ENTER LOUIS YOUNG

“And then the woman called 911, but the police… arrived before the fucking ambulance… hahahaha… I'm probably gonna die like my mother one day, I'm just like her… just another damn addict.”

“Don’t say that. I’m sorry about your mother. She was a kind soul regardless of her circumstances." I pulled him in, giving him a tight hug. “Don’t take it out on yourself. And don’t say stuff like that, please. We all love you, …and we don’t want you to die.”

“Louis is right Rob.” Elijah expressed his sympathies. “I know how you feel right now. My dad died when I was nine.” Elijah walks towards me and Robbie, and he starts to pat him on his back.

Zion stood there without saying anything. He couldn’t believe what he had heard.

“Robbie, you worked too hard to get yourself clean. You know this wasn’t the right thing to do.” I said, in an empathic but also disappointed tone of voice.

Wiping the tears from his eyes. Robbie started to smile more and more. “Clean? Oh oh oh oh jack we all die eventually. What does me having the indulgence of a few substances corrrrrrrespond with that a-a-anyyyway.”

Goddamn what did he take? He felt like a cartoon character. The way his eyes wander off I wouldn't be surprised if he was seeing stuff that wasn’t there. Why now…? Damn!

Suddenly, a loud banging sound could be heard from outside the room.

“T-that sounds close!” Ryan said, distressed. “I don’t wanna seem like an ass, but we got to figure a way out of here before we can address this.”

“You’re right. What did you say your name was again?” Elijah asked curiously.

“R-Ryan, Ryan Smith.”

Oh yeah, that’s right! Ryan doesn’t know these guys. Even though me, Rob, Zion and Eli go to the same school, Ryan didn’t. Actually… I haven't seen him in person since eighth grade. We would chat here and there through texting but well, I guess we sort of stopped in a way. He was one of my best friends. Seeing him here and now, I'm glad I still feel the same. I wonder if he does too.

“I’ve never seen any of you before, but I've known Louis since middle school. Though we haven’t seen each other really since then. It’s weird, this is how we meet again.” He let out a slight laugh.

Elijah, and Zion start to introduce themselves formally.

“Elijah Wilson, as far as introductions go, I guess this is a pretty strange one.”

“Z-zion! Nice to meet you! Oh wait, my last name is Matthews as well. I-if you wanted to know.”

“It’s nice to meet you all as-”

“It’sssss nice to meet you Ryan the man!” Robbie said, running up to him, and extending his hand, signaling that he wanted to shake his hand.

“Likewise.” he shook his hand. “Now can we think of a way out of this place, or at least to another area. I don’t think we’ll be safe in this room for long.” He said, pushing his glasses up, fixing them.

I could tell he was struggling as well, but he’s surprisingly collected, to be dealing with all of this. This place is taking a big toll on us already. We needed to think of a plan out of here. But I'm not gonna lie… I’m scared of what might be waiting for us on the other side once we leave this room.

“Let’s come up with a plan!” I said with a hopeful voice, making them all light up in a way. I guess anything that sounds like a way for us to find a way to get out of here, they’ll jump at the occasion. Just where are we?

“Well… hmmm?” I looked around the room and the only solution I could see was the door. I have a plan but I don’t think they’ll like the idea of running from more security guards that look like spawns from hell.

“I see that look on your face, what are you thinking?” Zion asked with a slight concern.

“You guys aren’t gonna like it but there’s only really one thing we can do, and I know you've all probably thought about it as well already.”

They all let out a deep sigh.

I stand corrected.

“You’re right, but I guess none of us said it because we didn’t wanna believe that was the only way.” Elijah admitted.

The atmosphere started to grow tense and pensive by the second. We’re all afraid. I mean why wouldn’t we be! We’re high schoolers for crying out loud here!

“But still… those things… they’ll just find us and chase us again… they're already waiting outside the door!” Elijah barked, standing up while gripping his fists tightly.

