Fall of St. Louis

All five of the boys were in rows in front of a complex which had the acronym S.M.A. The rows were spread out with some distance between each row.

Jake was in the first row by himself. The next row had Thomas and Jack. The final row had Jason and Marcus.

The middle row which contained Thomas and Jack had Thomas on the left with Jack on the right. There was some distance between the two of them with Thomas in the front closer to Jake and Jack farther behind.

The last row with Jason and Marcus had a similar setup to the middle row. Jason was on the left and in the front behind Thomas while Marcus was the opposite. 

Everyone had their hands on their knees while they were bent over panting. Everyone except Jason who seemed fine.

Jason said. "Jake, why did you run?"

Thomas said while panting. "He runs… pretty fast… for a little guy."

Jack said while panting. "This is why… I didn't want… to run."

Jake finished catching his breath. He stood up straight then started walking.

Jason said. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Jake said as he continued walking. "To class."

Jason said. "I said wait!"

Jake stopped walking.

Jason said. "What is your problem? Why did you run? Just tell me already, I want to help you!"

Jake said with his back facing Jason. "No." He looked down at the ground. "I don't want anything to do with you." He ran away from Jason.

Jason was about to chase after Jake but stopped. 

Jake crashed into somebody while he was running and fell to the ground.

Jake looked up and was immediately petrified with fear.

There were three boys in front of Jake who all had swords on their backs. 

The boy in the center of the group scoffed. "Why the hell are you back here, Jake!" He kicked Jake in the face.

Jake crashed into the ground.

Jason immediately rushed over to Jake and then knelt by his side. "Jake, are you alright?"

Jake said. "It's nothing. I'm fine."

Jack, Thomas, and Marcus stood behind Jason and Jake.

Jason looked up angrily at the group of boys. "What the hell is your problem?" He quickly got up from the ground and punched the boy who hurt Jake in the face. 

The boy who got punched spit blood onto the ground then laughed hysterically. "What is my problem?!" He continued laughing. "What am I at fault for? I'm a defenseless civilian who was just standing here and then you suddenly attacked me." His hysterical laughter echoed.

Jack said. "Defenseless? Are you stupid or something? You have a sword on your back!" 

The boy who got punched stopped laughing. He pulled the sword off his back and gazed at the blade. "This is just merely a way to defend myself from Jason." A mischievous smile appeared on his face. "And a way to finally put Jason in his place."

Thomas said. "Huh? What is he talking about?"

Jack said. "Jason I think you hit him too hard. He seems to have a few screws loose in his head."

Jason replied while annoyed. "Huh? This isn't my fault!"

The boy who got punched said angrily. "Not your fault?! Everything is your fault!" He gritted his teeth. "Everything that has happened to me is because of you!"

Jason said. "What are you talking about? I don't even know you!"

The boy who got punched said in disbelief. "He doesn't know me?" He said quietly. "He ruined everything for me. Everything I've been working toward is gone because of him." His eyes lacked any sanity as he gazed at the blade of his sword. "It's Jason's fault. Everything is Jason's fault. He ruined it!" He said repeatedly. "He ruined it. He ruined it. He ruined it." He said angrily as he swung his sword at Jason. "He ruined it!"

Jason dodged backward managing to not get hit by the blade of the sword. 

Thomas said. "Hold up! Isn't he cheating?"

The boy who got punched said. "Cheating?" A wicked smile appeared on his face. "No. The only cheater is Jason. I will destroy this cheater once and for all!" He laughed hysterically as he swung his sword toward Jason again. 

Jason dodged backward again managing to avoid the blade of the sword.

One of the boy's lackies said. "Hey man don't you think you're taking this too far."

The other lackey said. "Yeah you might end up killing him."

The boy who got punched said. "Might kill him? No." He smiled wickedly. "I will kill him." He laughed hysterically. "He deserves to die. He ruined everything, he deserves to die." He gritted his teeth. "I will kill him!" He repeatedly said. "I will kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him." He laughed hysterically as he repeatedly said. "I will kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him!" He swung his sword toward Jason again. 

Jason dodged backward for a third time managing to avoid the blade of the sword.

The boy who got punched had a crazed look on his face. He laughed hysterically. "I won't let you get away! You're going to die here, Jason. I'll finally beat you!" His laughter echoed. 

The boy who got punched charged toward Jason. He swung his sword toward Jason as he charged.

