PA 3.5: End of a Tail

Chapter XXXII Part II

Asahi grasped at their heart, the tuft of fur on their chest being frazzled by the strict motions. They looked around- left, right, certain that they hadn't been followed, and that things were fine now, totally.

Then footsteps dashed up the hall, and the student realized they were still being chased by the ghost. They had to hide! Practically slamming their body against one of the few lockless lockers, they swung open the door, sliding inside as smoothly as the five-foot-tall ball of white fluff could.

"Pleasedon'tnoticepleasedon'tnoticepleasedon'tnotice," they rambled to themselves, quietly. Said rambling cut abruptly as they realized the footsteps weren't just getting closer, but were heading right for them.

They cowered, wincing and raising their paw up in defence as the locker was swung open. Both students stared curiously at each other behind fearful gazes before Ace grabbed Asahi's paw, mashing his hip into the locker. "Quick, make some room!"

"What?!" they stammered, "You won't fit! Find another locker!"

"There's no time, move!"

Without bothering to ask, Ace slipped as best he could into the locker, accidentally bumping Asahi's nape against the hook on its rear, making them howl in pain as it tore the skin. With the sudden sound scaring Ace out of his stupor, the coonhound slid back out, shut the locker, and then dashed down the aisle, entering another and shutting it.

Asahi nursed the small wound on the back of their head, trying to keep their groans down as the trickle sunk into their paw. They froze as the ghostly sound of something quietly floating past came and went, only resuming their breaths when their lungs caught fire. They eventually stumbled out from the confines, poking at the flap of broken skin and trying to put it back into place as Ace jogged back to the student and slapped his paws down onto Asahi's shoulders.

"Oh my Dog, I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Do you need a bandage?" He asked, turning the dog about and fumbling with the tinged mess of fur until he could see the wound proper.

"I... I think it's okay?" Asahi replied.

"We don't know that- injuries in sports sometimes take an hour or more to leave an impact. We need to get you to a hospital!"

"I-" they swallowed, blue eyes narrowing in apprehension, "Are you sure? I- I feel fine!"

"Better safe than sorry," Ace said, punctuating the saying with a rough clap on Asahi's back.

"Hey, guys!" The sharp whisper cut through the tension in the air, drawing attention to the two dogs holding onto each other's paws with a death grip. Canna continued, "Are you okay?"

"What?" Asahi asked, "I can't hear you."

"Hey!" Ace hissed, "Keep it down, are you trying to get us killed?"

"Guys," Shie whispered sharply, "Keep it down and listen up- we need to find a way out of here. Since we don't have any cats with us, we're going to need to figure out how those doors work ourselves."

"Actually, I checked one out on my way here!" Asahi excitedly shout-whispered. "I'm pretty sure they're all locked from the outside like Toez said; they didn't budge at all!"

Shie pinched the bridge of their muzzle, "Well then... Can you tell us any more about them?" they said, gesturing towards Toez.

"Uh, sure-"

Asahi lept up, sharp claws digging into the floor as they assumed a fight-or-flight stance. "OH MY DOG!"

"Where have you been?" Ace chastized, more than a little freaked out from Asahi's reaction.

Toez frowned intensely, eyes drooping in disdain. "I've been here the whole time," the big-eared wolf sassed, "the doors are sealed from the outside. Pretty sure with chalk. If we want to get out, it can't be through them."

"So, some other way, then?" Ace asked, "What about the windows?"

"No good," Shie said, enjoying the anxiety-releasing pats that Canna was giving them. "The windows are shatterproof and laminated- we'd need a hammer and a few minutes."

Ace cocked his eyebrows and planted his slick-furred paws on his hip. "So why not just find a hammer, then?"

"Because laminated glass isn't safe," Shie tutted, "and vandalism is against school regulations." Canna gave him another nervous pat as she smiled at the comment.

"Are you serious? You care about school regulations now?" Ace said.

"Y-Yeah, and dying to a crazy murderer isn't really safe either," Asahi added.

Canna raised her voice a tad, "Sweetness, maybe we could try the janitor's closet to try and find something useful?"

Ace cocked an eyebrow, "Like a weapon?"

"Oh- or keys to a car?!" Asahi excitedly pleaded.

Toez pouted, "Or a hiding place?"

"Um," Canna started sweating at the attention, "No I was thinking something to break the doors with? Or the windows? Maybe there's a vent to the outside."

The pink wolf instinctively snickered, muttering something and looking to the other students for similar reactions. "Well," Ace murmured, "it's as good of an idea as any."

"Shie?" Canna interrupted, "Are you okay?"

The german shepherd dug their claws into their scalp, swaying back to lean against a locker. Canna concernedly took the paw away with a gentle grasp, eyebrows furrowing in worry as she placed hers against his forehead, trying to get past the thin layer of fur.

"I have a migraine, sorry." Shie said, almost brushing Canna off before they realized who she was, and calmed down. "That sounds good. I know where it is." They staggered forward, shook their head about, and strode defiantly on through the eerie hall. "Follow me."