KAI'S POV:
Okay. Deep breath. I need to stay calm. Rational. Analytical. Think.
We're trapped in a school that is physically impossible. The walls move, the desks float, the shadows stalk us, and somehow, a faceless thing is learning our fears like it's writing a thesis.
And then there's Lara.
Yes. Lara. Who apparently thinks terror = comedy hour. She just screamed a pun at a monster and somehow… it paused. For like a second. I don't even know how that's possible. Are we documenting this for science? Is humor some kind of anti-shadow weapon?
Felix is hiding under a desk, hyperventilating. Sarah is trying to coordinate the group like she's some kind of military commander. Mira… Mira is… scary. Calm. Like she's the variable the school can't predict.
I exhaled slowly, counting to ten. Good. Good. Logic. Step one: analyze the enemy. Step two: plan an escape. Step three: do not let Lara's jokes distract me.
Step three… already failed.
The hallway outside the room is flickering. The tall faceless creature is stretching its limbs unnaturally toward us. My rational brain says: It's probably exploiting our psychological weaknesses.
My logical brain says: It is exploiting our psychological weaknesses.
The shadows are moving. I calculated—roughly, of course—that if we run now, we can gain maybe 3–5 seconds of head start. Which… isn't great. But it's something.
Lara suddenly shouted, "Did you hear the one about the ghost who went to school? Yeah, it got outstanding grades! Get it? Outstanding?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I hate everything.
But wait… did it just… hesitate?
Yes. Yes, it did. Lara's ridiculous joke—against all reason—worked.
Okay, plan. Step one: use Mira as our "anchor" to freeze shadows. Step two: barricade doors. Step three: move. Step four: pray we don't die screaming.
I grabbed a loose chair, trying to ignore the fact that it might be sentient and just plotting against me.
Felix muttered something about resigning from life again. Lara added, "I'm ready for my heroic comedy death!"
Sarah groaned. "Stop. We don't have time for this."
I sighed. "We don't have time… but we have to act. Logic always prevails. Or at least… I hope it does."
Mira's eyes glowed faintly. The shadows froze. I could see the faint outlines, trembling, waiting for the next command.
Step five: survive. Step six: question everything we thought we knew. Step seven: maybe, just maybe, laugh a little despite impending doom.
Because if Noorwood High is going to eat us alive, at least we might as well die knowing that one pun actually worked.