Chapter 7: The Principal's Scream
The midday sun bathed the school's administrative office in warm hues as Mrs. Santos, the current principal, sat down for her lunch break. The air felt unusually still, and an eerie quietness hung in the room. Unfazed, Mrs. Santos unpacked her lunch, trying to dismiss the strange feeling that crept up her spine.
As she took the first bite of her meal, a chill ran down her spine. The room seemed to shift, casting subtle shadows that danced along the walls. Mrs. Santos glanced around, a sense of unease settling within her. The food, once appetizing, now tasted strangely bland, as if the air itself held a silent warning.
Finishing her meal, Mrs. Santos felt an odd sensation in her stomach. It started as a subtle discomfort, a gentle tapping against the walls of her abdomen. Confused, she placed a hand over her belly, trying to dismiss the strange occurrence.
To her horror, the tapping inside her stomach grew more insistent, evolving into small, rhythmic knocks. Mrs. Santos gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. She could feel tiny hands, like delicate fingers, pressing against the interior of her tummy.
Panicking, she pushed her chair back, the scraping sound magnified by the tension in the room. Mrs. Santos stumbled to her feet, clutching her stomach. The knocks persisted, a bizarre sensation that defied explanation.
She rushed out of the office, the hallway seemingly elongated with each hurried step. Mrs. Santos reached the restroom, her breaths rapid and shallow. Leaning over the sink, she tried to calm herself, her mind racing to comprehend the surreal events unfolding within her own body.
As she peered into the mirror above the sink, Mrs. Santos saw her own reflection, a mask of fear etched across her face. But, behind her, a twisted figure manifested, wearing a tattered teacher's uniform. The image was ghastly, a distorted version of the late principal she had replaced.
A guttural scream escaped Mrs. Santos's lips as she recoiled from the mirror. She stumbled backward, fear gripping her like a vice. The twisted figure behind her remained, an unsettling specter lingering in the reflective surface.
In her panic, Mrs. Santos burst out of the restroom, her footsteps echoing through the corridor. The commotion drew the attention of students and teachers alike. Concerned faces turned toward the distressed principal as she emerged, breathless and terrified.
"What happened, Mrs. Santos? Are you okay?" a young teacher named Hector asked, rushing to her side.
Mrs. Santos, still grappling with the shock of the supernatural encounter, struggled to articulate her experience. "I... I saw... in the mirror... something twisted, a woman... the late principal. I can't explain it."
Camila, the volunteer intern doctor, joined the group, her medical instincts kicking in. "Let me check you, Mrs. Santos. Calm down, take deep breaths."
As Camila examined Mrs. Santos, the principal recounted the bizarre events that unfolded during her lunch break. The students and teachers exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of how to make sense of the supernatural occurrences that seemed to haunt the school.
Once Camila completed her examination, she looked at Mrs. Santos with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Physically, you seem fine, Mrs. Santos. But I can't ignore what you experienced. There's something otherworldly at play here."
As the news spread through the school, whispers of the late principal's ghost resurfaced. The faculty room buzzed with speculation, and the students exchanged nervous glances. The unsettling events cast a pall over the once vibrant atmosphere of the school.
Determined to unravel the mystery, Mrs. Santos, Camila, and Hector gathered in the office to review old records and delve into the history of the late principal. They discovered a tragic tale – the former principal had met an untimely end, leaving behind unresolved emotions and a lingering presence that seemed to reach beyond the veil of the afterlife.
With this newfound understanding, Mrs. Santos, supported by Camila and Hector, decided to confront the spirit that haunted the school. The late principal's ghost seemed tethered to the unresolved issues of her past, seeking closure that eluded her even in death.
One evening, in the dimly lit office, the trio performed a ritual guided by the ancient wisdom shared by Lola Pilar. Candles flickered, casting shadows on the walls, as they chanted words meant to bridge the gap between the living and the dead.
As the ritual reached its peak, a subtle shift occurred in the room. The air thickened, and Mrs. Santos felt a presence, not menacing but sorrowful. The ghostly figure of the late principal materialized, her features softened by an expression of longing.
"I couldn't let go," the ghostly figure spoke, her voice a whisper that carried the weight of regret. "I needed closure, a resolution to the pain I left behind."
Mrs. Santos, her heart heavy with empathy, stepped forward. "We understand, and we want to help you find that closure. What do you need?"
The late principal's ghost recounted the events leading to her death, the guilt she carried, and the longing to make amends. Mrs. Santos, Camila, and Hector listened intently, determined to offer the spirit the peace it sought.
Together, they performed a ceremonial act of forgiveness and understanding, a symbolic gesture meant to free the late principal's spirit from the shackles of the past. As
 the ritual concluded, the ghostly figure dissipated, leaving behind a sense of serenity that filled the room.
The following day, the school felt different. The once eerie atmosphere lifted, replaced by a newfound tranquility. Mrs. Santos, now free from the spectral presence that had haunted her, led the school with renewed purpose.
The students and teachers, unaware of the supernatural battles that unfolded, sensed the positive change. The unsettling encounters ceased, and the corridors echoed with the sounds of laughter and learning.
As Mrs. Santos, Camila, and Hector stood together in the courtyard, they reflected on the journey that had brought them face to face with the supernatural. The late principal's ghost, having found the closure she sought, had departed, leaving the school to embrace a brighter future.
They know that the echoes of this encounter would linger, woven into the tapestry of the rural school's history. The bond between the living and the dead, forged through understanding and compassion, became a testament to the enduring power of reconciliation in the face of the unknown.