake again.
Mykel and Riley are passing a poster on the wall, when suddenly Riley stops her. Riley’s eyes are glued to the poster at this point.
RILEY: Oh…my…god.
MYKEL: What? What is it?
RILEY: (Points to the poster) The fall festival. It’s coming.
MYKEL: Fall festival?
Riley nods her head.
RILEY: It’s when the school gets together to host events after school from four to eight. It’s only one day a year but it’s topped off at the end with a dance at 6:30.
MYKEL: That’s…cool…I guess.
RILEY: (A male voice unintentionally speaks from behind them at the same time as her, saying the exact same phrase) It’s better than cool.
Riley and Mykel both turn around to see an older and taller male student approaching them, his arm reaching for the poster as well as his finger lands on a piece of text.
STUDENT: (Speaks by himself) It’s one of the rare events we have where students of all grades that attend high school, get to hang out together. Freshman and Senior alike. This’ll be my brother’s first time attending this event as well, assuming you two are both freshman as well.
RILEY: (Jumps to answer) Of course we are. (Holds her hand out for a handshake) I’m Riley.
The older student shakes her hand with a smirk on his face.
STUDENT: Josh. Nice to meet you. (Looks at Mykel with his other hand out, as Riley has yet to let go of his hand out of excitement) And you are?
Mykel is hesitant to shake Josh’s hand, looking at Riley first. Riley gives her a justified look before Mykel shakes his hand.
MYKEL: (Fakes a short laugh) Sorry, i’m not much of a hand shaker.
JOSH: Oh? So you’re a hugger instead?
Josh goes in for a hug on Mykel. Mykel takes a step back and Josh stops in mid motion.
JOSH: (CONT’D)(Smiles) Just kidding. Welcome to your first week at Manifest High. I try to greet all the freshman; I don’t want them to think that any of the high school terror stories they might have heard, are true. (Looks around the hallway with his head) I’ve been trying to convince my little brother the same thing. He’s around here somewhere. Shy kid, but he has a really good heart. Oh well. It was nice meeting you both, and if I don’t see either of you around anytime soon, I at least hope to introduce you two to my kid brother, he’s terrible at making friends.
Riley’s mouth is nearly left open in amazement as Josh walks off with a wave down the hallway.
RILEY: (Squints in excitement, attempting to maintain her composure) Oh my god, this is so cool!
MYKEL: What? What’s so cool?
RILEY: Us! We met a Senior on our first week of school! A senior who is actually kind, sweet and very, very attractive.
MYKEL: Oh please.
Mykel walks off and Riley follows. The girls turn into another hallway.
RILEY: What? You don’t think he’s cute? I thought I was going to have to go to the fall festival with hopes that I could meet a senior there. But now i’ve already met a Senior, so I can just show up and hang out with him and his friends if I wanted to. Or hopefully just him.
MYKEL: Boys are a complete waste of time. I’m more concerned about band practice. Besides, Riley, he is way older than the both of us.
RILEY: Only about three years older. Besides, older guys are way hotter and way more mature than the boys around our age. Who wants to date the same losers we were in the eight grade with?
The two girls head into the school’s cafeteria.
Chapter 2
The school bell rings, and Riley enters the classroom as Mykel is on her way out.
RILEY: Good luck with Ms.Kane’s class. She has a surprise test for you just waiting.
MYKEL: I don’t think it was supposed to be a surprise. She kept hinting at it all day yesterday during the first civil war reading. You probably just weren’t paying her any attention.
Riley gives Mykel a dumb look.
RILEY: It’s not my fault she’s so damn boring.
MALE VOICE: Mykel.
Mr.Isenberg, a tall man with no hair on the top of his head, yet, grey thin hairs on the side of his head, approached the two.
MYKEL: Yes, Mr.Isenberg?
MR.ISENBERG: Even though the school year has just started, you’ve shown a lot of promise. Keep up the good work.
MYKEL: Thank you sir. I love math. It isn’t that hard. Every new equation is just a stepping stone from the last one.
MR.ISENBERG: I wish other kids caught on just as fast as you. By the way, were you doing anything after school?
Riley and Mykel look at each other.
MYKEL: No, I wasn’t.
MR.ISENBERG: Great, then would you mind staying after to help me grade papers? I would offer you extra credit but you don’t seem to need it.
MYKEL: (Smiles) No problem, i’ll just have to call my parents and let them know that i’m staying after.
MR.ISENBERG: Great. And Riley, you’re not too far behind in your studies from Mykel. If you wanted to, you could stay after as well with her.
RILEY: (Slowly nods her head in an unhumorous fashion) Sure, I guess. I’ll call my parents too.
MR.ISENBERG: Thank you girls so much. Hope to see you two after the last bell.
Chapter 3
Mykel leaves the classroom with her phone in hand as her books are weighted in her free arm. Riley follows behind her, books in hand as well.
MYKEL: (Speaks into phone) Hey mom, you’re probably sleep. Taking another one of your cat naps, I’m sure, so i’ll just leave you this message. I’ll text you too, so you don’t forget. I know your medication has you drowsy. Anyway, i’m calling to inform you that i’ll be staying after, so don’t wait up for me. I should be at home by seven at the latest, the math teacher has asked me to help him grade papers. Anyway, love you, bye. (Tries to hand Riley the phone) You need to call your parents?
RILEY: (Shakes her head) As if. I hate keeping my parents in my business. I barely get any privacy as is. Parents can be so annoying.
MYKEL: They can, but i’m sure your parents just care about you a lot. You know, trying to keep you safe?
RILEY: From what? All the smothering they do? No thank you.
Riley spots Josh changing classrooms from a distance, further down the hallway.
RILEY(CONT’D): By the way things are looking, the less they know, the better.