Jason dodged to the side. He tripped the boy as he dodged sending the boy collapsing into the ground.

The boy got back up off the ground. He had dirt covering his face and his clothes. He also still had the crazed look on his face. The boy laughed hysterically as he charged toward Jason again. "I won't lose to a filthy commoner like you." He swung his sword toward Jason.

Jason dodged to the side managing to avoid the blade of the sword. He then grabbed the back of the boy's head and slammed the boy's face into the ground. Afterwards he wedged his knee into the boy's back to prevent the boy from moving. 

The boy attempted to resist against Jason's weight.

Jason increased the pressure of his knee into the boy's back. "Calm down, you lunatic!"

The boy stopped resisting and mumbled into the ground. 

Jason said. "What did you say?" He lifted the boy's head from the ground.

The boy said. "I-I can't lose. There is no way I can lose to you. You took everything from me." He began to squirm around but Jason didn't let go. "I can't lose to a commoner like you. I was chosen. I was chosen by the divine being. I can't possibly lose to someone like you." He chuckled. "If I lose I'll die." His chuckle transformed into hysterical laughter and he repeatedly said. "If I lose I'll die. If I lose I'll die. If I lose I'll die. If I lose I'll die. I don't want to die!" He ferociously squirmed around but Jason didn't let go.

Jack said. "Dang his screws aren't loose they are just gone entirely!"  

Jason slammed the boy's head into the ground again but harder this time. Blood oozed out from the boy's forehead. 

The boy continued to laugh hysterically. He repeatedly said. "If I lose I'll die! If I lose I'll die! If I lose I'll die! If I lose I'll die! If I lose I'll die! If I lose I'll die! If I'll lose I'll die!" 

Jason yelled. "Shut the hell up!" He slammed the boy's head into the ground again, causing even more blood to spill out from the boy's forehead. "You already lost you idiot and you're still alive. Shut the hell up already!"

Jake said. "Jason stop. At this rate you'll kill him!"

Jason sighed. "I think you're being a bit extreme, Jake. There is no way I could kill somebody." Jason looked down at the battered up boy on the ground. The boy had multiple wounds on his face with large amounts of blood leaking from them and matted up bloody hair. Jason thought. "Maybe I did go a bit overboard."

Jason let the boy go and stood back up onto his feet. He said to the boy. "You lost, okay? Now get out of here!"

The boy mumbled into the ground.

Jason said angrily. "What did you say?"

The boy lifted himself off the ground and rose to his feet. He said in disbelief. "I already lost?"

Jason walked back over to Jake and the rest of his friends with his back facing the boy. "Yeah you lost. Now just leave already."

The boy repeatedly said. "No. No. No. No. No. No. No! I can't lose. If I lose I die." He hysterically laughed. "She'll kill me. She'll kill me!"

Jason said while annoyed. "What the hell are you talking about?" He turned to look behind him.

The boy had both his hands on the hilt of his sword. The blade of the sword was aimed at his heart. 

Jason stood in disbelief. "Wh-What are you doing, you idiot?!"

The boy said. "She'll kill me. She'll kill me. I won't let her kill me." He plunged the blade of the sword into his heart. He then spit up large amounts of blood and fell onto his back.

The boy didn't move. He remained motionless on the ground. Blood began leaking from his chest onto the ground. 

One of the boy's lackies backed away horrified at what had just occurred. The other lackie fell to his hands and knees then threw up onto the ground. 

Jason stood where he was motionless. He thought. "Did he really just… die?" He shook his head and continued his thoughts. "No way he can't be dead. He is just playing around. Yeah that's right it's a joke. Just a joke. Right?"

While Jason was deep in his thoughts he faintly heard a voice. "Jason." He heard it again but louder this time. "Jason!" The voice got louder again. "Jason, snap out of it already!"

Jason looked at the source of the voice which happened to be Marcus. Marcus seemed the least fazed by what had just happened. 

Marcus noticed Jason look at him. He then quickly walked over to the lackie, that had thrown up, and grabbed them by the collar of the shirt. "You better explain why your buddy over there went crazy and decided to off himself or you're gonna wish you were that guy!"

The lackie that Marcus was threatening said. "I-I don't know, man! I don't know! Just leave me alone, please. I beg of you!"

Marcus replied. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?!"

The lackie that Marcus was threatening said. "I-I don't know anything I swear!'

