"What was that?" My raw voice echoed.
The mysterious girl's expression changed from determination to fear.
"It can't be," she whispered.
Her eyes betrayed her tough demeanor.
I remained sunk in the tiled floor, battered and helpless.
Pain coursed through my body.
Something beneath the floor crawled, and going where the sun does not shine.
This day had been surreal.
Otto's body lay before me, drowning in blood.
The blood inched towards us, as if alive.
I etched Otto's lifeless body, drowned in blood, into my memory.
The mysterious girl shivered, her eyes fixed on me, paralyzed with fear.
I struggled to free myself from the tiled floor, grunting.
For a moment, I thought she'd forgotten about me.
As she rose, her wide eyes screamed terror.
Sweat dripped from her brow, confirming her dread.
I knew better than to joke; her fragile state would snap.
Once misstep, and she'd unleash her fury.
As she stood, I saw behind her. Otto's body was gone.
"Wait, where's Otto's body?" I exclaimed, stunned.
The mysterious girl slowly turned, her eyes wide with terror.
"Are you alright?" I asked, concerned.
"Did you say...your friend's body is gone?" she stammered.
The room darkened, my injuries caught up with me. I fought to stay conscious.
"What's happening?" I muttered.
In my blurry vision, I thought I saw Otto standing by the door, hand on the clang.
His blood-soaked figure faced downward, making his expression unreadable.
Just before I lost consciousness, a familiar smile flickered. Otto's warm grin reminded me of our Supernatural club days.
"Hah! Hah! Hah! Man, you just Kincaid-ed this, didn't you?" Otto's laughter echoed in my mind.
"Otto!" I called out.
My vision blurred, and I felt myself drifting into a peaceful, heavenly paradise.
"Otto?" I whispered, seconds from unconsciousness.
I shook my head repeatedly, fighting to stay awake.
"Don't sleep, step away from the light," I told myself.
Miraculously, I regained consciousness. Otto stood before me, battered and bloodied.
Relief washed over me. My best friend was alive... or was he?
I exclaimed, ecstatic, "Hijab princess, look! Otto's alive!"
The girl's expression changed from fear to sadness, her eyes welling up with tears.
"What are you talking about? You know your friend is dead," she said gently.
"No, he's standing and smiling at me!" I insisted.
She hasitated, then turn around, her eyes widened.
Otto stood, waving at her with the same dagger he used to slit his throat.
His evil, cunning smile sent shivers.
The girl froze, her eyes fixed on Otto. "That's not Otto," she whispered, her voice dry.
I laughed, frustrated. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Otto's standing right there!"
But she shook her head, her hands trembling. "No, you idiot, this isn't a game or a prank! That's not your friend!"
She blocked me, facing Otto with a mix of fear and desperation.
I remained oblivious, convinced it was a prank. "Otto, you really had me going! Now, can you get me out of here?" I need to use the toilet."
Otto's battered grin and playful dagger-twirling sent chills, but I only saw my friend's familiar jest.
The girl's panic escalated. "You're not listening! This isn't Otto! We have to get out, now!"
The girl's warnings sounded crazy by the minute. All I wanted was Otto back, alive and well. I couldn't care of he was himself or not.
"I'm telling you, your friend is gone! This isn't him!" she insisted.
But I refused to listen to her. Otto stood before me, smiling and battered, yet seemingly unharmed.
"How can I trust you when my friend is standing right there?" I countered.
The girl's desperation grew. "You are not listening! This... thing isn't Otto!"
I scoffed. "Then who is he? He looks like my Otto to me."
Our argument escalated, overshadowing the eerie atmosphere. Otto watched, calm and amused.
Nothing in the room changed, yet our emotions intensified.
"Argh! You are so annoying and unbelievable!" she exclaimed, frustration etched on her face.
I wanted to retaliate with a witty mark, but my pounding headache left me struggling to think. Instead, I blew a raspberry at her.
She glared, incredulous. "What are you, a five-year-old?"
I stuck out my tongue, triumphant.
Her expression changed from anger to bewilderment, and I knew I had won.
"What?" Don't you have anything to say now?" I taunted, trying to break free from the floor.
She ignored me, but I reveled in her silence.
That's when Otto intervened, shattering the moment.
Otto's chuckle sent chills down my spine. "You two are a fun sight, but now you bore me. Time to start killing you."
His voice was unrecognisable - violet and mischievous.
"Otto?" I called out, my heart sinking.
