𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒﹙ ʀᴀɪɴʙᴏᴡ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ﹚

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTᗴᖇ Oᑎᗴ

it's surprisingly calming as you shuffle past all the empty seats to take your place in the back row. the dimmed lights of the stage give the theater a cozy feel, unlike the ominous entryway to your right. the darkness inside looks like the night sky without its twinkling stars. but your classmates from down the hall somehow manage to make it look ten times scarier than that. their distant laughter making the theme park change from a magical wonderland into a terrifying halloween haunt without a single word.

after putting your backpack under your chair, you pull out your picture book and turn to the last page where you left off reading at recess. since there's no one around, you can finally read your picture book peacefully.

this is much better than the bus ride here when your classmates could not stop talking about their excitement to meet the famous characters of the hemlock woods theme park—not saying that you weren't just as eager. however, you didn't even get a chance to see the mascot that greeted your class once you stepped through the front door because you were quickly pushed to the back of the crowd (which almost broke your glasses when you landed face-first on the ground) of your fellow students and left to stray alone in this new world.

you're okay with it. being around people can be exhausting. so you moved from room to room until you found the theater, where you now find yourself in the comfort of your own space without having to deal with anyone else but yourself.

you couldn't ask for more.

however, your peace doesn't last long as a thundering noise comes down the hall. it's so powerful that it shakes the floor beneath you. and with a panicked yelp, you fall off your chair as a crash echoes from the hallway. like something heavy has smashed against the wall. but you can't see anything beyond the entryway. not that you would know what to look for anyway as you peer over the edge of your seat with your picture book clutched tight to your chest.

after a moment or two, it's quiet again—as if whatever happened had just been swept under the rug like a bad dream. slowly ease yourself onto your knees and slide your book back into your backpack before standing. like any sudden movement could start another disaster.

looking back at the entrance, you freeze at seeing a silhouette outside the doorway.

a pang of fear shoots through you. despite the decent lighting, your eyes still struggle to make out details. but you notice two things: the figure is panting hard as if it had been running; the sounds coming from it are heavy, like it's in pain.

but if it's in pain...shouldn't it be with the staff where they can help?

it's facing the wall, and you're facing its back. there's no sign of an injury or blood anywhere. yet it seems to be in distress.

a nervous sigh escapes you.

this is either a good idea or a very stupid one.

after fidgeting and considering your options, you suck in a deep breath and step forward.