*** I got lazy on this chapter. Too much is going on in my life. Merp to me. I'll try not to get any lazier than I am next time. But anyways, enjoy!***
Chapter 2: Rebounding
The looming, drumming sound was coming closer. Allie felt her chest grow heavy. She looked around the room she was in with panic. Oh no, she thought, I gotta get out of here! Allie tossed the teddy bear aside, picked up the puzzle pieces now scattered on the floor, stashed them in the pencil case, grabbed her flashlight, and ran to the exit.
The drumming sound echoed throughout the halls. My heart is beating faster, Allie assumed, so I'm getting more scared…I'm all alone in my school, no one to talk to, and no one to hug me... She shuddered and continued running down the empty halls until she couldn't run any further. Allie panted heavily and stopped to catch her breath.
The school was still barren and silent. Yet the young girl found it slightly comforting. He was always alone in the woods, she said to herself, and yet I feel like he finds peace in empty areas. I guess you can call this peaceful. Allie sighed and entered through another classroom. She automatically grimaced as she saw and smelled a detached arm rotting in a corner on a pool of blood. Houseflies seemed to find the smell satisfying; a swarm of them have begun feasting and buzzing around the flesh pile. Allie felt her stomach churn. Never mind about what I just said earlier, she thought, disgusted, this is definitely not peaceful.
Another room loomed ahead. She took one last disgusted look at the arm and walked nervously over to the next room.
Something caught her eye. She turned around, and in a flash, she saw what looked like a tall, faceless man with a one-piece suit and long arms. Allie's heart jumped. Astonished, she turned her head and rushed over to the room. Allie looked back over her shoulder nervously. The mysterious figure was gone. The girl sighed in relief and calmed herself down. Allie's eyes caught the faint glint of a large knife nearby. She saw the familiar teddy bear and easily took the bear out of the knife. More puzzle pieces were inside. Excited, the young girl ripped open the bear and grabbed the cardboard pieces.
The beating sound was getting louder. The vibration made Allie's hair stand on end, and rebound a tiny tremor on the ground.
I'm going crazy, she said to herself, hugging one of the teddy bears strewn on the ground. The rip on the back of the bear grew larger, but she didn't care. I'm going to find those bears and get out of here!
It took slightly longer for Allie to compose herself. She turned on her flashlight and crept back into the hallway.
Everything seemed to happen in a flash. Literally. The flashlight's bulb suddenly exploded, leaving Allie in an unwelcoming black. She wanted to scream, but she quickly covered her mouth to muffle the shriek. That man might be after me, she thought, I don't wanna see him again! He's scary!
Things couldn't have gone worse. The tall, thin man appeared right in front of Allie. She couldn't tell what the man looked like at first. He had quite a pale, expressionless face and a very haunting body. Who are you? The creature seemed to demand.
Allie was petrified. Her mouth bobbed up and down, but no words came out. The man seemed to dilute her vision. Sure enough, he did.
The little girl blacked out.
Moments passed. Allie couldn't move. She found herself lying on the ground again. Her pink, frilled dress was tattered and dirty. Her dirt-cracked fingers felt the linoleum tiles, which were more cracked than before.
The pencil case was beyond her reach. She spent hours trying to get it back. When she did, Allie opened the pencil case.
The puzzle pieces were gone.