The Beautiful Monster

Blinking her eyes rapidly, she turned the corner to head down the hallway that led to the cafeteria, hearing noises up ahead.

She guessed that someone else went to the cafeteria for something. She wasn't perplexed until she heard crying. Slowing her steps, she tried to listen to the noises sounding from the cafeteria.

"Please no!" a girl's shout burst from the cafeteria, followed by blunt thumps and screams.

Melina froze for a few seconds, unable to get her feet to move as she stared ahead in shock and fear. She had no idea what was going on, but it sounded horrifying.

She heard more noise up ahead, and it sounded like other students came to the girl's aid. Gathering what courage she had, Melina walked to the cafeteria, peering inside to look at the scene.

A girl laid on the floor near a few overturned tables and chairs. Blood dripped from her nose and various wounds all over her body.

She shuddered and whimpered on the ground as a few other students hovered over her, checking on her.

Melina let out a shaky breath as she stepped inside, looking around and trying to spot whatever or whoever attacked the girl so viciously.

No one suspicious was in sight, but she knew that the girl had been attacked. Melina heard her pleas, which still shook her to her core.

"Someone get Mrs. Holland!" one of the students shouted, referring to the school's healer.

"What happened?" another student asked as he approached the group hovering around the wounded girl.

"She just started screaming. By the time we got here, no one was in here but her. Something tore her up good, though," one of the students replied as she shook her head in disbelief.

A chill shuddered its way down Melina's spine as she listened to their conversation.

Something terrifying happened in this room, but no one knew but the girl who kept bleeding onto the floor. She didn't look like she was in any position to be talking and answering questions, though.

Melina stepped to the side as Mrs. Holland ran into the cafeteria, wearing her night clothes. She carried a medical bag with her as she hurried to the girl's side, kneeling down to look her over.

"I need some space! Back up!" Mrs. Holland shouted, motioning for the students to back up so that she could work.

Melina figured that it was about time for her to leave and get back to Blair. She could take Blair back to her dorm room for some water.

Right before she turned to leave, she spotted a familiar flash of blonde hair. She paused, looking across at the crowd of students on the other side of the cafeteria and seeing Blair looking at her.

A confused expression filled Melina's face as she lifted her hand in a small wave. She didn't want to shout across the cafeteria at her friend. She didn't think that she would find Blair all the way over here.

Blair didn't wave back. She stared in Melina's direction for a few seconds before disappearing into the crowd.

Melina tried to look for Blair after that, but she wasn't anywhere to be found, whether it was in the building or out in the courtyard.

Feeling confused and disturbed by the events of tonight, Melina retreated to her dorm room, not feeling so safe out in the open.

She knew that tonight was going to be uncomfortable, but she didn't expect things to take such a horrible turn.

She could feel the tension fill the hallways as most people returned to their dorm rooms for the night.

No one was in the party mood any longer. Something was going on at Axven. This incident confirmed it. Now, they just had to figure out what it was.

Melina planned to stay out of the way and stay safe. She didn't want to be caught up in the danger. She came here to learn and make something of herself.

If she wanted to feel in danger, she would go out into the world and find it there. She was supposed to be safe within these walls. It was the main reason why her dad enrolled her in the first place.

She tossed and turned that night, casting uneasy glances toward the door of her dorm, like she expected someone to open it.

She knew that was crazy. Why would someone come and attack her of all people! She had gotten lucky tonight not going into that cafeteria too early. She could've been that girl.

If she didn't watch it, she could still end up that way because no one had been caught. The threat was still out there, lurking and waiting.

****

The entire school was put on lockdown the next day. An exact reason wasn't announced over the intercom, but Melina had a feeling that it had something to do with what happened at the party last night.

All students were instructed to stay in their rooms. Food and drinks would be brought by at mealtimes.

Melina wondered why they were taking such an extreme approach, but she had a feeling that it was for good reason.

Maybe they were sweeping the halls and rooms for whoever attacked that girl last night. She hoped that they found whoever did it because they were brutal and dangerous.

The last thing that this school needed was a psycho disrupting everything and hurting people.

She sat up in her bed, stretching her arms above her head as she peered around her dorm room. A small amount of sunlight streamed in through the tiny window behind her desk.

Even if she wanted to open the window and get some fresh air, she couldn't. All of the windows were warded shut so that no one could sneak in or fall out.

Part of her almost wanted to check that it was stuck shut, but she shook her head at herself. The school officials would take care of the situation.

For today, she was stuck in her room, so that didn't leave her much to do. She could clean her room, take a bath, or study. She had the entire day. She could do all three if she wanted to.

Not feeling like doing any of it right now, Melina grabbed her phone off her nightstand and turned it on.

There were some emails from the school and her professors about classes being canceled today and the lockdown.. Nothing caught her eye.

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