Jason thought. "This doesn't seem right. None of this seems right! Marcus doesn't act like this! He is the quiet one. He wouldn't interrogate people! This can't be right! This is all fake. It must be! This has to be a joke!"

Jack said sarcastically. "Yes he is totally innocent. It is not like he was part of that guy's group or has a sword strapped to his back. Nah he is completely innocent and knows absolutely nothing."

Marcus's threatening tone decreased. He said calmly. "Just tell me, okay? Why did your friend off himself? And how did you get those swords?"

The lackie that Marcus still held by the collar of the shirt screamed out. "I-I don't know anything I swear." The lackie burst into tears.

Jason noticed Marcus let the lackie go. The lackie fell gently onto the ground. 

Jason thought. "I don't understand. This is all a joke isn't it? This is all fake, right? So then why is everyone acting so serious? Like it isn't a joke."

The other lackie looked at the ground while he said quietly. "It was just going to be a joke… but he took it too far."

Marcus looked at the other lackie and said calmly. "What do you mean, a joke?"

The other lackie looked up from the ground and looked at Marcus. He said sternly and sollomly. "Jason. The three of us could never beat Jason." He looked over at his motionless friend sadly then looked back at Marcus. "He… was undefeated in duels until Jason arrived."

Marcus mumbled. "I thought I recognized him. He was in the same class as Jason and me."

The other lackie said solemnly. "Yes. They dueled but Jason beat him." He gritted his teeth. "Jason beat everyone. The matches only lasted a few seconds and he made everyone feel like a bunch of losers. He didn't struggle against a single person. He looked down on us like we were inferior to him." He said harshly. "It's not fair. We've been training since we were children. I heard Jason didn't even know how to use a sword when he first got here!" He pointed his finger at Marcus. "You had to teach him!" 

Marcus said. "That's right. I taught Jason the basics of how to use a sword but it only took him a few minutes to surpass me."

The other lackie said shocked. "What?!" He looked at Jason. "He really is a monster!"

Jason thought. "A monster?! What does he mean I'm a monster? Is this a part of the joke too? How long is this joke going to last?" He looked at the motionless student who was still on the ground and thought. "When is he going to get up? When is he going to get up and tell everyone it's all a joke? Because this is just a joke, right? Right?"

The other lackie noticed where Jason was looking and said harshly. "What are you looking so confused about, you monster?! He died because of you. Everything is your fault. None of this would have ever happened if you hadn't come here in the first place!"

Jack finally intervened. "Dude will you shut the hell up already! I don't care about your stupid sob story. I don't feel sorry for you. Or your crazy friend! Are you honestly trying to tell me your actions were justified? Hell no!" He quickly glanced at Jason then returned his attention back to the annoying lackie. "Quit trying to make everything out to be Jason's fault! Last I checked your crazy friend was the one who attacked Jason not the other way around. Your crazy friend was also the one that decided to off himself, Jason had no involvement in that. So quit trying to blame Jason for all your problems just because you're a sore loser who can't accept losing in a duel to someone better than you. None of your actions are justified! Quit giving us a bunch of stupid excuses for your stupid actions!" He looked at the sword on the annoying lacky's back. "Quit wasting everyone's time and just tell us how you got that sword already! Or would you rather continue to waste my time and whine about how much of a sore loser you are?!"

Everyone was shocked at Jack's outburst.

Marcus said. "I was about to say the same thing."

Jack said. "Oh sorry. I should've waited until you said it then."

Marcus said. "Nah it's fine. You said it better than I ever could."

Thomas said angrily. "Why are you guys acting so casually when someone just died?!" 

Jason thought. "Is Thomas in on the joke too… or no? Am I the only one who isn't in on the joke?"

Marcus asked. "How should we act during a time like this?" 

Thomas said. "Not like this… w-we shouldn't just stand here. We need to call the cops and let them investigate this. Not try and investigate this on our own."

Marcus said. "Looks like you don't realize what exactly is going on do you?" 

Jason thought. "Huh? What does he mean by that?"

Thomas asked. "What do you mean, Marcus?"

Marcus sighed. "So you really don't understand what is going on do you? Have none of you realized we are the only ones here?"

Thomas looked around then he looked back at Marcus. "What is your point?" 

Marcus said. "Jason and that kid over there." He pointed at the motionless student. "Just fought, right?" 

Thomas said. "What is your point?"

