Chapter 5: Class Begins with a Curse

Once inside, we realized something was wrong—the classroom was empty. Where was the voice coming from?

I turned to look and felt every hair on my body stand up, a chill racing down my spine.

The door was gone.

"Back to your seats."

The eerie woman’s voice drifted from above. A shadow slowly descended behind me. A cold breeze hit the back of my neck, making goosebumps prickle on my skin. My locket was burning hot—meaning whatever it was, was right next to me.

Could it be real?

I instinctively grabbed the nearest hand, then immediately regretted it. My parents had always avoided holding my hand. When I was six, I saw the neighbor kid holding hands with his parents and tried to do the same. My mom yanked her hand away, snapping, "Are you trying to hurt us?"

I didn’t get it—I just wanted to be like a normal family. But I never dared ask, knowing I’d only get yelled at more.

After that, I never reached out to them again. I never dared get close to anyone.

Just as I tried to let go, someone gripped my hand tightly, fingers weaving between mine. The warmth spread from my palm to my heart. It was oddly comforting—unexpected, but real.

I didn’t dare look back. Instead, I pulled Lila to my chest and led her to a seat, putting as much space as possible between us and the woman.

Now I dared to look up. She really did look like the mannequin from the last classroom—blood-stained white dress, but half her face was hidden by long black hair, the visible half a bloody, mangled mess.

She looked like she’d been run over by the world and left to haunt us.

I glanced at Lila; she was looking at me too. Our eyes met, a silent agreement passing between us.

I’d heard that people who die by suicide become earthbound spirits, trapped where they died, full of resentment. If you go along with them, act out their story, they’ll let you go. If you refuse, you’re stuck until they’re satisfied—or they kill you all.

I typed out my theory on my phone. Lila read it and we both looked at Grayson. That idiot—I just hoped he wouldn’t piss her off before Yvette arrived. I held my breath, praying for a miracle.

Grayson glanced at the woman, shivering, but quickly recovered, even sneering at me. Probably thought she was just another crew plant, not the real deal.

He looked at me with contempt. "Aren’t you supposed to be fearless? What are you pretending now?"

I ignored him. No point arguing—he wouldn’t believe me anyway.

Riley sat down with us. Marcus didn’t move, instead turning to look back with Grayson. After last time, he was much calmer, but his knuckles were white.

The woman tapped a ruler on the desk, the sound sharp and jarring, making my skin crawl.

Grayson suddenly got excited, circling her. "Last time the key was in the head—this time is it in your hair? Why are you tapping that ruler? Is it inside?"

He reached for it, calling Marcus to help.

I shouted, "Don’t touch her!" but it was too late.

The woman swung the ruler, cracking Grayson on the head with a sickening thud. He staggered back, clutching his head, dazed. Then she spun and rammed the ruler into Marcus’s stomach. He stared in shock as blood blossomed across his shirt, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Ha ha ha! You’ll all stay here and die with me!"

I pulled Lila behind me, gripping my locket, ready to fight. My heart hammered in my chest, adrenaline making my fingers tingle.

[Is this real? Someone’s dying!]

[It has to be fake—otherwise, how could the crew keep streaming?]

[But Grayson looks genuinely terrified!]

[Nora protecting Lila is such girlfriend energy!]

[Shipping everything just ruins it.]

The woman cackled, advancing on us. Riley tried to run, tripped over Marcus, and face-planted with a smack that echoed. She groaned, scrambled up, sobbing, and ran to the wall, feeling for the door. "Where’s the door? Where did it go?"

She looked back at me, eyes wild, but I was too busy to answer. Lila and I had backed against the wall, the woman closing in. I swallowed hard, finally making up my mind.

Let’s do this!