ESCAPE

Chapter 1: TRAP

Mia: Do I have to go?

Mia groaned while thinking about summer school as they were on their way there. She did not like the idea of summer school, extra homework, and boring activities.

Mia's mom: Of course. Remember what you did to that Clark kid? Besides, it'll be fun.

Mia looked out the car window as the memory played in her head. She remembered when a boy in her class would take her lunch out of jealousy since she had good food. One day she put laxatives on her food so that the next time he steals it, he'll regret it. Clark ended up defecating in the restroom for over an hour. She was eventually sent to the principal's office afterward.

Mia: He deserved it. Also, I bet it won't.

They eventually arrived at the school.

Mia: Mom, I don't want to do this.

Mia's mom: You'll be fine.

She kissed Mia as they said their goodbyes. Soon enough, she left. Mia looked behind her and sighed.

Mia: Here we go.

She walked around and sat on a bench near a tree. She looked around. She saw kids of her age and older. Chatter scattered the scene. As she sat alone, she heard a voice calling her attention. The voice came from a Japanese girl with long curly hair.

Girl: Mind if I sit here?

As she saw her, Mia felt her heart pound in her chest.

Mia: S-Sure. Cute.

As the girl sat down, her phone rang. It was her parents. Their entire conversation was in Japanese. They asked her if she had brought everything she needed, and she said.

Girl: はい母 (Yes, mom)

She sighed as the call ended with a tired look on her face. She looked like she hadn't had a sleep in days.

Mia: You okay?

Girl: Y-Yeah. I'm Alexandria, but you can call me Alex.

Mia: I'm Mia.

They shook hands.

Alex: Why are you here?

Mia: I let some guy in school steal some of my food which I put laxatives on.

Alex: Damn.

Mia: He deserved it for stealing my lunch a bunch of times!

Alex: Yeah.

Mia: What about you?

Alex: Well. My parents saw my grades. It was an A-. It wasn't even a bad grade!

Mia: Sounds like a stupid reason to send someone here.

Alex: Yeah. You're lucky you have a good relationship with your parents. My parents only want me to succeed instead of caring about me or my health.

Mia: Dang. When was the last time you slept?

Alex: I don't know. I can't remember.

Mia: Well, um, come here.

She opened her arms to hug Alex. She swooned as Mia approached her. Alex had never felt such affection from anyone, not even her parents. Alex recalls when her parents ignored her when she needed them. Whenever Alex would cry, her mother just scoffed, and her father just yelled at her to stop. She then recalled the real reason why her parents took her to summer school; she snuck out to attend a classmate's party. When her parents found out, she had the worst punishment. Her parents verbally abused her. As she enjoys Mia's embrace, she sheds a tear.

Mia: Woah, are you okay?

Alex: Yeah. I'm fine. It's just that I haven't been treated like this before.

Mia: Really? Don't your parents give you hugs?

Alex: Not even one.

Mia: That's some bad parenting right there.

Alex: Yeah. Thanks for the hug, though.

Mia: You're welcome!

She smiled as the wind blew.

Alex: What's with this girl? Why am I having these feelings toward her? More importantly, why is she so damn cute?! What the heck is this?!

Voice: All students, please proceed inside the building now.

Mia: Well, we better move.

Alex: Y-Yeah.

All of the students head inside the building. As they went inside, they saw a prison-like hallway with yellow fluorescent lights. A sense of unease is what the students felt when they caught a glimpse of the inside. "Why does it look so unnerving?" They asked themselves. The door suddenly closed behind them, and so did the windows. The students began to feel a sense of fear.

Mia: What's going on?

As the students were chattering in the hallway, a loud, angry voice yelled.

???: SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU FUCKERS! SHUT THE FUCK UP!

As the students sank into what the voice had said, a man emerged from a room holding a pistol. A student screamed as the man fired a shot at the ceiling.

Man: I SAID, SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU CUNTS! You're in my school now, and all you will do as I say! If anyone doesn't follow my instructions.

The man proceeds to fire a shot at the wall.

Man: AM I CLEAR?!

The students nodded in fear.

Man: Now, let's get down to business. Welcome to Enfèr School. My name's Andrew. I'm the school's principal, and all of you will do as I say.

There was nothing the students could do to get out of the situation as Andrew spoke. All they could do was listen to what Andrew had to say. He explained the rules and punishments. The students stood still as they heard all of the things he said. Punishments involved psychological and physical torture—things like curfews and labor. The students could not believe it. The staff would put them through all this for an entire summer. Guards would go around the campus, keeping an eye on the students to ensure they weren't trying to escape. Mia and Alex stood close to each other as Andrew finished explaining.

Andrew: Security!

He yelled as guards stood beside him.

Andrew: Take these kids to the dorms.

They forcefully took the students to the dormitory. As they walked to the dormitory, Mia thought to herself.

Mia: Are we going to live like this for the entire summer?!

Alex looked over to Mia.

Alex: W-We'll be fine, right? I'm sure he didn't mean all those things.

Mia: I-I don't know what's going to happen to us. I'm not sure if we're going to be okay. I'm scared.

Alex paused for a brief moment.

Alex: Yeah. I'm scared too. 神様私たちを助けてください (God, please help us)

TO BE CONTINUED

Writer's note:

Oh hey! This is where I'll say stuff. First off, I don't know when I'll continue "Just the Two of Us". Maybe sometime in the future. Second, I came up with this story when I was 12, but I reworked some stuff. (You don't wanna know the original plot) Finally, this is not inspired by the Elan school incident. It was purely coincidental that I came up with this idea. Although you are free to compare, do not think that a horrible event inspired this story. It did not.