Concealed: Book 1: Scratching the Surface

Chapter 8

   Baldi waved his hand near my face. "Hannah?" I snap back to reality,(I have memories of Lose Yourself by Eminem) and Baldi is right in front of me, a worried expression on his face. "Are you doing okay? You've been spacing out a lot more often the past few weeks. I giggle sadly. "Y-yeah, I'm just tired..." He could tell this was a lie. He thought for a moment, then had an idea. "Follow me." Confused, I get up, following him outside. "I thought we weren't allowed to be outside school grounds while attending. "It is allowed when a teacher allows you to." He smiles genuinely. I could've sworn the area around us glitched. I shake my head, trying to clear it. After a few seconds, I got this splitting headache. I begin breathing heavily, my eyes twitching. Baldi turns around, covering his mouth. He's speaking, but the whispers drown him out. Whispering, telling me to hurt him. "No!!!" I finally scream, my mind silenced. Baldi looks at me, scared. "What happened?" I fall to the ground, sobbing. "Why... I don't want to hurt him..." He backs away, then smiles. "I know I've done this to you before as punishment, but now.. I just want you to smile!" He lunges forward, nuzzling my neck. I snap out of my trance, giggling. "Baldi?! Why ahahare you doing thihhihis???" He stops, and flashes me a gentle smile. "I don't want to see you hurting like this. I want you to be happy..." I feel a wave of protection, knowing he doesn't want to hurt me. He hugs me. I was only half-lying when I said I was tired. I feel like I could fall asleep at any moment... Before I know it, I'm fast asleep.

   I wake up in the principal's office, Baldi smiling down at me. "Thank goodness you aren't dead..." I sit up, rubbing my head. "How long have I been asleep..?" He frowns. "Probably near an entire week." My jaw drops in surprise. How could I have been asleep for that long?! "Hannah...?" I snap back. "Yes?" "Your eyes are emerald green." He gives me a mirror, which is weird, considering I never saw one in this school, and I look at myself. He's right! My eyes are emerald green! I immediately get an idea why, and I throw the mirror on the ground. "H-how... How can she be HERE?!" Baldi gives me a look of concern. "Who?" "She's a sentient A.I. who is stuck in a video game. Well, she WAS." Now my voice is glitching. "I be-e-eeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEE-et she used MMMMMMMMMMMMMM-my computer to get he-RRRRRRRRRRRRRR-e." My heart is pounding, audible to everyone around me. "Hanna-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--" He's glitching out, too. I'm crying. I have no control over this...

   I gasp, biting my hand to see if I'm truly awake. Nobody's here... I get up and walk outside. Baldi immediately hugs me. "I thought you were dead!!" I smile, glad to be awake. "H-how long have I been asleep...?" He looks at my face. "3 days." Well, at least it wasn't an entire week. "It's night. The doors are already locked. I know this sounds like pedophilia, but..." His face reddens. "Ehehe, you m-might have to... Sleep here..." I turn as red as he did, but I don't care. I know he won't hurt me. "I didn't want you to s-sleep on the floor, so... I-I wanted to ask if you wanted to sleep... together. His face is mahogany, and I can hear the embarrassment in his voice, but I accept. "Good... I want you to know that I won't do anything to you." Now I feel... different. "Actually, I-I wouldn't mind if you did or not..." Baldi covers his face, screaming quietly. He's acting like a teen.... "I know it's weird, so you don't have to. I just don't mind you doing anything to me as long as you're happy~" He grabs my hand and brings me to a trap door. "Wow, that doesn't look suspicious at all." He fakes anger. "Sh-shut up! It's only like that to keep people from robbing me!!!" I giggle. We both go down, although I hesitate, being afraid of falling, and I'm astounded by what I see. The entire room is adorable!!! He even has the pillows I sent him!!! The room is strewn with banners saying 'Math is Cool!' and fliers for the school itself. I can't help but squeal at the sight. "It's so cuuuuute~!" I twirl around. He smiles genuinely. "Okay, Hannah, enough looking around. You need your rest." He points at his bed, which is neatly made. "You can go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you up when I have to." I nod, suddenly blushing. I flop down on the bed. It feels and smells like it wasn't even used. Does this guy even sleep? Oh well, it's nothing to worry about now. I close my eyes and fall asleep.