After managing to catch her breath, Ellie emerged from the cupboard, still in a state of shock. "What the fuck, what the fuck" she said to herself. Had she really just seen that. The new headteacher had just pulled her skin off, and inside was a green creature. She looked at Mrs Malhotras now empty skin on the floor, and sure enough, it was like those in the cupboard. "Oh my god, they've, they've skinned them! I need to tell someone!" Not even thinking to take a picture of any evidence she quietly opened the office door, and tiptoed down the corridor. There were no signs of the two teachers, and she made her way towards one of the fire exits of the school. Just as she went to open the door, she heard a loud scream from a woman. "They'd got her…" she thought to herself. She pushed open the door, which in turn sounded the fire alarm. She sprinted away from the building and ran all the way home, not looking back once.
"Charlie! Charlie!" Ellie shouted bursting through the front door. She was shaking in fear as Charlie looked up from her phone. "Jesus, was detention with Mrs Malhotra that bad?" She laughed jokingly. "No no no you don't understand, she's, she not human!" Ellie managed to shout out. "Not human? What the fuck are you talking about?"
"They, they killed them. Mrs Malhotra, Mr Hughes, Miss Brooks. They killed them and skinned them. She's one of them, Mrs Malhotra. A green alien was inside her! It went after Mrs Wilmott before I got out. We need to call someone, the, the police!" Ellie rambled out.
"Ellie, have you gone mental, what the fuck is wrong with you? Are you on drugs?" Charlie shouted. Due to the commotion, the bedroom door opened and in entered the twins mother, Rosie. She had had the twins when she was only 18 and so was only in her mid thirties still. She had the same blonde hair as her daughters but was quite pudgy. She had put weight on since her partner had left her and hadn't been able to shift it since. Still you looked good at her large size. "Girls, what's all the noise about, I'm trying to work downstairs!"
"Mum, something awful has happened at school. Teachers have been murdered. You have to believe me. Please. I'm going to call the police, are you able to come with me to the school."
"Jesus Ellie, you're shaking. What do you mean murdered? What did you see?"
In Mrs Malhotras office there were… skins. Mr Hughes and a TA. Mrs Malhotra has been killed by some sort of green creature and they're wearing her!"
"You're really not going to believe her mum are you?" Charlie joked.
"I don't know, I've never seen you like this Ellie." With a sigh she said "Fine, we can go. But if I find out you're making this all up for attention, believe me miss. You've got something else coming to you. Nearly in tears Ellie replied "Thank you mum, I'll call the police now".
Back outside the school Ellie and her mum were met by PC Jones. She was a mid twenties policewoman who had reported to the scene after dispatch had told her about a call from a schoolgirl who had reportedly seen a murdered missing headteacher. She was a tall brunette officer who had long brown hair and a quite thick figure. Her uniform was quite tight to her body and turned peoples heads whenever she was on the scene. She originally thought the callout was a prank due to the nature but apparently the student had sounded quite distressed and she definitely looked it when she came out of her mothers car. "Hello Ellie, Rosie, I'm PC Jones. Can you tell me a bit more about what you think you saw earlier please Ellie?" Pulling out her notebook.
"It's in her office, Mrs Malhotras. Mr Hughes and Miss Brooks are skinned and dead in the cupboard. Mrs Malhotra is one of them. She's, she's being worn as a disguise."
"Righhttt." PC Jones said reluctantly. What on earth was this girl going on about. "Well I called ahead and spoke to Mrs Malhotra, she didn't seem dead to me!" The police officer replied.
"You, you called her? But now she knows. She knows we're coming!"
"It was only 5 minutes ago Ellie. I'm sure she wouldn't have been able to clean up that much of a crime scene that quickly. Now, let's go and have a word with her and you can point out where you saw these dead bodies". Rosie put a chubby arm around Ellie's waist and the three ladies walked through the front entrance. Waiting for them was Mrs Malhotra, and to Ellie's shock, Miss Brooks and Mrs Wilmott. All the teachers were beaming with toothy smiles. "Ah Ellie, so good to see you." Mrs Malhotra started. "I'm sorry if you got a shock earlier, calling the authorities is a bit extreme but in your situation I understand!"
"My, situation?" Ellie whispered.
"Why yes, you obviously must be paranoid with the disappearance of Mr Hughes, well we all are aren't we?" As she looked around the room. "But mistaking his missing body for something else must have given you a big shock! Now why don't we go to my office and I can show you what young Ellie saw!" Mrs Malhotra said to PC Jones.
Ellie looked at Miss Brooks and Mrs Wilmott. They looked, normal. But she knew. She knew that under their skin was a green alien. She just had to prove it!
As the six ladies entered the office, PC Jones took charge, looking around the room. "So where was it then Ellie?" She questioned.
"In the cupboard…" Ellie replied. The padlock had been reinstated on the door and Mrs Malhotra opened her desk to get the key. The moment of truth. PC Jones took the key and opened the door. Ellie held her breath but when the contents were revealed, she was shocked. "It's a resuscitation doll?" PC Jones said. "Yes, I can see the resemblance to Mr Hughes, same nose, but alas, there's no story here to be found. Ellie barged through to look at the cupboard. "What about you!" She turned and pointed towards Miss Brooks. "Your skin was there as well. I can prove it!" She grasped towards Miss Brooks fringe and swept it aside, hoping to see a metal zip. But there was nothing. Miss Brooks laughed in confusion. "What exactly are you hoping to find Ellie?" She said. "There was, a zip?" Rosie and PC Jones shared a concerned look with each other. "I think we've wasted enough time here Ellie, don't you?" Her mother said sternly. "But wait! I saw you getting chased by Mrs Malhotra, or that thing pretending to be her!" Ellie said directed at Mrs Willmot. "Ellie, I have no idea what you're talking about. Me and Aisha had a productive conversation after school about the introduction of Rakweed, and why it's so important for students to consume it."
"But, that's not-" Ellie was cut off by PC Jones coughing. "I think it's hometime Ellie, would you agree mum?" Rosie nodded in agreement, grabbing Ellie by her shoulder and moving her out the classroom. "I'm ever so sorry, Mrs Malhotra for all this trouble caused." Rosie said, clearly showing remorse.
"Oh don't fret, honestly these things happen. I'll walk you out to the entrance. PC Jones, will you be joining us?"
"I'll just have to write my report up, it'll only take a few minutes, am I alright to use your desk?"
"Oh certainly, I'll leave you in the very capable hands of Miss Brooks and Mrs Wilmott. They'll look after you!" Mrs Malhotra said gleefully, as she followed Ellie and Rosie, not before slightly winking at her colleagues. The door closed and Mrs Malhotra caught up to the mother and daughter. "Again, we're so sorry this happened Mrs Malhotra" Rosie said "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again". Mrs Malhotra suddenly turns her attention to Rosie, looking her up and down, smiling "Perhaps you and I could have a talk in private now, about Ellie's behaviour?" She goes to grab Rosie's waist until Ellie nudges her mother out the way. "No no it's fine, it won't happen again Miss, I promise" Ellie says. Rosie sighs says goodbye to Mrs Malhotra. "See you tomorrow Ellie…" the head says before turning her back and heading back to her office…
When Ellie and Rosie got back into the car, Rosie erupted in rage. "Do you know how stupid you've made yourself and me look? When we get back, no phone, no tv nothing for a month. You've embarrassed us."
"I'm sorry mum!" Ellie cried. Deep down she knew something wasn't right. Her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. She was going to get to the bottom of this. One way or another…
