I woke up to the sound of shuffling and soft chatter, I looked over to my sister who was still resting peacefully. I decided to come out of the crawl space in the floor and eavesdrop through the gap left by the closet door. The back of my foot knocked something over, it was too sudden for me to attempt to break its fall and with the object making contact with the floor the voices shuffled out the room wasting no time. The only ones in the room now were me and Azlyn. UGHHH- I might as well get up now, I made such a stupid mistake.

As I made my way out of the closet, colorful metallic bars caught my eye. At first, I just looked at it and then curiosity got the best of me and I started to examine it with my hands. The reflective wrapper was thin and encased something hard. It seemed so out of place in this dreary school, that I turned it over to find a list of “ingredients” I'd never heard of. If it has an ingredients list that probably means it's edible right? I tried to break it open but the packaging was more durable than I expected, whatever was inside this thing just broke. As I struggled to pull back the flap to separate the 2 sides of the wrapper from each other I accidentally ended up ripping one of the serrated edges. What a happy accident that was- I peeled back its metallic blanket to reveal this glossy brown grid. It didn’t look that appetizing just by sight but the light aroma that wafted off it was temptingly sweet.

I broke a piece of it off and it left a stain on the tips of my fingers. It felt rich and smooth as it became thinner with the heat of my hand. I brought the piece of chocolate to my lips, feeling its smooth texture against my fingertips. As I took a bite, the rich, velvety flavor instantly flooded my mouth, coating my tongue with a decadent sweetness. The chocolate melted slowly in my mouth, it was an explosion of sensations, with a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness that danced on my taste buds. The sensation of warmth and silkiness lingered on my palate, leaving a luxurious, lingering aftertaste. It was as if every sense in my body was awakened and captivated by this newfound delight. For the first time in a long time I felt myself smiling. Is this what happiness tastes like? 

In those moments of joy I almost forgot where I was, I had let myself relax. I wanted to linger in that feeling longer but it's not safe to have food in my hands out in the open, especially not something this delicious. I hurriedly grabbed everything that was on the table and selfishly stashed some in a filing cabinet for safe keeping. I kept 2 on me and brought my nearly finished one over to where I left Azlyn. she was already awake when I had gotten there, comforted to see me. As I helped her get out I noticed her eying the shiny, metallic, bar in my hand. 

I handed it over to her and watched her examine it for herself before looking at me curiously. I walked over to the cabinet where Emily was hidden but it was empty. Wherever she was at least we know she wasn’t found by a teacher. “What is it?” she questioned, waving the bar in the air. 

“It's happiness,” I said, smiling.

The look in her eyes had “be so for real right now” all over it, “stop wasting time and making jokes, what is it Noah?”

“It's food, try it” I rolled my eyes. 

She was still hesitant but she finally decided to go for the first bite. As I watched her taste it for the first time, I couldn't help but notice the look of surprise and delight on her face. Her eyes lit up as they took a bite, and I could see the wonder in her expression as the rich, velvety flavor filled their mouth. The way she savored each moment, the way she closed their eyes to take it all in, it was as if she was experiencing something truly magical. It was a joy to witness her pure bliss, and it reminded me of the simple pleasures in life. She didn’t even leave anything left for me. Maybe everyday doesn't have to be a nightmare. I had almost forgotten that only moments ago we barely dodged death's grip. 

As Azlyn finished the last piece of chocolate, her eyes still sparkling with delight, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The school had been eerily quiet lately, with fewer kids around every day. It felt like the calm before a storm.

“I don’t like this, Noah,”Azlyn whispered, as if reading my thoughts. “Where is everyone?”

I glanced around the dimly lit room, my mind racing. The teacher who had been hunting us earlier wasn’t around anymore, but the sense of dread lingered. I remembered the chocolate and snacks left behind, as if on purpose. It didn’t seem like a coincidence. Did they know we were here? Why would they leave this for us? Is it another test?

“We need to find out what’s going on,” I said, determination hardening my voice. “Let’s see if we can follow one of the teachers next time. Maybe they’ll lead us to some answers.”

Azlyn nodded, her fear giving way to resolve. We slipped out of our hiding spot, moving as quietly as we could through the deserted hallways. The school felt like a labyrinth, each corner hiding potential danger.