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Forsaken Hope
Chapter 3 Escape from the Nightmare

Chapter 3 Escape from the Nightmare

Upon arriving at the faculty room and noticing Teacher Alan and the restrained monster, they quickly barricaded the door with whatever they could find. I couldn't contain his surprise and relief as he called out, "Teacher Alan, you're alive!"

I glanced at the restrained monster and added, "And that's Mrs. Mae..."

Conversations began to flow among the group. They discussed various topics, ranging from their experiences so far to their plans for getting out of the school. The group even speculated on the origins of the monsters and the mystery behind the infection.

They remained alert while Teacher Alan searched for his car keys. A slight foreshadowing moment occurred when I noticed a bloodstain on the teacher's arm. I inquired, and the teacher reassured me that blood was from the monster and shrugged it off.

As I conversed with Jack and David, the topic took a more serious turn. Jack asked, "You saw it, right?"

I nodded and replied, "Yeah."

Jack continued, "If you get bitten, do you turn?"

I contemplated the question before responding, "Maybe, who knows. We haven't seen anyone turn from a bite. We've only seen them rise from the ground..."

Finally, Teacher Alan exclaimed, "I found it!" However, as he closed his drawer, the key slipped from his grasp, and he clutched his arm in sudden pain, letting out a pained scream. Everyone's attention shifted to him.

"No, it's not what it looks like," he pleaded, but suspicion had already taken hold.

The teacher began to cough up blood, and the veins in his arm became more pronounced. The monster's bite was finally revealing its deadly effects. Desperation filled his voice as he implored, "Help me."

As he fell to the floor with tables obstructing the view, only his hand was visible. Moments passed, and his hand began to twitch before disappearing. The teacher abruptly rose with blood on his mouth and red, menacing eyes, glaring at the group.

Jack quickly ordered, "Get ready!" Everyone gripped their weapons tightly as the transformed teacher lunged at them [https://img.wattpad.com/a01ba4149fca72df7e87601c88cd56a42f2e6486/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7945714c7a314551366b506934673d3d2d313339313436303631322e313739303135363964333238306538313939303732393636343737352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Jack quickly ordered, "Get ready!" Everyone gripped their weapons tightly as the transformed teacher lunged at them. However, we maintained our distance, allowing Me to stab the teacher in the chest, immobilizing him. With coordinated strikes from Jack and David, they focused their attacks on the teacher's head.

Despite the relentless assault, the teacher continued to move. Jack shouted words of encouragement, urging them to hit harder. They eventually succeeded in crushing the teacher's skull. David shouted with one final powerful swing, and the teacher ceased moving, impaled by my weapon.

Breathing heavily, I asked if everyone was alright. Their attention turned to the other monster, still squirming and attempting to break free of its restraints. I proposed a grim solution to Jack and David, suggesting that we should throw the restrained monster out of the window while it was still bound. Jack and David initially found the idea cruel, but I argued that if we didn't act, the monster would break free and pose a significant threat, especially given their current exhaustion.

Realizing by the dire situation, the three of us gathered our remaining strength and tossed the restrained monster out of the window. The fall broke its spine, rendering it immobile, but its head continued to twitch.

Reflecting on their experiences, Jack commented on the monsters' resilience and hypothesized that destroying the head might be the key to killing them, based on their previous encounters with the teacher. They proceeded to search for the car keys Teacher Alan had dropped and waited for the monsters to disperse from the door.

***

As hours passed, the monsters gradually left one by one. Only a few remained at the door. In the faculty storage room, Cristy found some noodles and shared them with everyone. She approached Kate, who had been gazing out of the window, and handed her a portion.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Here, Kate. I found some noodles. They're not gourmet, but they'll do for now."

"Thank you, Cristy. I was getting pretty hungry. It's strange how a simple meal like this can be so comforting in times like these."

"I know what you mean. It's the little things that make us appreciate what we used to take for granted. I just hope this nightmare ends soon, and we can go back to enjoying life's simple pleasures."

"Yeah, it's hard to know what's happening out there with all that smoke on the horizon. Sometimes, I wonder if life will ever be the same again."

"Me too. But let's not lose hope. I believe we can find a way out of this mess and back to our families. We just need to stick together and keep pushing forward."