Marcus asked. "You still don't understand, do you? We are the only ones out here. Jason and the kid that decided to off himself fought in front of the front entrance of the school and not a single student came to watch."

Jack said. "You might be onto something, Marcus. No teachers came to stop the fight either!"

Marcus said. "Yeah it's strange how we are the only ones out here. You would expect other people to be here after everything that just happened."

Jake said. "Maybe everyone is just… in class or something." 

Marcus said. "I doubt that." He looked at the lackie he was talking to before. "Hey kid, the weapon room was unlocked, right?" 

The lackie said harshly. "I have a name you know." 

Marcus said. "Yeah but I don't care. Just tell me if the weapon room was unlocked." 

Jason thought. "Why would the weapon room be unlocked? It is supposed to stay locked in order to keep students from using weapons in unauthorized fights."

The lackie said. "Yeah we saw that the weapon room was unlocked... so we took some swords and were going to mess with Jason to make him learn his place."

Marcus said. "That didn't strike you as odd? That the weapon room which is usually locked was unlocked. You were so consumed by your own selfish desires that you didn't bother to figure out what was happening."

The lackie blurted out. "No, you're wrong! Kyle did go to see what was happening!" 

Marcus said. "Who is Kyle?"

The lackie looked down at the ground sadly. "My friend."

Marcus replied. "Oh you mean the kid that just killed himself."

Jason thought. "Why? Why does everyone keep saying that? He isn't dead!"

The lackie blurted out. "Quit referring to him like that! He has a name." 

Marcus put his hands up in the air. "Fine then. What did Kyle find out?"

The lackie said somberly. "I don't know. He didn't tell me. He seemed different though. Afraid of something."

Marcus said. "But you still went ahead with your plan anyways, huh?"

The lackie nodded.

Jack said sarcastically. "Yeah because that is a smart idea. Have someone mentally unstable 'teach someone a lesson' with a sword. What could possibly go wrong there."

Marcus played along with Jack. "Of course sounds like a perfect idea to me. They totally won't try to end up killing the person they are 'teaching a lesson' to. Or end up killing themselves-"

Jason said. "Shut up!"

Marcus said. "What?"

Jason blurted out. "Shut the hell up! Quit saying that. Quit messing around!" He thought. "This joke has gone on for long enough."

Jack said. "Someone's got their panties in a knot, huh?

Jason said. "Quit messing around already! This joke has gone on long enough!"  

Marcus asked. "What are you talking about? What joke?"

Jack said. "You mean my joke? I just made it so has it gone on for too long?"

Jason looked over at the motionless student. "He isn't dead! He isn't dead!" He ran toward the motionless student. 

Jack said. "What are you talking about! He is dead!" He went to go run after Jason.

Marcus blocked Jack from going after Jason. He shook his head.

Jack said. "He is about to do something crazy. We have to stop him!"

Marcus shook his head again. "Jason is dangerous when he is crazy. We need to wait until he returns to his senses."

Jason stood before the motionless student. He looked down at the motionless student who had red liquid leaking from their body.

Jason said angrily. "Get up! Get the hell up!" He kicked the motionless student in the leg. "This joke isn't funny anymore. Get the hell up already!"

Jake said. "Jason… Jason stop. He isn't… he isn't going to get up!"  

Jason replied harshly. "Then I'll force him up!" He ripped the sword out of the motionless student's chest. Red liquid splattered onto the ground and onto Jason.

Jason thought. "This isn't blood is it? No... it can't be. This is all fake. It's a lie. It's all a lie."

The lackie that threw up before was on his hands and knees as he threw up again. 

Jason looked at the blade of the sword that was coated in blood. Most of the blood dripped from the blade onto the ground but some of it dripped onto Jason's hands.

Marcus looked at Jason's expression and said calmly. "Jason stay calm… okay. Just stay calm. It will be alright."

Jason looked down and his eyes absently stared at the blood on his hands. An image flashed across his mind. 

The image was of someone holding a knife coated with blood. The grass in front of them was covered in blood. A silhouette of a figure lay in the blood covered grass. 

Jason put one of his hands to his forehead. He backed away from the dead student and said. "No… no… what-what is this… I don't understand." Jason dropped the bloody sword to the ground. 

Marcus slowly moved closer to Jason. "Jason, calm down. You remember what happened last time, right? Just calm down. It will be okay." 

An image of blood gushing out from Marcus's chest flashed across Jason's mind. The blood dyed Marcus's shirt red. The shirt had a giant cut across it. 

