The Familiar Guy

Tick… ​​tick… tick… tick… tick.

The slow rhythm of the clock pulled me out of my sleep webs as it grew stronger by the second. Then I felt an unpleasant pressure on my right ear and wetness under my hand, which came from a small pool of saliva flowing onto the wooden bench.

Damn, I fell asleep in class, but not during a lesson, as I first thought. Through the windows, all I could see was the moon and thick darkness surrounding a dimly lit but completely deserted parking lot covered in piles of snow with a few cars. But to confirm my suspicion, I turned my attention to the clock that had woken me up. It showed exactly 10 PM, I was right, but how could I have slept so long? School closes at about 5 PM, how could the teacher not have woken me up? My next instinct was, of course, to reach for my phone in the pocket, which is what any teenager would do in the same situation. I sighed when I realized it was missing. I immediately started to examine all my clothes, but to no avail. It took me a moment to remember why I was here. I had ended up here after school for using my phone during a test, which immediately explained its absence. It was probably confiscated somewhere in the principal’s office. I was supposed to be copying some formulas into my notebook, but I must have gotten bored and my brain was about to give out. But that still didn’t explain why no one had woken me up by now. I got up from my creaky chair and headed for the door, hoping they hadn’t locked me in. A long empty hallway stretched ahead of me, not like I remember it in the day, usually filled with running hyperactive students. Suddenly, I saw something shiny in the distance, bunch of keys.

They belonged to my physics teacher. I would recognize his mess of keys from miles away. Strange… did he decide to take the bus or something? His car key was also there. I began trying one by one in the lock, hoping one would fit. Unfortunately, none of them belonged to the door.

Plan B came to my mind, use the emergency exit located in the hall behind the gym. You know that feeling when you’re home alone watching a horror movie late at night and suddenly you really need to go to the bathroom? You try to shake off the feeling that someone’s watching you from the dark and debate whether to just pee into an empty soda bottle you just drank, not out of laziness, but out of fear. That’s exactly what I felt now. It was a terrible distance, and I could barely see a step ahead, if not for a few working ceiling lights and the moonlight. It was like some stupid haunted trail, but instead of the woods, I was in a school.

Well, I didn’t have much choice anyway . I didn’t want to wait here until morning. I put the keys in my pocket in case I needed them again and headed to the gym. As I passed the science labs, I noticed the door was open, and inside it looked like someone had just ransacked the place. Boxes were scattered everywhere, drawers pulled out across the room. I swallowed hard at the thought that there might be a thief here with me. “Is he still here, or did he take what he wanted and leave?”, “What if they pin the theft on me?” Such thoughts ran through my mind, but not for long, because far worse ones replaced them at that moment. After I closed the door, a shadowy figure with a sharp object in hand appeared in the glass reflection, standing motionless under the lights at the end of the hall. A chill ran down my spine… especially when the presence was accompanied by a deep exhale.

Since I was standing at a crossroads, my flight response won over freezing, and I sprinted as fast as I could to the other wing of the school. After a sharp turn between rows of lockers, I panicked and slipped on the floor, losing balance.

Water? No, that wasn’t the cause of my fall. It was a huge puddle of blood, in which stood a sign saying “Caution, slippery floor.” I screamed in horror and kicked my legs, smearing the red pool I was drowning in even more. Even though my mind refused to accept what I’d just seen, my will to survive forced my stiff body to get up again and think under pressure. I didn’t have my phone, but I did have the key to my locker. I quickly took off my bloody shoes so I wouldn’t leave tracks, found my locker number, and locked myself inside.

The atmosphere could have been sliced. Through the gaps in the door, I watched a shadow slowly approach, accompanied by the sound of heavy boots. When the silhouette was only a few meters from me, I put my hand over my mouth so as not to make a sound. My hair was soaking wet with cold sweat, but I knew that the slightest movement could cost me my life. I had never been so afraid before; it was like being born again. Between me and my potential killer was only about a centimeter of sheet metal. He threw down a filled bag on the floor and bent his head over the pool of blood.

