THE lights dimmed to shadowed flickers, only my footsteps could be heard as I walked towards the exit. Placing my hands on the release bar, the door clicked but did not open. I tried again, the door still did not open.

‘Oh no, I shouldn’t have stayed this late, homework isn’t worth being locked in school for,’ I thought to myself.

The lights buzzed vigorously as if they contained a swarm of wasps. Walking away from the door, I began to wander down a seemingly short corridor; no idea if I was going to be trapped here all night. I peered into the empty classes, the sight of desks and chairs become as annoying as it did in class.

What did teachers do after work? “Probably nothing but more work,” I spoke aloud to myself, trying to break the silence that had followed me through the corridors.

Then I heard a crash, a metallic sound. I hurried to the cafeteria, expecting to find a late working janitor. But there was no light emitting from the cafeteria doorway. As I inched my way closer, I heard sounds echoing through the seemingly empty halls.

“Hello!” I inquired with a muffled slur. No one replied, only silence accompanied me. As I opened my mouth to attempt another call to see if anyone was there, a shallow groan was heard behind me. I turned around quickly — I saw nothing but the corridor I had come down. Moving away from where I heard the sounds, I sat down, trying to relax and clear my head.

‘What’s going on, objects don’t fall by themselves without a reason?’ I thought, panicking. The sound of my heartbeat filled my ears.

There was a groaning whisper, bouncing off the walls, having no defined source. I rush back down the corridor that led to the exit.

Perhaps the door was just on a time lock mechanism, I thought as I tried to stay calm. As I turned a corner I was faced with a horrific sight — outstretched hands were creeping closer to me. Fear coated my face as a shiver slid its way down my spine.

“Zzzoommbbie! No!” I shouted in shear anxiety.

I ran away from the foreboding figure, the corridors seemed to become narrow, making the door seemed farther away, continuously getting further from my steps. My mind began to question itself, was this real? How can this happen? Will I get out of here?”

There were continuous groaning and figures slowly walking their way towards me.

Finally, the door was now within my view, but the moans of the zombies were creeping in ever so close to me now. I reached out to grasp the release bar of the exit. This bar would seal my fate. Pushing hard on the bar, I closed my eyes expecting it to prevent me once again from leaving school. But the door clicked.

Suddenly, a rush of cool air bewildered me.

The groaning had stopped, the zombie chasing me lay sprawled out on the ground, with no sign of any motion.

I ran like crazy out of the building — and then I hit the ground as I rolled down from my bed.... I looked around my bedroom with sweat dripping down my forehead. It was just a nightmare, thank God for that!