Jason said. "I-I didn't mean to do it Marcus. It was an accident!"

Marcus had a look of sadness on his face but he attempted to replace it with a smile. "I know. I forgive you. So let me help you, Jason." He reached out to touch Jason.

The same image from before with the person holding the blood coated knife flashed across Jason's mind. 

Jason smacked Marcus's hand away and then backed away from Marcus. "Don't… don't... touch me… I don't want to hurt you again." 

Jason thought. "This can't be real, right? I could never kill someone! Could I?" Jason shook his head and continued his thoughts. "No, that's impossible. I could never kill anyone! It's all fake! It must be. This can't be real. This isn't real! I'm just dreaming, right?" He nodded his head and continued his thoughts. "That's right! This is all just a dream. I just need to wake up-"

Jason's thoughts were suddenly interrupted. A loud booming voice broke through his train of thought. 

The voice said. "Jason, snap out of it already!"

Jason looked around for the source of the voice. He made eye contact with Marcus.

Jason thought. "Marcus? That's impossible."

Jason was about to break eye contact with Marcus to find the source of the voice when Marcus suddenly said. "Have you finally regained your senses?"

Jason thought. "Regained… my senses? When did I lose them? How do I get them back? How do I get my senses back?! I need them back! I need my senses back! Give me them! Give me them! Give me them!"

Jason heard footsteps approaching him. He looked in the direction they were coming from.

Marcus was walking toward him. Trying not to walk too fast or too slow. 

Marcus's appearance suddenly changed. His face became distorted and blood was gushing out from his wounds. Marcus's distorted figure continued to move toward Jason by limping. 

Jason began to back away from Marcus. He said in fear as he backed away. "M-Marcus? What happened to you?"

Marcus growled. "It's your fault! It's your fault!"

Jason continued to back away from Marcus. "No. No. I didn't do this to you. I would never do this to you." Jason tripped and fell onto his butt.

Marcus's distorted figure continued to move toward Jason. Two more distorted figures rose from the ground behind Marcus and began moving toward Jason. 

One of the new distorted figures looked like the student that had just killed himself, Kyle. The other was a tall woman who seemed familiar but Jason could not recognize.

Jason tried to scoot away from Marcus and the distorted figures but they continued to get closer to him. Jason screamed out. "No! Stay away! Stay away, you monsters!"

Jason could hear Jack's voice who said. "I think Jason has finally lost it!"

Jason thought. "Jack? But where is he?" Jason looked around but he was stuck in a desolate wasteland. The ground was cracked and ruins of his school were behind him. 

Jason thought. "No. No. No. This isn't right. This isn't right."

Marcus's distorted figure reached out to grab Jason. 

Jason quickly dodged out of the way. He said while dodging. "I said, 'stay away'!" Jason leapt off the ground and grabbed Marcus's distorted figure by the back of its head. He then proceeded to slam Marcus's forehead into the ground. 

Jason heard Thomas say. "You really are a monster!"

Jason thought. "What does he mean? What does he mean by that?"

The scenery returned to how it was before but everyone was in different spots than before. 

Marcus who was battered and bruised lay on the ground with Jack, Jake, and Thomas huddled around him. 

Jason looked at Kyle's lackies. They both tried to keep their distance from Jason. They both had fear in their eyes.

Jason looked back at Marcus and thought. "I don't understand. What is happening? Did I hurt him? Did I hurt Marcus? But how? There was a monster. There was a monster, right?"

Thomas looked at Jason angrily as he knelt next to Marcus. "Jason! You hurt him! You hurt Marcus!" He rose from the ground and walked angrily toward Jason. "He was trying to help you and you hurt him! You hurt our friend!" He stood in front of Jason. "You really are a monster!" He shoved Jason backwards.

Jason offered no resistance as he was shoved backwards. He had nothing to say. He just stared at Thomas.

Thomas pointed to the school as he looked at Jason. "Just go. Get out of here! Leave and never come back! All you do is hurt people. Even your own friends."

Jason stood where he was not offering any sign that he was going to move. 

Thomas became even angrier. "You're unwanted! Leave already!"

Jason looked at Kyle's two lackies who seemed like they wanted to have nothing to do with him.

Jason looked at Jake next. Jake seemed saddened and was unable to make eye contact with Jason. 

Jason looked at Jack but Jack had his attention focused on Marcus.

