Hollow Creek /Finney Blake X Male Oc/

Chapter Sixteen: A New Week

Chapter 16: A New Week

Morning, August 20, 1978, 8:12 AM

The school buzzed with life as students filed through the front doors, laughing and chatting in excited clusters. Ethan walked beside Finney, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his worn denim jacket. The crisp morning air was filled with the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint hint of autumn creeping in.

As they reached their history classroom, Ethan felt a familiar flutter of nerves in his stomach. The door creaked as they entered, and there stood Mr. Hargrove, the substitute teacher, leaning against the desk with a strange smile on his face. It sent a shiver down Ethan's spine, but he quickly dismissed it.

"Hey, Finney," Ethan said quietly as they settled into their seats. "What does 'predator' mean?"

Finney paused, his eyebrows knitting together in surprise. He glanced at Mr. Hargrove before turning back to Ethan. "It's, like, someone who takes advantage of others," he explained carefully. "Usually in a harmful way, you know?"

Ethan frowned, trying to piece it together in his mind. "Like... a bad guy?" he asked, his innocence shining through.

"Yeah, something like that." Finney leaned in closer, his voice lowering. "You remember what we talked about with Mr. Hargrove? I think it's important to be aware of people who give you weird vibes. Just... stay cautious, okay?"

Ethan nodded, but unease settled in his chest. He thought back to the way Mr. Hargrove had looked at him, that unsettling smile creeping into his thoughts again. "He makes me feel strange," Ethan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Finney nodded knowingly, concern etched on his face. "You're not the only one. Just be careful, alright?"

As the bell rang and class began, Ethan found it hard to concentrate. Mr. Hargrove's voice droned on, but the words felt distant, as if they were coming from underwater. Instead, Ethan's mind drifted back to the conversation he had overheard between his parents-the words "predator" and "danger" swirling like a storm in his head.

The lesson felt endless, and when the bell finally rang to signal the end of class, Ethan exhaled in relief. He shared a look with Finney, both of them sensing the tension still hanging in the air.

"Let's walk home together," Finney suggested, his tone lightening as they exited the classroom.

"Yeah, good idea," Ethan replied, eager to shift his thoughts away from Mr. Hargrove. They started down the hallway, chatting about their upcoming school projects and the festival competition that Ethan had been preparing for.

But as they walked, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He glanced back at Mr. Hargrove's classroom one last time, unease settling deeper within him.

As the day wore on, Ethan felt the minutes ticking away slowly. Each class passed like an eternity, and he couldn't shake the nagging feeling of dread that accompanied the thought of seventh period. When the bell rang, signaling the transition to lunch, he and Finney found a quiet table in the cafeteria.

"Do you think Mr. Hargrove will be in gym today?" Ethan asked, trying to keep his voice steady as he picked at his food.

Finney glanced around, his expression thoughtful. "Probably. Why?"

Ethan hesitated, his heart racing. "I... I don't want to go to gym class today. Can you come with me?" His eyes were wide with fear, and he leaned forward, hoping his urgency would convince Finney.

Finney raised an eyebrow. "You know I have art during seventh period, right? Why are you scared?"

Ethan fidgeted with his sleeve, recalling the unsettling looks Mr. Hargrove had given him and the way he lingered in the locker room. "I just... have a bad feeling about it. What if he's in the locker room? What if he tries to talk to me again? I really don't want to shower with him there. Please, Finney?"