Charmolypi [S.H]

Chapter Six

Author's Note:

Summary:

There's a lot going on in this chapter.

Reader has another nightmare (guest character appearance)

Second time reader and steve meet as well as reader's first proper encounter with some of the other members of the gang.

Notes: I told myself when I first tarted writing this story that each of my chapters would be around 3k words... I have obviously failed at that lol. This chapter is definetely my longest one yet with a little more than 12k words (oops).

Hope you like it. Let me know what you think! Enjoy:)

*Not edited.

______________________________

You made your way down the empty hallway, hand lightly grazing the scratchy paint on the wall streaked with the school's symbol colors. Orange and green.

A faint buzz echoed through your ears, drawing your gaze away from the wall. At the far end of the hall, you noticed a flickering light casting a faint, wavering glow. The light seemed almost alive, dancing erratically as it struggled against the darkness. You followed it, completely lured in by the tiny beacon. The glow, a stark contrast to the shadows that cloaked the rest of the hallway, revealed fleeting glimpses of worn linoleum tiles and long-forgotten lockers. Each step closer seemed to amplify the buzzing.

A set of double doors loomed before you as you reached the end of the hall. Unlike the other classroom doors, which you had noticed were all locked, these stood ajar. The open doors seemed to beckon you forward, their silent invitation a stark contrast to the otherwise tightly secured rooms you had passed by earlier.

You pushed past them, your steps echoing as you entered what you realized was an empty gymnasium. The sound of your shoes squeaking against the glossy hardwood floors bounced around the vast space. Basketball nets hung in each corner of the room, their shadows stretching across the polished surface, recreating the semblance of spiderwebs expanding all over the area.

"Took you long enough," came a voice that had you gasping, wildly turning around until you spotted its owner. The voice was raspy and confident, with a hint of amusement that sent a chill down your spine. Right on the top of the metal bleachers against the far end wall sat a man, casually leaned back with his legs and arms spread out. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint as he observed you with a knowing smirk. "I was starting to think you weren't gonna show," he added, his tone dripping with playful mockery, resonating in the empty space around you.

He stood up, slowly making his descent from the stand, each step causing the metal to groan from the pressure. You stepped back as a sense of dread washed over you, your eyes locking onto features you recognized all too well. Long brown curls cascaded over broad shoulders, framing a face that stirred unease. Worn jean jacket hung loosely on his frame, partially concealing a silver chain that dangled from black pants. His long-sleeved t-shirt was emblazoned with an unsettling red creature with horns, its malevolent gaze seeming to pierce through you and making your skin crawl.

He raised a brow, halting his movements as he watched you back away from him, your pulse quickening. His eyes seemed to bore into you, a predatory glint in them that sent your heart racing. You felt your back hit the double doors—the very same ones you had come through just minutes ago. Panic surged through you. Before you knew it, you were spinning around, pushing past the doors, and running for your life, the sound of your own frantic breaths echoing in the empty corridor.

You didn't know where you were going. You didn't even know how you had gotten here in the first place. You just kept running, constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure he wasn't following you. You made a sharp turn left down another long corridor, your feet pounding against the hardwood floor. Spotting a door a few feet ahead, you quickened your pace, reaching for the knob and cursing when it wouldn't open. You banged your fists on it, frustrated. Desperation gnawed at you as you tried the next classroom, and then the next, your hands growing shakier with each one that refused to budge. Panic clawed at your throat, your breaths coming in ragged gasps as the oppressive silence of the empty hallways pressed in around you.