Attempting to shake off his residual grogginess, he raises his head to look around. A bored expression on his face as the classroom scenery enters his eyes.
Another mundane morning to begin another dreadful day in school. Straightening his back and letting out a yawn, the boy begins to perk up from his sleepiness.
Resting his head on his palm while setting his elbow on the desk, the boy waits for the bell to ring, signaling the start to another school day.
Within the boy’s perspective, another being wakes up. Having been apprehended by hall monitors and put into a deep slumber, Noah regains consciousness while observing through the boy’s eyes.
Sensing everything the boy does, Noah attempts to turn his head around and observe the foreign classroom that surrounds him.
Instead of following his commands, his body remains still, lazily staring ahead towards the front of the classroom.
Noah can feel everything through the boy’s body, he can feel the discomfort of the solid desk he sits on and can smell the stale classroom air.
Despite sensing everything through this body, it is not his own, not being under his control.
Bringing his hands up to rub his sleep filled eyes, he lets out another tired yawn while leaning back in his chair.
Every sensation and even the sleepiness in his eyes is felt by Noah, who observes in confusion.
It takes Noah a few moments longer to realize what is occurring. He finally understands that this is a memory, a past dream being played out all around him.
While he is in the perspective of a student participating in the class. Having no control or sway on how the past scene will play out.
Noah is unaware of the identity of the boy he is observing through. Avoiding the thought and possibility that this could potentially be a past memory of his own.
A haunting possibility that causes Noah to feel a slight trepidation in his mind as he watches. Hesitant of what will happen as things pertaining to his own past could be revealed, which he currently would rather avoid.
Noah does not know what the boy is thinking, as his own mind is entirely separate from that of the student’s he is observing through. He can only helplessly watch, forced to sense everything.
With the loud ringing of the school bell, the students’ chatter quiets down as the teacher stands up to gain the attention of the class.
He still sits slumped in his chair, the boredom present in his face. Staring into the ceiling tiles, ‘Noah’ almost has the urge to lay down and fall back asleep.
The piercing voice of the teacher however, prevents him from following through with the feeling.
“Alright class, this is an important day, as I'm sure you all know. I have been talking about this for the past few weeks…”
The teacher continues to talk on and on about what the new lesson will be. But neither the student nor Noah observing through him, pay any attention, each for their own reasons.
They are occupied by looking around the classroom, observing various students and items. Picking up on different details about each thing.
Noah observes as the boy’s eyes stop on a particular girl. Her rigid posture and attentiveness give away the fact she is a top performer in school.
The boy moves his gaze across another row, worried that if he stares too long at the girl, someone might notice.
His roaming gaze occasionally goes back to the attentive girl, but never stays long. His frequent looks towards her betraying his secret admiration.
Leaning forward onto his desk, ‘Noah’ rests both arms and lays his head down on them while letting out an exasperated sigh.
All this while, the teacher talks on and on. “...I want everyone to take out their notebooks. We will now begin the lesson on chapter 24, the Industrial Revolution…”
While everyone else shuffles around and pulls out their notebooks, ‘Noah’ rests his head a few moments longer before finally getting up. He slowly reaches down to pick up his notebook, while having no real intention of writing notes.
‘Noah’ opens the notebook to a random page while twirling the pencil in his fingers. Not even bothering to look towards the front of the room where the teacher is showing slides on the lesson.
Minutes pass as ‘Noah’ doodles odd shapes and lines into the notebook, making it seem like he is properly writing.
To avoid being chastised for improper note taking, he even writes a few keywords. Including: “Factories” and “Child Labor.” He writes them in sloppy illegible script, unreadable even to himself.
Just as ‘Noah’ is finished drawing his third number 8 in distorted loops, a boy to his left shouts out. “Hey, look at that! There are some military vehicles out there!”
Immediately, many other students near the window shift forward in their seats to take a look outside.
The teacher, however, is not pleased with the current development and tries to regain control of the students. “Attention please, eyes to the front!” She yells out.
But this does nothing to discourage the students from staring out the window where more and more vehicles stop to unload military personnel who all seem in a rush to fulfill their orders.
Another boisterous male student yells out, “What are they doing? Oh, look! There are even helicopters!”
This only further fuels the student’s curiosity, incentivising even more students to get up from their seats to look at the unusually busy sight.
“Everyone, focus on the lesson!” The teacher commands. Moving over to the window herself. She prepares to close the blinds, believing that if the students cannot look out the window, they will be more inclined to focus.
Taking a look herself, the teacher too becomes stunned, as what is occurring outside is far more complex than she anticipated.
Seeing the teacher silently observing out of the window, the rest of the students who have remained seated also get up to look.
‘Noah’ was one of the first to stand and look outside, being in the row of desks closest to the window.
He watches as the hundreds of military personnel outside erect barricades, while dozens of helicopters with suspended loads fly over the school.
Everyone watches in a subdued manner, the strange developments outside the school leaving them all confused.
A few students whisper among themselves, questioning what is going on while others make known their fears and suspicions.
