Chapter 6
Seth had finally returned to school after his "traumatizing ordeal." No one would leave him alone. The principal constantly called and checked up on him. Shane periodically would visit his classes, Zoe would stop by and see him every so often and Lillian threatened to beat up anyone that looked at Seth the wrong way, which by now was most of the school. He couldn't take it anymore. He just needed to be alone, but he knew that while the Lion was still out there he was never alone. The Lion stalked him, he was always there, he watched Seth's every move and he always knew where Seth was and what he was doing. Seth knew this by the letters that he was still currently receiving from the Lion, whether they were on his school desk or in the mail. This character was insane. He actually thought that Seth was his best friend, but the teenager had no clue who his supposed "best friend" actually was outside of the Lion. This scared Seth to the point that he was barely keeping control over himself. Out of the past week he had been forced to lock himself in the bathroom while he attempted to gain control of the panic that surged through his body. He did not want anyone to become suspicious as to why he was having attacks, so he kept it a secret. They couldn't know. Seth did not want to see what the Lion would do to him if he told anyone. He couldn't risk Lillian's life like that.
He was God. He had the power to control the lives of people within his grasp. The Lion stared at his newest pray. It was fun just to watch Seth and to know the power he held over him. He was slowly beginning to wear Seth down, slowly driving him insane, and it was fun. It was his entertainment for the day just to watch the kid fall slowly fall apart piece by piece everyday. The Lion did not want the fun to stop anytime soon either. It was a game of hunting and currently the predator was winning.
Seth entered the bathroom at the school to calm his thoughts. The teachers would give him leeway if he was late; they sympathized with what he was going through and wanted to help him as much as they could. Seth only had one word to say to that: Bullshit. He didn't mind it though. Seth walked to the nearest stall and paid no attention to the other occupant of the room. He locked the door for privacy hoping that the other person would leave soon. Seth didn't hear the door open as more people made their way into the room for he was too lost in this thoughts. But suddenly before he knew it, he smelled smoke. He looked down the smoke was originating from his feet. Was this the Lion? Was the Lion trying to kill him? Seth could feel his heartbeat increase as the panic began to surge through him. His hands began to shake and his cheeks became flushed. Seth lost all sense of what was happening around him. He distinctly heard someone yell FIRE and then the fire alarm went off, but then suddenly he was wet. Why was he wet? Was this some cruel sick joke from the Lion? The door to the stall suddenly opened. It was Shane, was Shane saving him? He heard laughing, was that the Lion? Was Shane even there or was he imaging things? Shane couldn't be there, Seth could still hear the laughter. Was this the end?
"Seth!" Seth suddenly felt lightheaded; the presence of Shane was not calming down his fear.
Shane desperately attempted to get Seth to return to the world. The boy had closed up and shut off the world. Why was the boy reacting this way to such a small prank? Shane saw Claire enter the bathroom and give the boys, who were still laughing, a withering glare. If looks could kill.
"Claire, call Julie. I think that he is having a panic attack." Claire nodded and left making a mental note of the boys still present in the bathroom. They would not be seeing the light of day for a long time. Shane continued to attempt to get to Seth.
"Come on Seth, snap out of it."