There was a low buzzing that sounded off of the walls, though it was difficult to tell what exactly was the source. Perhaps the ventilation system finally kicked in or maybe it was the echo of closing doors from another wing. A clatter of something followed shortly after, though it was quickly forgotten in the stillness of the night. The flicker of a dim light somewhere down the hallway reflected off of the windows, giving no sight to the outside world, the entire thing encased in a haze of darkness.
Comically, if one might of been looking in from the outside, the entire facility might of seemed like some sort of indie horror movie. Surely there was the premise for it, but given the colorful characters that lived here, maybe one wouldn't of thought so. Despite that though, when nighttime finally reared its head, the entire place certainly looked.. eerie..
If there was one thing that she could of done without in this place, it was the lighting -- or rather, lack thereof -- that plagued the empty hallways.
Chiyo found herself on a higher alert then normal when she'd turned out of the cafeteria and headed down the familiar corridor. The squeaking of her shoes against the tile made her feel uneasy and she occasionally checked behind her as she clutched her sketchbook close. She'd traveled down the same path countless times a day, but when no one was around and the sun was not shinning.. well, it gave her the creeps.
".. I-I'm just being silly..." she swallowed down a lump in her throat, trying to laugh off the building anxiety inside her. She'd been down this way tons of times, so why should this be any different? Her fingers drummed against the spine of her book and she let out a shaky breath. "Get it together, Chiyo! Nozaki-kun would never want to be stuck with a scaredy cat!"
She attempted to ease her troubled mind with the thought of her beloved crush. Ah, maybe then she would calm down! She was probably just.. just a little homesick. It wasn't because she'd lost her connected partner, right? It wasn't because she was suddenly feeling lonely, right? No, it was just her paranoia! It was all just --
CLANK! SQUEAK!
"GH-GH-GHOST.. IT'S A GHOST!! I KNEW I SHOULDN'T OF LEFT SO L-L-LATE!"
Perhaps if she had been a little calmer, Chiyo would of noticed that it was simply the heating system that was kicking in. Perhaps she would of been thankful that it would be warm and not suddenly be taking off down the hallway at the speed of light. Perhaps she would of been laughing at herself for being so jumpy and perhaps she would of chided herself later as a result of that. Perhaps things might of been smoothed over for her racing heart.. but they certainly weren't now..
Without allowing the supposed ghost behind her an opportunity to snatch her up, the polka-dotted girl took off down the hallway. Her eyes glazed over with frightened tears, she didn't even notice a figure in the distance. She had no idea that she was closing in on him and had no idea they were about to collide --
-- until it was too late and she found herself falling face-first right into the laminated tiles.