As the girls were having their heartfelt conversation, David on the other hand ever watchful, stood up and observed the door and the window. Seeing that the monsters had moved away, excitement washed over him. He informed the group, eliciting smiles and a renewed sense of determination. They got ready for what lay ahead.

Using DIY materials found in the office – newspaper, torn book pages, and magazines – they fashioned forearm and wrist armor, securing the makeshift armor with tape. As they prepared, Jack noticed David's unique modifications to his armor.

"Hey, David, what's with the forks on your armor?"

"Oh, just a little extra something for the monsters. I thought they might make me look more menacing and deter them from getting too close."

Cristy, however, chimed in, "Honestly, it looks a bit silly to me, but if it works, it works!"

Her comment prompted laughter from the group.

After we were all done with our laughs, I look back to my group of Survivors, with our armors and weapons prepared we were ready to face what waited us beyond the faculty office.

I turned the doorknob, "Let's go"

***

The group descended the dimly lit stairs, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls. They moved cautiously, their hearts pounding with each step, wary of what might lurk around the corner. The walls bore the marks of chaos, smeared with bloodstains and marks from previous encounters.

Monsters roamed the hallways, their guttural growls and shuffling footsteps a constant threat. The group hid in the shadows, holding their breath as the creatures passed by, their eyes filled with a primal hunger. They knew that one wrong move could mean their end.

As they continued their perilous journey, the sun was slowly setting, casting a blood-red hue across the school's windows. The glass reflections appeared like splashes of crimson, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

Time seemed to stretch as they inched their way forward, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Each moment of silence was shattered by the monsters' eerie cries, filling the air with dread.

Finally, they reached the exit and burst out into the open. The sun's descent had painted the world in darkening shades of red. Their relief at escaping the claustrophobic confines of the school was overwhelming.

They basked in the happiness of finally being free from the nightmarish corridors, breathing in the open air with gratitude in their hearts.

However, this fleeting joy was quickly overshadowed by the sinking realization that their ordeal was far from over.

As they scanned the area, their eyes caught the crimson reflections of the sunset. Panic crept back in, and they knew they were far from safe. They had to find a way out, but the world outside was still filled with uncertainty and danger. Their journey was far from over.

The group, now out in the open, gathered around. Their hearts filled with a mix of relief and determination. Me and Jack decided to take the lead in the search for the vehicle.

As the sun slowly set, casting long shadows across the landscape, they moved with haste. After just a few minutes of searching, they found the car, parked not too far from the school's exit. I approached the vehicle and attempted to open it, but he soon realized it was locked. In a panic, he accidentally triggered the car alarm, its shrill sound echoing through the quiet surroundings.

The blaring alarm acted as a siren call to the nearby monsters, drawing them closer with each passing second. I cursed myself, muttering, "Shit, I messed up."

Jack, quickly assessed the situation. With a sense of urgency, he said, "Let's get in and start the car, RJ"

Nodding, I fumbled for the car key and unlocked the vehicle, silencing the alarm. But as I attempted to start the car, I realized I was dealing with an automatic transmission. I had no prior experience using this type of vehicle, I only knew how to operate manual transmissions.

I glanced at the window beside me and saw silhouettes, monsters were closing in, their eerie presence almost tangible.

Panicking, I called out to Jack, who was in the passenger seat, "Help me find the manual, Jack!"

Their search led them to the car's glove compartment, where the manual was hidden beneath a stack of books. RJ flipped through the pages, his focus unwavering, as the others anxiously waited. They knew their lives depended on RJ deciphering the instructions correctly.

Kate couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Come on, RJ, you can do it."

Cristy whispered to David, her voice trembling, "We can't let this be the end, can we?"

David, trying to keep his composure, responded, "No way. RJ's got this."

The tension in the car was palpable, with everyone silently praying that RJ would find the answer they desperately needed. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, RJ's eyes lit up as he located the key piece of information. With trembling hands, he followed the instructions in the manual, put the car on park, stepped on the brakes, turned the key, and heard the sweet sound of the engine roaring to life.

A triumphant "Yes!" escaped RJ's lips as he put it on drive stomped on the accelerator, and the car sped away from the school grounds. They left behind the nightmare that had consumed them, but the journey ahead remained uncertain and treacherous.

Escaping the school was just the start, and they didn't know what came next...