"The fires leave ashes on your fingertips. You were told lies. You were taught monsters aren't real. Pity! Such a shame that you cannot recognize the monsters that dwell in your presence. Underneath your bed. Your closet. They reside in you!

Hahaha. It's ok. I won't hurt you. Besides......

I am more afraid of what you might do to me..."

"Ahem! Ms. Lee!"


"Ms. Lee!"


Morghan snapped out of her daydreaming state upon hearing Mrs. Abigail call out to her.


"Yes, ma'am," she turned red with embarrassment.

"What did I just say?" Mrs. Abigail asked.


The bell rang. Morghan exhaled, not realizing that she was holding her breath.

"You stay, Morghan," Mrs. Abigail said.


"Ooooh." The other students instigated like high school students do so well.


"If anyone wants to join us, you can stay too. Would be a great start to your weekend," Mrs. Abigail said, clearly annoyed.


The other students quickly left the classroom.

Morghan felt like the room closed in. She was nervous.

While normally a straight A student, she's not been all there mentally as of late.

Her grades dropped, but not significantly.

Mrs. Abigail closed the door. "You want to talk about it?"


"Talk about what?" Morghan asked as if she had no idea what her caring teacher was alluding to.

Mrs. Abigail sighed. She walked over to Morghan, placed her hand on her shoulder, and squeezed tightly.

"You insolent little monster! You killed them! You did! You are no better than he is! You must die!"


The floor turned into tar beneath Morghan's feet. She quickly stood up from her desk and tried not to get her feet stuck in the tar. It burned like fire. She felt as though she was standing in black lava.

Morghan tried to scream out, but her vocal cords were sealed shut. She could only watch as the classroom began to burn. Mrs. Abigail became disfigured and scorched by the burning fire. She transformed into a demon-like creature. Covered in brimstone, black tar that stuck to her skin, and completely naked. She had blood pouring from her mouth as she wore a sinister grin. Her voice was dual-toned and deep, like two people were talking in unison.


"Be not afraid. For your soul belongs to the children of the lake. They only want to play...."

Morghan turned around as fast as she could to try to get away. Once she had fully turned 180, she was staring at a choir of children, at least fifteen of them piercing her with blank stares. Their eyes were pure white. They stood still and firm, not moving.

They repeated the same thing over and over again in unison. Their voices were monotone and without any emotion.


"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."


Morghan still couldn't scream, she couldn't talk, she couldn't call out to anyone.

The children began to walk towards her.


"Play with fire, you burn. Your ashes are mine to yearn."

Morghan felt a hot hand on her shoulder. Mrs. Abigail's hand burned through Morghan's skin. Morghan fell to her knees in pain. She was suddenly surrounded by the fifteen children. They began biting and nibbling at her. They ravaged her flesh. Gnawing at her bones. You could hear the sound of Morghan's bones cracking on the teeth of the children.


"Alright! Alright! That's enough, you idiots," Mackenzie interfered with the two girls stomping away on Morghan.

Morghan covered up to defend herself. She lay in a fetal position on the ground.

"Back off, Mackenzie." Nelly pushed Mackenzie.


"Touch me again and I'll see to it that your stupid ass sips through a straw for the next month," Mackenzie said.

Nelly walked towards Mackenzie but was stopped by her friend, Peyton.

Peyton motioned for Nelly just to let it go.


"Puta!" Nelly said as they walked off.


Mackenzie extended her hand to a downed Morghan. "Come on. Get up, champ."

Morghan accepted the help and got back up to her feet.