“But we can’t just stay here, there’s no vents, or even windows for us to crawl out of. We’re sitting ducks.” Ryan said, crossing his arms, he let out a sigh.

“Hm…” I glanced down at the floor. “The pattern on the floor looks a little strange, dont'cha think? You think we could pull them up?” I asked, before gripping my head tightly, “Ack-”

“Go sit back down, vomiting might’ve made your head hurt even more. Also I’m sorry, but that floor is as solid as steel. No hidden passageway this time unfortunately.” Elijah said, feeling around the walls, coming to the same conclusion for them as well.

“Gotcha. Zion, did you spot anything out of the ordinary? Anything at all please.” I said walking back up towards him to sit in the spot I was previously in.

“No uhh, nothing. I do remember seeing windows in the halls while we were running.” He said, touching his chin.

“Windows? You sure?” Elijah said, surprised.

“You didn’t see them? I mean it was on three of them that I saw, and they were back to back. You guys probably didn’t notice them since we were getting chased.”

“Did you see anything out of it?!” I asked, too excited, before having to grip my head in pain once more.

“Easy, please…,” He held his arms up in case I was gonna fall over, “But yeah, it was… strange. I think… we might be floating…”

“...”

The room grew silent all around. We all stared at Zion.

“Well don’t just leave it off like that! Explain!” Eli yelled, curious to hear his explanation.

“When I looked outside, it looked like I was staring into a different world. ….no it had to be.” He started to look as if he were afraid, “I… I saw giant whirlwinds filled with lightning, and… I could barely see, but the terrain didn’t look natural down below, everything looked twistedly large yet small in comparison to the tornadoes. The mountains looked more grand than anything I've ever seen. But the thing that stood out the most… they were everywhere… the skies, the ground, even inside the giant whirls,” the face he made before speaking, told everything that we needed to know. The look of lost hope in his eyes consumed our gaze, “Monsters… Monsters that looked on an entirely different level from the guards…” His head sunk down into his chest at the thought.

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What could Zion have seen to have him like this? Could we not be on earth anymore? I might’ve actually… doomed my friends. Even if we do get out of here, there’s just a world full of monsters to chew us up whole.

“Let’s… let’s worry about that later! The knocking on the door seems to have subsided. We should quiet down a little so they won’t come back.” Elijah said, changing the subject immediately.

None of us wants to bare the thought yet of there potentially being something out there far worse than the situation we are currently in.

“Oh you flatter me so- wait guys! Come see my friend!” He shouted enthusiastically.

We could hear Robbie calling out for us, when I looked around, I spotted him talking to himself in the corner that I vomited in.

Huh, friend? What was he talking about? “What’s wrong?” I questioned.

“Leave him be.” Elijah reassured. “He’s probably just hallucinating shit. I hope he sobers up soon, we need him.” He started to scratch his head at the sight of Robbie.

He was right. Rob was probably just seeing things. Besides, the bigger thing we have to worry about is keeping him safe. He’s in no condition to be in a hellish place like this right now.

“Robb-”

Before I could finish calling out to him, he cut me off. “You don’t believe me? Okay, have a look for yourself!” Robbie turned around, extending his arms out showing us his so-called friend.

“Robbie-robbierobbierobbie! WHAT IN GOD’S NAME IS THAT!” Zion screamed at the top of his lungs.

Looking forward to my horror, a flower, but not just any flower, it is an enlarged sized dandelion almost as if it was mutated. It has glaring red eyes, and a mouth that hangs low, showing off its razor sharp looking teeth. Drool leaked from its mouth like a pug. It had multiple legs in the shape of leaves with blistering red and green veins popping out on them. It has a disastrous looking aura around it. So much so that it appeared all around. It is a terrible mix of black and white with the look of moving static within it.

“T-THAT’S A DEMON! THAT’S A REAL EXISTING DEMON! ROBBIE FUCKING THROW IT!” I screamed at my delirious friend.

We all jumped up at the sight of it.

