Rainer

You asked to leave class to go to the bathroom. The hallway was quiet, only the echo of your footsteps echoing between the walls. In the bathroom, you looked at your reflection in the cloudy mirror—your eyes seemed huge, as if they sensed trouble.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. It shattered the silence like lightning. You turned off the water with trembling hands: your ears were ringing, your heart pounding somewhere in your throat.

Instinct screamed: hide. You ducked into the booth, pressed your back against the cold metal, and froze. Somewhere in the distance, you heard shouts and stomping, then another bang—quiet, but it still made your insides clench.

Half an hour in the cramped cubicle felt like an eternity. The walls seemed to close in, the air grew thick. You realized: you had to run.

Carefully opening the door, you slipped out of the bathroom and raced down the hallway. The back entrance was already looming ahead, a strip of light beckoning freedom. A couple more steps and you were outside.

But suddenly someone came out of the door. You didn't have time to notice them and crashed right into a hard chest. Someone's hand yanked you back sharply, preventing you from falling.

Looking up, you saw a guy—tall, handsome, with a predatory grin. His fingers were tightly gripping your hood.

— "Mmm... what people."

He drawled lazily.

— "Why are we running at such a time?"

You looked up at him, and a chill gripped your entire body. There wasn't a shred of sympathy in his gaze, only cold interest.

— "Where should I put you?"

He bowed his head slightly, as if solving a difficult riddle.

— "It's a shame to kill such a beauty."

Your voice caught in your throat, your body seemed to go rigid. He continued to watch, reveling in your helplessness. And in that silence, you suddenly realized: the worst was just beginning.