Pathways

Chapter 7

Today I skip going to my locker and just bring my backpack to homeroom. I'm afraid that If I open my locker, I'll get another terrible letter. When I enter my fourth period I look for Mr. Morgue. I take a seat when a substitute walks in. I freeze.

"Just a coincidence is all," I mutter to myself.

"Hi, I'm Mrs. Hawthorne. Unfortunately, Mr. Morgue got into a car accident and is taking time to recover so I'll be teaching for the rest of the school year." Mrs. Hawthorne explains but after she said car crash my brain shut down. Someone's watching me. I turn my head abruptly toward the window toward the left of the classroom but I don't see anyone in the hallways. I turn to my right and look around. Everyone's eyes are on the teacher. My breathing starts getting shallow as I feel an oncoming panic attack. Calm down. Calm down, Anna. No one is watching you. One... two... three... breath. I try to soothe myself but I can't shake the terror that's clawing away at my soul.

After class, I head back to my locker. I have to fiddle with the lock six times before it opens. My hands are shaking that badly. I feel a cold chill crawl all over my body like an icy sunset as I slowly grab the handle of my locker and pull the door open. As expected a letter falls out. I pick it up and throw it in the nearest classroom's garbage. I tear out a piece of paper from my notebook and scribble the words "Leave me alone" and tape it on my locker door.

When I'm walking back from my sixth period I see William walk by in the hallway and wave. He just walks past me like I don't exist. Jerk. He was so nice to me before what's wrong now? I head to my locker and pull on the handle. The note I wrote is gone replaced by another letter. I want to scream. My foot feels like it's on fire when I kick my locker in frustration. Why won't this damn stalker leave me the hell alone? Fine then. maybe if I read all the letters they'll leave me alone. I doubt it but I read the letter out of curiosity anyway.

Dear Anna,

I noticed you threw out my letter. Why? I'm only trying to help you. I've noticed you've been hanging out with William more. Stay away from him. Of course, I know you won't because you don't want to listen to me. But I only want what's best for you. I love you. I want you to be safe. You must be really spooked by the current events that have happened in the last few weeks. I urge you to stay calm. You're approaching deep waters and I need you to have a clear head for what's to come.

"Anna," a hand grabs my shoulder and I jump, " Jeez, Anna. What's gotten into you lately? We never hang out anymore." Jake starts.

The bell rings and I shake my hand towards him still looking down at the letter, I didn't get to finish reading it because he interrupted me. There are only a few more sentences left, " Yeah, we can hang out I'm a little busy right now. Can we talk later?"

Jake sighs and walks away and I look up at his drooping figure. I'll do something extra nice for him this week. I swear. I tell myself as I look back down at the letter. I continue to examine it.

Fire. Fire. Fire. The chemistry lab will burn and there will be fire. Room 313. It won't be deadly though but everyone will have to evacuate. It'll happen at 12:15 am. Hurry My Anna, Maybe you can stop it.

Yours truly-?

The late bell rings and I pick up my phone in my pocket and check the time. 12:14 am. I drop the letter and sprint down the hallways. I fly by classrooms and almost ram into unsuspecting students as I try to reach room 313. I have no classes on the third floor so I'm not as familiar with it but I try my best to find the room. I look at the time on my phone as I pass room 309. It's 12:15. I'm too late. Just as my thoughts kick in I run straight into Axel.

"Anna? Why are you running? Class started-" he begins but I interrupt him.

" Is there a fire?" I ask.

"Fire? Uh," Just as Axel says his sentence I notice someone running down the hall. It's a small girl with short brown hair. She pulls the fire alarm and everyone soon starts flooding the halls. It happened. The fire. The letter was right. I rush with the crowd outside trying to find my class. My teacher is going to be so pissed when I show up. I find my class and slide in. My science teacher, Miss Yanka glares at me.

"Where were you?" She interrogates.

"Bathroom problems, I'm sorry. It won't happen again." I lie.

She nods and writes something on her clipboard. The cool November air dancers across my skin chilling it despite the jacket I'm wearing. I see William in the line next to mine and make eye contact with him. He frowns when he sees me and looks away. Seriously what is his deal?

We stay outside for about twenty minutes until the firetrucks arrive. The loud sirens stab at my ears like knives as I see firefighters in yellow jackets step out of the big red truck and run into the school building. I hear students whispering because most people thought it was just a drill, other students are complaining about the cold and still others are cracking jokes while the teachers try to silence them. The firefighters give us the all-clear to enter the building again and the crowd starts moving. I take the noisy chaos to find William. I want to know what his problem is. I stand still as people push their way past me and finally, I see a tall dark haired figure walking in my direction.

"William," I call.

"What do you want." He grumbles.

" What's your problem?" I ask.

" I don't have a problem. Why are you talking to me?" He snaps.

" Why wouldn't I be talking to you?" I counter.

"I thought you wanted me to leave you alone." He exhales.

I take a step back. The note on my locker. Could he be? No, that doesn't make any sense. William sees the wide-eyed expression I give him and he shakes his head.

"You're being paranoid. I'm not him. That note wasn't for me?" William asks.

I shake my head. " No, it was for my stalker."

I feel a melting chill down my spine like an icy sunset again. Someone's watching me. I frantically look around trying to locate someone but the crowd is too big and everyone is moving. I feel a rising panic when William grabs my wrist.

"Calm down, you're being paranoid." He whispers.

I shake my head trying to let go of the dread I have.