Control

Screaming

The needle was less than an inch from being injected into my bloodstream, when Jin exploded open the door and charged in there yelling, "What the hell is going on?!"

He didn't bother to wait for Namjoon to answer and started swinging at him, knocking over equipment left and right. Suddenly, Jimin burst through the door, and the first thing he saw was Jin attacking his sacred leader, so he caught Jin by the fist and forced his arm back until we all heard the sound of bones cracking.

Then Jungkook came in to see what all the commotion was, and he quickly perceived what was going on. Jungkook, with all of the raw power and strength he possessed, with all the pure rage coursing through his veins, he latched onto Jimin, tackling him to the ground and wrapping his arm around the fallen man's neck.

More people came into the picture, first the Chinese men, and then more of BTS. I saw Taehyung pulling Jungkook off of Jimin who had passed out from not being able to breathe.

It was a whole big bloody fight, and I was just sitting there watching it all happen from the outside. I lost awareness of anything around me and attempted to get off the bed, however, I was firmly handcuffed to it.

Then, for some reason, I thought it was a good idea to try to sit on the floor even though I couldn't reach it, so I slipped and fell and promptly lost consciousness.

When I came to, I was only half awake. I looked around the room I was in, and the lights were so bright I couldn't see anything. Once my eyes adjusted, I came to the realization that I was in a classroom. A real classroom. One with desks and teachers and students and textbooks.

Well, there were no students in this one.

I recognized where I was at as Mrs. Brooks' room. At the same time, Mrs. Brooks came up to me-

Oh, hey, I'm sitting on a couch.

-offering a bottle of water and a bag of Doritos, and calmly said, "Hey, Alice, are you okay?"

"Y-yeah," I said, shuddering. I took a sip of water and asked, "Did Seokjin bring me here?"

"No," she replied, "He couldn't lift you, so Yoongi carried you over here. That's what he told me."

I remember that Jimin broke Jin's arm, so that's probably why he couldn't lift me. I was very surprised that Yoongi would do that. I guess he didn't hate me as much as it seemed.

I stayed in that room for the rest of the period, helping Mrs. Brooks grade papers and staple packets together. I wanted to stay longer, but she had a class and I had a class, so she told me it would be best if I went to fourth period.

"Bye, Mrs. Brooks!" I waved.

"Bye, Alice Caldwell! Love you!" she hollered in her thick country accent.

"Love you too," I mumbled.

I don't know why she likes me so much or why I'm her favorite student, but I appreciate the little bit of privilege I have because I know that she wouldn't have been this kind to anyone else.

It puts a smile on my face.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw all the familiar faces I see everyday, but it was like I was living in the Twilight Zone. They didn't interact with me, and I didn't interact with them. It was as if I was merely watching from the outside.

Where am I?

I entered Mrs. Gray's room, and neither Namjoon nor Mr. Taylor were in there, which didn't surprise me in the least.

Namjoon obviously wasn't here because he didn't want people to see him in his condition, you know, beat up. Yeah, Jin did catch a few swings in there. In fact, they all got roughed up a bit.

Well, as much as I can remember, that is.

While Mr. Taylor probably wasn't here because he was back at college for the day. That just leaves the Grinch.

She really doesn't like teaching, as a matter of fact, she hasn't taught a whole class period this entire year. But now she has no choice but to deal with us.

I slumped in my desk and saw a yellow sticky note stuck to the top. It read:

You might think we're nearing the end, but this is only the beginning.
-Jackson❤️

I cringed. I knew he was trying to manipulate me. This was not a sweet, little note; this was a threat.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go to Namjoon (unless I had a death wish) or any of them really. But I could bring this to Mrs. Brooks. She would know just what to say. I'll make sure to have a word with her seventh period.

But for now, I had to watch Mrs. Gray's vein pop out of her neck due to her growing agitation. I don't know why she was agitated.

We were actually quiet for once, the whole class. We sat patiently at our desks. A few students in the back had their phones out, but Mrs. Gray didn't seem to care any other day. However, today something was off.

I wholeheartedly believe that she really hates kids so much that she just despises teaching for one day. It might also be the new curriculum. She really isn't qualified to teach Calculus and it irritates her that she has to plan all this out when we're not at all prepared for it. At least, that's what she said when Namjoon wasn't in the room.

We collectively stared as she stomped to the marker board, grabbed a marker and studied some papers. The whole situation carried a great deal of suspense.

What was she going to do next? Would she teach the class? Or would she scream at us?

Nobody was breathing; we were all anticipating her next move.

Suddenly, Mrs. Gray threw the papers down and smashed the marker against the board. She shrieked, "I REFUSE TO DO THIS!"

She then went on to say (and I quote), "I DIDN'T GET MY MASTER'S DEGREE TO TEACH DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS! OVER THE SPAN OF THIRTY YEARS, I HAVE TAUGHT ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY, BUT I HAVE NEVER, NOT ONCE, TAUGHT DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS! THEY EXPECT ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS! I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO DO THIS!

"NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO TEACH A SUBJECT I HAVE NEVER STUDIED IN MY LIFE, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH SUCH A HORRIBLE CLASS! YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME, YOU ARE ALWAYS TALKING, YOU FAIL EVERY TEST EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO TEACH YOU! YOU JUST WON'T LISTEN!!!

"YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THOSE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] PHONES! YOU CAN'T PUT UP THOSE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] PHONES FOR ONE CLASS PERIOD JUST TO LISTEN TO ME! IT IS AGAINST THE RULES TO EVEN HAVE THEM AT SCHOOL! I WOULD TAKE THEM AWAY, BUT THE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] MAJORITY OF YOU ARE FOOTBALL PLAYER! I DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE AND WORK HERE JUST TO BE SCARED OF THE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] STUDENTS-"

I rolled my eyes.

"-I REFUSE TO TEACH THIS [INSERT EXPLETIVE] AND I REFUSE TO CATER TO YOU [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE]! YOU'RE JUST A BUNCH OF [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] THAT CAN'T DO ONE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] THING YOU'RE ASKED TO DO!!!"

At that point, several teachers had their heads poked out of their door in deep confusion and worry. I don't think she cared.

She continued, "NEVER IN MY THIRTY YEARS OF TEACHING HAVE I HAD A CLASS SO HORRIBLE AND INCONSIDERATE-"

She was (thank God) abruptly interrupted by several Chinese men with straight jackets who busted open the door and worked to wrestle her to the ground.

On the way, she was shouting, "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO THIS! THIS IS [INSERT EXPLETIVE] AMERICA! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER THE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] I WANT!"

They finally pinned her on the ground and forced her into a straight jacket. Then they dragged her kicking and screaming all the way out the door.

The whole time she hollered over and over, "[INSERT EXPLETIVE] YOU! YOU'RE ALL GOING TO HELL! ALL OF YOU CHINESE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] AND ALL THE [INSERT EXPLETIVE] [INSERT EXPLETIVE] STUDENTS IN HERE, YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BURN IN HELL FOR THIS! YOU'RE GOING TO HELL! [INSERT EXPLETIVE] YOU! [INSERT EXPLETIVE] YOU!!!"

They finally pried her from the doorway and she was carried down the hallway, towards the restricted area, never to be seen again.