“Don’t be such an ass Louis. I’m sorry for my rude friend.” He said, leaning in closer to the dandelion demon, “he’s not very good with women.” He started laughing maniacally once more.

That thing’s supposed to be a woman!? “Get your head out of your a-”

“Robbie, now's not the time! You were right, it was real! Now put it down!” Cried out Elijah, while motioning slowly towards Robbie and the creature.

“T-they’re real! Are those actually…!” Ryan screamed in disbelief

No, there’s just no way. There isn’t?! “Wait, what is it doing!?” I said pointing my finger at it.

The plant starts to wiggle itself back and forth in a dancing motion.

“I-it’s dancing!?” I said, not wanting to trust my eyes.

“See! Little mama is harmless, aren’t you?." Robbie said, asking the plant while giggling.

I wanna punch him. He’s treating this thing like a girl you try to talk to at the mall! Why is it dancing?! It can’t mean anything good! I need to get that thing out of his hands!

“Robbie, drop it!” I demanded.

“Whaaaat? Nooooo can do,” he refuted. “Me and her are getting to know each other, she’s doing this little dancey dance I like.

“Put it down! We don’t know what that thing is! And do you not see the crazy looking whatever it is around it! That’s some demonic shit!”

“Where’s your chivalry? Your honor?! You dare speak to this magnificent, young, and pure of heart maiden, I will not stand for it good sir! You dare?!” He said in a joking manner, putting on his best British accent alongside it.

“You think this is a game?! I’m not gonna stand by while you let that thing murder you!” I shouted, running towards the plant in Robbie's hand, fist first.

“Louis, wait! We don’t know what that thing is!” Ryan screamed at me, while running behind me.

I punched it straight into what you would call it’s face. “IT’S A DEMON!”

Thinking I had done something, everyone included, but to our surprise, my punch didn’t even phase it. Actually… I think I just pissed it off instead.

The flower dropped out of Robbie's hand, and landed on the floor like a really heavy weight being dropped at the gym. It left a crack in the floor when it landed. Its body started to pulse. After each pulse it grew more, and more in size. Each pulse twisted the room more than the last.

The first pulse as it grew made the room sprout out leaves around it. The sheer difference in size was frightening. The once flowery looking demon that was only a mere few inches in Robbie’s hand, was now as tall as the ceiling, and as grand in width as half of the room.

Second pulse, the room shook us up in the air a little bit as the entire atmosphere of the room was shrouded in its aura. Almost like a filter being placed on reality itself.

Each pulse after, just continued to strengthen the intensity of its aura, more and more.

I don’t know if it's just me, but it's getting hard to breathe. Not only that, but my body is starting to feel heavy, and hard to carry.

I could feel blood starting to gush out from my nose. It flowed through my mouth, leaving me with a tangy, coppery taste.

“Wh-what is this…?” I looked around to see, and, as I thought, everyone was experiencing the same symptoms I was. Robbie was getting the worst of it as I witnessed, or so I thought. He was laughing as blood ran from his nose, down to his neck.

“FORGET ABOUT A PLAN! RUN!” Ryan shouted, panicking.

None of us gave it a second thought, we sprinted towards the door.

As I made my way there I grabbed Robbie’s arm, forcing him to move his legs to run with me so he wouldn’t be dragged along.

All of us made our way to the door, but suddenly, another pulse echoed throughout the room. All of the nearby leaves and plants created by the dandelion have now started to fall towards us in a fast, violent manner, as if gravity was pulling them towards us.

“WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!”

“I’M TOO YOUNG I SAY! TOO YOUNG!”

“I WANNA GO HOME!”

“SHIT!”

We all yelled frantically while trying to make it out of the room in time, but to no avail, the barrage of greenery reached us, striking us hard, causing us all to scream in pain.

Luckily though I managed to open the door as it struck us, so it knocked us out of the room in the process. We all crashed down on the ground hard. The door closed behind us on its own.

“For goodness sake…” I muttered under my breath.

We all struggled to get up, wavering in pain. We were all holding certain parts of our bodies while moaning out in agony. My head was already messed up to begin with, now I seriously think I might pass out at any moment.

