That goddamn buzz of the the intercom still rang in his ears. It resonated as a dull, sickening throb in the back of his head. All the rumors, all the dirt he'd collected.. it was true. All of it. Every last unsavory detail.
He stood, rooted to the spot. There was no way...
But already, the corridors began to flood with classmates. They came out shyly, like rats from woodwork. They all seemed to be headed the same way. The mess hall.
And, as expected, no one gave the new kid a second glance.
"W-what was that? What did they say?" He asked aloud, trying to grab at least someone's attention.
Louder, he cried, "That can't be right!"
"Goddamn it! Someone tell me what's happening!"
His desperate calls echoed loud as the the only sound in that silent crowd.
Regardless, they all seemed to absorbed (or disturbed) with the task at hand to bother to answer. They all filtered in, (some more hesitant than others,) into the cafeteria.
He bit his lip. His eyes were glued firmly on the mess hall doors. They swung idly with the last of the crowd.
He was nervous, yes, but standing here like a scared little boy wouldn't get him anywhere. He'd fall behind, out of the loop. And he couldn't risk that. Here, being on the inside was vital. If he pussied out now, he'd be next. Deep breaths, Campbell. Don't lose your head.
He swallowed dryly, and ducked quickly through the double doors.
Instantly, like a swift slap to the face, he was greeted with that acrid smell of blood. There was so much. There as so much blood.
It was some girl, (one he didn't recognize, one he hadn't met,) and she was spilled out all over the mess hall, heaped in a big pile at the center. She was pooling out on the floor. She painted the walls. Her guts were were strewn about like fucking streamers, dear God.
Through his fuzzy, blood soaked vision, he saw his fellow students crowded around her like she was on display. A dissection, poking and prodding like they would some fucking frog.
He stumbled back, (he nearly skidded on the gore) and blitzed out the cafeteria, desperate to keep his stomach settled.