When the Monsters Roam: Part 3 (Short Story)

Chapter 2, Part 3: Arrival

The next day, Evelynn’s parents drove to drop her off at school, and Evelynn felt extremely nervous. She knew she shouldn't be too nervous, but people weren't her best strength. They pulled up at the front and saw another car. Out of it stepped Alex and Luke. Evelynn felt a little relieved when she saw them, because this meant other people came too. She didn't want to be the only one; that would have been embarrassing.

Her parents were saying goodbye and telling her a list of stuff in case she had forgotten anything, but she hadn’t. Evelynn opened the door after listening, stepped out with her duffel bag, and waved goodbye to her parents. After they drove away, Evelynn felt like someone was watching her again as earlier. She froze at the unsettling feeling for a moment, feeling a shiver run down her spine, then she tried to brush it off as she started to make her way to the front door.

She looked through the glass doors and saw the lights weren't on. That's weird, she thought, then went to open the door. It was unlocked, so she just went right in. And as soon as she took three steps inside, she saw the two boys standing near a window on the right. She hadn't noticed them standing there before.

Luke saw Evelynn first. “Hey, are you here for the thing too?” He asked. Evelynn felt like it was weird that they acted so normal right now, as if they had always known her. She didn't want to ruin it if they wanted to be nice, though.

She opened her mouth to answer, just now noticing how Alex looked slightly angry and annoyed. She worried that Alex was mad Luke talked to her, but she told herself that’s probably not what happened. She answered, “Yeah, I am. Um, do you know where we’re supposed to go?” She felt proud she didn't sound quite as nervous as she was, but that didn't do anything to her stomach, which was acting like a rollercoaster for no legitimate reason whatsoever.

Luke looked down the hall both ways. “No, I was hoping maybe you would. But–”

He got cut off when Alex moved forward, cutting in, “How about we all take a look around? I bet we can find where it is.”

Evelynn was happy about this, she didn't want to be alone. Nodding, she said, “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Evelynn waited for one of them to say, “Not you, just us,” but it never came, so she started to walk down the hallway. The two started to follow her, and she wondered if they would be her friends. Most likely not, since they always seemed to have at least ten friends waiting for them anytime they needed company. Yet Evelynn believed it was worth a try.

~ (Written by Ashlynn Blue, do not try to copy) ~

As they walked down in awkward silence, Evelynn tried to ignore how Alex and Luke seemed slightly mad at each other. Maybe they just fought, she thought, brushing it off. She still felt like someone was watching her, but she didn’t want to focus on that.

She was probably just imagining the feeling, and was unsettled at school for some reason. There was obviously a logical answer to the feeling that didn't mean she was crazy. 

Hopefully. 

Definitely.

Maybe I need a therapist.

She went back to focusing.

The three looked at each classroom, finding all dark and empty, then moving on. It was weird that nothing was around, like a teacher or a sign for them. It was almost creepy. Then, just as she was wondering again if they had accidentally gone the wrong way, she saw the cafeteria lights on.

The three sped up and saw the cafeteria empty except for two sleeping bags and two girls sitting on them. It was Lily and Astrid. Evelynn immediately felt relieved that the two girls were here too. 

They walked in and Lily and Astrid spotted them. They stood up and waved. When the three got over there, Lily was surprised. “Hey, we thought no one else was coming.”

Alex shook his head. “Nope, we came.” He motioned to Luke, and they started to get out of their sleeping bags. The two seemed to slowly get over whatever had annoyed them about each other during the walk. So now they were buddies again. Must be nice to be that close. Or maybe it’s just a guy thing. She’ll never know.

Evelynn nervously took out her sleeping bag and put it next to Lily’s. Astrid’s sleeping bag was on the other side of Lily’s sleeping bag. She waved at the two girls and said, “Hi.”

They turned and greeted her as well. Astrid pulled out an extra bag and passed it over, asking, “Do you want some snacks?”

