It was raining again.
Not the kind of rain that danced on windows or made sleepy mornings feel cozy. This rain was thick, cold, and heavy—like the sky was trying to drown the world in silence.
Three friends stood at the gates of Hollow Creek High, backpacks soaked, shoes squelching on the wet pavement.
Lena wiped her glasses and squinted at the clock tower above the main entrance.
"That's weird," she muttered. "The bell rang five minutes early."
Dre, the one always cracking jokes, looked around and grinned. "Maybe the school's haunted and even the clocks are possessed now."
Kai, quieter, observant, simply stared at the building. The windows looked too dark, too still. Like the school was holding its breath.
They walked in.
The hallways were... off. No noise. No footsteps. No laughter. Just the sound of dripping water echoing off the lockers.
No teachers. No students.
Then, a whisper.
Very faint. Like wind sliding through a crack.
> "Don't let them see you."
Lena turned. "Did you hear that?"
"Nope," Dre said, but he looked pale. He did hear it. They all did.
As they passed Room 2B, the door creaked open by itself.
Inside stood Ms. Crayle, their history teacher.
She was facing the chalkboard. Still. Too still.
Her head tilted slowly—not like a human turns their head, but like something was adjusting a mask.
Then she turned fully, her eyes—solid black.
Not dark. Not shadowed. Black. Like empty holes.
She smiled.