Empty Hallway

The Children Left Behind

My heart sank deep into the pit of my stomach. What do I do now? I looked at the little boy standing next to me. If I panic and run then the kid will feel scared. I don't even know if this is the right kid to begin with. He could just be another illusion by the fumes in this area. I keep walking in the direction of where the rope was coming from with the little boy. I looked at the inside of a classroom on my left and noticed a fresh apple on the teachers desk. I squinted me eyes and kept walking. The next classroom on my left had a fresh apple too. Then the next, and the next, and the next and the next. I then realized we must have walked for ten minutes and we should have gotten to Joseph by now. I walked into the room on the left closest to me and beat the apple against the table, then set it back on the desk. Then walked inside the next classroom on the left . I looked at the apple and it was the same damaged apple. 

"You're very smart. BUT YOU WON'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO LEAVE" Said an ominous voice behind me. I looked backed at the little boy. He just stood there watching me silently. I was going to ask him if he heard something. Then I stopped myself. I remembered to not taunt or play the game of what ever was going on. My grandmother used to tell me stories that there was many mysteries unsolved. 

I looked back at in the direction of where we should have found the exit. I kept thinking of what kind phenomenon I was living through. The first kid was able to get out without a problem. why can't I leave with this one? What is different?

I took the apple and through it towards the direction of where the exit was. If my hunch was right it should roll right behind me . I  tossed it as hard as I could and watched it roll and stop at the feet of a person. At the same time something nudged my right foot. I looked down before looking who the person was. It was the apple I tossed. I looked up and saw it was me and the kid. I felt revealed and scared at the same time. I was stuck in a loop somehow. 

Just as I was staring to think that I only have to break the loop the doppelganger looks back at me. It gave me a smile and as it laughed it echoed behind me.   My heart beat raised as the chills behind my back raised every hair. It whispered and I could still hear its voice behind my ear. 

"Check" 

I pulled the kid into the classroom to the right and closed the door. The kid looked backed at me. You trapped us in here. I didn't say anything. Instead I grabbed a chair and threw it at the window. It cracked and then I told the kid " you try". The little boy looked at me and then he pushed a chair through the window. It broke open. 

There was still pieces of broken glass spiking in from the frame. I untied the little boy and hugged him. Then I climb on a chair near by with him and though my body through the window. The little boy hid his face. I landed on the grass and tried getting as quick as I could. I ran away into the play ground. 

I hid with the kid behind the slide. My back was hurting. I reached back and looked at my fingers after. There was blood of course but I took a closer look at it. It was thickening already and it was only at the my tips. I took a deep breath of relief. 

The little boy stared and asked "Why are happy? your bleeding from your back."

I nodded, " you see this blood? Its already coagulating which means there's more air for my blood and it was just a little bit on my fingers. I know it looks messy back there but little thick blood means smaller cuts and easier to heal." I answered while still looking around.

"Wow, that's so cool. You can know that much from just that?" Said the boy excitingly.

I stood up from the slide and said, "yeah, I study a lot of science and well I only piece things together sometimes."

I got to the boys eye level before talking again. "What year where you born? I can guess your age but I can't be sure until you tell me. "

"the little boy looks down, I don't know the year. I'm five and my name is Michael."

"Oh, that's fair. I'm team leader of a volunteer group and you can call me Kawaii, it means happy in Japanese. What is your favorite TV Show? Or book?"

"I like Mr. Rogers neighborhood, He tells good stories"

"that's a great show" I paused and looked at the broken window, " Were going to have to go back inside now." 

I grabbed him from the hand and we both crawled back inside. I looked around the room and was happy to see the rope was still there. I grabbed it and looked at Michael. "Can you wait until I check its safe to go out. I open the door slowly and took a peak. 

Micheal asked, "why did you have me break the window and then have us come back after we escape."

"When there's an intention to leave something blocks it. I only threw the chair because I was frustrated, you threw broke the window because I asked you to. There was no intention to escape." responded as I opened the door more and had my body half way through.

Michael walked closer and looked around. "but your trying to escape now"

I shook my head, "I'm trying to help a lost soul" I answered slowly.

"why do you say my soul is lost"

I got to eye level again and took a deep breath, "for the same reason I asked you your favorite TV show on TV. Micheal, Mr. rogers neighborhood doesn't play on TV anymore. Its 2015, there's no way you could see it air."