The students who had been attending the flag-rising ceremony suddenly began running away from the field. Panic spread rapidly, especially among the girls.
Screams of fear echoed everywhere.
Some of them ran toward the school building, while a few students who were still brave enough tried to help their friends who had suddenly fallen into a trance or become possessed.
Around ten students collapsed to the ground. Some screamed hysterically, struggled violently, and a few even lost consciousness.
Several teachers tried to restrain the students who were lashing out while attempting to calm them down.
Amid the chaos, Fatheema stood frozen.
She didn't move.
Her eyes scanned the scene around her—students running, some lying on the ground, others being held back by teachers and friends.
Suddenly—
A cold wind brushed against her back.
The chill slowly crept upward, crawling along her spine until it reached the nape of her neck.
For a moment, her head felt light, as if her consciousness was drifting away.
Fatheema's vision blurred slightly.
But then she snapped back.
She took a sharp breath and pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth while holding her breath. (Some ancient meditation technique)
Her awareness returned.
The moment her vision focused, she saw a girl rushing toward her with both hands outstretched, trying to choke her.
Fatheema moved quickly.
She sidestepped, shifting her body aside, then swiftly stomped on the girl's foot with her right foot while pushing her sideways with her right hand.
The girl lost her balance and fell hard to the ground.
Before Fatheema could even think or reset her stance—
A male student suddenly leaped at her from the other side, muttering something unintelligible.
Instinctively—
Fatheema dodged again.
She lifted her long skirt up to her knees to move more freely.
Fortunately, she was wearing shorts and black stockings underneath, so she didn't have to much worry about exposing herself.
Her body spun swiftly.
Then, with precision and grace, she unleashed a spinning back kick just as the boy was still midair.
Bugh!
The kick struck him hard!
He was sent crashing to the ground.
However, the spinning motion caused Fatheema to lose her balance slightly. She quickly adjusted her footing to stabilize herself.
When she stood upright again, her skirt was still lifted up to her waist, making her still feel slightly awkward.
That was when—
She saw someone.
A girl stood not far from her.
She wore a gray-and-white uniform, with a skirt reaching her calves and sleeves down to her elbows.
Her outfit resembled that of a typical vocational high school student.
Her shirt was white with short sleeves, her skirt long, and she wore slip-on shoes with high socks.
Her hair was black, wavy, and shoulder-length. Her skin was a little pale, and her face was quite beautiful—distinctly East Asian, almost Japanese in appearance.
Fatheema had never seen her before.
She was certain.
That girl was not a student at this school.
The girl's gaze was strange.
Cold.
And somehow… terrifying.
A few seconds later, the girl slowly raised both hands.
Her lips moved, as if she were chanting something.
Her clear eyes gradually changed.
Red…Burning.
Glowing!
"…Devil's… eyes!"
And then—
Zsssshh!!
A flash of light burst forth.
And the world…
Suddenly fell silent.
Fatheema's vision faded.
Her consciousness sank.
As if she were falling into something very deep.
Dark.
Pitch black.
Her body felt like it was floating in empty space.
There was no sound.
No light.
Her tongue was numb.
Her hearing vanished.
It was as if all five of her senses had died.
A strange feeling began to emerge.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Sadness.
Anger.
Disappointment.
Loneliness.
All those emotions merged into one, pressing down on her from every direction.
"What is this…?"
"What's happening…?"
"Where am I…?"
"Am I going to die…?"
"What is this feeling…?"
Fear began creeping into her thoughts.
"No!"
"I can't die."
"There's still so much I have to do."
"So much I still want to achieve."
"No… no…"
I can't die!
Suddenly—
Woosh… Woosh… Wossshh…
Cold currents of air flowed across her body.
It felt as though something was trying to enter her through the pores of her skin.
Fatheema felt uncomfortable.
She tried to push the currents away with her hands, struggling with all her strength.
After some time, the flow gradually faded… and finally disappeared.
But the space remained dark.
There was nothing.
In that state, she gathered all her strength, her courage, her hope, and her awareness.
Until finally—
In the distance…
She saw something.
A tiny white dot.
It slowly grew larger.
Brighter.
Closer.
And then—
Sssshhh!!
Fatheema jolted.
Her eyes snapped open.
"What happened?"
She stared at the white ceiling above her.
A few seconds later, she realized she was lying on a bed.
She was in the school infirmary.
Fatheema turned her head.
Several other students were lying on different beds.
Some looked weak, while others were still unconscious.
A middle-aged woman approached her.
"You're awake," she said gently.
"You fainted earlier during the ceremony."
Fatheema frowned.
"What happened?" the woman asked.
"Do you remember anything?"
Fatheema fell silent for a moment.
"I… I'm not sure. I only remember everything suddenly turning chaotic.
After that, it went dark… and my feelings became strange, hard to explain," she said softly.
"What really happened, Mrs. Yuyun?"
The woman smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. You all just fainted. Everything is under control now."
"I've already contacted your parents. They'll be here soon to pick you up."
"You should rest at home today."
The woman was her homeroom teacher, Ms. Yuyun.
After that, she walked away to check on the other students.
Fatheema remained seated on the bed.
"What really happened…?"
She felt confused.
And strangely…
What she had experienced felt like a dream.
She shifted to the edge of the bed, letting her legs dangle.
Her eyes scanned the room.
Some students were still lying weakly.
On the table to her right, she saw her handbag.
She hadn't brought her phone today, so she couldn't contact her mother.
Fatheema gently swung her legs.
She tried to recall what had happened on the field.
Why had everyone suddenly become possessed?
Why had she fainted?
But there were no answers.
She wasn't even sure what she had experienced was real.
Suddenly—
Click…
The door opened.
A woman wearing a dark green long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and a black headscarf rushed in.
"My sweetheart!"
"Are you okay?"
She hurried toward Fatheema.
It was her mother.
"I'm fine, Mom," Fatheema said.
"I'm just tired. Ms. Yuyun said we could go home early."
"We're supposed to rest at home."
Her mother nodded.
"Alright. Let's go home."
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, Mom."
Fatheema stood up.
Her mother held her hand as they left the infirmary.
They walked through the school hallway.
Some classrooms were still holding lessons as usual, as if nothing had happened.
When they passed the flag-rising ceremony field,
Fatheema glanced toward it.
It was empty now.
The red-and-white flag fluttered at the top of the pole.
There were no students or teachers left.
Fatheema and her mother left the school on a motor scooter.
But along the way—
Fatheema couldn't stop thinking about what had happened.
Something felt… off.
And as they passed through the school gat—
She felt it.
As if someone…
Had been watching her all along.
But once they left the gate and moved farther away—
That feeling slowly faded.
***