The next day we hid in the same area but more secure hiding spots. As footsteps neared the office, we spotted a teacher, the same one we assumed who had left the snacks behind. He was gathering His things, a furtive look on his face. He appeared to be wasting time. Over the last few days we’ve been watching him come in and out of the office spaces, we never heard him calling out any names but he was definitely aware of our presence. What a strange dude.

The exam would be over after today and I wasn’t excited about what would come after it. So Azlyn and I decided we’d try to escape before the final evaluation. I don’t give a shit about meeting the sadistic assholes who trapped us here. 

“Stay close,” I whispered to Azlyn, and we began to tail him, keeping a safe distance. He’s never actively seeked anyone but there's no telling what he’d do if he saw us out in the open or if we crossed paths with another teacher. The teacher walked briskly, the heels of his polished dress shoes clicking against the floor, echoing in the silence. He seemed unaware of our presence as he made his way to the basement level, the place no one dared to wander.

The basement door creaked open, and we followed, holding our breath. The stench hit us immediately—damp, rotten, and putrid. It smelled like a sewer. We covered our noses, trying not to gag. The teacher moved quickly, not giving us a chance to hesitate. We followed him down the winding, grimy corridors, our footsteps barely audible. I noticed small shadows tailing us, great company.

We turned a corner and froze. There, in the dim light, were giant, fat, bald people, mostly naked, their skin glistening with sweat and grime. These giants lugged their wrinkled flaps of fat sluggishly around the sewer. Some were just sitting on the damp sewer floors in a daze. They looked stupid and unaware, but we couldn’t take any chances. The teacher navigated past them effortlessly, and we mimicked his movements, trying to blend into the shadows.

Finally, we reached a door at the end of the corridor. The teacher pushed it open, and we slipped in behind him just as it swung shut. I was surprised the door didn’t open again, it seems like our shadows are smart enough to not make their presence known. I don’t think Azlyn noticed we were being followed by a small group of children. Inside, the scene changed dramatically. It was like stepping into another world—a vast, white space that looked like an airport. It was a magic subway, run by witches. Witches? Fuck witches! The air was cool and fresh, a stark contrast to the sewer-like corridors we had just navigated. Seeing the witches startled me. I was so sure that we’d be called out at any second and all these people would run at us to capture us again. How would they punish us for leaving the school?

The teacher hurried to one of the platforms, and we followed, awe-struck by the gleaming trains and the witches who ran them. I felt a strange mix of fear and excitement. This was our chance. The unknown seemed less terrifying than staying in that school.

“Come on, Azlyn,” I urged, taking her hand. “We need to get on one of these trains.”

We made our way to a train going in the opposite direction of whether the staff member was heading, sneaking on board with a group of teen’s hanging out. As the doors closed behind us, I glanced back, half-expecting someone to catch us. But teachers with clipboards were nowhere to be seen. We found seats at the back, our hearts pounding with a mix of fear and hope.

As the train started moving, Azlyn leaned against me, exhausted but relieved. “Where do you think we’re going?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, hugging her close. “But wherever it is, it has to be better than what we left behind.” The question of whether we were being tracked played in the back of my mind.

The train sped into the unknown, carrying us away from the horrors of the school and into a future we couldn’t predict. We were scared, but for the first time in a long while, we felt a glimmer of hope. We were headed for an unknown world but the unknown was less terrifying than whatever awaited us at the school.

   The End.