Morning Lessons

Mariza slipped through the gray hallways of Paper School, her red-and-black sneakers squeaking softly on the polished floor. The walls were covered with yellowing notices about proper behavior and punishment schedules.

"Late again, Miss Santos?" Mrs. Grimm's voice cut through the morning silence like broken glass. The tall teacher stood in the doorway of Room 13, her dark eyes scanning Mariza's face for any sign of fear.

"Sorry, Mrs. Grimm. I was—"

"Excuses earn detention." The teacher's smile was thin and sharp. "And detention earns much worse."

Mariza's turquoise cheeks flushed darker as she hurried to her desk. Around her, other students kept their heads down, scribbling notes with trembling hands. Nobody wanted to catch Mrs. Grimm's attention.

Through the window, Mariza could see the old tower where they kept the dangerous students. Her stomach twisted as she thought about Alice, locked away in that cold room. Tonight, she would visit her friend again.

The Test That Changed Everything

The lunch bell rang like a warning siren. Mariza grabbed her tray and hurried toward the cafeteria, but Mrs. Grimm's voice stopped her cold.

"Miss Santos, your test score was unacceptable." The teacher's fingers drummed against her grade book. "Sixty-seven percent."

Mariza's heart hammered. She'd seen what happened to students who failed tests. Tommy disappeared after getting a fifty-five in math. Sarah vanished when she scored forty-two in history.

"Please, Mrs. Grimm, I can retake it—"

"The punishment room awaits." Mrs. Grimm's smile stretched wider. "Unless you'd prefer to join your monster friend in the tower?"

Mariza's turquoise cheeks went pale. How did Mrs. Grimm know about Alice?

Suddenly, water began seeping under the classroom door. A pipe must have burst somewhere in the building. The clear puddles spread quickly across the floor.

Mrs. Grimm stepped backward, her shoes slipping on the wet tiles. "What is this mess?"

Mariza felt something warm stirring in her chest. The water seemed to respond to her presence, flowing faster now, creating a barrier between her and the angry teacher.