Middle School Horrors

New 'Friend'

"Finally!"

Freddy swung the door open, running out into the empty hallway, taking in a huge gasp of air. The others followed suit.

"It's a good thing Kingford's has bells for the teachers too! Or else who knows how long we would've been stuck in there if they left on their own time!" he said.

Mike, on the other hand, was gripping Elizabeth by the shoulders and dragging her out, while Christopher scampered behind them in nervous curiosity. His elder siblings both scowled at each other, Elizabeth kicking and screaming, trying to loosen her brother's hold.

"Okay, stop!" Michael ordered, taking an authoritarian tone. "Elizabeth, you're not supposed to be here. Neither is Chrissy. I don't care if you 'just wanted one glimpse of the ghost', or if you'll 'leave in a couple of hours'. I need you two to leave, now."

"Make me leave, and I'll tell Dad about your little 'operation' here!"

After a moment of hesitation, Mike said with a sigh, "How about this: If you leave, and not say anything to Dad, I will take you down to Baskin-Robbins, let you have as many free spoons as you want, and get you one, double-scoop cone. With sprinkles. How's that?"

The girl pursed her lips and eyed the heavens, deep in thought, before turning back to Mike.

"How about... if you let me be part of the investigation, and you get me that ice-cream, I take Chrissy home?"

"That's not happen--"

"Um... g-guys..." Mark had only then just poked his head out of the closet. "You-- you took the security cams into account, right?"

The team exchanged mixed expressions. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Of course I did. I didn't drag Chrissy under tables on the way here for no-- CHRIS! Move away from there! One of the evil cameras is there!"

The gullible boy, who had strayed a bit from the group, shuddered and shuffled back, positioning himself between his siblings, hugging his teddy bear tightly.
Elizabeth began to mumble to herself. "Shouldn't have brought him... if only Lana wasn't a tattletale."

"What about us? Did we take the cams into account?" Mary enquired, shooting Freddy and Lindy an accusing glare. They both exchanged glances before hanging their heads down in shame.

"Of course we did," Mary said, answering her own question with a smirk, and pulling out a sheet of paper from her bag; a plan of the school, with the areas covered by the cameras and the blind-spots neatly marked.

"Aw, yeah! I knew I could count on you, May!" Lindy exclaimed, clapping her friend on the back with a grin, though Mary didn't seem too pleased with her.

"How about... how about I add something to that?" Mark asked, taking a hesitant step out of the closet and turning to Elizabeth.

"You... you want to be part of the investigation?"

Michael glared at Mark as Elizabeth gave him an enthusiastic nod.

Mark pulled out a piece of paper, scribbled a number onto it and handed it to Elizabeth.
"Go home with Chrissy and boot up your laptop. I'll give you instructions afterwards."

Elizabeth furrowed her brows at the sight of the paper.
"Is this a trick?"

"Nope. I promise, you'll be really helpful."

"I really don't trust--"

"Once Elizabeth gets home, I'll need everyone to wear these ear-pieces," said Mark, his previously nervous voice brimming with excitement as he handed the pieces to everyone. "We can communicate with each other through these. Also, get out your smartphones. Elizabeth, I... I think you're smart enough to know where I'm going with this..."