Goosebumps: Alternate

Chapter 1: How My Adventure Began

The Next Day - September 17th, 2010.

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Hey there, my name is Arielle Wilson. I'm eleven years old and I go to fifth grade here in my home of Chicago; born and raised here with my family. I'm the type of person who's always in a good mood, except when I have tons of homework to do. But finally, school's out for the day and I'm ready for a pleasant walk home.

Looking up at the sky, I saw dark, grey clouds. They look pretty bad, though... Was it suppose to rain today?

I go to check on my weather icon, but my cell phone appears to be missing. I must've left it somewhere, but where?

I checked both my pockets of my shorts, patting at them before checking my bookbag. "Where's my phone?" I mumbled, checking each part of my bookbag. The only thing I have in my bag is my locker key and, luckily, no homework since I already did it at Study Hall. "I guess I left my phone in my locker," I sighed with a shake of my head. "Why do we have to keep them in our lockers anyway?"

Getting back up, I went up to the large doors of my middle school. Kids were sprinting out of it moments ago; they're probably halfway home by now.

Placing my hand on one of the doors, I pushed it open. Will I ever escape from this place?

With a heavy sigh, I trudged back inside, heading to my locker to retrieve my phone, hoping it's still there.

"Hey, Arielle." I stopped when I heard my name being called out to see one of my friends - a boy about my age - running up to me.

"Hey, Brett," I blushed. I do have a sort of a crush on him, but I never told him. Probably because I don't want to get rejected. "What do you want?" I said.

"Nothing, I just came to you to say bye," he replied, swiping his dark hair, which is almost matching mine since it's short and the color of black. "Why are you still here anyway?" he asked. "Did ya forget something?"

"I forgot my phone," I told him. "I'm heading to my locker to get it." I gave him a wave. "I'll see you tomorrow." Before he can get any words out, I headed to my locker.

The long, empty hallway stretches into the distance. I stepped over to my locker, trusty four o' two. "Please let my phone be in there and not stolen," I prayed, hoping for the best. However, with any luck, my cell phone could be in there. Plus, it shouldn't be too hard to open my locker. I just need the key from my bookbag.

"I swear if my phone is not in my locker, I'm gonna scream..." As I was talking to myself in a muttering tone, I pulled out my locker key from my bag. I keep it easily accessible of all times, giving me more time between classes to chat with my friends.

With the key in my hand, I put the key into the lock hole, turning it, hearing the lock pop open easily. I slid it off and opened my locker.

After putting my key back in its place, I was grateful to see my cell phone, seemingly unharmed and fully charged.

I grabbed my cell phone, and cradle it protectively against my chest. I was afraid I lost it! I thought someone had come to my locker, stealing my phone.

A moment passed. After I calmed down, I check my phone. Yup, still fully charged somehow. Looks like I have a voicemail.

"It's from mom," I said to nobody. I clicked play.

"Hi, Arielle, it's mom," I heard her voice from inside the phone. "Just wanted to let you know I'll be home later on tonight," she informed me. "The clients want to take us for dinner. Chad should be home soon, so you two will have to fend for yourselves. Remember the key's under the back steps. Love you!" The phone beeped, ending the voicemail.

Smiling, I put my phone away in my backpack, slamming the locker shut.

I looked up at a clock. Ugh... three-twenty already!? I've practically wasted my entire afternoon!

My eyes then landed on a classroom door. I sighed. Having a locker so close to Math is more of a curse than a blessing. I end up seeing a lot of Ms. Tooley.

For some dumb reason, I gave the door three, loud knocks, the sound echoing throughout the hallway.

"What in the world do you want!?" It sounded like Ms. Tooley, having me jump after her sudden outburst. "Can't a woman read in peace?" she proclaimed from the other side of the door.

I quietly slink away from the door, hoping she didn't see me. A classroom is seriously the last place I feel like going right now.

When I backed away, my foot suddenly stepped on something. I looked down. Someone left a crumbled up piece of paper in the hall.

I leaned down, taking the paper off the floor. Oh! I realized. It looks like a note. Once straightened out, it reads: Hey, you found my note! I hoped that you would. Sometimes people see notes in the hall and assume they're trash. Not you, though!

Why was there a note in the hallway? Not thinking about it, I put the note away, going up to Roger's locker. It was all busted. It happened the day when he forgot his locker combination. Fortunately mine is easy to remember; insert key, turn.

Seeing the floor, I always wondered how soon the janitor showed up after school let out. Not this soon, apparently.

Another door looms over far end of the hall. I'm not quite sure what's behind it. Stairs, maybe? I'll check it out tomorrow; it's home time.

I gladly left the school building for the second time today.

And that's when my adventure began.