I stared at my paper, my dyslexic brain wasn't comprehending the math, the walls felt like they were closing in on me. All while Mrs Coldstare was watching me, scoffing whenever I wrote something. I went to a school where incorrect behavior was punished greatly, worse than being expelled, although I can't go into it much here because at this time I had not a clue of how this school worked.I was about to find out though, soon. This may seem crazy, but this is the truth and I will tell you about it.
There were other people in the class, however I got the feeling she was only watching me. However I was snapped back reality (Oop, there goes gravity!) when I felt an impact from the side which made me smear my pencil, then I felt another impact, I looked over as a barrage of paper balls attacked me. The sender? Skip.

"Hi Casey!" Skip whispered to me. I jumped when I heard Mrs Cold stare speak.

"Skip....Did you throw....Those?"

Mrs Coldstare asked, however a boy raised his hand. I didn't know him very well and I'm glad I didn't, the only thing I knew about him was that he was Lizzy's brother.
"I did it Mrs Coldstare." He stated.
As Mrs Coldstare walked him out he saluted Halo style.

I walked out of the class, looking at my passing grade, smiling to myself.

This could be the beginning of a great start...Or so I thought.
Lizzy was acting a little peculiar though. Almost as if she was...Frightened?
I didn't think much of it, probably stuff I wouldn't understand.
Skip was walking beside me as we exited. "Soooo....I wonder why Lizzy's brother took the fall for me, it's not like he even knows who I am...." She projected, holding her various notebooks.
(None of them were for school mind you, just art and the occasional satanic ramblings.)
"I don't know, maybe this school has a dark horrible secret that we don't know about?" I joked.
Oh how innocent I was....

Skip chuckled to herself slightly.
Then she set her eyes on a janitorial closet. She looked at me and smiled.
"No, we aren't defying school rules on the first da-" It was too late however,
Skip grabbed my arm pulls me towards the closet. She opened the closet, only to find....

Lizzy's brothers dead body.
With his chest cut open, various of his organs spilling out.

He also no longer had a head...

I backed up, losing my footing and doubling over. I hit the ground with a resounding thud and scrambled back up.
I clutched onto the wall, trying to keep myself stable.
My breathing was heavy, I looked over to Skip. She wasn't handling it any better. She closed the closet imminently and slinked to the floor, looking like she had just seen a dead body.

I couldn't imagine why....

Now I know why Lizzy was acting strange...

"S-Skip.....W-Wa...Was that....Real?" I asked quietly.

"Yes..."
Skip replied, barley above a whisper. Someone caught my eye, the janitor was watching us intently. He walked over to us slowly and my heart sank

Down Down Down!

This was it, I was going to die.
"You two should come with me. I have something to tell you..." He said. I was actively planning out my funeral.

"E-Eeeeh...I-I think I'm G-good...." Skip squeaked, begining to walk away, I grabbed Skip and pulled her uncomfortably close to me.
"You roped me into this....Don't think you can escape that easily....Lets follow the nice gentleman...." I whispered in the least reassuring way possible.
I was glad I could strike unnecessary fear into the hearts of my friends. We followed Mr nice janitor man into another janitors closet. (There was one in every hallway, presumably for more body storage for the victims?) He led us in and closed the door behind him.
"So about what you saw...I just want to clear up I'm not a murder, the walls have ears so I couldn't have told you out there...The principal did this." The very trustworthy janitor stated.
Skip began to shake and I put my hands on her shoulders. I was wrong, she was beyond shaking, she was vibrating....
(Ever driven on the sidewalk in a Nfs game on Xbox360? Well it was like that but times 30.)
"But....Why....?" I asked cautiously.
"How am I supposed to know? I'm just a underpaid man that hates his life." The mentally stable janitor man stated.

After this interaction, the school day went as normal, nothing else eventful happened. Until the students were all lined up at the exit, ready to leave. Angry yelling, pushing, shoving, the occasional death threat. The doors would locked. Everyone shut up after a deep, menacing voice spoke on the intercom.
"You can't leave, the outside world is.....Imperfect...You'll be staying here learning how to become perfect. If you get one bad grade well....You won't have the best of times.....
You'll be staying in your own happy little dormroom with a roommate of your choice." With that the Principal signed off.