This was the first time I got a detailed look at him. He looked like a young man, maybe around my age, so about 18 or 19, thin and fairly tall. He wore black formal shoes and dark pants with a leather belt, on which hung a long case, test tubes filled with some green liquid, and an oxygen filter. A light gray, long-sleeved shirt, stained with blood, was tucked in. His hair was neatly combed, medium length, brown. On his mouth was a transparent inhalation mask that fogged with every exhale, and on his eyes protective goggles, through which his red eyes with purple circles were faintly visible. Although he looked very young, his disfigured skin was unmistakable, covered in rashes, swelling, and scratches. All of that alone would be enough to make someone uncomfortable, but then I glanced at his hands, covered in blue rubber gloves, holding a large hunting knife while running his fingers along its blade.

But it wasn’t just any knife. Embedded in its handle was a syringe filled with a liquid similar to what he carried on his belt, clamped with a metal ring, from which a thin tube led directly into its edge. It looked like some kind of biological weapon for poisoning victims, something you only see in movies. But this is unfortunately not a movie, my death stands right in front of me.

I would swear he reminded me of someone, but in my shock, I couldn’t remember who.

-The tense silence was suddenly broken by his raspy voice –

“Someone’s been running in the hall…”

“Can’t you read, people? It clearly says slippery floor.”

“Why do you think I put it here?!”

– He said sarcastically, with an annoyed tone, then coughed painfully as if he couldn’t catch his breath – Khhrrm, khhrrrm, khhrrm.

“You don’t run in the halls, that’s common knowledge…”

“But especially not…”

“Climb into lockers!”

At that moment, he shoved the tip of his blade into the lock of a locker on the opposite row and twisted the inner latch. He opened the door and threw a hiding student onto the floor. In my fear, I hadn’t even noticed her. I guess she didn’t hold her breath low enough, and that’s what gave her away.

I won’t lie, at that moment I wanted to play the hero, but my confidence that I could overcome this lunatic was not exactly cheering me on, especially when he held that. So I decided to stay hidden and pray for her or whatever. I didn’t know how to help her at that moment.

“Please, don’t hurt me…” — She whispered weakly, wiping her tears —

“I just want to go home…”

“To my family…”

“Please.”

– He looked at her and then grinned wickedly, his eyebrows lifting slightly and the skin beneath his eyes wrinkling –

“Well… I don’t know if they want such a fool at home.”

“Do you think they want such a disappointment at home?”— the student burst into even more tears —

“Don’t worry, they’re definitely not looking for you, I told your parents you’re sleeping over at a friend’s place.”

“Tell me…”

“Why did you stay after school today?”

“And don’t lie, I’m allergic to liars.”

“I… I…”

— She carefully weighed her answer —

“I bullied a classmate…”

– She looked at him guiltily, like a dog that just chewed up its owner’s shoes –

“Ah…”

“You know, even though I don’t exactly have a degree, I’ll teach you one little wisdom.”

— His eyes shimmered in the shadow, pulsing like ticking bombs —

“So… the wisdom of the day is…”

“Coincidence… is… a bitch.”

“If you hadn’t bullied your poor classmate today, you wouldn’t be here.”

“And if I hadn’t decided to rob your fucking school tonight, I wouldn’t be here either.”

I watched it like some twisted scene from a movie. He enjoyed what he was doing, He couldn’t just kill her outright, that would’ve been too easy for him. I didn’t even want to look anymore, but I still hoped, naively, that it would somehow end well.

Khhrrm, khhrrrm, khhrrm. — He coughed again with a raspy voice —

“Although…”

“I’d rather say… that if I weren’t a sadistic asshole, I’d just take what I need and leave.”

“The truth is… I’d much rather give your parents a lesson for what they raised…”

“But unfortunately…”

— He gripped the knife tighter in his hand —

“They’ll just have to figure it out this way.”

