Coagulation

Chapter 1: Final Class

Coagulation 

Final Class 

Four years were finally weighing down on his shoulders. Four years of working, sweating, bleeding in the hallways, just to pass through worthless classes that would teach him little-to-nothing in return. This school, these social grounds, they were not a place that young adults should be put into. The monsters stalking the halls here were very real, and very terrifying when met face-to-face.

He digressed, dragging his fingers along the smooth, cool wall. He was walking through the interior of Building C4, steadily working his way around to the outside world. It was two-oh-one in the afternoon, and the hallways were empty in this building. Every other person was in class by now, getting ready to start on the last few assignments for the day before heading on home for the weekend.

Except for him, of course.

Today was a Friday, and like all other Fridays before it, he made a choice not to attend seventh period. It was the right decision; seventh period had the most wretched atmosphere, and he did not want to be a part of it when it would be at its peak. So instead of participating in its violent and dizzying festivities, he chose to ignore it and act like it never existed. It was the right decision to make each week, he assured himself.

The hallway lanced out to the right after a narrow turn. Sunlight teased the gray innards of the structure from the small windows on the blue double doors at the end of the hallway. Entering the outside world was always a gracious step for him when the weekends would come; it always teased open a spark of freedom and wonder within his soul. And then the weekend would begin, reminding him that there was only a two-day break between him and another five-day week of school.

A break was a break, even if it was a measly one.

Pushing his way out of Building C, he was assaulted by the bright glare of the golden sun. Two rows of trees on both sides of the courtyard presented some defense against the untouchable assailant. Fingers digging into the cold sides of his binder, the boy made his way across the shade-less courtyard. The trees around here would not provide him with the cover he needed. He would be left vulnerable out there, prey waiting for the predator to come and find him.

No, he needed a better spot to wait out seventh period, preferably near the front of the school.

‘I should be there, soon.’ His thoughts concluded, each step forcing him to accommodate precious energy for the heat that made his throat run dry, and made his body feel as though it was being dragged through a furnace.

Off in the shadows, walking through the shaded areas of the other buildings, were several teenagers that were of his age or older. He couldn’t catch the details of their clothing nor their faces, but from the way they walked, the way they moved and skulked and constantly pulled their baggy pants up, he saw that they were part of the infamous crowd of delinquents that made up a good chunk of the school’s population.

Despite their obvious superficial handicaps, they moved quickly and didn’t waste time. Within the second’s glance that he gave them from across the courtyard, they were already inside of their designated building. Either they were going to the last class of the day or they decided to cause some havoc for a handful of teachers.

‘Whatever they’re doing, I sure as hell don’t want any part in it.’ That was the right path, he thought. Staying out of trouble, turning the other cheek when bullies came to bother him and skipping out on the worst class in history.

Yep, this was the life.

Careful strides carried him across the other half of the courtyard. Any sliver of shade that hid him from the view of the sun he took, whether he ducked under a jutting tree on the side or wandered dangerously close to the shaded outskirts of the buildings. His efforts were all for naught, as the sun finally caught up with him when he passed by Buildings A1 and B1. It was unforgiving, cruel and merciless in its unending journey to torture his body.