I laid awake that night on the top bunk, with no sound but my heart beating rapidly, feeling like it was about to explode....Alongside Skip's horrendous singing.
It was soft, barely noticeable.
Execpt for the fact that everything is 600 times louder at night.
"Skip, would you shut up? that is the worst cover of Bohemian Rapsody I've ever heard...." I snapped. That wasn't true, sure she wasn't Freddy Mercury but she did have a beautiful voice. She jumped slightly
"Y-You're....Still awake...?" She asked, presumably self conscious.
"24/7 bay-be! seeing a corpse will do that to ya." I quipped.
"Singing calms me down.....I-I'm sorry I bothered you...." She murmured , rolling over.
I adjusted my head position on the pillow and closed my eyes. Waiting for the sweet allure of sleep to grasp me and carry me away....

It didn't.


I woke up....Err, got up.....
(I didn't go to sleep for the whole night, from the events that took place yesterday, and Skip's continuous tossing and turning all night.) I crawled down from the top bunk and saw...
Skip, sleeping peacefully still.
How she was sleeping after yesterday was beyond my comprehension.I looked around our dorm. I will admit our dormroom was...Nice.
It only had two "Rooms" (I say "rooms" because there were no doors to separate them so I don't exactly consider them rooms...)
There was the bedroom, the place with the bunk bed and the tv. Then there was the kitchen. The dorm had a pretty reoccurring design pattern, beige walls, grey carpet and glossy stained wood. I walked into the kitchen and opened the cabinet, grabbed a can of microwaveable chicken soup and began cooking my master chef level meal.

I burnt it.

I give this high school a 3 out of five stars, the basic school part of it isn't anything fancy and the looming potential of death isn't exactly ideal. The dorms are pretty cozy though. While I was eating, I heard something behind me. Skip woke up and walked over to the dresser and threw on a grey hoodie.
(By this point I had realized I was still wearing my sleepwear.)
After I put on something a little more casual, shirt, shorts. You get the basic idea.
I grabbed my backpack from the floor and my phone from the counter. I tapped the screen and checked the time. 7:00.

Crap.

Skip stumbled into the kitchen groggily.
"Case....W-what time is I-" Before Skip could finish her sentence I grabbed her arm and burst through the door, flying down the stairs leading to the main floor and... The school hallways looked nothing like they did before. The stairs leading down from the dormrooms were normal, however after that the entire layout was different.
I sighed to myself and stepped off the last step. I looked ahead and froze... "Skip, are you alert yet?" I asked her.
"...Huh...?" Skip asked confused.
Even if she wasn't, it would be difficult to see the figure running towards us at Mach speed.
I blinked and....It was in front of me. It was a man that had long, lanky legs and short arms. Kinda like the Janitor but built different.
"HERES YOUR SCHEDULE!" he yelled, handing me an envelope.
Skip still wasn't awake enough to comprend what was happening.
"Uhm....Thanks?" I replied, just like that, the man was gone.
I stared blankly at the envelope before opening it. The paper inside read:
Every day I will bring you you're schedule. When I deliver it, I will run towards you at a very high speed. Please do not run.
-Mister E person

I read the schedule, it seemed pretty straightforward.

-GO TO ENGLISH CLASS.
-BE PRESENT IN ENGLISH CLASS.
-DO NOT RUN FROM MR BIGMOUTH.
-NO MOUTH BREATHING!

So....Just English class.
I glanced over at Skip, she was just very tired.

I walked down the winding halls until I eventally found the English classroom. I opened the door hesitantly.

"Casey, you're late"
Mr big mouth stated, crossing his arms.

Ah, hello stomach pit, welcome back!

I didn't miss you.

"I Uhm....I-I couldn't find the classroom-" I stammered.

"Sit. Down." Mr bigmouth stated, then entire class watched as I sat down, however something alarmed me....I looked around and Skip.......

Skip wasn't there........
However I couldn't get up. Mr Bigmouth already doesn't think highly of me...I was stuck here.
I shuddered, my brain immediately thinking of the worst, I could see Skip's limbs being torn off one by one in my mind, I closed my eyes to shut them out. The thoughts wouldn't go away. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down, after all I needed to do good in this class.

It's a pass or die course after all....
Mr Bigmouth began his rant. "Now, writing a generic book about a murder high school is one of the most uncreative pieces of garbage a human being can conceive-"
I tuned him out, however once I got my paper
I focused as hard as I could and gave it my all. I got an.....
76. Technically passing.
(Although Mr Bigmouth was clenching his teeth when he handed me the paper....)
"Oh, and Casey, the Principal would like to see you for your absence. He's already having a talk with your friend Skip."