The girl blocked my view but I strained to see around her.
Otto took a step closer, his eyes locked into mine.
He waved and smiled, sending my soul fleeing.
The girl was right; this wasn't Otto.
Though identical in features - prescription glasses, smirk, and facial structure - his were empty, black voids.
"Otto, what happened to you?" I asked, desperate for answers.
He slow-clapped, his laughter twisting the atmosphere.
"Bravo, now we are getting somewhere," he exclaimed, excitement dripping from his tone.
Each step Otto took exuded sadistic pleasure, his dagger twirling around his thumb. His torn clothes revealed burner, tattooed markings on his skin, accompanied by an eerie sizzling sound.
Despite the apparent pain, Otto's expression remained serene, his eyes locked onto us.
The girl shifted uncomfortably, unsure of her stance. Her gaze darted between Otto and me, her resolve wavering.
Otto's deliberate pace heightened the tension, his smile draining our hope.
"Take out your weapon," Otto suggested, his voice dripping with excitement. "It'll make killing you more... fun."
The girl hesitated, torn between temptation and caution. Otto's words tested her resolve.
I remained surprisingly calm despite the surreal chaos. Thrown against the wall, sunk into the floor, and surrounded by an eerie atmosphere - I should have died.
Otto's proximity sent shivers down my spine. "Uhm, princess, why don't you take out the weapon you're hiding? So you can end this guy?" I urged, desperation creeping in.
"Shut up! I'm still thinking," she snapped, eyes locked on Otto.
Otto reveled in the tension, his unsettling intensifying as he toyed with her emotions.
"Well, here I come, I'm getting closer," Otto taunted.
The girl's gaze flicked to me, her eyes glowing with sympathy. For a fleeting moment, I saw worry and sadness.
Then, she sprinted towards Otto.
As she tackled him, a weapon materialized in her hand.
I barely made out her weapon, but it seemed like a long black stick with a zig-zag blade.
She screamed, charging at Otto. Then she flew by, crashing through the wall.
Otto picked up the scythe. "So, this is the legendary Dread Killer. Not impressed."
I shouted, "Hey, Freakshow! Leave that scythe alone! It doesn't belong to you!"
Otto smiled, testing the scythe's weight.
He approached me, studying my face. "What can we do about you?"
His hand exploring my face. I seethed, "Why, you!!!"
Otto chucked. "Oooh, feisty, aren't you?"
Struggling to escape the floor's grip, I vowed, "Wait until I get out of here, and I'll show!"
Otto's smile reveled dark red teeth. Then, he turned, his shoes scraping against my face.
I was kicked through the tiled floor, landing beside the girl outside.
I lay beside the girl, battered and bruised, my new injuries aggravating the agonising pain.
"Hey, hey, are you okay?" I whispered, shaking her.
She didn't flinch.
The destroyed wall and restroom seemed invisible to the school, leaving us abandoned in broad daylight.
Otto reappeared, floating the girl into his grasp.
He choked her, taunting, "Oh, is it over already? Boo-hoo, what a bummer."
Lifeless, she hung in his arms.
Enraged, I summoned my last strength.
"Ahhhh!!!" I headbutted Otto, sending him flying.
He released the girl; she fell into my arms.
Curiosity consumed me. Who was she? Why did she rescue me?
My hand hovered over her mask, tempted to unveil her face.
Respect for her identity stayed my hand.
Otto emerged, his nose bleeding. "Well, that new," he said, impressed.
I focused on the girl, wary of Otto's next move.
Otto charged, and I dodged, but my injured state hindered me.
The girl fell hard to the floor as Otto's gut punch sent me crashing into Mrs. Mayor's vintage SUV.
I coughed up blood, refused to yield.
"Is that all you got?" I challenged, fists clenched, limping towards Otto.
Otto's expression changed from amusement to intrigue as he gazed at me, limping towards him.
His dagger began to glint, reacting to an unseen force.
"What is it, boy? What are you sensing?" Otto asked his dagger, as if it had a mind of its own.
The skeleton-handled dagger emitted a malevolent aura, it's blade etched with mysterious markings.
Suddenly, the sky roared, and an unexplainable wind swept through.
The ground shook uncontrollably, opening cracks that revealed burning lava.
The sky darkened.
I crawled, frozen in fear.
Otto's dagger flew off his hand, speeding towards me.
Accepting my fate, I prepared for the worst.
But something unexplainable happened.