Shadow's Mark (Currently Being Edited)

Chapter 3: Football Fields & Shadow fights

When I regained consciousness and quickly opened my eyes, I discovered I was still in class, though now it was completely empty. None of my classmates were here, not even Drew or Ms Venus. I instantly got up from my seat to peer out the window to my side.

It was dark out.

Why am I still at school? I wondered.

I instantly clapped a hand to my chest to find it was no longer in pain. I was now breathing quite normally, much to my relief.

I spent the next few seconds desperately trying to recall what happened to me after I blacked out from...was it another asthma attack?

No, maybe I just fell asleep and nobody even bothered to wake me.

Shyeah, that sounds logical.

If I had fallen asleep, I was pretty sure Drew would've woken me up. And if not, wouldn't Monroe, our school janitor, have found me, considering he always did a sweep of the whole school before locking up.

Brushing off all reasons as to why I was still here, I decided to get off campus and just go home instead. I quickly traipsed out of the classroom and into the hallway.

It was darker out here as there were no windows to allow some outer lights to stream in.

I instantly grabbed my cellphone from my jacket pocket and turned on the flash to light my way.

As I shuffled towards the nearest exit, I suddenly got the distinct feeling that I wasn't alone in the hallway.

Quickly, with my phone's flash still shining, I turned around to ensure nothing was lurking behind me.

The last thing I wanted to do was be the idiot who called out to see if anyone was with me in the hallway. It could've been a serial killer for all I knew. And besides, I'd seen in movies that the people who calls out in the dark most certainly winds up dead.

A bit spooked now, I began to sprint towards the door as soon as it came into view across the corridor. Thankfully, it was unlocked and unchained, although it shouldn't have been, but I pushed it open anyway and stumbled out into the parking lot.

Save for a few school buses, the lot was desolate of any cars, indicating there were no teacher or school staff around at this hour.

Having no choice but to walk, I started to head out the school gates. I shouldn't have worried since my house was only about 5 blocks away, but still, I had no wish to walk during the night by my lonesome.

Just as I neared the gates, towards the dimly-lit street, I immediately began wishing I had myself a pepper spray or taser. Some sort of defense mechanism in case danger did happen to fly my way.

No. I'm just overreacting, I immediately reasoned with myself. I can walk home like a big girl and nothing bad will happen to me.

No sooner do I think this when a blood-curdling scream filled the air.

I jerked my head towards the location of the sound, the football field. The screams continued again and again until it suddenly dawned on me that they sounded an awful lot like Drew's.

My sense of fear for my own safety vanished, only to be replaced with fear for my friend's. Immediately, I started running towards the football field as though Drew's life depended on it.

Perhaps it did.

I still heard her screams as I ran, but they grew fainter as if she was moving farther away. Or being dragged farther away.

"Drew, I'm coming!" I yelled in a panic.

I rushed my descent down the steps from the school leading to the football field, trying my best not to trip or stumble. As I reached the gates, I shoved it open and ran to the middle of the field. The towering lights were still on, illuminating all of the grounds.