One Dreary Morning by Kelcey Sexton

As I stared into the dark sky, I felt the earth begin to tremble.
“Today will not be a good day,” I sighed, lifting the strap of my ridiculously heavy backpack onto my shoulder.
The clouds scurried the sky, blotting out the sun with mounds of grey and black. There was no way that the weather today could be anything but an omen. Call me paranoid; that’s just how my mind works. The wind howled at me and ripped at my body as I hurriedly made my way to the only car in the entire neighborhood left in the street. The gloom of the morning darkened its exterior and gave it a sinister tinge.
While waiting at the red light, I made an effort to straighten up the mess that my hair has become. I hummed to the music as I pulled a stray of my black hair out of my vision.
“Come one,” I muttered impatiently, cursing the weather as the light transitioned from its boring red. I stomped on the gas and lurched towards the school – my own personal hell.
The tardy bell sounded as I fumbled with my keys.
“Remember,” I spat to myself, “curse that bell when sitting in first period.”
I sped through the parking lot, barely reaching the front doors before raindrops began falling from the sky. I pretended that the heavens were crying for me and my misfortune.
“You’re late, Weatherby.”
I pretended to be shocked and glanced at the clock on the wall behind me.
“Is that so? Huh,” I shrugged. “Personally, I think the bells are off anyway. Maybe I’m running late just like everyone else-“
My chemistry teacher turned beet-red as he glared at me and then at the empty classroom. Empty, that is, except for the single person in that godforsaken bunch that I liked and looked forward to seeing everyday. Liam sat with perfect decorum in the desk next to mine. He eyed me, patting the desk I always sit in, smirking all the while as he did so. Something seemed to be hidden behind that smirk. I took my seat beside him, wondering what he could be suppressing.
“Liam, do you know what’s going on?”
He merely shrugged as I had done moments before and narrowed his dark eyes as our teacher headed for the classroom door.
“No funny business, you two,” our fiery-faced instructor said before slamming the door behind him. I chortled as the door rattled on its hinges. Liam turned immediately towards me, catching me off guard.
“Something is awry, Luna. Can’t you feel it?”
I watched as his expression grew dire and panic-stricken.
“Liam-“
His face became even more pained. I heard a hiss begin in his throat and a grimace appear on his sickly face. I say sickly because on this particular day, he appeared to have a blue flush on his pale face.
“I mustn’t tell you what is to happen…”
Every word, every syllable was forced and hoarse.
“And it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I do, very much so. I- I just can’t at this second.” I blinked, trying to clear my vision. He looked utterly distraught. I decided that I didn’t like this Liam.
“And I assure you, Luna, I do know what will happen.”
My voice failed me. I don’t think it would have done me any good, seeing as how I honestly did not know how to respond to any or his… madness.
His fingers clawed at the edge of his desk as a roar of thunder caused a tremor in the building. Suddenly, I felt helpless and alone. Fear traveled up my spine and gripped my lungs.
“I- I need water. Now.”
I scrambled out of my desk and to the door. One final glance back at Liam, who remained hunched over his desk seething, gave me the incentive I need to slip though the door. He was so believable. I shut the door behind me and sank to the floor, not knowing what to think. Exhaustion and total panic washed over me. I hoped that our teacher came back soon.
“What is going on?”
I wasn’t even affected so much by what Liam kept saying, just by the fact that I knew something was wrong. Very wrong. There was something so ominous in the air.
The hallway was scarce of life except for the brisk footsteps that approached where I have collapsed on the tile floor. I listened as whoever the footsteps belonged to stopped before rounding the corner and coming into view.
“Hello? Is that you Mr.-“
I stopped as I realized whoever it was had halted so as not to be seen. I cautiously got to my feet and crept towards the corner. I heard ragged breathing as I grew closer to the source of the footsteps. I thoughts better of exposing myself to the stranger who waited on the other side and began to slowly inch away.
Unexpectedly, I felt a hand snake over my mouth, keeping my bloodcurdling scream muffled. I turned with wide fearful eyes to see Liam behind me. He quickly knocked me backwards as he sprang upon the hidden figure.
The snarls and horrid noises that ensued chilled me to the bone, but I rushed to see the victim of Liam’s attack. I felt my blood turn cold as I recognized our teacher. He was only recognizable due to his flaming red hair; everything else about him was grotesquely disfigured and strange. The fact that he was strewn across the hallway may have had something to do with it, but what was left of him did not appear to be human.
Liam stood in the midst of the bloody mess panting. He was, I might add, free of gore or injury.
“Will you admit to feeling it now?”
I was aware that my hand was now covering my mouth. Slowly, I lowered it and swallowed, attempting to relieve my dry throat. Now I really do need some water.
Liam watched me intently as I took in the scene. I analyzed the situation. There was no hope for me. He was my only source of information and protection. I am so screwed.
“Please,” I wheezed, “please explain to me what the heck is going on. You do realize that you just massacred our chemistry teacher!?”
My fear and anger were causing me to tremble and shriek. I needed answers, and I needed them right that second.
“Once I get you out of here I’ll explain, but you won’t like it. I was warned that you wouldn’t.” His voice was barely audible behind the ongoing thunder.
He strolled through the remains, past me and down the stairs to the main level of the school. I had no choice but to follow him, not wishing to be left alone with the stench of violence and death.
“Great,” I mumbled, “my teacher is now a dismembered zombie or something, and now I’m following the creep who killed him who also claims to be all-knowing or something. Is it just me, or is this absolutely reckless and just plain stupid?”
Unaware that Liam has abruptly stopped I front of me, I ran smack into him and yelped.
“Think you’re crazy now?”
He opened the door of the school, letting a gust of rain and wind into the foyer.
“Just wait until you’ve seen the state of the world you once knew.”