Jason then looked at Marcus but was unable to see Marcus's face because Thomas was in the way. 

Jason finally looked back at Thomas again who seemed angry. 

Jason thought. "He's right." Jason turned around and began walking toward the school doors as he thought. "I really am a monster."

Jason walked. He walked away from his friends. With each step he took the distance between them increased. 

Jason thought. "It's better this way." He continued walking toward the school as he thought. "I never wanted to hurt them. I never wanted to hurt anyone. But people keep getting hurt because of me." 

As Jason walked Marcus called out. "Jason, come back! Don't go in there! It's not safe!" 

Jason continued walking despite Marcus's plea and thought. It's not safe? He's right. It's not safe with me around. I'll just end up hurting people.

Marcus called out. "Jason, stop! Don't go!"

Jason stood in front of the school doors and thought. "Everyone will be safer if I'm gone."

Jason pulled open the door in front of him. He walked into the darkened school building. He continued walking as the door gradually closed behind him.

Soon Jason was surrounded in complete darkness. Jason was unable to see anything but continued walking despite the darkness. 

Jason thought. "I deserve this. I deserve to get abandoned. Everyone will be safer with me gone. Everyone will be happier with me gone. I don't deserve friends. I never deserved friends. I deserve to be alone."

As Jason was stuck in his thoughts he twisted and turned as he walked through hallways despite his current lack of sight.

As Jason continued walking his eyes began to adjust to the darkness. He could see the outlines of the walls and the faint outlines of figures on the ground. The ground felt sticky beneath his feet.

Jason continued his thoughts as he walked through the hallways. "It's better this way. It's better this way! I'm just a monster that hurts everybody. It's all my fault. Kyle died because of me. Marcus got hurt because of me." 

As Jason continued walking he could hear a faint sound. It was the only sound he could hear other than his breathing. It was the sound of metal scraping against stone. 

Jason continued walking through the hallways and continued his thoughts like before. "Everything is my fault. Everyone ends up getting hurt because of me. It's all my-"

Jason's train of thought was suddenly interrupted. It was interrupted by the same sound from before. The same sound of metal scraping against stone but it was clearer and louder this time.

Jason stood and stared at the empty darkened surroundings as he thought. "Where am I?"

The darkness gave no response to Jason's question. 

Jason looked around at his darkened surroundings and thought. "What is this place? How did I get here?"

Jason heard the sound again. Metal scraping against stone. It was even louder than before. 

Jason panicked as he looked around and thought. "It's coming. Something is coming. I need to get out of here! How do I leave this place?! Where is the exit?!"

Jason could hear it again. That same scraping sound. It was louder than it had ever been. 

Jason frantically looked around and thought. "Where do I go?! Where do I go?! Where is the exit?! Where did I come from?!"

Jason could hear the sound again. The sound that sent chills down his veins and made his hair stand up on end.

Jason continued to frantically look around for a way to escape and thought. "I need to get out of here! I need to get out of here!" 

Jason bolted down a random hallway. He ran toward wherever the hallway would take him. He didn't dare look behind him. He just continued to run toward whatever lay beyond. 

As Jason ran he could still hear the scraping sound from behind him. It was still there. It was still coming for him. 

The scraping sound began to get fainter as Jason continued to run. 

Jason saw a flickering light farther down the hallway as he ran. He ran faster until he reached the hallway the light was coming from then came to a stop. 

As soon as Jason reached the new hallway his attention was immediately drawn to the flickering light in the center. It flickered on then off again repeatedly. The light it generated was dull. It generated enough light to barely see something.

Jason was able to see something because of the light. People. Laying on the ground but Jason was unable to see them clearly. 

Jason said quietly. "Are you guys hiding?" He asked as he began to walk toward them. "Do you know where the exit is?"

Jason continued walking toward the people laying on the ground as the light continued to flicker off and on. 

Jason said frantically. "Why won't you guys answer me? I need to get out of here!"

Nothing responded to Jason's question. The only sound came from the buzzing of the flickering lights. 

Jason became increasingly more frantic and worried. He asked. "Are you guys, okay?" He ran over to the people that were laying on the ground. He said while he was running. "What's-"

Jason slipped on something while running. He fell next to one of the people that were laying on the ground. 

The light flickered off.

Jason was coated in a liquid that was on the ground. It dampened his clothes and he could feel it between his fingers. 

The light flickered back on again. 

