Smile. A novel of the smiling murderer

First sight.

After grading, I got a C+. Not the best, not the worst. But I couldn't stop thinking of what Alex said in history. Jeffrey Woods. Murderer. Right here in town.

I waited outside the front of the school, where he usually goes for the bus. I wiped my black hair out of my eyes. He is supposed to come from chemistry class.

After half an hour, he never came back. Everyone has left the hallways. Bannisters' on the wall, made with paper, read, "Vote for Cindy as student president" And, "Remember that the viewing of 'Squidward's suicide' is June 6" bannered the walls. My footstep echoed quietly off the brick walls.

"There. room 66. Chemistry" I told myself. I walked into the room, finding it vacant and dark. I knew better than to think about some tall dude or a creepy dog. I continued walking. A bad feeling seeped into my head.

Somehow, I found the courage to call for him.

"A-Alex, I need to ask you about your report".

" You mean the one for me"? a voice asked.

It didn't sound like Alex.

"Umm...What did you say"? I asked as calm as I can.

"Do you know what being insane is"?

That was a strange question.

"Isn't it doing the same thing over and over"?

"No. Its believing that you can keep doing something over and over and expecting not to be stopped. Its thinking that no one will discover your addiction or habit. That no one can stop you".

I rounded into the closet, where the voice was coming from.

"Its believing your invincible".

Alex lied on the floor, A bloody pool where his belly was ripped, revealing organs I never conceived. In his hand was a Iphone on speaker calling a strange number. I shattered into tears, falling onto the ground. The phone laughed.

"You are the girl by the entrance. So sweet. Flip Alex for me".

I hesitated.

"But, the police will see-"

"Use your sleeve"!

I did as the phone asked, rolling the sleeve past my fingertips. I slowly and carefully flipped the corpse of Alex.

I gagged at the scene.

"Did you do it" the phone asked.

"Y-yes" I confirmed.

"Won't you tell me what the carving on his back reads"?

I read it, terrified.

"Jeff is back".