“D-did… anyone break anything…?” I asked, letting out a groan in the process.

They all responded in pained ‘no’ or a groan, assuring me that they faced no grave injuries. That made me feel a little relieved.

“Don’t be so worried about us Louis, your head is leaking again!” Zion said while pointing at my head.

I placed my hands on top of my head, and sure enough, more blood started to leak out, it even started to leak out from the wrapping onto my forehead a little. On top of that nosebleed caused by that demon… How much blood have I lost already!?

‘“You're losing too much blood.” Elijah screamed, stating the obvious.

“G-guys w-we… we gotta go!” Zion said, staring off behind me with a terrified expression on his face.

Turning around I was greeted to see the same black, distorted, and deformed creatures posing as security guards from last time. …Running full speed ahead at us.

“T-those security guards… they’re back!” we all shouted in terror.

“RUN!”

We all struggled to get up at first, but once we did, we started to run like there was no tomorrow.

“EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF WOOOOO HOOOOO!” Robbie shouted before running away as well.

We took off down the hallway, not sure of where to go. Stopping, or slipping and falling would surely equate to death.

We ran up, and down hallways, turning corners left and right. There seemed to be no exit in sight.

“If this is supposed to be a school, then where are the stairs?!” Elijah yelled, scared and confused about our situation.

“There has to be stairs somewhere! This school is gigantic!” I screamed.

“Maybe we-......”

What is this red sight I'm seeing? My ears are ringing…

I could barely hear or see who was talking. There was a lot of blood coming from my head. My blood was covering half of the left side of my face, even getting into my eye, staining it red. I could feel my blood leaking off of my chin onto the ground as I ran. If the demons don’t get me, the blood lost surely will. But even then I'm starting to feel a little woozy… I’m starting to get dizzy… I might pass out.

“My head… I can’t keep… going!” I cried out.

“Louis!”

I’m starting to slow down.

The monsters… they're gaining on me. They are surely to catch up to me now. Dammit… I feel too weak right now. Am I gonna die again? No…

Suddenly I could feel myself being spun around fast, picked up off the ground, and thrown onto a firm, and strong shoulder.

What?! Who?!

“I GOTCHA LOU LOU!” A red-headed boy screamed out joyfully.

How is he doing this?! Carrying me on his shoulder while he ran?! Now Robbie is a track star, and I don't doubt his strengths, but I'm pretty sure I weigh more than him, and too much so to be carrying while running from spawns from hell!

“THE ADRENALINE! I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES!”

For the sake of my friend I'm not gonna even try to figure out what he took. If it’s giving him a cliche power up, by all means let the man’s high continue. I have to find a way to live through this, or my shining white miracle will be for nothing.

“I am your knight in shining armor at your service milady!” He said, all chivalry like.

What the hell is he talking about at a time like this? We’re not in school, we’re in a damn murder house!

“Shut up… you damn… damn…-” I struggled to get out.

“Your head is busted open Louis, don’t try to talk, just relax!” One of them screamed out. It sounded like Ryan. The ringing coming from my ears is making it so I can barely distinguish them from one another.

Thanks for the suggestion. But how could I relax? I’m facing Robbie's backside. Every time I try to look up even a little bit I see those things trailing behind us. What if they throw another piece of wall at me?!

I can see my blood leaking off my head onto the perfectly pristine white floor as we ran, soiling it. It feels so warm as it slips away, off of my face.

My blood. I can’t help but imagine it as the foam leaking from my mouth. The foam that stained my carpet. The foam that drowned me…

This entire situation feels similar. Laying back, unable to move, awaiting the inevitable to happen, just like before.

I’m a stain everywhere, aren’t I? Even on the very floors of this school… What am I?

I came back just to die.

I’m still the same weak me.

This is a madhouse. There’s no exit for us is there? What have I done to them? …I wanted to save them? Can I save them…?

I… Can’t….

Louis, what have you done?