The Stars

Ch 12: The Group

     So it began. Everyone became more aware of the precarious situation our neighborhood was in. No one seemed at ease... Even the teachers seemed on edge... I started to think back to my 1st-period class. We still haven't met our teacher yet. We've had a substitute for the past couple of days... Could our teacher be missing too? Santi tapped my shoulder and gestured me to follow him outside. I followed him outside and we walked off as he initiated the conversation.

Santiago: "Hey, I didn't see you today at lunch."

Me: "Sorry, I was dealing with something personal."

Santiago: "Oh, okay. So you already know everything?"

Me: "I think so. Noah said it was about the announcement over the intercom. That's what this is about, right?"

Santiago: "Well, kinda... There's more. I didn't expect him to tell you since I'm the one arranging things, but it's fine. I can fill you in."

Me: "There's more???"

Santiago: "During lunch, I called a bit of a meeting with our group. I told them it'd be much safer for us to start a watch group. I wanted you to be a part of this too. So how's that sound? You in?"

Me: "Wait, I need details. What're we gonna be doing?"

Santiago: "We're just gonna make sure we stay safe. Look after each other, make sure no one's ever left alone for too long, and constantly check in on each other. I started a group chat on Facebook Messenger where we can talk about anything suspicious that we come across. I added you to it."

Me: "You did? My bad... I logged out of social media a while ago to take a mental break..."

Santiago: "It's all good. I'm just letting you know so we can all be safer."

     We walked into the bathroom while we were talking. I must've been so immersed in the conversation that I haven't noticed where we were.

Me: "Why're we in the bathroom?"

Santiago: "I dunno, dude. I came here to pee. You followed me."

Me: "Oh, uhhh... My bad..."

     I was about to walk out when something in one of the stalls caught my eye. It was caution tape.

Me: "Woahhh..."

     I peeked past the tape and saw that the toilet was completely destroyed. It seemed withered... melted... There was a divot in the floor where the toilet bowl used to be. What happened?

Santiago: "Oh yeah. That's crazy, right? It was like that this morning. The janitors think someone poured some crazy corrosive acid into the bowl or something. It was boiling hot this morning. It felt like a sauna in here."

     Wait... Isn't this the same toilet I vomited in yesterday...? Did I do that? Could something that dangerous come out of me? I don't even understand my body anymore... It's like puberty again, except a billion times worse and literally no one understands what's happening to me... I need to tell people... I need help to make sense of it all... I need to connect the dots.