As the early morning light pierced through the window blinds, Noah's groggy eyes reluctantly fluttered open.

It was Monday; the start of another monotonous school week. He let out a deep sigh, dreading the thought of having to go through another day of tiresome classes and tedious lectures.

He was paying the price for the wild Sunday party he went to yesterday . His head throbbed with a relentless hangover, his body ached from the lack of sleep, and his mind struggled to make sense of the world around him.

In a haze, Noah stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated. He stared at his disheveled reflection in the mirror, his bloodshot eyes and disheveled black hair serving as painful reminders of the previous night's debauchery. The thought of having to go to school, of all places, in this state made him want to crawl back into bed and forget about the world outside.

Knowing that he couldn't defy the inevitable, Noah resolved to prepare for the day ahead. As much as he detested it, he knew that skipping school wasn't an option.

With a heavy sigh, Noah resolved to prepare for the day ahead, even if every fiber of his being screamed for rest and respite.

Dragging himself through his morning routine, Noah attempted to revive his weary body. Brushing his teeth felt like an arduous task, and the cold water from the shower seemed to only exacerbate his headache. He threw on some clothes, his white hoodie which had come to be a part of him since they were his favorite clothing and his cargo black pants,

As he grabbed his backpack and headed downstairs, stumbling to the kitchen, the scent of fresh coffee wafted through the air. His mom greeted him with a warm smile, aware of his disdain for Mondays. She had no clue he was out partying yesterday.

"Morning, sweetheart. I made some breakfast. Fuel up before you head out," she said, placing a plate of eggs and toast in front of him.

Noah half-heartedly nibbled on his meal, his thoughts consumed with the dragging hours of classes ahead. He was bothered by the realization that he was merely following a path laid out for him, a predictable and stifling existence that seemed far from fulfilling. Deep down, he craved something more than the monotonous routine of school.

Noah picked at his food, the taste of bile lingering in his mouth. He tried his best to fuel up, knowing that his day would only become more unbearable without sustenance. But every bite seemed to mock his throbbing head and queasy stomach.

Nevertheless, Noah finished his breakfast, kissed his mom goodbye, and stepped outside into the crisp morning air.

He mounted his bicycle parked at his porch and began pedaling to school. He always hated the school bus ever since he got into highschool . He couldn't help but notice the swaying motion of the world around him, as if it was taunting him for his reckless choices.

As he arrived, Noah reluctantly parked his bike, locking it on the school's bicycle's rack, his body motion-sick from both the hangover and the bicycle jolting movements.

The students around him seemed distant and irrelevant, their conversations nothing more than distant echoes. He longed for the freedom of his cozy bed, where he could shut out the world and nurse himself back to health.

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But despite his aversion to the idea, Noah knew that attending school was a necessary evil.

Settling into his seat, Noah closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing himself to endure the long day of classes ahead, even if it meant dragging himself through the haze of a hangover.

As the teacher stands at the front of the classroom, diligently delivering the day's lesson, Noah lumps in his chair towards the back.

The teacher projects diagrams and enthusiastically discusses the subject matter, Noah struggles to keep his heavy eyelids from closing. The constant drone of the teacher's voice seemingly sinks into a vast ocean of background noise as his mind battles against this physical exhaustion.

His bleary eyes barely stayed open as he struggled to keep himself awake during the monotonous lecture. Just as his head began to dip forward, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine, jolting him back to awareness.

He knew the hangover was bad but at the least he shouldn't feel so exhausted. His head involuntarily dips forward at times, only to jolt back upright as if pulled by an invisible string. The effort to remain engaged in the lesson becomes herculean, as an incessant yawn threatens to split his facial features in half.

His eyes are now glazed over, occasionally flickering open to glimpse a fleeting moment of the blackboard before descending back into the void of tiredness. Warmth envelopes his body, his senses muffled by a haze of sleepiness.

Then a voice jolts him up"Noah!" . His eyes widened in confusion, with student chuckling from every corner at how he looked after waking up.

"Are you sure you are okay? You're not usually like this?" The teacher asked , looking sympathetically at Noah who let out a yawn , stretching out his arm.

Noah wasn't the brightest student but he always paid attention and never dozed off , at least not in his class.

Was he sick? He wondered walking up to his table.

"Can I go to the restroom to wash off my face Mr Charles. I don't know what's happening to me today. I'm just exhausted from yesterday"

"Yesterday?" He asked

He jolted realizing he almost slipped and let the teacher know he was out partying when the next day was school. Quickly covering up his lines he said earlier

" I was up all night studying and didn't pay attention to the time".

Letting out a warm smile, he gesticulated, excusing Noah out of his class to go and wash his face.

As exhaustion tugged at his limbs, Noah wearily dragged his legs through the hallway, desperately seeking refuge in the male restroom.

Then he felt a sudden sensation.

It was an otherworldly sensation, one that made him shudder and instinctively glance around the empty hallway.

Noah made his way down the partially lit hallway towards the restroom, the high heels of his shoes clicking against the marble floor.

However, as he rounded the corner, his eyes widened in shock and fear. A misty black silhouette figure stood at the end of the hallway, shrouded in darkness, emanating an eerie and ominous presence.

Frozen in his tracks, a chill ran down Noah's spine, causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end. The figure seemed almost ethereal, as if it were a manifestation of pure malevolence. Its form twisted and contorted, contrasting sharply with the elegant surroundings. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural, sinister light, capturing Noah's gaze and refusing to release it.

A suffocating silence engulfed the hallway, broken only by the sound of Noah's heavy breathing.

Without warning, the figure slowly started to move towards him, each step more deliberate and menacing than the last. It was as if time itself stretched, elongating the moments of dread, torturing Noah's mind with the anticipation of what was to come.

In that harrowing instant, Noah recognized the unmistakable aura of murderous intent emanating from the approaching apparition. Instinct kicked in, jolting him into action, sending adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had to escape this nightmare come to life, this encounter with pure evil.

Summoning all his strength, Noah's trembling legs propelled him forward, stumbling in his haste but refusing to yield to the impending danger. Panic engulfed him, mixing with the sweat that poured from his furrowed brow. The fear of his impending demise intensified with every step he took, the figure relentlessly closing the gap between them.

He could almost taste the phantom claws of darkness on his back as he reached the restroom door, slamming it shut with all his might.

Safely enclosed within, Noah frantically locked the door, his body shaking uncontrollably. He leaned against the cold tiled wall, desperately trying to regain his composure and unravel the surreal events that had just unfolded.

Silence reverberated within the tiled enclosure, the only sound being Noah's rapid heartbeat echoing in his ears. For a moment, he allowed himself to breathe, to absorb the surreal encounter that had nearly claimed his life. With trembling hands, he reached for his phone and dialed the police, desperate to report the horrifying episode he had just witnessed.

Exhausted but resolute, Noah braced himself for what lay on the other side of the restroom door as he awaited the arrival of the authorities.

Classes were still ongoing and he knew no one was coming to help him , not untill the bell rings.

He knew it was only a matter of time till whatever that was at the other side would come through this door.

He didn't think this through, his body was still shaking heavily. This was happening so fast and his mind kept on racing to all the possible outcome that would have happened if that figure actually got a hold of him.

Why was this

happening? One moment he's heading to the restroom and next thing , this?!!.