Archaeology 101... The Classroom of Despair

~Day 24~

Then it happened. The next day. Another rainy day. Alec was gone. He didn't show up. Everyone had made sure they always at least stopped by the archaeology classroom whenever they had class, even if they felt under the weather. It was like a safety net. But he wasn't here. Everyone looked at each other. They rushed to get to the back of the classroom. His stuff. It was gone. Both his object and his initials.

"What???? What could have possibly happened???" Said a nervous Holly.

"Why are people disappearing???" Matti exclaimed in shock.

"Let's ask to see the attendance again, yeah? Maybe a janitor came by?" Makayla decided to try and be some sense of hope. Everyone then nervously awaited the arrival of Professor Ranking. They were all on the edge of their seats as Professor Ranking walked in.

"PROFESSOR!!" Everyone yelled as he walked into the room. Professor Ranking was taken aback by this welcome.

"Well hello to you all too." He responded with a smile.

"Uhmm Professor Ranking? Can you show us the attendance again?" Asked a desperate Nico.

"...While I'm not particularly sure why I don't see why not at least," Professor Ranking said as he pulled up the attendance once more for the class. The students read the attendance in anticipation, barely able to read properly as the possibilities go through their heads.

Matthias Brodek...

Holly Cauldoon...

Nico Dirs...

Harmony Geitla...

Kiera Guao...

Andrew Matthews...

Dave Simons...

Makayla Willis...

Gone. No Alec.

"NOT AGAIN??!?!!" Shouted Kiera.

Nico started to cry in the background, "I don't want anyone else to die!" He wailed. Dave went over to comfort him in his fit of tears. Professor Ranking was thoroughly confused.

"What do you guys mean? It's just attendance. I don't think it warrants this reaction." Professor Ranking concernedly questioned his students.

"Professor, don't you remember that there was another student in our class?? Alec Cayuna!" Kiera said slightly aggressively towards Professor Ranking while she stuck her arms out with frustration.

"What do you mean? It is just the 8 of you in class, just as it always has been. Well, let's start class. Nico? Did you want some air?" Nico shook his head while he responded to Professor Ranking. He didn't think that the unknowing outside world would be of much comfort to him. The class grew silent as the lesson started. 

The dread inside of them slowly grew.