Chapter Seven — Fight and Flight

The clock above the whiteboard ticked×カチカチと音を立てた loudly. Amelia’s hands were sweaty×汗ばんだ. She looked at Mei. Mei held her pencil very tightly. Ms. Fujiwara walked around the classroom. Her shoes made loud sounds on the floor. She came closer to their desks.

Amelia felt scared. We need to leave, she thought. She looked around the room. She saw pencils, books, and lights. Her bag had notebooks, a lunch box, and a panda pencil case. Nothing useful.

Then she remembered Mei’s note. Ms. Fujiwara took the note. What did Mei write? A warning? Ms. Fujiwara glared×にらんだ at Amelia. She knew something.

Amelia felt sick. She had to act.

She hit the desk loudly. “Mei!” she shouted angrily. “This is your fault×〜のせい!”

Mei looked surprised. Amelia pushed Mei’s shoulder. “You always make trouble for me!”

The class gasped×はっと息をのんだ. Ms. Fujiwara stopped walking. She stared at them.

“Hana-chan—” Mei said quietly.

“Stop!” Amelia shouted. She slapped Mei’s face. It made a loud sound. Mei’s eyes filled with tears. She stood up and knocked over her chair.

“You’re crazy!” Mei screamed. She ran to the door, but Amelia pulled her back.

“You can’t run!” Amelia said. She pushed Mei toward the door. Their eyes met. Pretend, Amelia whispered.

Mei pushed Amelia hard. Amelia fell against a desk. Pencils and books fell.

“Stop now!” Ms. Fujiwara yelled. The air felt cold. She walked toward them.

Amelia did not wait. She ran after Mei. They left the classroom.

“Run!” Amelia shouted.

They ran down the hallway. Behind them, the classroom door opened.

“Hana-chan. Mei-chan.” Ms. Fujiwara’s voice was calm but scary. “Come back.”

Amelia looked back. Ms. Fujiwara stood in the hallway. Her shadow×影 was very long and dark.

“Faster!” Mei said. They ran downstairs. They saw the nurse's office×保健室 and hid inside.

They crouched×しゃがんだ behind a bed. They were breathing hard. They heard slow footsteps outside.

“She’s not human,” Mei said. “Did you see her shadow?”

Amelia nodded. “I’m sorry I hit you.”

“It’s okay,” Mei said. “But Ms. Fujiwara knows I saw her in my dream last night. She’s coming!”

The footsteps stopped outside the door.