In front of Jason's face was somebody else's. A student's. Their eyes were open and their face was an inch away from Jason's. 

The light flickered back off again.

Jason freaked out and leapt away from the student. He landed on the wet ground.

The light flickered back on again.

Jason could see blood covering the ground and even his body. Blood dripped from his hands onto the ground. 

The light flickered off again. 

That same image from before appeared in Jason's head again. The image of Jason holding a blood covered knife with blood covered hands. A silhouette of a person laying in the grass. Blood splattered across the grass.

Jason crawled next to the wall then put his knees to his chest and thought. "What the hell is this?! What is going on?!"

The light flickered back on again. 

Jason looked at the bodies of the students. Each one had blood pooling out of their bodies. Each body scattered along the edges of the hallway. 

The light flickered off again.

Jason buried his head into his hands and thought. "This isn't right. This can't be right. This is all just a dream, right? All I need to do is wake up! I just need to wake up and this will all be over, right?"

The light flickered on again. 

Jason stared into his bloody hands. He freaked out at the sudden appearance of his blood covered hands in front of his face and quickly moved his head back. Jason's head smacked hard into the wall behind him. 

The light flickered off again. 

Jason could hear it again. That same sound from before. The sound that sent chills down Jason's body and made his hair stand on end. The sound of metal scraping against stone. 

It was faint but it immediately got Jason's attention. Jason turned his head to look in the direction the sound was coming from. 

The light flickered on again. 

Jason was facing the direction he had come from. The sound was gradually getting louder. Clearer. 

The light flickered off again. 

Jason thought. "It's back! It's coming for me! What should I do? What should I do?!" 

The light flickered on again.

Jason's attention was immediately drawn to the bodies scattered along the edges of the hallway and the blood pooled along the ground. 

Jason scrambled to get off the ground and thought. "I need to get out of here!" He bolted toward the end of the hallway where the sound wasn't coming from and thought. "I need to find Father. I need to make sure he's safe." 

As Jason was running toward the end of the hallway the light continued to flicker off and on. The sound from the other end of the hallway continued to get louder. 

Jason exited the hallway and ran into another hallway. The flickering light from the previous hallway continued to flicker. The sound from the previous hallway continued to get louder.

Jason picked up his pace and continued to run through hallways. Jason thought while running. "I need to get to the office. I need to find Father."

Jason suddenly stopped. A figure stood beneath a flickering light.

The figure wore a black cloak that covered their body as they stood in the darkness facing Jason. They limped toward Jason dragging a giant scythe across the ground behind them. 

As the scythe was dragged across the ground. It made the same sound Jason had been running from. The sound of metal scraping against stone. The scythe would get dragged across the ground, get raised up a few centimeters, then get dragged across the ground again. It would happen repeatedly.

Jason stumbled backwards as the cloaked person moved towards him and he thought. "What is that? How is it here? How did it get in front of me?"  

The cloaked figure continued to move toward Jason. The flickering light made it appear as if the cloaked figure was disappearing into the darkness every time the light turned off.

Jason walked backwards as he kept his eyes trained on the cloaked figure. He wanted to get away from the thing in front of him. He wanted to escape the place he currently found himself in. But he couldn't. He was unwilling to turn his back and run from the cloaked thing moving toward him. 

As Jason continued to move backwards he tripped on something. The uneven ground behind him. 

Jason fell onto his butt. He could feel a wide crack in the ground underneath him and another one with one of his hands.

Jason looked up at the cloaked figure moving toward him. He was unable to move. He could only sit and watch as the cloaked figure got closer and closer to him with each step. 

As the cloaked figure got gradually closer to Jason he could see the blood that covered the blade of the scythe. Blood dripped down from the blade onto the ground as it got dragged along. 

The cloaked figure said with a hoarse voice. "Are you my child?" It continued to move toward Jason dragging its blood covered scythe behind it as it said. "Are you my precious child?"

The cloaked figure lifted the scythe off the ground as it stood in front of Jason. It looked down at Jason as it raised its scythe up to the ceiling. 

Jason looked up at the face of the cloaked person but was unable to see it. The cloak concealed the figure's face. He could only see darkness where a face was supposed to be. 

The cloaked figure cracked its neck to the left and then to the right. It said. "You're Jason. Aren't you, child?" It swung its scythe from the ceiling down toward Jason. 

Jason thought as he watched the scythe swing down toward him. "So this is it. This is the reality I live in."