Prologue: Shattering Escape

The whole school was in panic because it was soon overrun by rats.

However, these were not your average rat, they were monstrous; each one 3 feet long and incredibly muscular, with claws as long as fingernails and fur jet black as the night sky. 

From the moment they stepped out of the blue rift, their crimson red eyes surveyed the surroundings and immediately lunged at the closest student biting down on their leg to immobilise them and with their sharp nails, tearing at the students face as they screamed in agony.

Soon after, more rats came out of the rift, charging towards the teachers and students like crazed beasts.

"AHHH"

The crowd that gathered around the rift ran for their lives, some escaped to classrooms locking them behind them while others ran down the stairs in desperation to escape the school.

Sadly, most were mercilessly killed by the demonic looking rats, who were far too quick to out run.

The school was in complete chaos as students tried to escape, pushing and kicking each other, just to be one of the lucky ones to escape the numerous rats that exited the rift.

Luckily because Ash and his friend got a head start, they were already nearing the second floor.

As the chaos happened so fast, screams were heard from the fourth floor, most ran away from them but the few stupid souls who decided to check what the fuss was about soon learned their lesson. 

'Shit!' Ash could hear whatever was causing the screams closing in on them, so he diverted to the closest classroom, dragging his friend with him, locking the door behind them.

Finally safe, Ash let go of his friend's wrist and knelt down to catch his breath.

His friend did the same and crouched down, wondering what on earth was going on.

Only thing he knew was that whatever it was, it was dangerous.

"HELP MEAHHHH" Screams could be heard from the second floor corridor…right outside the door. 

A student tried opening the door but it was locked, which followed with the student's screams as he was attacked before Ash could even think to unlock it.

Ash felt guilty as he knew it was his fault because he locked the door but he also knew there was no way he would have unlocked that door to let them in, it wasn't worth the risk.

"Leo?" Both boys heard another voice in the classroom, making them turn towards it where they saw a shoulder length black haired girl crouched down.

Ash's friend, Leo, widened his eyes as he recognised the tom boy looking girl "Iris?" He asked to confirm, to which the girl nodded.

"Why do you know a junior?" Ash couldn't help but ask as he could tell Iris was younger

"She's part of the boxing club I'm in." Leo explained in a whisper.

The three huddled together at the opposite end of the locked door.

"Do you guys know what's happening?"

Iris asked the two boys, as one minute she was getting ready for her after school club, the next there were students running and screaming on the top floor.

"There was this weird crack in the air and when it appeared Ash grabbed my hand and sprinted..I was so confused but from the sounds of it, I'm glad he did it…fuck what's happening?" Leo quickly explained to the girl, who looked at Ash.

"Yeah, I had a really bad feeling so I tried to get out quickly" Ash affirmed to Iris while one hand rested on his head.

"How's your headache?"

"Still there but not as bad.."

"Do you want some par-"

Remembering about Ash's headache, Leo checked up on him and Iris wanted to offer him some meds but their conversation got caught off when they heard a female student screaming outside.

The three slowly crept to the window, to see the attacker.

Their eyes widened as they saw a 3 foot black rat terrorising the student's body with their sharp claws. 

Suddenly the rat's eyes glanced toward the window at the three who quickly ducked down but it was too late.

The rat screeched loudly, prompting other rats to screech in answer.

'It saw us' Ash's heart rate spiked as he felt endangered by the strange rat. He could feel It, he knew they were coming, he knew they were going after them.

Ash crawled towards the window, finding the curtain cord and winching it to cover the window in cloth in an attempt to keep them hidden.

"We need weapons, we'll die if we sit here" Ash told the other two while searching the classroom.

"Ash! Stop moving! Maybe it didn't see us, you moving around will attract them!" Leo couldn't help but be annoyed at Ash's random movements.

Iris however went over to her bag to get her boxing gloves out.

"Leo, it saw us and its friends are coming" Ash tried to explain as quickly as possible as he searched through the students' bags.

He found a tennis racket in his search

'this'll do..'

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Right on time, the locked classroom door started banging, as something outside wanted in.

The three momentarily forgot to breathe.

"Quickly, barricade the door with the tables!" Iris said hurriedly, she was the first to recover from the shock, snapping the boys out of theirs.

They quickly lifted the tables together and piled them in front of the door.

The boys did not stop as they put more and more tables in front of the door, trying to delay the inevitable.

"Dammit, we are boxed in now, what do we do??" Leo couldn't help but ask as he was searching for something to defend himself against these creatures.

Ash peeked through the curtain and saw the outside was relatively empty, except for the dead bodies laying awkwardly on the ground, faces slashed, bones broken. 

'They moved, probably got attracted to us and others around the building..the drop isn't too far..'

He thought as he formulated their next moves, for some reason he could tell the distance between the second floor and the ground, as if instinctually.

"We need to jump" Ash pointed down to the ground outside

"There are none of those things around right now, while they are breaking down the door, we need to jump and run to the exit" He explained the idea to the other two who paled but nodded their heads.

They couldn't do much else as their other exit was swarmed by the rats trying to break in.

Due to the child locks on the windows, they wouldn't open wide enough for them to squeeze through, so they had to break the glass.

Leo couldn't find a weapon, so he grabbed a bag to at least try to defend himself from their sharp claws.

"Ready?" Ash asked the two, as he prepared to use his racket to break the window.

The two quickly nodded, glancing at the door that began to break with holes.

"Let's go! Argh!" With all his strength, Ash swung the racket to the window.

Creak!

A crack formed, not stopping there, Ash continued to swing the racket, causing the window to crack until it broke apart.

Sounds of glass could be heard as it fell on the floor, but the three didn't care and ran to the opening to jump.

'Sis..please be okay'.