Crashing Down

Chapter 2: Diana

Ryan...Wendy...Anna...Owen. I can't lose them. In fact, I can't afford to lose any of them. What would I do without them? Just the thought of them getting hurt is enough to scare me. I channel all my willpower into getting up, pulling my body upwards, depsite the cuts all over my arms from the debris. The ringing sensation in my ears doesn't stop, making me more agitated with every passing second. It takes a while for me to get adjusted to the sudden change in atmosphere. It was as if the sun came crashing down in the classroom. Electrical cables dangle dangerously from the ceiling, some sparking up and catching fire. All the way at the back of the classroom, there is an ominous black pod. Some students dash out, while others stand around, investigating the pod while maintaining a safe distance.

Then, I finally hear something. A scream. One too familiar. Anna. What the hell happened?

"No, it is not socially acceptable to scoop grated cheese straight out of the bag and eat it at 3am and chewing it while having a shower." I protest as I slam my locker door shut, casually flipping the number lock to a random combination. All my books are couped up in my arms, walking cautiously as Ryan stares over my shoulder in awe. We spot Wendy grabbing food out of her locker, secretely eating a meal. She gulps her food as she spots us in her peripherals, wipes her hands on her jeans, and slams her locker shut. She attempts to act as if nothing happened, and pulls me in a hug causing 3 of my books to topple to the floor. She gives and awkward smile as she spins around, only to be face-to-face with Anna and Owen. We let out small giggles and continue walking.

In class, we plop down into our seats, forming a miniature X. At most, our coversations mildly inconvenience those in between us.

There is a sudden, sweltering heat approaching us. We shift uncomfortably in our seats, sweat starting to drip down my shirt. We stare at each other, curious for what the heat could be. The whole school starts to shake, hearing violent crashes from the floors above.

Then, hell comes crashing down. I stare at Ryan in disbelief.

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I slip on a pile of books and broken ceiling pieces. Smoke erupts from different parts of the school, wreaking panic and chaos between the students. Teachers and cleaners look around in disbelief, wondering what the hell just happened. Students run around, some frantically searching for their friends and others celebrating from the cancelled classes. I look around, finding the source of where Anna's scream came from.

I dash over, finding Ryan, Wendy and Anna and a few others crowding around something, or someone. Wait. Where's Owen?

I see a pair of legs all to familiar stick out from below a solid black pod. Owen. I see Anna break down, his closest friend losing all hope. Me, Ryan and Wendy let our emotions loose, as tears streak down our faces, filling our eyes to the brim.

But the pod won't let us mourn. It makes a wheeze of relief, as the nearly-invisible door slides open, letting a cool, pungent gas escape. A few creatures step out, all the same. They're all pitch-black in colour, some parts of their bodies gleaming more than others. All of them are covered in some greasy, black substance, that seem to make them more menancing. Their long, curved heads have a singular eye in them, beady and emotionless. They open their mouths, revealing a showcase of sharp, pointed teeth, in all shapes and sizes, like a showcase of every predator's mouth in existence. They let out a low, deep growl, that threatens everyone surrounding it, to back off. Its tail swirls back and forth, with a sharp arrow-shaped piece of flesh at the end of it.

Without warning, one of them pounces on a nearby student. As she tries to fend the demon from hell off, gashes and cuts begin appearing all over her body. Soon, she becomes a lifeless body, nothing but the shell of what once was a happy, healthy, joyful and bubbly girl. She gives in to the monster, as it finishes its meal and attempts to move on to the next. It spots a sobbing Anna, just a few meters away. It begins to pounce, and gets slammed into the wall in a flurry of events.

Ryan stands over the crumpled figure of the monster, with a grim expression on his face. "Not another of my friends." He grunts as he kicks the limp, lifeless body of the monster. Seeing a comrade fallen in battle, another one of those enraged Creatures dashes towards Ryan, trampling over the horde of bodies. Instinctively, I grab the nearest and heaviest textbook and slam it straight into the Creature, sending it flying backwards, colliding with another one.

Seeing the newfound will to live, the remaining portion of the class pick up books, tables, laptops and even broomsticks to ward off these monsters. Even a painfully tearing Anna, stands up and fights, in the honour of Owen. Everyone relentlessly tears through the few remaning Creatures, and never stop to think.

The battle goes on until two Creatures are remaining. One of them, thrown against a wall, is slowly trying to regain it's balance and be victorious in the battle. The other, is surrounded by a vicious pack of adrenaline-boosted students, all ready to avenge their friends. In a last-ditch attempt to survive, it resorts to a quick, sharp spin, slicing open those surrounding it. Anna tries to impale it with the end of a broken brooomstick, only for the creature to grab it, and send it flying into her. I watch the whole thing happen right before my eyes, as I let out a gut-wrenching scream.

Anna flies halfway across the classroom, with the broomstick sticking out of her abdomen. She falls flat onto the floor, as me and Ryan rush over. Blood trickles out of her mouth. "Sorry. I... failed... you." She croaks as she becomes motionless, a happy, joyful girl, becoming a lifeless puppet. I try to hold back my tears, clenching my fist and the book in my hand. Me and Ryan slowly get up, determined, by the loss of both our friends. We charge.

The remaining Creature seemed to have overpowered half the class. There were only 5 of us left. Me, Ryan, Wendy and two others. I think instinctively. We can't corner it. It might panic, and pull all of us into a whirlwind of projectiles. The classroom turns into a battlefield, with a flurry of students advancing on the Creature. Books and tables rush at the Creature.

The panicking Creature, seems to adopt a new beahviour. It felt the need to survive. Its eyes flared up, a deep animal instinct, a surge of raw power and the sudden will to live. It gained sudden speed and caution, and darted from the wall to the ceiling to the floor, in an endless cycle of evasion and agility.