Oh......
This isn't good.....


I quietly followed Mr Bigmouth down the comically long hallway leading to the principal's office.
My soul was filled with dread.

I was going to die.

Nobody would know...

My parents wouldn't find out.

Or honestly, care.

They sent me here after all.

We reached the door to the Principal's office.
Mr Bigmouth shuffled away and I opened the door.
I was not prepared for what I was about to see...
Black, stone walls with various terrifying statues that lined up next to a red carpet. Leading up to the Principal's desk and gold throne.

You read that correctly. GOLD. THRONE. I walked further in to get a closer look and....The Principal was talking to Skip.....Normally?
When he saw me he turned around, as soon as I saw him I immediately assumed this guy died, but hell spat him out.
He was very old, maybe late 60's.
He was wearing a suit and tie.
His skin was unnecessary pale.

Doesn't sound scary?

Think again.

He adjusted his glasses. "Ah, hello there Casey." He states with superiority. I swallowed, this is it. The end of my run.

I walked up to the desk and tried to remove my fear, however as soon as I sat down, I looked at the wall behind him. He had Lizzy's brother's head mounted on the wall. I felt nauseous.
"You look nervous." The Principal said, looking at a very shaky Skip and me.

"I-I'm not nervous."

That wasn't true.

"I was just explaining to Skip here that being late to class is....Unacceptable to say the least." The principal stated, this time the friendliness has left his voice completely. He stood up and pulled up a pair of pliers and looked towards Skip. "So....You were the absent one." He said, walking towards Skip slowly. Menacingly. "This isn't punishable by death, however I wish it was, this will have to do I guess.." The Principal grabbed Skips hand tightly and began slowly prying off Skips fingernails one at a time, as Skip screamed in agony. I wanted to turn away, but this scene was so gruesome I couldn't look away. I listen to her pained cries, frozen in horror, tears welling up in her eyes. as the Principal smiled.

The sick Bastard was enjoying this.

Once he finished, he let go of Skip and she dropped to her knees, he slowly moved his head towards me and stated "I'm sure you two won't late for class again, right?" he asked, instilling fear into my very soul. I didn't reply.

"Good. Now you two should go back to your dorm. You'll need your sleep for tomorrow, there going to be a very special broadcast." The Principal stated.

God I hated this guy...

I was in our dorm, it was only 6pm, so we weren't asleep. Skip was laying on the couch whimpering while I was was "Comforting" Her. Although believe it or not, I've never been a socialite. "Uhm.....Skip.....You Uhm........This sucks....."
I was doing a flawless job comforting her.
"Amen....." She says barely above a whisper. She was shaking violently, poor creature.
"You.....Got let off completely unscathed..." She mumbled.
"Probably because I didn't Skip class......Oh my god I understand your name now-" Skip covered my mouth. "Shut. Up." She stated firmly, rolling over slightly. I sat down on the floor next to the couch and turned on the tv, flipping through the channels, Eventally I came across The Big Bang Theory and settled on that, As there wasn't much on. Skip turned to me "So.....What do you think the principal meant by a special broadcast....?" Skip asked quietly. "I don't know...Maybe he's going to own up to his wrong doings?" I suggested sarcastically.
Skip shrugged and leaned her head on the couch armrest, looking rather comfy.
After some time the episode ended and a breaking news report was on. It showed a lady with neutral skin in a red dress.
"The organization known as the ORDER SEEKERS have been taking over the government recently." The woman said excitedly, in a British accent.
The screen cut to some grey haired old guy, no, The Principal onstage, making a speech. I turned off the tv and stood up.
"Aw hell no.....That creep is running the damn government now.....How does that even work?!?!" I yelled.
"Money and murder." Skip replied tiredly.
"Order seekers..." I scoffed and looked at the time. 9:30 pm. "We better get to bed, we don't want to be late for class again." I say to Skip walking into the bedroom, threw my shirt off and shoved on a tank top, then laid down on the top bunk, pulling the blanket over me. I closed my eyes as my mind drifted away. I had a dream, a rather strange one. I was in the Principal s office and he was accusing me of something.
I was reasoning with him, then he started crying....Saying things about everyone forgiving him....

I woke up at 2:20 with chills. However it got me thinking, maybe the Principal is just a normal guy. Just a little off his rocker...
Maybe all he wants is forgiveness, or acceptance....
Maybe all he wants is a friend...?

