On a stormy day in October, students sat in class, waiting for the lesson to begin. The clouds were ash gray causing the room to look very dark, in the early morning. The rain was falling like it never had before, the storm followed by a rhythm, constantly and loudly. The wind howled as if it wanted to participate in the melody of the rain and the storm. In B102, Mr. Albert sat in his chair, his legs on the desk. The kids sat waiting for him. No one spoke in Mr. Albert’s class because no one wanted to get on his bad side, but it seemed that Mr. Albert was already angry. His shook his head, making grunting noises. Minutes passed until one brave little soul spoke, stuttering.
“Mr. Albert, aren’t we-we- going to learn today?” A small little girl asked. He looked at her but really everyone did, the kids questioning her actions.
“You know what is crazy about this. It’s bad enough that the school board decided to open school today but what’s even worse is the fact that your parents brought you anyway. It’s madness I tell you, madness!” He said to the girl. She looked at him, unsure of what to do next. Mr. Albert got up from his chair and looked at the kids. They looked back, their little heads popping out of their big jackets.
“Well then, you want to learn?” He said to them. “You, get some markers from Mrs. King class downstairs.” He said pointing at a small kid with green shirt, the lights flicked as he spoke.
The kid looked at his classmates, unhappy that he was chosen. Without saying a word, he left the room slowly and the kids and Mr.Albert were silent, waiting. Only a minute has passed, when the kid came running, breathing heavily, looking white as ghost and his eyes wide.
“What is wrong with you?” Mr. Albert asked, relaxed and leaning, his arms crossed.
The kid just shook his head, looking at Mr. Albert in pleading eyes.
“If you want me to help you, you have to answer kid.”
“ah–the-the–a..” The kid began. Everyone watched him tremble.
“A sound, the-ther-there is a sound.” He finished.
“What sound?” Mr. Albert said.
“M–M-Monster.” Just as he finish his words, Mr. Albert laughed.
“Oh, kids these days, you’re something. You have a wild imagination I tell you. Wild!” The kid looked at him, sad that he did not believe him. He slowly sat in his desk, his eyes still wide from shock.
“Okay, now is anyone MATURE enough to get me a marker, so we can learn.” He continued.
“I will. I am not scared.” A little girl said, getting up. Mr. Albert smiled.
“Good, Anna.” The girl left the room.
“Okay, We were talking about fractions on Friday weren’t we?” The kids nodded.
“Tell me Johnny, What is an improper fraction?” The kid with the green jacket looked up from his desk. He couldn’t speak for a minute or so, just looked at Mr. Albert.
“Okay. Since Johnny decided he is going to go mute, any other volunteers?” Mr.Albert said. No one answered, the kids all looked at something else. Mr.Albert turned following their gaze, and saw the little girl Anna, shaking.
“Where are the markers?” He said.
“He–he- said, ‘Down come down’ he-” She paused. Still frozen, only her mouth moving. The students all looked at Mr. Albert, waiting for his response.
“Eh.. you too? I just have to go myself then, since everyone seems to be losing their mind today.” He said and went to the door.
“Don’t move, I will be back.” He said and left, moving the girl to the side as he walked out. The kids looked at each other and as if they planned it, they all began to follow. Walking through the hallways, just behind Mr. Albert.
He was walking to the stairs as the kids stand behind him, watching. He turned, shook his head and stepped on the first row of the stair. Then a deep voice said, “Don’t come down!”
The kids screamed, Mr.Albert was shocked. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Who-Who-Are you!?” He managed to say.
“Don’t come downnn.” It said, stressing the n. The kids scream again on cue. The teacher quickly said, “shhh, go back to class. You need to get away from here.”
They responded quickly and they all ran to class, as if the creature below was right behind them.
“Oh my!” Mr.Albert said as he closes the door. The kids stood by their desks, scared to even sit down.
“He just keeps saying that.” Johnny said. Mr.Albert turn to him, puzzled about the fact the kid face was normal again, his eyes back to its normal size. While everyone else, including Mr. Albert was shaking.
“Eh..well..I will..eh..go and check this thing out. In-In the meantime, stay here okay?” He looked at them, making sure that they understood. He opened the door and he left, closing it behind him so the kids won’t follow.
As he walked through the hallway, he heard a squeaking sound. Starled he stopped and looked around.
“Hello! Anybo-Anybody there?” No one responded. The rain was the only sound that he heard. Slowly he reached the stairs. He looked down, terrified.
“He-” He started but the thunder interrupted. He hesitated, afraid of the dangers that lie in the bottom of these stairs. He was going to go back, when he heard a voice.
“Don’t come down!” Mr. Albert jumped terrified of the loud noise. He slowly got closer to the stairs again, telling himself to act like a leader through every step.
“Why not? You can’t stop me!” He said trying to sound braver than he actually felt.
“Then you will be hurt!” The voice responded. Mr. Albert couldn’t believe that this was happening. This had to be something from a movie, scripted, unreal he told himself. He was scared but angry as well. He couldn’t believe what he had to deal with. Now, the kids are in his hands and if anything happens to them he might get fired, or worse. As he thought about the dangers that he might encounter, he slowly put his foot on the stairs. Slowly and careful as if he was stepping on a lava.
He counted in his head, “one-tw-two-three–” As he went down step by step.
“Mr. Albert! Please don’t go!” someone said. Mr. Albert turned, and saw Johnny looking at him, terrified.
“What are you doing here? Get back to class!” Mr. Albert said, but little part of him was glad, that someone came.
“I–I want to be here.” The kid said. Mr.Albert smiled.
“Just stay where you are okay?” The kid nodded.
Mr. Albert turned his head back and start to walk down again. The kid as he went further, breathe harder than before.
“Five-six-seven-eight-” Mr.Albert counted. And finally he reached the bottom of the stairway. He couldn’t see anyone or anything just a yellow bucket in the middle of the hallway. He walked forward, looking left and right. Making sure that nothing will jump at him.
“Is anyone here?” He said. He heard steps. He walked back slowly as the steps got closer and closer.
BOOM! There was a sound, there was a broom on the floor. Mr. Albert put his hands up, in defense.
“Oh sorry about that, I am clumsy sometimes. But you shouldn’t have come down, you will fall and hurt yourself. The floor is wet, these kids and their accidents. ” A man said laughing. The man was tall and wore a blue uniform and it had a tag, it read Paul-Janitor.