Nowhere is Safe

Chapter Three: Nowhere is Safe

Anna couldn't move.

She sat frozen as a boy collapsed in front of her, his body convulsing, his breathing ragged. The same boy who had just been bitten.

She watched, heart pounding, as his skin turned pale, his limbs twitching violently. Then, suddenly, he stopped.

Silence filled the classroom.

Then—He stood up.

Too quickly. Too smoothly.

Anna's blood turned cold.

His head turned toward her, his expression blank. His eyes—once full of fear—were now dark, hollow. And then, he smiled.

The same eerie smile as Catherine and megan.

Anna's breath hitched as he took a slow step toward her.

Then—he lunged.

Anna barely had time to react.

She grabbed the closest thing to her—a heavy textbook—and slammed it against his face.

The force knocked him back, giving her just enough time to run.

She bolted for the door, shoving past desks, ignoring the screams and chaos behind her. Her hands fumbled with the handle, but she yanked the door open and stumbled into the hallway.

She slammed it shut.

Panting, she took a shaky step back.

From the other side, she heard them pounding on the door.

Fists slammed against the wood. Desperate, hungry.

Anna's hands shook.

Then—A sound. A voice.

"Anna... open the door."

Anna's breath caught in her throat.

It was Catherine after all this while of silence she finally spoke.

She stood on the other side, her voice calm. Too calm.

"Anna, it's okay," Catherine said softly. "You don't have to be scared. Just open the door."

Anna almost did. But she suddenly stopped, then she remembered.

That wasn't Catherine, that wasn't her friend.

Tears stung her eyes. "You're not her."

A loud bang as Catherine slammed against the door.

Anna yelped, stumbling backward.

Then, footsteps.

She turned just as a teacher approached.

"Anna?" The teacher frowned. "What are you doing out here?"

Anna's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

The teacher glanced at the door and saw the students pounding against it.

His face darkened. "What's going on in there?"

Anna grabbed his arm. "Don't open it."

The teacher ignored her.

He reached for the handle.

"No!" Anna cried, pulling at his sleeve. "Please, don't—"

But it was too late.

The teacher opened the door. For a split second, nothing happened.

Then—The students attacked. The students lunged at him, knocking him to the ground.

His screams echoed through the hallway.

But Anna turned and ran.

Behind her, doors flung open. Students peered out, their eyes widening at the horrifying scene.

Then—Panic.

Students shoved past one another, running, pushing, trying to escape.

Anna's legs burned as she sprinted down the hallway, her heart hammering.

She had to get out.

She had to go home.

---

Anna burst through her front door, slamming it shut behind her.

Her chest heaved as she locked the door, then ran to the windows, shutting them tight.

Only then did she take a breath.

The house was quiet. Safe.

She leaned against the door, trying to calm down.

Then—A sound. Footsteps.

She turned, her breath catching in her throat.

Her mother stood at the bottom of the stairs.

Anna let out a shaky breath. "Mom?"

Her mother rubbed her forehead. "Anna, where have you been? You look awful."

Anna swallowed. "School… something happened."

Her mother frowned. "Oh, by the way, Catherine came by earlier looking for you."

Anna's heart stopped.

Her skin went cold.

Her fingers curled against the wall. "What?"

"She stopped by this morning," her mother repeated. "I told her you were at school."

Anna felt her stomach turn.

Her hands trembled.

Her mother tilted her head. "Did you see her today?"

Anna took a small step back.

Her mother's voice sounded… wrong.

Her eyes—too tired.

Her skin—too pale.

Anna's breath shook. "Mom… are you okay?"

Her mother gave a small laugh. "Of course I am."

But something in her tone sent shivers down Anna's spine.

Anna blinked back tears. It's happening to her. The same thing that happened to Catherine. The same thing that happened at school.

Anna forced a small smile. "Come with me for a second."

Her mother frowned. "What?"

"I want to show you something."

Her mother hesitated, but nodded. "Okay."

Anna led her upstairs.

Her hands shook as she reached for her mother's bedroom door.

She opened it.

Her mother stepped inside. Before she could turn around—Anna slammed the door shut.

Locked it.

"Anna!" Her mother banged against the door. "What are you doing?"

Anna pressed her forehead against the wood, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Open this door!" her mother yelled.

Anna squeezed her eyes shut. "It's better this way."

Her mother's voice softened. "Sweetheart, you're scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."

Anna covered her mouth, stifling a sob.

She couldn't explain it. She just knew. Her mother won't be her mother anymore.

---

Night fell.

Anna sat curled on the couch, hugging her knees.

The world outside had changed.

She could hear screams in the distance.

Car alarms.

Crashes.

Something terrible was happening.

She could feel it.

Then—A growl.

Anna's blood ran cold. It came from upstairs.

She stood, heart pounding, and walked slowly to her mother's door.

Her fingers shook as she peered through the keyhole.

Inside, something moved.

Then—A loud bang.

Anna jumped back as the door shook violently.

Her mother's voice was different now. Distorted. Twisted.

"Anna… let me out."

Tears spilled down Anna's cheeks.

She clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from sobbing.

The door rattled.

Her mother slammed against it.

Again. And again.

"Anna, open the door."

Anna took a shaky step back.

Her mother's voice grew more desperate. More inhuman.

Her fists pounded harder.

Then—Silence.

Anna stood frozen, her heart hammering.

Then—A single whisper.

"Please."

Anna bit her lip so hard it almost bled.

Her mother was gone. Or at least, the person she had been was gone.

Anna reached for the baseball bat beside her. Her fingers curled around the handle.

She didn't know what was happening. But she knew one thing.

She was alone. And she had to survive.