Noah too feels ‘himself’ whispering. “This is really strange… are they blocking off the school?”
Feeling a hand suddenly fall onto his shoulder, ‘Noah’ turns his head to see one of ‘his’ friends standing next to him with a worried face. “It's pretty ominous, isn't it?”
Comforted by having a familiar face next to him, ‘Noah’ turns back to the window. “Yeah… whatever they are doing can't be good for us. Did something happen?”
No sooner than he had finished his words, when suddenly the lights of the classroom all shut off. Many girls in the room immediately let out high pitch screams while others let out startled gasps.
Even Noah feels ‘himself’ suddenly flinch as all the lights turn off. Leaving only the natural light from the window toilluminate the classroom.
Looking around to see the student’s panicked faces, ‘Noah’ whispers to himself again. “Not good.”
Whipping back around to look out the window, the military personnel have nearly finished setting up a perimeter of tall black barricades.
Some individuals outside, assumed to be the ones in charge, start signaling to the helicopters above. All of them working in a rush, as if some sort of emergency is underway.
After a minute longer, it finally becomes apparent what they were gesturing for. As the helicopters release their bundles and let loose large black curtains that descend around the school, fully enclosing it.
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The classroom is plunged into total darkness, with the only light remaining outside, where the curtain has yet to be firmly attached.
Even those small slivers of light are quickly smothered as the curtain and barricade form a nearly airtight veil that separates the entire school from the world around it.
As the darkness settles within the classroom, countless voices can be heard in panic. With various screams, cries and shouts.
‘Noah’ feels other students bump into him pushing him aside, Some students even become quite violent in their panic, causing many students to yell out in pain.
Backing up slowly to the corner of the classroom, he remains in a shocked silence, unable to fully grasp what is happening to them all.
A strong force slams into ‘Noah’ from his right side and a girl’s scream pierces his ears from the same direction.
Pushing away whoever ran into him, ‘Noah’ continues to back up until his shoulders touch the corner of the walls. Where he remains silent and listens to the panic that grips the classroom.
Then from over to his right, one student pulls out their phone and turns on the flashlight, giving rise to the first source of light in the otherwise pitch black room.
Instantly, the panicked shouts and screams quiet down some as several others also begin to scramble for their phones, following the first student’s example.
Noah too finds ‘himself’ reaching into his pocket and pulling out a device he does not recognize. Swiping the screen through a patterned lock with familiarity and turning on the phone flashlight.
The classroom becomes brighter as several other students also turn on their lights. The room no longer existing in total darkness, only flitting shadows as students move erratically around the room.
Shining his light towards the center of the room, Noah sees a few other male students making their way towards him, his light acting as a beacon to guide them.
While Noah does not recognize the three students, the boy he views through does and beckons them over with his hand.
Gathering around the sole flashlight in their group of four, the boys begin to whisper amongst themselves.
The skinny boy to Noah’s left speaks up first. “Wh-what do we do now? Is this some sort of drill?”
The boy across from Noah responds. “We can’t do anything until someone gives directions, like what kind of situation even is this?”
“I think it's best if we remain calm-'' ‘Noah’ speaks up but stops himself as a loud billowing noise is heard. Like pressurized gas being released.
Many gasps and whispers rise in volume from the strange sounds that seem to come from all around. The students gain more confidence in their speech as there is no longer a pervasive silence.
“What do you think that noise was?” The boy who has yet to speak, asks.
“Sounds almost like blowing air…” The skinny boy trails off.
The group of four ‘Noah’ is a part of all fade to silence as they wait, listening to the chaotic sounds of the classroom around them.
Somewhere on the opposite side of the room, they can hear a student having a panic attack, her breathing becoming disorderly.
Many students around are consoling her, trying to help her recover, but to no avail. Even the teacher, who has acted just as panicked as the students, is standing near the struggling girl.
“Just focus on breathing calmly, I’m sure everything will be alright.” The teacher says with false security, trying to calm the rest of the students down as well as herself.
Noah observes all the strange happenings in the room. Finally reaching a conclusion of what is going on. This is the beginning of the School of Dreams of Darkness, how it was created.
The fear and dread he had when observing the dream dissipates, as he no longer has the worry that a scene from his own past is playing out before him. He believes he no longer has to worry about confronting his past.
The concern Noah has for what is happening in the dream memory fades. As he only cared out of the possibility this was his own past being replayed.
The distinction between Noah’s own self and the boy he is observing through becomes more apparent. As Noah had unknowingly been assimilating himself into the identity of the student while observing.
He truly felt like he was inside the classroom, he felt like he was the boy going through this sudden crisis.
But upon reaching the conclusion this was not his own past, that feeling shattered, being replaced by a strong detachment, like he is observing from a distance instead and no longer experiencing everything directly.
This sudden disunion with the student is greatly to Noah's benefit, if this distinction between them was not created, then Noah might slowly lose his own self identity, assuming the student’s instead. That is the power of this dream memory.
