Chapter 3: Head Games and Soft Girls

I quietly texted Yvette Jordan, the psychic who streams online.

Two minutes later, she replied:

"What? Brookdale High? Are you nuts? Going there is a death wish!"

The speakers crackled: "The show is officially starting. Seven years ago, a young teacher jumped from the rooftop. Ever since, at night, restless spirits wander the school. The school was closed. Your task: find out why the teacher jumped, resolve her regrets, and escape the building. Good luck escaping—heh-heh-heh."

A shrill laugh rang out. The lights suddenly dimmed. The door slammed shut behind us. Everyone broke out in a cold sweat, nerves stretched tight.

A small figure inched closer and closer until she was pressed right up against my side, practically hiding behind me. I could feel her shaky breath on my arm, but she stood her ground, trying to protect me as much as I was protecting her.

Kind of… adorable, honestly.

"Let’s split up and look for clues. The sooner we get out, the less the crew can scare us."

Riley spoke up first. The rest agreed and scattered, everyone eager to get away from the tension.

I felt around the teacher’s desk and found a square button. I pressed it without thinking, half-expecting nothing to happen.

A faint red light flickered on the ceiling, catching everyone’s attention. Grayson, closest, edged over and looked up, his face pale in the glow.

"Ah—"

He screamed, rooted to the spot, trembling so hard I thought he’d collapse. I followed his gaze, heart hammering.

A woman in a blood-stained white dress, her face pale and twisted in a creepy grin.

"I see you… heh-heh-heh."

Her voice echoed through the empty classroom, chilling and unnatural, but her mouth didn’t move at all.

"Thunk!"

Her head fell from above, landing in Grayson’s arms. Sticky red liquid oozed through his fingers, warm and terrifyingly real.

"Ah—"

Grayson shrieked and flung the head at me.

"Ah… ah… ah…"

Lila rushed over, shielding me, eyes squeezed shut, arms flailing in panic.

I couldn’t help but sigh—at the end of the day, it’s women who look out for women. The guy just dumps trouble on his rumored girlfriend and runs.

The head rolled to Lila’s feet, bounced twice, then a pale eyeball popped out and tumbled across the floor. My stomach lurched.

Marcus and Riley screamed and clung to each other like life preservers.

Grayson scrambled to the door, yanking at the handle, but it was locked from the outside. He pounded on it, desperate.

Lila dove into my arms, covering my eyes with her hands.

"Don’t look, sis."

Her voice wobbled, but I could tell she was trying to sound brave for me. That alone made my heart squeeze.

I squeezed her hand back, trying to comfort her: "Hey, don’t worry. It’s all just props."

I pulled her behind me, blocking her view as best I could. I walked over, picked up the eyeball and the woman’s head, trying to act casual. Maybe I was too calm—everyone stopped screaming and stared at me in shock, like I’d just grown a second head myself.

I pressed the eyeball back in. "Click!" A mechanism triggered, and the woman’s skull rotated with a weird little whir.

I couldn’t help blurting out, "Damn, it’s like a sliding puzzle!"

On the live chat:

[One second she’s scared, the next she’s hilarious. A sliding puzzle, really?]

[Is this show just a vehicle for Nora? Why is everyone else terrified, but she’s chill?]

[She must have a script. Nepotism much? Get her out!]

[Am I the only one loving Nora and Lila protecting each other?]

[Honestly, their energy is giving me 'final boss of pure love' vibes.]