Chapter 6.1

[DING DONG!]

As the PA system came on once more, Lilli could feel her blood pressure literally rise as her heart began beating quickly, and her stomach started roiling.

Her breathing hitched, and she felt like she was going to vomit and pass out at the same time.

"What's happening now?" Mallory muttered in a shaky voice, and hearing it, she began to collect herself.

Calm down, Lilli! Take a deep breath!

It's the end of the period, and you expected this!

This is a good announcement!

Let it be a good announcement!

Please!

Crossing her fingers for good luck, she gently shushed her students before listening very carefully.

[Good morning, Sunshine Academy! This is your principal speaking. The time is now 10:00 AM. Structured Learning Time is now over.]

[The weather outside is: 73 degrees F.]

[Please head to the playground for Outdoor Play within the next 10 minutes so that order is restored, and our students have a fruitful, accomplished day.]

[Click.]

The PA system went off, and Lilli released the breath she had been holding.

"Yay!!!!!"

"Outside!"

"I get to be on the swing first, Cian!"

"No, me Luca!"

As the students cheered loudly, Mallory rushed over and began shaking Lilli with crazed eyes.

"We can go outside! That means we can leave! Right! Those….things in the hallway won't be there! Right?!"

"Yes. Maybe? But we need to make sure we follow all the hallway rules just in case. Please calm down and help me get the students ready while I get the important documents." Lilli forcibly pried Mallory's hands from her shoulders before heading to her desk.

As he stood there, staring at her with crazed eyes, she patted his arm, then urged him toward the students' cubby to get them ready for outdoor play.

If she was leaving with all the kids, she needed to take the files containing their parents' contact information, as well as the emergency medication, just in case something happened.

After stuffing everything into her apron and tote bag, she stood at the front of the classroom, carefully holding the walking rope.

Then, meeting their eyes, Lilli smiled gently before starting their call.

"1! 2! 3!"

"Eyes on me!"

"Everyone, this is very important, but we need to follow the rules. Remember our hallway rules? We WALK while holding bubbles in our mouths, okay? Walk slowly, always face forward, leave space, and keep to the right." Lilli tried to calmly stress the urgency to the kids.

She didn't know how strict the hallway rules would be since the principal hadn't said anything, but it was better safe than sorry.

"Can everyone show me how you catch a bubble in your mouths?"

Gasp!

As all the kids took a deep breath and puffed out their chubby cheeks like little puffer fish, Lilli thought they looked very cute.

But when her eyes glanced at the two students from Justina's class, her smile couldn't help but wane.

Violet and Tristan stood at the end of the rope, looking a bit dazed.

Squatting next to them, Lilli patted their heads gently to get their attention.

"Can you go like this? It's really important, okay?"

She quickly demonstrated the technique while rubbing the two children's cold, chubby hands between hers to warm them up.

As their hands slowly warmed up, with slightly teary eyes, Violet slowly imitated her, and Tristan, whose gaze seemed glued to Violet, did the same, although his face twitched strangely in the process.

"Good job."

Gently ruffling their hair, Lilli stood up and walked to the front of the line since Mallory was glaring at her impatiently.

"Any questions before we leave?"

"Can Mr. Goldy come outside with us today? He needs to go for a walk!" Sarah, the student who wanted to be a vet, asked with a pleading expression.

Lilli glanced at the little goldfish swimming in the fancy classroom aquarium before shaking her head.

While she sometimes allowed the kids to take the goldfish out to the playground in a smaller tank, today's playtime was all about quickly and efficiently escaping the school.

Forever.

They had no time to carry around a small fish tank filled with water, and it would be a tragedy if something happened to the poor fish who didn't even know what was going on.

Since he had already been fed once, it would be fine until the evening, when the police officers would arrive to figure out what was wrong with the building.

"Not right now. Why don't we take him for a walk another time? Okay?"

"Muuuhhhh." As Sarah began sulking, Mallory cut in with a harsh tone.

"Enough wasting time! Let's get out of here!"

"Sorry, Mr. Mallory wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh." As Sarah collapsed to the ground and began to wail, Lilli shot Mallory a dirty look.

Slow and steady won the race, especially when dealing with little kids, because once one started crying, it was almost always a domino effect that would leave the whole crew in tears.

Quickly thinking, Lilli reached into her tote bag and brought out one of the treats she had in there, and waved it around enticingly.

"Who wants a lollipop?"

"Meeee!"

Multiple hands went up, and even Sarah stopped crying as she zeroed in on the candy in Lilli's hand.

Seeing that she had their attention, Lilli shook the box again, "I specially got candy for all of you, but you can only get it if we walk quickly and quietly to the playground. Can you all do it?"

"Yesssss!"

"How about you, Sarah? You get 2 lollipops because Mr. Mallory didn't mean to raise his voice at you, and he'll apologize once we're outside. Do you think you can do it? Walk quickly and quietly?"

Sarah wiped her tears before asking in a shaky voice.

"Can Mr. Goldy have a lollipop too? An orange one?"

"Sure. I'll give it to him for dinner." Lilli easily agreed, knowing that she wouldn't be here for dinner anyway.

"Then okay!" Sarah smiled before catching a bubble and staring at Lilli with an expression of wanting praise.

"Wow! That's amazing! Sarah, you're the best bubble catcher I've ever seen! Can the rest of you be like Sarah and catch your bubbles!?"

Gasp!

As all the kids puffed out their cheeks while holding on to the line, Lilli gathered her courage and opened the doorway slowly.

The last time it had been opened, it truly looked like a scene from a dark horror film. But now-

It looked bright, clean, and normal without a single shadow in sight.

"Let's go, guys! Please hold onto the rope and don't let go!"

Letting out her deep breath and checking both sides of the hallway once more, Lilli led them out toward the exit door to the right.

She wanted to sprint away, leaving everything and everyone behind.

But with extraordinary force of will, she took one small step after the other, stepping on each checkered square to keep her steps regular and not too quickly for the children to follow.

As she got closer and closer to the door, her heart began pounding harder, and sweat poured down her back.

Would the door open?

Would something hop out and get them?

Was she actively breaking rules right now?

Her hands gripped the cold metal, and after psyching herself up, Lilli pushed with all of her strength.

And it opened.

Easily.

BANG!

As the door swung outward, slamming against the exterior wall, the sunlight outside was almost blinding.

Lilli heard Mallory whoop for joy behind her, but she focused on scanning the outside, wondering if she was seeing things.

But she wasn't; everything looked normal.

The entire school was fenced in to prevent kids from running into the road, and the simple sidewalk lined with flowers and covered in chalk that led to the colorful playground looked the same as it did when she came in this morning.

The gate to exit the fence was still there.

Lilli could see the cars parked in the parking lot, she could feel the sun beating down on her face, and the wind blowing through her hair.

It was all normal, as if everything that had happened was just a bad dream.

"What are you standing there for? Let's leave. Right now!" Mallory's voice broke her out of her reverie.

He pushed her out of the way and began heading for the gate, and Lilli bit her lips before following him with the children.

All they had to do now was open it, lead the kids out, and immediately call the police.

Then the authorities could handle everything and get justice for Justina and the other teachers and students who suffered at the hands of the principal.

Just as Mallory was about to reach the gate, he suddenly stopped before he crashed into the person who had suddenly appeared in front of it.

With his thick head of silver hair, silver-rimmed glasses, navy sweater over brown corduroy pants, and sturdy brown shoes, it was the voice they had heard repeatedly throughout the day.

It was Principal Simon.

Smiling his usual smile, the principal glanced between the two of them before focusing on Lilli and speaking in that strange, raspy tone.

"Where do you think you're going?"