He took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered, pushing open the double doors of the School.



The sound of creaking metal and shuddering hinges filled the air, and he stepped into a place that felt as if it were suspended between life and death.



Inside, everything was eerily silent and decayed. The once-pristine corridors were now a chaotic mess of overturned furniture, broken glass, and scattered papers.

A sudden, deafening bang echoed off a shattered wall.

“What the hell… I still haven’t finished my work, and now—” he gasped, heart pounding as the noise shattered the fragile silence. For a heartbeat, all was dark and then, just as quickly, the sound vanished.

He exhaled deeply, steadying his nerves. “Turn on the generator, leave, and plug in the cord to the center of Playcare. Easy and simple. Okay, I got this…” he whispered to himself.

Resolutely, he began moving through the dilapidated hallway, each step measured and cautious.



As he passed by bloodstains that formed a grim, twisting trail on the floor, he murmured, “Damn, someone’s been dragged here…” The sight made his skin crawl, the trail marking the passage of horror through the abandoned school.

His phone buzzed with static, and Ollie’s voice crackled urgently in his ear:

"Be careful in there, I don't think I can connect to you on that side of the dome. And you won't be alone. There's someone else in there too. They're not your—"

Before the message could finish, the line cut off.

“Not what? Bloody hell!” he whispered, tensing as he quickened his pace.

Entering a narrow room, he was startled when the School’s Public Address System which is used to make announcements over loudspeakers in the school, suddenly burst to life with an unnervingly cheerful tone. A woman's voice, disturbingly buoyant, echoed through the ruined halls:

"This is Miss Delight speaking. Please excuse the interruption. Students, please remain in your seats until the bell has rung. No going into the halls without a hall pass."

The pre-recorded message reverberated like a ghostly reminder of a happier past. He frowned and set to work; using his green GrabPack hand, he tapped into nearby power circuits.

He diverted currents and reconnected cables, activating doors along the corridor one by one. As he progressed, the PA crackled again:

"Wait—I recognized you… Yes! I remember! You used to work here! How are you… Alive? Hmm? Barb? Oh, Barb says you're looking for your coworkers. Catnap wouldn't like that you're here… You should leave… For your own safety."

He gritted his teeth.

Not now... he thought.

Ignoring the warning as he pressed forward through the abandoned School.

While moving toward another classroom, a shadow flitted across his peripheral vision—a shape that moved in a disturbingly mechanical, almost stop-motion fashion.

He froze, heart in his throat.

When he looked closely, the silhouette vanished into the darkness.

Suspecting nothing more than his fatigued mind playing tricks, he climbed into the vents for a shortcut between rooms.

As he dropped down into a new room, the Public Address crackled once again, this time mocking him with Miss Delight’s voice:

"Not a good listener, are you? You're a lot like the other humans in that way! I wonder if your screams will sound like theirs too? I look forward to finding out!"

Her words, twisted with amusement, sent a shiver down his spine, but he pressed on.



After methodically reconnecting power and installing the last of the battery cells, he powered on the generator, watching with cautious hope as the facility flickered to life.

Then, without warning, the door burst open. Miss Delight strode in, her figure a blur of anger and malice, and with a savage swing of Barb, her weapon made of sharpened pencils.



She struck the generator viciously.

"What the-"

Sparks flew as its battery was flung across the room, and the lights died, plunging the halls into a flickering darkness once more.



Instinctively, he bolted through the corridors, the echo of Miss Delight’s footsteps and guttural threats close behind him.

Miss Delight's pursuit was relentless—each echoing footsteps is a reminder that she was closing in. As he sprinted through the corridors, his heart pounded in his ears.



Every time he dared to glance over his shoulder, she paused, as if savoring the moment when his back was turned, only to surge forward when he looked away.



I can’t let her catch up!. he thought, his mind racing as fast as his legs.

I have to reach the exit... I have to open that door.

Ahead, a heavy door blocked his path, its lock controlled by a power cell container. Without wasting a second, he dove for the scattered batteries in the ruined hallway. His fingers fumbled in the dim light as he gathered them, heart pounding with desperation.

Then, in the chaos, he caught a glimpse of movement—a flash of Miss Delight nearly reaching him.



At the very last second, he whirled his head back. His eyes widened, and a startled curse burst from his lips.

"Fuck—!" he muttered, half-amused by his own panic. In that split second, he saw her face in chilling detail.

Her shimmering golden hair cascaded in wild strands around a crimson bow tie perched atop her head. A torn crimson skirt, adorned with playful polka dots, clashed grotesquely with a vibrant tri-color shirt—blue, red, and yellow—with an apple symbol emblazoned on it. Her eyes were glowing white.

But it was her face that scared him the most: what had once been a cheerful, inviting grin was now shattered, revealing dirty, exposed flesh and jagged, broken teeth.

The sight was horrifying.

His fingers fumbled in the dim light as he retrieved each one, stuffing them into the container while watching out for Miss Delight.



The process was frantic, every second stretching into an eternity.

Come on, come on!. he urged himself.

Every battery counts.

If I can just get this gate open, I might have a chance.

With a final, desperate insertion, the container lit up. The gate groaned as it slowly began to open.

But even as he pressed forward, Miss Delight charged out of the darkness with a blood-curdling shriek.

"Fuck, I'm done!" he thought, adrenaline fueling his panic.



In a split second of desperation, he yanked a lever, forcing the door to slam shut behind him.

As the door sealed, crushing Miss Delight against the frame with a sickening crunch, he allowed himself a brief moment of relief.

His mind, still racing, whispered a silent promise: I will survive this, no matter what.

Even now, with his heart pounding and sweat slicking his brow, he knew that each step forward was one step closer to the final exit—and to answers about this twisted place.

He then opened another gate and saw 6 notes in the corner.

Note 1: Just a few weeks ago now was The Hour of Joy.

Today, there is only silence in this school. I don't think any of us here know what to do with it. The hallways without the children carry even the smallest sounds as if they were shouts. The other teachers and I startle each other constantly. We'll have to get used to it.

Something locked the front door this morning.

We haven't been able to open it.

Note 2: I heard a knock at the door today. I heard it breathing. Whatever it was, it wouldn't speak when called out to.

I spent hours after it went silent wondering if this was what locked us in here. I've made a weapon of sorts. Pencils and rulers and tape and twine.

I've taken to calling it "Barb". It's crude. But if that door opens, I need to be ready.

Note 3: No food for days. The others argued with me over what was left.

They started glaring. Judging.

They blocked the kitchen doorway with their bodies.

I think they've singled me out to die first.

Note 4: The pit in me howls for FOOD.

I CAN'T THINK about anything other than how HUNGRY I AM.

HARDLY HAVE THE STRENGTH NOW TO PICK MYSELF OFF THE FLOOR. Barb speaks to me though. SHE GIVES ME STRENGTH.

I've found that if I stand still, COMPLETELY STILL, everyone thinks I'm DEAD. BARB says I need to EAT, AND THAT THE OTHER TEACHERS would never see me coming.

ANYTHING TO STOP THE HOWLING.

Note 5: I'M SO SORRY.

I HAD TO EAT. I HAD TO SURVIVE. I ATE THEM.

I HAD TO

I HAD TO

I HAD TO

I HAD TO

Note 6: The door opened today, and I heard something enter my hall.

Together, Barb and I found CatNap waiting.

ALL THIS TIME, ALL THIS AGONY. It was HE WHO LOCKED THE DOOR, I know it.

I wanted to KILL HIM, but I knew better than to believe I could. He seemed oddly glad to see I was all that remained.

We made a deal. We take care of each other now.

Report what we see to the other, and to HIM.