Dark Days, Darker Secrets

002

Possible spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4. This chapter also contains mentions of drugs.

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Biology. The bane of my existence. It's not that it's a particularly hard class, it's just really boring. Especially the way Ms. O'Donnells teaches it, as though she's forced to be a teacher. And so it's not surprising nor uncommon that I put my head down and gaze out the window, mind completely blank.

Apparently so blank that I manage to doze off. When I come to, I sit upright with a start, eyes darting around me. Shit. The classroom is completely empty, no one in sight. I know Ms. O'Donnell has a free period 6th hour, so that's why there's no one here. Still confused on why no one woke me up, though.

With a deep sigh, I start putting my notebook and pencil into my bag. My hand is halfway there before I hear a noise coming from the hallway. I put my stuff away and then slow my movements, concentrating on the unfamiliar sound.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

A clock, then. But it sounds warped.

Abandoning my bag, I hesitantly get up from my chair and walk over the the open door. Gripping the frame, I peek around the corner, looking to the sides. There's nothing there. Just an empty hall filled with rows of lockers. I'm about to go back into the classroom to grab my things when I hear it.

The ticking resumes, sounding closer than before.

I turn my head to the left and nearly fall over. I would have, had I not begun gripping the door frame like a lifeline.

A tall clock sits in the middle of the hallway. Too obvious to miss, I know it hadn't been there a moment ago.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Taking a deep breath, I mentally brace myself before starting towards the clock. As I get closer, I notice the intricate detailing on the clock face.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

A foot away from it now, I feel a strange sense of deja vu. I analyze the clock base. It looks familiar, somehow, and I remember where from.

Tick. Tick.

I hear cracking, and I quickly life my eyes to see lines spreading like spider webs across the clock face.

Tick.

I see my reflection in the glass, the cracks splitting my face apart.

Boom

A bell sounds, a low chime, and just as the ticking it sounds distorted. Wrong.

The clock starts to tip forward, toppling towards me. I try to turn and get out of the way but I can't move, my feet stuck to the floor. And so I watch in fear, unable to do anything, first as the shadow enfulges me, then as the clock crushes me beneath its weight.

...

"...ophelia. Ophelia. Ophelia!" I jolt up with a gasp. Ms. Donnells stands in front of me, looking down disapprovingly. "You need to pay attention. I understand that it's the last day before break, but you need to put in the effort."

I nod frantically, mind racing, not really paying attention to her and her words. "Uh, yes of course, I understand. Sorry, I'll pay attention."

She gives me one last disappointed look before walking back to the front of class and continuing whatever she had been saying before. Immediately going back on my word of paying attention, I get lost in thought thinking about my dream. I swear, I've seen that clock before. Around town? Before we moved here? I just can't put my finger on it. Yet.