I snuggled deeper into the blankets and fell back asleep.

That morning I woke up to the angelic tone of my IPhone's alarm.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I immediately turned it off and rolled out of bed, which wasn't a great idea since I was on the top bunk. I "gracefully" hit the floor with a resounding thud.
Groaning I stood up and looked at Skip.

Aw, she was still asleep. How cu-
I grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her up. She woke up with a start. I let go and she sat on her bed in a crumpled yet technically upright position.
She yawned and slowly looked at me.
"Good morning!" I quipped sarcastically.
"Mornin'" She moaned tiredly, slumping out of bed, rubbing her eyes slowly. I made breakfast again (Burning it) upon exiting the dorm we found the layout was different again. There was also a new poster of The Principal on the wall that read TURN YOURSELF IN FOR YOUR INPERFECTIONS.
Then I saw him. Mister E Person ran towards me, handed me my schedule and disappeared as if he was never there. I looked at the paper.
The only thing on the list was language class. Strange, usually it's considered French or Spanish, but "Language class" was a new one... I crumpled up my schedule and began wandering down the halls (With Skip following behind me.) This time we had a considerable amount of time.
Eventally we found the classroom and were not prepared for what we were about to witness. The language teacher was dressed as Jack Sparrow.
That outfit choice aside, he was a tall mustachioed man. However just by this introduction I could tell this is one of the good teachers.
"Hello class!" He said in French.
"my name is Jean!" He continued, this one in English. To which he got responded with confused, tired student looks.
"The principal doesn't understand French, so it's okay to talk about rebellion here." He says in French.

Suddenly this is becoming my favorite class....

After Mr, Jean's lecture about closets being the only safe place to speak. (Which we were wholly aware of already) Skip and I wandered the halls, our checklist was finished so we assumed we could relax a little. Skip and I walked down the infinite hallways
"So, how the hell do you think they did this?" Skip asked.
"Dunno, they probably used magic or something." I replied.
Somebody stopped us. He was leaning against the wall. One of the hall monitors. He had a blond perm and was very muscular. "Aren't you supposed to be somewere.....Like class?" The hall monitor.
"We've finished." I replied.
"Where's the schedule?" Mr Hall Monitor asked.
I handed it to him, a look of defeat crossed his face, as if he was sad that he wasn't going to be able to turn us in. "Oh....Uhm...Well you're free to wander the halls then." He stated, beginning to lean against the hall, acting all cool.
"Coolio." Was the only reply I gave him before heading on my way again.
We made our way over to one of the rooms and opened the door. My god, they have a pool. It was massive and luxurious, we're talking over expensive fancy hotel level. I didn't even waste time putting something appropriate for swimming on, I just dove in.
Skip stood back, hesitant.
"Uhm.....Is there like, a stupid no diving rule or something?" Skip asked, half joking.
"There's no security cameras here, who gives a damn?" I asked, floating on the surface of the water, my Bad Religion Hoodie's fabric was soaked. I was a very light person, I wasn't weak. Just light. I looked around, the pool was outlined with gold and the tiles were black. This place looked regal. The water didn't feel chemically. It felt natural, but not outright gross, it was perfect. You know, this school has its perks. Skip didn't trust it though, as she remained on the dry portion of the pool. Suddenly the tv screens in the room changed to the principals face. "Hello everybody. I would like to show you all what happens if you misbehave." He states, the Principal disappears and a video plays. It was Lizzy's brother in the Principal's office.
"You know why you're here!" The Principal yelled at him. Before he could say anything, he grabbed Lizzy brother hand stabbed a knife into his chest, he removed the knife then sliced his neck, blood squirted out as he fell to the floor. I was disgusted, but my disgust grew when I saw who else was in the room...Lizzy...They forced her to watch. She looked tramatized. Her body shook as tears flowed from her eyes.
The Principal grabbed her by the shirt and stated. "Let this be a lesson to you. I'm always watching and listening." He stated then pushed her away. She ran out of the room and the video cut off there. I imminently got out of the pool, filled with rage and grabbed Skip.
"IM SO MAD, I FEEL LIKE KILLING SOMEONE!" I yelled, shaking Skip violently.
"W-Why are you mad? You should feel more sorry for Lizzy than anger at the Principal." Skip croaked out, disoriented.
After much dispute, we decided that for the safety of the other students we should return to the dorm.