She barely had time to absorb his final words before the killer swung his knife straight into her chest, the blade tearing through her like butter. She let out a final scream before he stabbed her again and again. The only thing I could hear after that was the sickening, wet sound of torn flesh—and his laughter, piercing into my ears.

With the final stab, he pressed the syringe, releasing the fluid into her helpless body. Then he stood up and stared blankly, as if admiring his grotesque artwork.

She began to convulse uncontrollably in agony. A red rash broke out across her body, and she reacted by violently scratching herself raw. Shrrrk… Shrrrk… Shrrrk… Shrrrk… Shrrrk… Shrrrk…

A small stream of white foam began to pour from her mouth, like rabies, before she took her final breath… which seemed to satisfy him even more, as the corners of his mouth curled into a delighted smile.I wanted to vomit and cry, but I couldn’t. The only thing that mattered now was getting the hell out of that school. Then he slid the knife back into its sheath and reached for the oxygen filter, which he gently pressed into the hole of his mask.

Shhhhhhhhk… Ffffff…

“That’s better” – The killer muttered before slowly stumbling out of my line of sight, picking up his bag –

I waited a few more minutes to make sure he was far enough away, then carefully opened the locker door. I tried my hardest not to look at the mutilated student, still twitching slightly from muscle contractions, so the image wouldn’t etch itself into my memory. Without wasting a second, I ran and hid near the school bathrooms.I would’ve loved to smash open the main doors with a fire extinguisher from the cafeteria or at least use it as a weapon, but I knew he was still prowling around there, blocking my way. I couldn’t go that way… I’d have to go through the gym.

Since I had only my socks on, my steps made less noise, and I could better hear any movement around me. It felt like a game of cat and mouse. I tiptoed toward the door, ears scanning like radar for any sign of danger. Finally, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the poster of our basketball team hanging on the wall. I stepped into the vast, empty gymnasium. But its silence was disturbed by a rhythmic dripping sound. Drip… Drip… Drip…

I looked up toward the ceiling, where the gymnastics rings were suspended. Twisted around them was a contorted corpse with swollen eyelids, a sliced-open torso, and of course, that disgusting white foam leaking from its mouth. The decayed skin sizzled and hissed oddly, like when you splash too much oil into a hot pan.

Even though it was essentially just an arranged husk of a human being, completely void of life, I recognized the familiar features and deduced it was my physics teacher. I took a few steps back to mentally process what I had just seen, slowly bracing myself for the inevitable lifelong trauma. Tears welled up in my eyes so intensely it felt like they’d burst from the pressure. My heart was racing, pumping adrenaline like a shower through my veins. My stomach twisted as if I was strapped into a roller coaster, time stood still, and I was just standing there, consumed by silent terror. I wanted to curl up in a corner and cry out for help. But none would come, not like this.This wasn’t just some petty criminal or a guy bitter about failing an exam and out for revenge on the school. No, this was clearly someone deeply disturbed, someone who thrives on the suffering of others, and somehow, I’d ended up stuck here with him.He even made me feel pity for the one teacher I had always hated most. Never in my life did I think that day would come, but it did. And honestly, I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.

Bzzzz… bzzzzt… shhhh…

– There was an intermittent hum from an old speaker mounted on a pole, kicking me back into the center of events –

I thought it was some kind of glitch, a short circuit or something, but at that moment I was uncomfortably convinced that the announcement was intentional…

“Dear students…”

“Allow me to inform you that any breach of discipline will be unconditionally punished.”

“I hereby summon James Wilson to the principal’s office, where I will personally remind him of the rules, face to face.”

“If he refuses, I’ll carve the warning straight into his back.”

“By the way, everyone else is already dead.”

“Thank you for your attention.”

Every fiber of my body began to vibrate. My ears wanted to flee my head after relaying to my brain just how utterly screwed I was. I wished I could be anywhere but here. This couldn’t be real, I had to be asleep in class. Just a nightmare, I kept telling myself… but it brought no comfort.

