Chapter 2

Phil arrived at school at 8:00 AM with dark bags under his eyes and a sickly color on his skin. He did not fall asleep again after he had the horrifying nightmare, terrified that he may be subjected to such a nightmarish experience again.

                Although the school campus was a private institute, it was rather old and a little dilapidated, a place where ghost stories and mysterious tales were often heard. From weird kids to athletic jocks the school was full of students since it was the only middle school that is available in the city; it was home to this numerous kids.

                                "Good morning Phil."

                Greeted Eric.

                Eric was one of the boys in school that has a high pedigree. He had an approachable personality a friendly aura surrounding him, and a charming look that most of the girls in school find attractive. His grandfather was once a renowned archeologist and his father was a famed biologist. Many could say that he has it all, looks, money, and charm.

                Phil yawned and greeted his best friend.

                                "Hey, morning Eric."

                                "Did you stay up all night again? Bro look at those bags, Jess won't like you back if he sees you like that."

                                "Shut it, I had a terrifying nightmare and nearly pissed my pants. I don't want any criticism coming from you."

                Eric laughed at Phil's misery.

                                "Hey, it's just a dream don't think too much about it."

                                "Yeah I know, but it just felt so real."

                Phil shivered remembering his nightmare.

                While the two were slowly walking towards the entrance of the school, a commotion can be heard on one of the side gardens. A girl with unkempt hair was being bullied by several boys her book was getting passed around and the contents of her bag littered on the grassy field.

                                "Mark and his gang are at it again huh."

                                "Yeah, you better be careful Phil. I heard that Mark has a thing for Jess, best keep it a secret that you like her from him."

                While the two were talking, a girl with a short stature walked to the gang and kicked the boy holding the book in the shin. The boy flinched from the pain and dropped the book they were passing around. The girl picked it up and threatened the bullies.

                                "Buzz off Mark! Or I will have the principal kick you out of school once and for all."

                                "OOoooh, I'm scared."

                Mark jokingly waved his hands, while the other boys were laughing.

                                "Listen here shorty, you're lucky that we're in school and your father has a little power in this city. Or else I have already beaten you into a pulp."

                Mark threatened the girl. As he was about to grab the girl's collar Eric called out to him.

                                "Mark I suggest you don't do that."

                Eric said calmly.

                                Mark glanced at Eric with annoyance and was about to berate him. But realized the identity of the boy that warned him, he slowly withdraw the hand that was about to grab the girl's collar. He then turned around and walked away angrily kicking the trash can that was on his way while his gang followed.

                                "Thanks for that Eric, but that was unnecessary."

                The girl thanked Eric while she gave the book back to the girl with unkempt hair.

                                "Here's your book back Sam, and better stay clear of Mark and his gang next time."

                The girl with unkempt hair, Samantha bowed her head and thanked the short girl awkwardly. She hurriedly picked up all her belongings scattered on the grassy field and then ran towards the library with her head down.

                                "Poor girl, she's always getting bullied by Mark and his gang."

                The short girl sighed as she sympathizes with Sam's situation.

                                "You can't always protect her Sonja, she needs to learn how to protect herself."

                                "Good morning Phil."

                Sonja greeted Phil with a beautiful smile showing her dimples and sparkling eyes while she ignored Eric's warning completely.

                                "Morning Sonj, I know that Samantha is a good girl but you better be careful with Mark, you never know what he will do."

                                "Okay"

                Sonja nodded while Eric felt betrayed because Sonja did not heed his advice just shook his head side to side.

                The trio's conversation abruptly ended when the school bell rang. They ran towards their lockers located in the hallway and took all the things they needed.

                                "Well see you on lunch break Phil."

                                "Bye Phil."

                Eric and Sonja made their way towards their classroom.

                While the students hastily made their way to the different classrooms, Phil was left in the empty hallway as he sluggishly made his way to his.

                Phil feeling sleepy yawned but he saw something in the corner of his eye that put a stop to his yawning. He felt that a shadow was staring at him and he cannot help but smell something fishy in the air, he suddenly flinched paralyzed with fear in the middle of the empty hallway, flashbacks of the traumatic dream invaded his brain as he slowly twisted his head to look at the shadow.

                                "Mr. Craft I believe you have a class to attend to."

                A hand grasped his shoulder.

                Phil gasped and turned his head around and saw a black bald man with dark eyes.

                                "Mr. Seth, I'm sorry I was thinking about something."

                Phil answered as he glanced sneakingly at the corner where he felt that something was staring at him. To his relief, there was nothing there at all, not a shadow or the fishy stench he could smell before.

                                                'I must be tired'                                                                               

                                He thought

                                "Well hurry along mister Craft lest I will give you an assignment about the history of this school."

                Phil ran towards his classroom in haste at the thought of the punishment this strict History teacher threatened him.

                                "And don't run in the hallways."

                Teacher Seth yelled at him as he made his way to the stairs.

                Standing in the middle of the empty hallway, teacher Seth looked at the corner where Phil felt something was staring at him.

                                "Strange"

                He furrowed his eyebrows and muttered to himself as he walked away.

                As morning classes were ongoing, Phil who is seated at the rearmost seat felt his eyelids grow heavy, he mustered all his strength to open his eyes but the feeling of drowsiness assaulted him, his head bobbed up and down as the voice of his teacher slowly muffled out and he completely fell asleep.

                Phil abruptly woke up as his senses were telling him he was in danger, alert and a little dizzy on his abrupt awakening he stood up on his seat and looked around but noticed the oddly empty classroom. Seats were carefully tucked under their tables and the blackboard was wiped clean, he saw the afternoon sunlight as the skies were colored in an orange hue, he slowly calmed himself down but strangely the feeling of danger was still clawing on him as if a predator was lurking around waiting to pounce on its prey the moment it puts its guard down.

                                                'BANG'

                The classroom door swung open and Phil was startled. He quickly raised his chair ready to smack whatever creature comes out of the door. A man in a Janitor uniform with a white cap entered the classroom and was shocked that someone was still there, he nodded at Phil as Phil slowly put the chair back down.

                Feeling relieved Phil exhaled then took a breath as he reached out for his bag ready to go home. Phil slowly walked towards the door but as he got nearer towards the exit the feeling of danger grew, his breath was getting shorter, and the beat of his heart was getting louder and louder. As he passed by the janitor a fishy smell assaulted his nose, a heavy hand riddled with hairy black caterpillars pressed down on his shoulder as he was roughly spun around.

                He faced the janitor who now has holes in his skin where black hairy caterpillars were crawling out; its eyes were dead as it slowly opened its mouth. Phil wanted to run but the heavy hand restrained him in place, its mouth now gaping open as a creature crawled out. The abomination that was once his mother loomed above him as its body contorted and the sickening sound of cracking bones and nauseating smell of rot filled his lungs. It swayed as it was slowly getting closer and closer the sound of squelching flesh audible from its slow steps. Phil looked in horror as he saw the face of his mother smiling from ear to ear, its crooked neck bowed down as the abomination tried to speak, it whispered in his ear with its guttural whispers blending with the sweet voice of his mother.

                                "Set Me Free."

                The tentacles of the abomination slowly wrapped around Phil while it hugged him with its hands, the fleshy body and the decaying smell of rot slowly suffocated him and snuffed him out of the air. Phil tried to scream but nothing came out as the flesh of the abomination drowned him.