Mykel smirks and shakes her head.
MYKEL: I’ll see you after class.
RILEY: You betcha.
Riley goes back into her math class and Mykel heads down the hallway for her next class.
Chapter 4
The final bell rings, and just as planned, Riley and Mykel, meet up in front of Mr.Isenberg’s classroom. Mr.Isenberg’s classroom is locked.
The lights are out, with no one in the room. Mykel looks down at her cellphone.
Mykel: It’s only two ‘o’ six. School just let out. Where the heck could Mr.Isenberg, have went already?
A small group of students walk by. Riley snaps to no one.
Riley: This is just great. We stay after, and Mr.Isenberg, isn’t here.
Mykel: Didn’t you say you didn’t have anything to do after school anyway?
Riley: Yeah, but he didn’t know that. I swear, if it wasn’t for-
Riley stops mid-sentence, at the sight of Josh, who walks up to the door the two girls are already seen standing in front of. He holds a smile on his face, at the two.
Josh: Hey Riley. Hey Mykel. Looks like Mr.Isenberg, has you two waiting?”
Mykel sighs.
Mykel: Yeah. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. The bell just rang not too long ago, so i’ll give it some time before I decide to go home.
Josh: Knowing him, he probably had to go run a quick errand. Though I think I seen his car outside still, some i’m sure he’s around campus somewhere.
Riley: So why lock the door? (Riley pulls on the classroom doorknob, with frustration) He knew we were coming. For a math teacher, he sure is stupid.
Josh: I think he’s quite cool and calculated. I mean, look at it from his point of view, what if he had hidden answers to an upcoming test or something and he didn’t want any of the students just going in and searching through his desk. Heck, even some teachers leave their personal belongings in their desk as well.
Josh maintains a laid back facial expression.
Riley: I like him too. I was just frustrated, that’s all. I talk bad about everyone when i’m frustrated, it doesn’t mean a thing. Isn’t that right, Mykel?
Mykel nods in agreement, trying to help her friend save face. Josh ends the conversation with a smirk, looking into the classroom right after, through it’s room’s window, on the door. Josh soon backs away.
Josh: Well, guess i’ll be keeping you girls company until he gets back.
Riley’s face lights up.
***
An hour passes, Mykel repeatedly looking down at her phone. Out of arm’s reach, Riley and Josh sit on the floor away from her, having a conversation amongst each other.
With an hour’s worth of talking between the two, Josh stands up.
Josh: I’m going to the restroom real quick.
Riley: (Jumps up) S…So do I. I mean, I’m going to the restroom as well. You know, the lady’s room.
Josh nods with an awkward look on his face, followed by a fake smirk as he walks off without her.
Still in eye’s view, Riley continuously looks back at him as she leans towards Mykel, for a low volume conversation. She takes her eyes off him for a short period of time, only to tell me in a whispering, yet anxious voice,
Riley: (Anxious low tone) I’ll be right back.
Riley strolls off before Mykel can respond, catching up to Josh in no time.
Mykel: (Speaks to herself) I hope that girl doesn’t do anything she’s going to regret.
Chapter 5
Another hour passes. Mykel, still sitting on the hallway floor, pulls out her phone. She sends a text to Riley.
The phone can be seen, with text messages between them both.
MYKEL
Mr.Isenberg still isn’t here.
(4:15pm)
MYKEL
Are you still in the bathroom?
(4:32pm)
MYKEL
Where are you?
(4:37pm)
MYKEL
Helloooo?
(4:40pm)
RILEY
Help me.
(4:43pm)
MYKEL
(Stands up) What the-
Mykel continues to text.
MYKEL
Where are you?
(4:44pm)
RILEY
Bathroom.
(4:45pm)
Mykel makes her way down the hallway to the girls’ bathroom. She slowly creeps in, unsure what to expect.
Chapter 6
MYKEL: Riley?
A thin trail of blood catches the attention of Mykel, walking along the floor as the blood leads her to a closed stall. A pair of shaking feet can be seen underneath the stall’s door.
Mykel slowly opens the door, seeing her friend Riley shaking, balled up in the corner beside the toilet. Riley’s right arm is bleeding with a long cut down the upper half of her arm.
MYKEL: (Kneels down to Riley’s aid) Oh my god, what happened?
RILEY: (Tears in her face) Did he hear you?
MYKEL: Who? And where is Josh? Who did this to you?
Riley doesn’t answer, only continuing to shake as she attempts to look over Mykel’s shoulder without making much movement.
Mykel takes a quick glance behind herself.
MYKEL: (CONT’D)(Short pause) Did…did Josh do this to you?
Still shaking, Riley manages to nod her head. An unusual snarl is heard that echoes down the hall, grabbing the attention of both Riley and Mykel.
Riley releases a quick shriek before placing her own hand over her mouth, startling Mykel in the process. Mykel gives her a frightened look as well, as she sees her friend crying even more hostile-like.
MYKEL(CONT’D): We’ve gotta get out of here.
Mykel takes her hoodie off and wraps it around Riley’s arm. The two then cautiously make their way for the bathroom door.
Mykel and Riley look around the corner of the bathroom’s entrance, before fully moving forward. Riley is still horrified and shaking from her prior encounter.
Seeing nothing, the girls move forward, heading for an exit that is seen on the opposite end of the hallway.
MYKEL: (Whispers to Riley) We just have to make it to the exit. We’ll get help then.
RILEY: H…he…he isn’t…he isn’t…person.
MYKEL: Don’t worry about it, Riley, i’m going to get us both out of here. I promise.
RILEY: J…Josh. He…he isn’t…a…person.
A monstrous shriek is heard behind them, forcing both the girls to turn around and stop in their tracks. Josh is seen standing down the previous end of the hall, his backpack and books now gone.
