404

The Unravelling

*clop. clop. clop.*

My feet went while I run through the late afternoon road. The sound of cars bustling around me filled me with fear and tremble, but I need to go through with this. Who am I if the only thing I have is a husk of a being? An empty shell is decorated on the outside but the essence is gone. As the sky turns from orange to more red, and as I take more twists and turns, I started to see the school near the end of my vision. Watching as the gates of the school slightly closed with fewer and fewer cars leaving it, my heart started to race. I felt a sense of guilt and evil in my heart which tore apart as I watch the cars slowly disappear. For I knew that each car leaving is another chance to get in, another chance to accomplish my mission... to find me.

After building up the courage to get into the school, I ran as fast I could towards the gate of the building. I then scouted the area for guards and CCTVs before I made my move to enter the compound. In doing so, I saw two guards near the entrance as well as two CCTVs - one at the front gate and one at the main school entrance. With this information, I knew I had to distract one of the two guards then escape the view of the CCTVs so I devised a plan. I started throwing small rocks near the tree growing next to the entrance hoping they'd notice it. Luckily enough, they did and started to go walk up towards it. Now, with them being distracted, I covered myself with my large handkerchief and ran as quick as I could through the front gate. Now, I needed a way to not be spotted by the front entrance CCTV, but what if I didn't need to go through the front entrance. I remembered that Mrs. Labrador's office was directly next to the outside walls of the school and has windows in it, so I went for it. I went around the building looking through each window hoping it was Mrs. Labrador's office, but each time I peek, all I see are classrooms. What's worse is that each I do, I know that I am jeopardizing everything the longer I take.

A few minutes go by and I then felt the cold air of the evening started to hit my face. I knew I wasn't gonna be able to make it and I knew I should just give up... but something inside me groaned throughout the time I was looking through the class. A voice saying that I owe it to everyone around me to finish this. That I've destroyed so much already that not going through with this would be a waste and stupid. I couldn't- I couldn't just let this happen and not have something to show for it. I have to get in. I have to prove who I am...

Then, just as I was standing up, I saw a name through the window. It said... Mrs. Labrador. Without even skipping a beat, I looked for an opening on her window hoping to leap towards it. However, it seems that even fate had set things up against me. I closely analyzed the window pane and saw that it had grills on it. I looked at the locks and indeed they are locked. No chances of an entrance, no chances of hope...

As the evening breeze grew even colder and hit my skin filled with sweat, I looked at the sky and see tiny stars appearing. I see planes pass the evening glow with their red lights blinking up the heavens. I must've gazed at the stars for a couple of minutes before I remembered something... I remembered my room and its white walls. I remember the stars peering through the window with their glittering beauty. I remembered the pain... I remembered how afraid I was when I woke up and how discombobulated my mind was... I remember seeing my name for the first time in that bed. I remembered wanting to discover who I am... I don't owe this to anyone... I owe this to myself, and I think fate heard me too...

Right before I even stood up to try again and enter Mrs. Labrador's office window, I hear a door open. From what I hear, it seems to have come from the back of the school so I went there to investigate. The evening lights slightly illuminating the dark corners of the school, I took a peek at what I believe is the source of all the sounds, and what I saw was a huge green metal door that I've never seen before... but that seems to be false... As I walk closer to the door that busted open, I feel a sense of familiarity... Like this was a place I've been to several times... I looked at the garbage can staring at the door directly and remembered feeling at home... My eyes then went from the garbage and to the sign above the door saying exit seemingly involuntarily. Add to that a voice and rustling sound that appeared to me so foreign yet so familiar... But something tells me that voice, familiar as it may be, will be the end of my mission.