Night Class

“What the heck happened here?” Sweetie Drops asked as they stood in the door of the computer lab.

“That’s going too far,” Micro Chips mumbled. Then he called, “Dex! Come out! Enough of that joke!”

Nobody replied.

Sunflowers took a few steps closer to the first row of tables. The screen, keyboard, and mouse lay on the floor. The desktop PC had been knocked over, and the chair was lying against the wall next to the door.

“Ew,” she said and jumped back when she realized she had stepped into the ample amounts of fake blood that had been spilled on the floor. “Disgusting!”

“That’s not right,” Micro Chips said, shaking his head. “I mean, I get it, he set it all up like there’d been a fight. Look, it starts in the corner back there, and it’s like someone fought his way through the room. I mean, yeah, that’s a really well-crafted scene. But breaking the school computers is just not right.”

“It’s very unlike Poindexter,” Sunflowers remarked.

“Absolutely,” Micro Chips agreed. “That’s not like him at all. Maybe it wasn’t him after all?”

“What, you mean of all the people who are in school of a Friday night? Clay Jug? Why not Miss Luna?” Sunflowers snorted.

“Clay Jug is certainly crazy enough to—“ Micro Chips started, but Sunflowers didn’t let him finished.

“Yeah, and that’s why the janitor takes it upon himself to demolish a computer lab! Next you’re going to claim Miss Harshwhinny is on a punishing spree.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Micro Chips snapped.

“That’s exactly my point!”

“Look, that computer back there is still running!” Sweetie Drops pointed out before Micro Chips could give another heated response. “Let’s check it out! Maybe there’s a secret message on it!” Her eyes and voice were still feverish. She started for the back of the room.

“Watch your step, this place is a mess,” Sunflowers advised her.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Micro Chips followed her as fast as he could in the dark and treacherous room, only catching up with her as they both reached the computer in the corner. Its screen was still standing, albeit seemingly pushed aside by a few inches. On it, a small blue sphere was circling through a black night sky, constellations moving past in the background.

“His demo,” Micro Chips murmured.

“He probably just should have presented it in the club,” Sunflowers said. “Instead of wasting it on a childish prank.”

“A stupid childish prank,” Sweetie Drops chimed in.

“I don’t know, man,” Micro Chips said. “Something’s funny here. I just don’t know what.”

“Not his idea of a joke,” Sweetie Drops said.

“This is just a disaster,” Micro Chips mumbled, pushing past Sunflowers and towards the door. “Come on, guys, let’s return to the club room. Miss Luna will be waiting for us.”

“We’re going to have to tell her,” Sunflowers said coolly.

“Yeah,” said Micro Chips, sounding dejected. “I know.”

They left the ruined computer lab and returned to the staircase. But before they reached it, Micro Chips noticed something. “The body is gone!”

“Mind games,” Sweetie Drops dismissed it. “We’re not falling for that!”

“Messed up,” Sunflowers mumbled. “That’s what this is. Let’s go.”

***

It felt like twenty minutes had passed, but it had probably only been five and maybe even less since the steps had slowly walked past the classroom door. Sunset’s leg was asleep.

“You think he’s gone?” she whispered as softly as possible.

“Let’s hope so,” Trixie replied. “I can’t stand like this for much longer.”

Sunset carefully shifted her weight onto her other leg. “We still have to get out of here.”

“Obviously.”

“Or call for help.”

“What a great and obvious plan,” Trixie replied, scoffing. “I was already wondering why you didn’t just call the police.”

“I don’t have my phone. It’s upstairs in the clubroom.” Stupid school rules. “You got yours?”

“It’s complicated,” Trixie murmured.

“How can that be complicated?!”

“I don’t have a phone,” Trixie said, looking away. “My dad… he isn’t a big fan of modern technology.”

“Shoot,” Sunset hissed. She mulled over the problem for a moment. “We’ll have to go upstairs and get my phone.”

“Aren’t your club friends there?”

“I told you, they’re not my friends. Why?”

“Well… I don’t know about you, but I have every reason to distrust them. We obviously can’t know if one of them is involved in this.”

“Are you serious? Poindexter is… was one of them!”

“Well, when was the last time you saw them?” Trixie asked. “Before we found… him?”

“Well, yes, but—“

“All I’m saying is that we can’t be sure, and we can’t trust anybody right now. At least I know where you were when… you know. And you know where I was. But your not-quite-friends?”

“That doesn’t mean they have to be involved,” Sunset said. Although she had little reason to defend them, she somehow found it hard to imagine any of them involved in a killing. “There are other people in school tonight.”

“Miss Harshwhinny?” Trixie stared at her. “You think she finally snapped and is now punishing students?” she whispered.

