Chapter 4: Day Class
Hector stood at the front of his Grade 3 classroom, the chalk in his hand poised above the blackboard. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the eager faces of his students. It was a typical day, filled with the usual chatter and laughter of the young minds entrusted to his care.
As the lesson unfolded, Hector decided to assess his students' writing skills with a short impromptu test. "Alright, class, it's time for a quick writing exercise," he announced, the excitement in the room momentarily hushed. "I want each of you to jot down a short story or describe your favorite place. Be creative!"
The students dove into the task with enthusiasm, pencils scratching against paper as their imaginations ran wild. Hector strolled between the rows, offering encouragement and guidance. However, as he approached the back row, he noticed a lone figure, a girl with her head resting on the desk, seemingly lost in the realm of dreams.
"Hey there, is everything okay?" Hector inquired, his voice a gentle reassurance.
The girl stirred, lifting her head slightly. Her eyes, clouded with discomfort, met Hector's gaze. "My head hurts," she whispered, her words tinged with pain.
Concern furrowed Hector's brow as he crouched down beside her desk. "I'm sorry to hear that. What's your name? Are you in this class?"
The girl shook her head, a slight groan escaping her lips. "I don't... I don't know. The pain is so intense."
Hector, now genuinely worried, extended a hand toward the girl's forehead. However, before he could make contact, a horrifying sight unfolded before his eyes. The girl's head, detached from her body, rolled forward, leaving a headless body seated at the desk.
A gasp caught in Hector's throat, his eyes widening in sheer terror. He stumbled backward, crashing into a nearby desk as the surreal scene unfolded before him. The head of the girl rested near him, a grotesque tableau of the macabre.
The head, with lifeless eyes fixed on Hector, spoke in a voice that sent shivers down his spine. "Save us."
Hector recoiled, his mind grappling with the impossibility of the situation. He let out a guttural scream, a primal expression of horror that pierced the air.
The other students, previously engrossed in their writing exercises, now turned their attention toward their screaming teacher. Confusion and fear swept through the classroom as they witnessed Hector's apparent breakdown.
"What's happening?" one student whispered to another, eyes wide with concern.
"I think Mr. Hector is losing it," another responded, the hushed whispers spreading like wildfire.
The commotion drew the attention of the neighboring classrooms, and soon, a group of teachers, led by Mrs. Santos, the principal, hurried toward the chaotic scene.
Principal Santos, a stern but compassionate woman, entered the room with a furrowed brow. "What's going on here? Why is Mr. Hector screaming?"
The students pointed towards their distressed teacher, who was now on the verge of hysteria. Principal Santos approached Hector with a mix of concern and authority. "Mr. Hector, what happened? Are you alright?"
Hector, still grappling with the shock of the surreal vision, stammered, "I... I saw... the girl, her head... it... it wasn't attached."
Principal Santos exchanged glances with the other teachers, their expressions a mixture of skepticism and worry. "Are you feeling unwell, Mr. Hector? Perhaps you need to take a break."
Camila, having heard the commotion from a nearby classroom, rushed in, concern etched across her face. "What's happening here?"
Hector, struggling to compose himself, gestured towards the back row where the headless figure remained. "I saw... I saw her. The girl. Her head... it spoke to me."
Camila glanced at the empty desk, confusion furrowing her brow. "Hector, there's no one there. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
Hector, his breaths ragged, shook his head. "I... I don't understand. I saw it, I swear."
Principal Santos, realizing the severity of the situation, decided to lead Hector out of the classroom. "Mr. Hector, let's get you to the staff room. We'll figure this out."
As they exited the room, the other students exchanged bewildered glances. The tale of the headless girl seemed like a product of Hector's imagination, a disturbing hallucination that had unraveled in their midst.
In the staff room, Hector slumped into a chair, his hands trembling. Principal Santos, along with Camila and a few other concerned teachers, gathered around him.
"Mr. Hector, this is highly unusual. Are you sure you're not feeling unwell?" Principal Santos asked, her tone a blend of skepticism and genuine concern.
Hector ran a shaky hand through his hair. "I swear, it was real. The girl's head... it spoke to me. It said, 'save us.'"
Camila, ever the pragmatist, suggested, "Maybe we should investigate the classroom, check the security footage, or talk to the students. There has to be an explanation, even if it's not immediately apparent."
Principal Santos agreed, "Yes, let's gather information and try to understand what happened. Hector, perhaps you should take the rest of the day off, get some rest. We'll handle things from here."
As Hector left the staff room, the unsettling encounter replayed in his mind. He couldn't shake the image of the headless girl and the haunting plea to "save us." Little did he know that the unraveling mysteries of the rural school were pulling him deeper into a realm where reality and the supernatural danced on the fragile edge of perception.