The hallway stretched in front of them, long and lifeless.
No sound. No movement.
Just flickering ceiling lights and the faint smell of sweat, dust, and something metallic underneath — like rust or… blood.
Zara tightened her grip on Liam's sleeve as they crept forward, their group of six slipping from the classroom like shadows. Ava was just behind her, walking quieter than usual, for once.
The other students who stayed behind had locked the door again — Zara heard the soft click of it echo behind them. There was no going back now.
"Keep your head low. Stay close," Liam whispered. "And don't. Make. A. Sound."
They moved past the stairwell. Past the art wing.
Each step felt heavier. Every creak in the floor sounded like a gunshot.
At one point, Zara thought she saw movement in one of the classrooms — but when she blinked, it was just a fluttering curtain.
Or maybe not.
They finally reached the east corridor.
It was longer, narrower. With half the lights out.
Liam slowed them down. "We're close. Music block's just ahead."
Ava glanced behind her. "I swear if something jumps out at me, I'm screaming."
"Then don't scream," Ryan muttered.
Zara heard a quiet chhhh- sound.
"What was that?" she said.
The group froze.
It sounded again — like dragging. Something scraping across the tiled floor.
Then silence.
Liam pointed to a small janitor closet nearby. "Get in," he mouthed.
All six crammed into the closet. Barely enough space to breathe. The darkness pressed against them, hot and suffocating.
Outside, footsteps.
Not rushed.
Not human.
Slow. Limping.
Dragging.
Zara's breath caught in her throat.
The sound paused… right outside the closet.
Her fingers dug into Liam's arm. Ava was practically vibrating beside her.
Then…
BANG.
A loud metallic crash from down the hallway.
The thing — whatever it was — snarled and rushed toward the noise.
The group waited five more seconds.
Then ten.
Then twenty.
Liam slowly opened the door.
Clear.
"We move. Now," he whispered.
They took off.
The music block was only a few doors away now.
They turned the corner—
And Ava slipped.
Her foot hit a spilled mop bucket that had been left in the hall. She fell hard, her elbow slamming into the floor.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Zara gasped. "Ava—"
"GO!" Ava shouted. "I'm fine, just go—"
But the noise had already done the damage.
From behind them, the growl returned.
Then another.
And another.
Zara didn't look back. Liam grabbed Ava by the arm and pulled her up.
They RAN.
Zara burst through the door to the storage room. Liam slammed it shut behind them, locking both bolts.
Panting. Gasping.
They collapsed onto the floor. Ava clutched her arm. Ryan was pale.
Zara looked around the room — small, but safe. For now.
Until they heard something from the other side.
Not growling.
Not infected.
A knock.
Then a voice.
"You're not the only ones who made it, you know."
They all froze.
Zara walked slowly to the door and pressed her ear against it.
"I don't know who you are," the voice said, calm, male. "But if you want to survive… you'll open this door."