“Yes, although that is perhaps not my first idea. Clay Jug is lurking about in the basement, and he’s been acting weird.”

“You think it was him? He always acts weird!”

“I don’t know!” Sunset rubbed her forehead. “None of this makes sense. But I guess you’re right, we can’t trust anyone.”

“As I said,” Trixie said and smiled self-satisfied.

“You have a point, we have to be extra careful. We still need to get a phone, and the clubroom is our best bet right now,” Sunset said. She headed for the door.

“I’m right behind you.”

***

Again Sunset took the lead. She didn’t want to open the classroom door, even though it wasn’t locked—the classroom felt safer than the dark hallways where everything could be lurking.

“What are you waiting for, go,” Trixie whispered behind her.

Sunset pushed down her rising paranoia and fully opened the door before sneaking out into the hallway. After a few steps she paused, listening intently with her head slightly tilted.

The entire school was dead quiet.

Not the best way to put this!

She gestured to Trixie behind her to follow her and made a beeline for the staircase door. They quickly climbed to second floor where Sunset paused again to listen. Trixie pulled on her sleeve, trying to get her to move on.

Sunset turned around to the other girl and whispered, “Hold on, I think I hear something.”

“Go on!” Trixie urged her. “Don’t stop, please!”

“Maybe it’s the others?”

“But—“

In that moment the door to the hallway was pushed open from the outside. A hooded figure lunged at the two girls without warning. Out of sheer instinct Sunset raised her arm to protect her face, and something painfully hit her right wrist.

“Run!” Trixie screamed behind her, grabbing her other arm and pulling her along and up the stairs. Sunset stumbled but barely managed to stay on her feet running after Trixie. The attacker’s steps, it seemed, were right behind her as they reached the landing and turned onto the second flight of stairs.

The hooded figure was right behind them. Sunset saw that he was carrying a knife, a big butcher knife with a bloody blade. The attacker stabbed at her from below, but the attack missed and only hit the banister post, knocking him off balance and adding precious split seconds to the girls’ lead.

“Faster!” Trixie yelled, still holding Sunset’s left and pulling her. Sunset almost toppled over as she tried to keep up with Trixie’s speed. And still she could hear the attacker’s steps catching up as they reached the third floor landing and burst through the hallway door.

“Classroom!” Trixie panted. “Close… door!”

They almost ran into the next classroom door because Trixie was struggling to open it in time, but managed to get in. Sunset turned and slammed the door with all her strength—

—but the attacker managed to get between the door and the frame. If the impact hurt him, he didn’t show. His hand holding the knife was reaching through the gap, stabbing at thin air because it couldn’t quite reach the girls.

“Get out!” Sunset screamed, pushing as hard as she could. Trixie pushed from behind her, nearly driving the air out of her lungs, but Sunset could feel that their combined effort wasn’t enough. By fractions of inches they were being pushed back.

“Harder, Trixie,” she wheezed.

With one final effort the attacker pushed the door open, sending Trixie and Sunset stumbling back. This is really bad, Sunset thought idly as she staggered into Trixie and almost fell over a table, creating a giant opening for the killer. She hastily turned around and brought her arms up to defend against the inevitable attack, but she actually didn’t have to worry about that.

Trixie screamed in surprise, knocked off balance by the collision with Sunset. She stumbled through the gap between to tables, waving her arms almost comically in a vain attempt to remain on her feet. With a surprised yelp she fell backwards and landed on her butt, looking at the killer with a confused expression.

With one fluid leap the killer was over Trixie, pushing her flat on her back and cowering on top of her. By sheer luck, it seemed, Trixie was able to hold onto the killer’s weapon hand as he was trying to bring the blade down into her chest. But even with the lucky defense it was only a matter of seconds before the killer would overpower her and sink the knife into Trixie.

For a moment Sunset almost panicked. Not her too please!

Seeing the knife getting lowered closer and closer to Trixie’s body, she managed to regain some of her composure. Without thinking she grabbed the chair right next to her and crossed the two steps between herself and the desperate struggle on the classroom floor.

Not her too, you bastard!

She launched the chair as strongly as she could. At this short a distance she couldn’t miss. The chair hit the killer right in the back, knocking him off of Trixie and sending him sprawling on the floor in a heap. He was, Sunset incoherently noticed, wearing a cloak made from an old army blanket.

She bent over and took both of Trixie’s hands, pulling her up with all her strength, noticing again the pain in her right arm. The force with which she had pulled almost made the two girls lose balance once more, but Trixie managed to hold on to Sunset and a table and stabilize them.