Everything changed when I heard him say my name. He probably knew almost everything about me by now, where I lived, who my parents were. But none of that mattered now. I just wanted to survive. Here and now. I bolted down a back corridor, only to be greeted by something that slammed the final nail into the coffin of my hope. The emergency exit was secured shut by a thick metal chain and a padlock. I took a deep breath. And another. “Come on, think, dammit… think James! I know you don’t pay attention in class, but now you have to!” — I muttered to myself like some lunatic, slapping my own face as if to jumpstart my brain.

And then it hit me.I didn’t have a phone to call the cops, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t call the fire department. If the EPS (electronic fire system) was still active, there was still a chance. Especially since our school used a silent alarm ,the kind that wouldn’t alert the killer.I dashed to one of the fire alarm buttons, clenched my jaw, pulled back my elbow, and slammed it forward, shattering the glass. Ignoring the searing pain from the cut on my arm, I hit the button without hesitation. A faint beep followed, and a small indicator red light blinked to life, signal sent .“Now I just need to hide somewhere… and not get killed.”I whispered, though my voice trembled like I didn’t believe a word of what I was saying. Maybe firefighters don’t exactly carry a weapons except an axe, sure but I didn’t give a damn. I just needed a way out. That was all.

I locked myself in a break room and barricaded the door with every piece of furniture I could find. If he didn’t know where I was exactly, maybe I had a shot. After all, the announcement could only be made from the principal’s office, and that’s probably where he still was. But there was one thing I had completely forgotten, thanks to the overload of cortisol in my bloodstream. There are security cameras at the exits that can only be accessed from principals office, and I was near one just a few minutes ago. I had probably just sealed my fate. Even so, I didn’t move a muscle. I just waited ,waited for rescue, despite every passing second stretching out like eternity. Until I heard it. A sharp, violent bang as a door somewhere in the gym slammed open and crashed into the wall. My whole body froze. I clenched my fists and prayed he was only guessing where I was. “You can do this, James. You’ll make it out. You’re so damn close. And one day, you’ll talk about this.”

— I encouraged myself, like before the fight of my life, which wasn’t far from the truth —

The last dose of courage came from the approaching sirens on wheels, which could be faintly heard even through the school’s walls. I would’ve cheered victoriously in that moment if I could. Never before had the chaotic sirens signaling danger brought me so much joy. I had to let them know where I was, so I started slowly clearing my blockade when they apparently stopped nearby, using their noise as cover. A gentle pull on the handle and the door was ajar, the killer nowhere in sight. I saw a red flashing light shining through the gaps in the door. I didn’t want to lose the only chance I had and spontaneously started pounding on the surface of the emergency exit with all my strength to get the firefighters’ attention, yelling at the top of my lungs.

“Help! I’m here! Help me!”

But then my mouth returned to its default position after the clear sound of running footsteps beyond the entrance doors to the hallway, heading straight toward me. I instinctively jumped in front of them, braced myself with my back and legs to keep them closed.

“So here you are, you little shit!”

“Really smart… but do you think you’ve got enough strength to keep those doors shut?”

“I was born weak, but I still kill you fuckers like on a conveyor belt.”

I heard him laughing maniacally behind the door, but I didn’t care, I wasn’t listening to him and just held the doors with all the determination I had.

“Hello?!.. Hello?! Is someone there?!” — Came a deep male voice from the other side of the emergency exit, and then the door began to shake —

“Yes! I’m here, please open!, someone’s trying to kill me!” I screamed, smiling widely with tears in my eyes.

“Sometimes nature takes away, and sometimes it gives… but this knife… I take full credit for that one myself.”

Then, with a running start, he slammed into the door and thrust the blade into the gap when he timed it just right and got to me. I fell to my knees and couldn’t utter a single word. The last sentence I heard from him was… “Dead men tell no tales… not you for sure…” before he plunged the weapon into my body…. and then, only a burning hell came… and after hell.. just darkness.