Evelynn nodded slowly and grabbed the bag. She was happy they all were so casual. When she looked inside, she saw an assortment of candy, plus sodas and chips. Then, before she could grab anything, there was a loud banging noise as someone hit the door open.

They all looked over fast at the person standing there with an annoyed look on his face. It was Jack. He yelled, “Seriously? I came here and searched the whole school, just to find that there are a bunch of idiots here?”

Astrid stood up and said, “You’re calling the people who can open a door normally Idiots?”

Jack blushed red in embarrassment and stuttered, “Well, no, I mean,” He huffed, then yelled, “I opened it just fine!” It was way too easy to embarrass this guy, dang, his ego is fragile.

All the kids just rolled their eyes at Jack and sat back down, ignoring him. Evelynn looked back at the bag of snacks and set it down somewhat in the middle of the girls’ sleeping bags, then hesitantly grabbed a bag of those Haribo gummy bears. She liked those.

The other two girls just reached in and grabbed their snacks. Lily set the Sprite in front of Evelynn and said, “Here, you like these?”

Evelynn nodded gratefully and smiled while opening it. It was nice to have friends. And they were nice too. At least, she hoped they considered her a friend.

After a few minutes, when everyone seemed settled, including Jack, who set his sleeping bag closer to the boys, Alex turned towards them all. He looked at them all and said, “I don’t think anyone else is coming.”

Evelynn looked around, but there weren't any teachers. They had all turned towards the rest and seemed to have noticed the same. Astrid spoke up, “There weren't any teachers around when we got here either. We searched the whole school. I think we are supposed to be on our own.”

Luke said, “I guess that’s okay. How about we move our sleeping bags around into a circle and play a game or something?”

They all agreed with that idea, even Jack. The placements had Evelynn next to Lily on the left and Alex on the right. Then, after Alex was Luke, Jack, and then there was Astrid back next to Lily. Luke and Astrid seemed slightly annoyed to be next to Jack, but they didn't say anything.

They also found some tables in the cafeteria from the school during lunch, and they wheeled them all to the wall in a few rows to set them off to the side. They brought out all their extra blankets and pillows to make their little circle more cozy.

Lily spoke up first after they were settled with a mischievous grin and a glint in her eyes, “Now, how about we play a game of truth or dare?”

No one objected, so the next thing Evelynn knew, they were all in a game of truth or dare. She didn't know anyone too well, so she stayed with the basic stuff when it was her turn. “Um, Luke, truth or dare?” she asked nervously on her turn.

He looked at her and said, “Truth.”

Evelynn nodded then said, “What's your.. Favorite color?”

He looked around and said, “Blue–”

He got cut off when a banging noise came from outside somewhere. They all looked around, and then Jack said, “I thought we were the only ones here?”

Lily answered with a slightly scared face, “We are.”

Alex spoke up next, saying, “I’m sure it was nothing, probably just a rat or something.”

Evelynn then budded in, “But, a rat couldn't make a noise like that. Maybe it was a teacher or the wind?”

Astrid then said, “There aren't any teachers here, but it might have just been some animal that got in.”

So they continued to play the game, slightly unsettled. Evelynn didn’t particularly feel like someone was watching her anymore, which was relieving.

After a few rounds, they had all discovered that, weirdly enough, they all had a favorite color from the rainbow. Evelynn’s was a pastel yellow, Astrid’s was green, Lily’s was dark purple, Jack’s was maroon red, Alex’s was orange, and Luke’s was blue. Evelynn found that slightly funny. Alex and Luke liked sports and art, and Lily loved art as well, so they all talked about that. Astrid and Evelynn liked to read. Evelynn and Jack both liked to write, surprisingly.

Evelynn was surprised that Jack also enjoyed writing fiction. Maybe he wasn't that bad after all. The group had just begun to discuss their favorite foods when the power suddenly shut off, plunging them into a vast darkness.

~To be continued, maybe. -Ashlynn Blue, original, do not try to copy this.~