“Run!” they both screamed in unison. Sunset turned and ran, Trixie right next to her. As they flew into the hallway Trixie slammed the classroom door shut behind them. Sunset slowed down a bit, not knowing where to run next, but Trixie resolutely pulled her to their left, down the corridor and towards the other wing.

They ran. When they had covered about three quarters of the hallway they heard the classroom door open behind them.

“Admin… wing,” Trixie wheezed.

They turned around the corner at the end of the hallway and into the administrative wing. Trixie pulled Sunset towards the first door on the left.

“Locked,” she explained. As Sunset was about to ask her how the heck a locked door would be useful to them, Trixie pulled a keyring out of her pocket. With two swift clicks she unlocked the door and pushed Sunset inside. She pulled the door shut and locked it up again before leaning against the door and slowly sliding to the floor.

Why does she have a key? Sunset wondered. And how badly did the bastard get me? But most importantly—

“Are you okay?” she mouthed.

Trixie nodded, too out of breath to reply.

Then they heard the footsteps on the corridor.

They stared at each other with their eyes wide open. Please don’t know we’re in here…

The killer grabbed the knob of their door and tried to turn it. When it didn’t move he rattled the door, shaking the two girls who were leaning against it. The door didn’t budge.

After an incredibly long timespan, or at least so it seemed, the steps started moving away from the door. Seconds later they heard the killer rattling the next door before moving down the hallway.

Now that the immediate danger had passed, Sunset remembered her arm. It didn’t hurt much, but it still took some effort to just look at it.

The sleeve of her hoodie was cut open right above her wrist, and she had a small cut in her forearm which had almost stopped bleeding already. “Bastard.”

“You’re hurt?” Trixie whispered. “Is it bad?”

“Just a small cut,” Sunset said dismissively. “You?”

“I’m alright,” Trixie replied. “Thanks to you saving my b—bacon up there,” she added, audibly fighting back tears.

“You mean your Great and Powerful bacon,” Sunset said in an attempt to brighten Trixie up.

She gave a feeble laugh before she spoke again, her voice almost breaking. “He had me. He had me, he was sitting on me and I couldn’t get him off of me, and he had that knife, and I just knew there was no way I could stop him, that he was going to stab me, and I—and you—“ She fell silent and drew a heavy breath, her lower lip quivering, moisture glistening in her eyes.

“But he didn’t!” Sunset whispered. “Please don’t cry, or he’ll hear us!”

Trixie nodded and bit her lip, but managed to remain quiet. Sunset gave her an awkward pat on her shoulder. Trixie’s presence helped her to keep her composure too. She didn’t want to think too hard about how she had felt when she knew she had made herself vulnerable to attack, or when, for just a moment, she was certain the killer would get Trixie and there was nothing, nothing in both worlds that she could do. She was still shaky enough.

Not wanting to discuss any of this, she asked, “How come you have a key to this place?”

Trixie visibly straightened up. “I don’t have a key. But as I told you before, I’m good at picking locks. These school doors are so easy to pick.”

“Why the heck do you know how to pick locks?”

Trixie shrugged. “My dad taught me a couple of years back. It’s good practice for your hands and gives you better dexterity. Which is very useful as a magician.”

“Oh, right, you’re a magician.”

“Yes, I am. A Great and Powerful one.” Trixie sounded defensive, and Sunset decided not to push the issue. For a few moments they sat in silence. Then Trixie abruptly said, “You’re much nicer than before you turned into a Demon Queen.”

“Thanks,” Sunset replied. “I’m trying to be less mean. Which is actually why I’m here tonight. It’s a long story.” She cleared her throat, not wanting to go into any more detail.

“I’m glad you are.”

“Did I really hold you into a toilet?”

“No, you didn’t,” Trixie said to Sunset’s relief. But then she added, “It was your lackeys, Snips and Snails.”

“I’m really sorry. I was a pretty awful person back then.”

Trixie waved it off. “It’s okay. Saving me from a killer more or less compensates for that, I’d say.” Her voice sounded shaky once more.

Sunset patted her shoulder again. “You’re welcome?”

She looked around the office they had found themselves in. She couldn’t see all that much in the darkness and didn’t dare get up, not yet, maybe the killer is still out there. There were several stacks of files on the desk, and more binders in a shelf behind it. Nothing that would prove useful against a maniac with a knife.

The room’s only promising feature was a connecting door. There was probably another office behind that door. There was likely going to be a phone somewhere in this wing.

Just as she was about to suggest this to Trixie, they heard steps in the hallway outside. Startled the two girls huddled up closer. The steps disappeared, from the sound of it around the corner into the other wing.

They looked at each other in silent agreement not to move for another while, lest the killer heard them.