His Victims

First Victim: Katie Brasher

  " Thank you for the help, Mr. Cole. " I said, looking up to my teacher as I heaved my backpack over my shoulder and onto my back.

  " You are quite welcome, Katie. " He responded with a gruff voice. " How are your parents? "
  " Busy. " As Always. I thought after I responded.
" And your brother? "
" A jerk... "
" Minus all the sibling rivalry, Miss Brasher. " He said as I walked towards the door. I looked away as I rolled my eyes.
" He's perfectly fine. " I went to open the door.
" Katie. "

" What? " I replied back. It was something I always said to my parents when they were annoying me. I didn't even mean to. I mumbled out a quick sorry. " Yes, sir? "
  He stared for a moment, rough eyes on me. He let out a quiet sigh. " Good luck on your performance. Have a good day... " He said as he walked back towards his desk.
I nodded. " You too.. " I mumbled out, quickly opening the door and leaving the classroom.

I walked down the hallway, books in hand, as people still left in the school shrugged past quickly. I got to my locker, turning the lock and opening it. I scooted some books around and placed the ones in my arm in their rightful spots. I grabbed my jacket, sliding that over my shoulder as I took my shoes and

-

SLAM!

The sounds of multiple lockers close as girls in short shorts, tight tops, and tiny red skirts walk out of the locker room and onto the field with red and white pom poms in hand. I took a breath in, taking in the salty and rubber smell as I messed with the plastic and yet strangely fuzzy pom pom in my own hands. I quickly adjusted my high ponytail, spritted some vanilla-smelling perfume on me, and followed the line of girls that looked too similar to the next.
My brunette hair swished as I walked confidently onto the field and into the view of hundreds of teens and parents. If mine weren't busy or even cared, I wondered if they would've been in that crowd, yelling my name when they saw me... Probably not..

The bright lights shining onto the field blinded me, yet I smiled like nothing was wrong. I put my hands on my hips in unison with the girls around me, as we all began to chant. A chant we've done over and over. So much so that I've managed to drown my own voice out.
Lips and bodies moved in unison and in a blink of an eye, we ended it all with an energetic " GO-O-O RED WOLVES! " with our hands above our heads, frozen in that position as we all shook the red and white pom poms. When the announcements began, we all dropped the positions and started off the field.

Distant conversations of gossip were behind me. A group of girls that had always spoken horribly of poor souls that never deserved it. I could hear them laugh as we entered the locker room. It's never about me but I never wanted to laugh. It's not funny.
I took my tight top off and replaced it with the comfortable one inside. I took my jacket and slipped it on, taking off the uncomfortable shoes I wore and put on my tennis shoes. Grabbing my bag, I left the girls locker room and started down the empty hallways.

My phone buzzed with messages from many different apps but none from my ride home. I open my contacts and text my brother.

  ' R u here? '

  I slipped my phone in my pocket and looked up towards the exit doors. I went over to some chairs near the office and sat down, scrolling through my phone as I waited for a text back.

  A couple minutes passed and there was no response. Wouldn't be surprised if he decided he didn't want to pick me up.. I sigh, turning off my phone and leaning back into the chair.

  Boredom had taken over as I counted ceiling tiles. A thought crossed my mind. If Damon wasn't going to come on time, then why should I wait for eternity for him? I can watch the game or wander the school. Go to the library and read some books. A smile crossed my face. That's a good idea. The library. It has been a while since I've gone for any reason other than classes. I stood up, making sure my bag was still on me securely and started down the hallways again. I turned the corner, not expecting a dark figure with a doll-like mask on. I flinched back.
  " Jesus C-christ- Wha-what the hell, man? " I said under my breath, backing up as I looked the guy over. I couldn't see their eyes underneath the mask but I could feel them staring into me. I think it was a man, by the way his body was structured. He was taller than me, as most guys usually were, with broad shoulders.
For a small moment, I couldn't speak, my mouth feeling dry. " Could you not stand in the way? " I said, walking back a bit more and looking over towards the empty space of the hallway.
When he didn't move, I let out a small scoff, trying to walk around him. He moved in the way. I backed up a bit more. What the hell is this guy's deal? I thought as I backed up a bit more. He seemed to take a step closer. " What? Am I not allowed over there? " I asked with a raised voice. He didn't answer and so I just walked away, mumbling out " Freaky Creep "..

  I went down a different hallway, fixing my jacket a bit and moving the strings of my bag a little. I pulled out my phone, trying to ignore my anxiety spiking from the weird moment. I checked my messages, hoping for a response. There was none. I could still feel his eyes on me, and my body shuddered a bit.

  I looked over my shoulder for a moment. A single moment, just to keep myself calm. To tell myself there was nothing there. Yet my eyes went over the figure, and my heartbeat only quickened.

  I looked back and my pace quickened. As mine went a bit faster, I could hear his move as fast, coming closer within a short time. I quickened my pace to a fast walk or slow run and didn't look back, despite my mind screaming at me to do so.

  Classrooms passed by as I heard his speed up. They passed by faster as I began to run.
Faster and faster, I eventually couldn't slow my own feet down. Fear took over for me, keeping me running down the halls as I heard the thudding of his feet after me. I went round a corner, rushing into a classroom and quickly closing the door, trying to be silent.
 
  At first, it was just pitch black. Until my eyes adjusted and I could see barely what resembled the art room. The tables as clean as they could get, floor dusted from clay and old paint. I couldn't see that image in front of me but that's what I knew it looked like. I moved my hand to lock the door and thought I heard the click. I stumbled slowly around the dark room, feeling around to know my way. All I needed to do was get to a closet or somewhere to hide. I found the door to the closet and opened it, closing it behind me quietly. I could hear thudding footsteps from outside of the classroom. I moved along the large closet, a place filled with clay pots and projects that were either finished or still being worked on. Using my hand, I traced along a shelf and found a corner furthest away from the closet door. I sat down slowly, as the door to the classroom opened, and footsteps thudded inside.

  I heard chairs move, being pushed around and dragged away from their spots at tables. I slid into a shelf, squeezing quietly next to clay vases.
I could hear him walk to the closet door, and could see the shadows move as the door opened. I saw the slight light peer into the room and watched as he walked in.
I covered my mouth, keeping my breaths as shallow and quiet as I could make them. I could see him walk around the room slowly, softer steps than he took before.
He was so close.
I could barely see the outline of his legs as he stopped moving in front of me. I held my breath, and he eventually walked away and out of the closet..

  I heard his footsteps walk out of the classroom and heard the door close shut.
I didn't move, staying where I was for a few minutes. It was safer to think he was still there than he wasn't and getting killed..
Or raped..
Or whatever this creep wanted to do with me.

  I had let go of the breath that I didn't notice I still held, and sat there a little longer just to be extra safe. I slipped out from between the vases and quietly stood up, using the shelf behind me to help keep balance as I wandered back through the slight darkness and towards the door. I took small, careful steps, and when I reached the door, I stood to the side of it for a small bit of time, as I tried to make sense of the darkness in the classroom, trying to see if he was still there or not.

I moved a bit further and

SLAM!

  " ACH! " I lost my breath as I was slammed against the shelves. I heard clay projects move, some breaking with a loud crash to the floor. I tried to hit the thing in front of me, but as soon as something squeezed around my throat, my hand went to that instead.
I tried to kick at it, scratch it, anything.
I felt it squeeze tighter, and I let out a struggled cough.
I felt it loosen up and in the instance felt sharp pain in my side...

  The bleachers of people screamed and howled as the Red Wolves scored a win.