Free Web NovelChapter 4: Gym
The screams grew more distant the closer he got to the gym, the void they left easily replaced by the storm outside and new screams from the panicking students around him.
Most windows he passed by were shattered as well, the snow and cold flooding into the hallways. It was just his luck that he’d chosen to wear a hoodie today. Not everyone was so fortunate.
By the time he got to the gym, the students around him were already rubbing their arms to preserve some heat—especially those with short sleeves. The gym was on the other side of the block, and the cold had been given ample time to seep in.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, they hadn’t been the only class to head to the gym. The doors were wide open, and Miles rushed in at the sight of them.
Inside, the place was in a state of disarray. Teachers were screaming orders, trying to establish some semblance of order. They were holding on—just barely.
The only positive note was the fact that the heaters inside were on full blast; plus, there were no windows here. The drone of the ventilators above was hardly audible over the racket.
Three teachers split from the group in the center to check the new arrivals, the nurse being among them. The nurse, in a blood-stained gown, did a once-over on all of them before having the teachers split them into two groups: those injured and those who were not.
Naturally, Miles was grouped with the former. He, along with the rest of the injured, was moved to one side where more students like him were gathered.
Some lay groaning on gym mats, while others sat listlessly against the wall. Teachers flitted between them, administering first aid where they could. The distinct smell of blood, sweat, and the musty air inside the gym churned his stomach. The whole situation was dizzying.
Yet what little order remained in the gym shattered as a group of students burst in through the open doors. It was Ryan and the girl from earlier; held between them was the limp body of her friend.
How they’d made it out of the classroom was a mystery to Miles.
"Mrs. Karen! Please, help her!" the girl screamed at the sight of the nurse. Mrs. Karen only gave a deep frown in response.
"Give them space."
She didn’t need to say it twice. The center quickly cleared, and the two weary teens laid their friend’s body to rest there. The room grew hushed and solemn as Mrs. Karen began checking the girl.
She didn’t have to check for long.
"She’s dead."
The girl was the first to break the silence. "Wha... what do you mean she’s dead!? She can’t be!"
Ryan held her, stopping her from lunging at the nurse. His movements were stiff, clearly still in shock from the news. He could only say her name.
"Mia!"
She collapsed onto her knees. "But just this morning she was... how?" she mumbled and whimpered before breaking into an ugly sob.
Mrs. Karen, on the other hand, remained silent, head lowered as she slowly left the body. She didn’t know what to do with a corpse. Cynically, perhaps, a teacher finally broke the silence.
"Which classes are here?"
It was a simple, mundane question—something to take their minds off the corpse before them. The room fell silent again before a student finally answered.
"C-Class 1A is here."
Another soon followed. "I’m from Class 1B."
Then another, and another. It continued until six students had spoken up.
The teacher, whom Miles now recognized as the vice-principal, nodded. "Then all six are here in some form. Good. Any second or third years here?"
The room remained silent. The other years were in different blocks.
But the man continued, trying to leverage the momentum.
"Alright. Has anyone tried calling 911?"
"I did. They’re swamped."
"The call didn’t go through."
"The line was busy."
Multiple people spoke up; none had positive answers. The man sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Ah... okay. Then we might be on our own for now. Can someone turn on the TV?"
Chloe stepped out of the crowd, heading towards the socket connected to the TV hanging overhead. ’So she made it.’
The man soon continued, heading for the door as he spoke.
"While she does that, those of you who are injured should remain where you are; teachers will attend to you shortly. As for those of you who aren’t, still stay where you are. Check online if you can make any sense of what’s happening; call your families and check in with them if you can, too. Panicking doesn’t help anyone."
He closed the doors, hesitating but ultimately choosing not to lock them.
"Class reps, help me run a headcount of your classmates. Tell me if anyone is missing."
With his string of orders given, he’d managed to wrestle at least some control over the room. Shaken and terrified as they were, the students slowly followed his instructions, all while still conscious of the fact that there was a corpse in the room with them.
A teacher soon walked up to Miles. He recognized her; she was his homeroom teacher.
"Mrs. Kathy?"
She seemed to have just finished with the more serious cases, as blood stained her blouse.
"Miles? Are you alright?"
He registered the sound of the TV switching on in the background.
"I’m—"
Before he could finish, she’d already tilted his chin to get a proper look at his wounds.
"—fwine."
"Nonsense, you’re bleeding."
She tore a clean piece of cotton, dabbing it in some rubbing alcohol before wiping his wound with it. It stung, yet Miles barely reacted. Mrs. Kathy, on the other hand, widened her eyes at the lack of reaction but kept on cleaning regardless.
A swab of cotton was pressed against his face, then a bandage, and she moved on to his hands. Even as he felt her hands tremble while moving across his palms, he could tell she was experienced.
A sterilized pair of tweezers pulled the glass shards from his hands, and soon the backs of his hands were covered in bandages as well.
Once she was done, she gave him a once-over, glancing at the remaining victims before speaking.
"I’ll talk to you later." She moved to the next person after that.
Right as he thought he’d finally be able to process things, a transparent screen popped up before him.
[Emergency activation sequence complete...]
