No Way Out

Killer on the loose

Sikowitz gasped, his breath rattling as his eyes fluttered open. Everyone in the room jumped, startled by the sound.

"Ahhh! Zombie! Don't eat me! Here, eat her!" Robbie shrieked, grabbing Cat and using her as a human shield. Cat's eyes widened in confusion, too scared to even react.

"He's alive!" Andre shouted, his relief palpable as the group rushed toward Sikowitz.

"Yeah, but for how long?" Trina's voice trembled, her face pale as she knelt beside their teacher, who was barely conscious. "He's bleeding everywhere."

"Just help me get him out of this chair!" Tori called to her sister, her hands already struggling to peel the duct tape from Sikowitz's arms and legs.

"Ugh, there's so much blood! What did they do to him?" Trina recoiled, her stomach churning at the sight. "Can someone find me some scissors?"

Everyone instinctively turned toward Jade.

"Somebody mysteriously put me in a gown! You think they'd let me keep my scissors?" Jade snapped sarcastically, rolling her eyes. The others scattered, frantically searching the room for anything sharp.

Cat, scanning the room, spotted something odd. "Um, Jade... isn't this the scissors I gave you?" Her voice was hesitant as she pointed to a pair lodged in one of the coconuts.

The entire group froze, eyes darting between Cat, Jade, and the scissors. Jade's heart dropped as she snatched the scissors from Cat. "Give me that!" she barked, slicing through the remaining tape on Sikowitz, letting his limp body fall into her arms before collapsing to the floor.

For a moment, no one moved. Jade's breath was shallow as she looked down at the bloodied scissors in her hand, then dropped them in disgust.

"What the hell are you all standing still for?!" Jade yelled, her voice breaking as panic set in. "Can't you see he's dying? Help him!"

The others snapped out of their shock and rushed to help, pulling Sikowitz back into the chair and trying to assess the damage. Jade stood back, her pulse racing, feeling their judgmental eyes on her.

As the group focused on Sikowitz, Tori slowly picked up the discarded scissors and turned them over in her hand, her gaze locking onto Jade. "Isn't it... convenient for someone like, I don't know, a killer, to get a hold of your beloved scissors so easily?"

Jade's eyes narrowed, her body tensing with rage. "Oh, for the love of God, do you actually think I'm the killer?" Her voice cracked with disbelief, but silence greeted her. Jade's heart sank as she saw uncertainty flash across each face in the room. Her eyes darted to Beck, desperate for any sign of support.

"Beck...?"

For a second, Beck hesitated, avoiding her gaze. "I—I don't want to believe it, Jade, but—"

"Then don't!" Jade snapped, her voice raw. "I told you, I've got nothing to do with this!"

"It's not that simple," Beck said, his voice wavering. "This is the second time we've found something... against you."

"Against me? You're collecting evidence now?" Jade's voice faltered, hurt and betrayal lacing every word. "I thought you trusted me."

Beck tried to step forward, reaching for her, but Jade was already walking out the door, her face set in stone. "Jade, wait!" Tori yelled, running after her. But as soon as Tori crossed the threshold, the classroom doors slammed shut behind her, locking the others inside. 

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Jade stormed through the empty halls, her vision blurring with anger. How could they all turn on her like this? How could Beck turn on her? She felt suffocated by their accusations, by the walls of this school that had become her personal prison.