The Tower

"Well, I heard that's where they lock up students who don't do their homework."

"What? That's stupid. I heard the building is haunted by old janitor Murray..." Alice shot back.

"Right, 'cause that's totally not stupid. He isn't even dead!"

"You two are all idiots. There's nothing special about that stupid tower. It's just yet another faculty ego trip meant to intimidate us."

All eyes fell on Marcy, who had been leaning against the fountain at the center of the courtyard. She was two years older than them, and they hung on to her words with wide eyes. She pushed herself up and walked over to the group sitting on the benches. "Trust me."

The tower had been under construction since Marcy had been in 3rd grade. Four years later, the thing had stretched up into the sky, looming over the school below it. Black bricks and no windows, teachers could be seen moving in and out of it at all hours of the day, but no one really knew anything past that.

Ricky blinked back at her, small and gangly, red hair slicked back with enough gel that she could smell it from where she was standing. "No. That thing's definitely haunted."

The bell rang, and the conversation ended there, but Ricky stayed behind, sketchbook in hand, eyes fixed on the tower.

–x–

“Hey! Get the light.”

“I didn’t bring one!”

“Idiot. I told you to bring a flashlight.”

Rickie and Alice crept across the entry hall of the tower. The door had been unlocked, so breaking in had been easy. They had waited until bedtime to sneak out and bike over to the school.

The lights flickered on.

“Was that you??” Both of them chimed together and shared a nervous glance. “Maybe the lights are automatic…” Alice whispered.

“Right…yeah…automatic lights for a school still living in the frickin’ dark ages. They still haven’t even fixed the fountain!”

“I guess. But they could be…Like Marcy said, ego trip.” Her voice was hushed, eyes darting around the entrance hall.

A large spiral staircase loomed above them.

Goosebumps pricked up on the back of Ricky’s neck. He rubbed his arms. “Is it just me or is it cold in here.”

Alice looked over at him and opened her mouth to answer, but a slow sound began to filter down from the top of the tower. The two shared a terrified look. It was a haunted melodious wail, and they stood, frozen, still not past the entrance staring up the staircase.

The lights clicked off, and Ricky started to take slow steps backward. “Oh my god, we’re going to die!” He squeaked.

“AHHHHH!”

A pair of hands clamped down on his shoulders, and Alice shrieked and jumped away from him as Marcy’s scream devolved into uncontrollable laughter.

“Oh my god, I totally got you guys! Ha! Oh that was so funny.”

“Marcy!!”