A sudden shout rises above the din of the classroom as a student holding a flashlight points at the window. “Look! There is some sort of smoke coming in!”
The classroom which had just become subdued, immediately breaks out in panic and fearful cries once again. Many students jump to their own fear filled conclusions on what the smoke is.
The many flashlights in the room turn towards the window, where the wispy smoke visibly becomes thicker and denser. More of it seeping in through the crack of the window.
Everyone observes as the smoke slowly drifts through the classroom, approaching a few students. They all back away from the smoke as there is an instinctual fear of it.
One brave boy foolishly steps into the smoke, attempting to show off in front of his peers. He stands in the smoke unharmed for a few seconds and speaks up to alleviate everyone’s concerns. “Nothing is happening, see?, I told you the smoke is…”
But he trails off, suddenly dropping to the ground. More shrieks and cries are heard in the classroom as all the students panic from the unconscious boy’s fall.
Many students jostle and push each other in their attempts to run away from the smoke drifting across the room.
“Hey! More smoke is coming from the hall!” Another boy yells out while shining his flashlight towards the classroom door.
This only further exacerbates the panic the classroom feels. Noah’s group in the corner is no different.
“Guys, I think we should get out of here.”
“B-but how are we going to do that? There is smoke in the hall too.”
“Yeah…I think the whole school is covered in this smoke…”
The boys all speak amongst themselves, trying to act calm and rational despite their own internal panic.
Holding his flashlight out towards the rest of the room, ‘Noah’ is able to see the smoke drifting through the air and many students running around in a panic.
Several students that enter the smoke fall unconscious after breathing it in. Everyone around them jumping back and trying to hold their breaths.
Speaking to his group, ‘Noah’ says. “I think we should make a run for it. We need to get out of here quickly.”
“Where are we supposed to run? The school is probably full of smoke!” The boy across from Noah yells, displaying his own extreme panic.
“We need to hold our breath and run into the hall. We should find an exit and...”
“That won’t work-”
“What better plan do you have then?”
The group of boys begin to argue amongst themselves, their facade of calm having finally crumpled.
But suddenly, the scrawny boy clutches at his chest and falls over struggling. The smoke having stealthily drifted over to their corner, with the boy unknowingly breathing it in.
“Run!” ‘Noah’ yells out as he holds his breath. He gets up rapidly, running just behind the other two boys of his group.
All of them jump over the unconscious bodies of classmates and friends in their mad dash towards the classroom door. Attempting to get out of the confines of the room and into the, hopefully more open, hallway.
Exiting the door, Noah feels a sting in his eyes as the lingering smoke is far denser in the hall, making it difficult to even see.
Straining to hold his breath even tighter, he continues to run out into the hall despite the tears forming in his eyes.
Suddenly, the boy in front loses his footing and stumbles. 'Noah’ reaches out and grabs his shoulder to help him regain his footing. They make brief eye contact as the boy tries to indicate something with his eyes.
‘Noah’ feels himself bring his own hand up to the boy’s mouth while feeling his head shake, giving the non-verbal plea to not breathe in the smoke.
The boy however starts to violently shake as tears pour from his eyes. The strain and fear on his face sends the message he is at his limit.
Pushing ‘Noah’ away, the boy opens his mouth, “Run, keep going!” His lungs now letting in large volumes of smoke as he cannot stop himself from breathing in.
Seeing his friend fall down onto his knees, ‘Noah’ turns away, looking ahead to keep running, barely able to make out the figure of his friend further in front, who has also briefly stopped to look behind.
Running to catch back up with his last remaining friend, the two of them narrow their eyes in an attempt to see through the thickening smoke. Even the light from his phone is unable to make an impact on the dense smoke before them.
Running down the hall with his lungs beginning to burn, ‘Noah’ watches as his last friend beside him also collapses to the ground unconscious. Unable to prevent himself from taking in deep breaths of the smoke.
Barely able to keep his own urges to breathe in check, he continues to run down the hall, now alone. He turns a right corner where the smoke is not as dense, finally able to see in front of himself.
On the floor are dozens of unconscious students and teachers. Letting his muscles relax slightly, he can feel his lungs screaming from the effort to continue holding his breath. He knows he is on the verge of breaking.
Feeling light headed from the sudden sprint with no new air entering his lungs, ‘Noah’ feels himself collapse down to his hands and knees, where despite his efforts, his mouth opens of its own accord and sucks in great quantities of smoke filled air.
But even upon taking this euphoric breath, the light headedness only strengthens, causing him to collapse flat onto the floor.
‘Noah’ feels a growing coldness overtake his arms and legs, which eventually spreads to his head and brain within. The realization strikes the boy in his last lucid moments that he too is succumbing to the smoke.
With his last struggle, he raises his head up to look down the smoke-filled hall, moving his eyes as if searching for something, but never finding it.
His muscles give out causing his head to fall to the floor, he lays there sprawled out, being consumed by the Dreams of Darkness that are now taking control of the school as a whole.
With tears still staining his cheeks, the boy Noah has been observing through all this time, finally succumbs to the darkness around him.