“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are coming to you tonight with terrible news. Earlier today March 19th 1988, there was a mass school shooting in Huntsville Alabama. We are very sorry to inform you that there were 25 students killed and 3 teachers harmed. There hasn’t been a culprit identified yet… Just please keep your children safe.” 

   Five Months Later 

Willmers Highschool had a back to school lock-in every year. It was a tradition that allowed students and teachers to get to know each other. This would be the thirty-seventh annual lock-in, Willmers always has a good turnout with about three thousand students coming to the event.  

“Hey David, are you going to the lock-in tonight?” said John.

“I’m not sure, the ACT is tomorrow and I want a good night of rest” 

“Ahh come one  you never come out, look man it's our senior year, let's enjoy it!”

“Yeah, come on Davy it will be fun I promise.” said Bella. 

David’s eyes jolted open with excitement, licking his paper thin lips to hide his grin. “You know what, we’ll even leave early to help you study.” said Evan 

David had met John earlier in the summer when he first moved to Willmers and John had  introduced him to Evan and Bella a few weeks later. Over the summer David showed interest in Bella, but she saw him as a close friend nothing more. David sighed. “Fine, but we better be back at my house by eight-thirty. I have a video I want to edit.” 

“A video? What video” said Bella 

“Yeah Dave what video, you didn’t tell me you were making a video,” said John.

“Well that's because I’m still filming it. Look, I’ll tell you guys all about it when it's finished. Trust me when I’m done, the whole world will know about it!” 

“Anyways… We’ll be at your house at five o’clock. Be ready.” said John

John drove while Bella sat in the front seat and David joined Evan in the back. When they arrived at the school there were tons of people already outside, waiting to get in. 

“Evan, grab the bag out of the trunk,” said John.

“Why do you need a bag? It's a lock in,” asked David.

“I told you I was going to make tonight fun,” giggled Bella.

The suspense of sneaking drinks into the lock in always gave them a rush that they loved to chase. Allow they never got caught, they made sneaking in drinks a big thing. 

“Yo Dave, put the bag on they don’t know you so they won’t check your bag for anything.” said john

“And look even if they do check you and you get caught, we’ll sneak you in through the bathroom window. No worries Bro” joined Evan 

David was unsure about doing this but didn’t want to disappoint the group. Expressing  his concern to them, he was peer pressured into it anyway. Approaching the door, David gulping said “Are you guys sure? I mean we can always just drink later at my house you know? Do we really need to do this?” 

“Ugh David, stop acting like a little chicken. Do you think I would want to be with someone that’s as scared as you right now? No chance.” said an irritated Bella

David’s heart dropped. How could she say that about me? David puffed his chest up and tightened the back and walked in front of the group. 

“Now that’s a man.” said Bella 

“Atta-boy Davy!” joined John 

When he got to the door he was stopped by the host.

 “Hey boy” said the host 

David felt as if all lights turned off but a spotlight casted over him as he slowly turned around. 

“Yeah come on back here and let me take a look at that bag of yours.” David walked back to the man and handed him the bag. He watched his friends walk past him while mouthing the words ‘meet us at the bathroom in 10 minutes.’ 

“What are the odds huh, our first time getting caught. I bet he thinks we set him up.” said Evan 

“Ahh he’s okay, hurry lets go get him so we are there for the introduction in the gym.” replied John.

Bang Bang Bang!

“That must be him. He’s such an idiot, why would he make all that noise? Is he trying to get caught?” asked Bella.

John gave Evan a boost to open the window. “How could you guys keep me out there for so long? You said ten minutes, it’s been fifteen!” said a furious David 

“I go to sneak drinks in for you fools and this is how you treat me?”

“Look we didn’t know they were going to check you, we’ve never been checked before. We’re sorry Dave.” said John

“Yeah yeah.”

“ Let's get to the gym, they’re doing an introduction in five minutes we have to be there.” said Evan

The gym was packed with students and principal Johnson stood in the middle of the gym floor. The gang walked up the stands and sat at the top of risers. Tonya, the class president just finished her speech about how fun the upcoming year will be and received a huge pop and round of applause. 

Principle Johnson released everyone to be free and enjoy their night. Little did they know this was the last time they would come together in such a fashion. The teachers and admin met in room 213 for the teachers to meet and get to know each other. While the students of Millmers high laughed and had a good time, they created memories that night though it wasn’t a good one. 

David had gotten separated from the others and while trying to find them, he saw John, his best friend kissing the one person he had wanted for so long… Bella. David was going to approach them when it all happened. The lights in the school went out, a gasp from the students sounded as if their souls had been sucked from their bodies. Seconds later principal Johnson's voice echoed throughout the halls as he projected it over the intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen stay calm, we’ll have the lights back on in no time.” 

It was at that time when David approached them, but instead of coming to them and confronting what he just saw he acted like he didn’t see a thing. “Hey guys have you seen Evan? I’ve been looking for you all but I guess he all got lost.” David laughed. 

“Oh David hey, Evan might be in the gym let's go find him.” said Bella 

As they walked to the gym David checked his phone and noted that it was about time to leave so that they could go back to his house. They found Evan in the gym where they expected to and would then attempt to leave the school. Though when they got to the doors they were locked from what seemed to be from the outside. 

“Ahh come on, John stop playing around I need to study.” said David

“Aye dude I’m not kidding I can’t open the door they must’ve locked them.” replied John 

Seconds later principle Johnson's voice filled the halls of Willmers once again. “Hello students of Willmers, could we have everyone come to the auditorium please and thank you.” Something was off about this though. “Hey guys something isn’t right, am I the only one getting this feeling?” said Evan. 

“Evan, nothing is wrong! You’re just paranoid. Let's go to the auditorium.” replied Bella. 

As our favorite students of Willmers High traveled to the auditorium we would soon realize that Evan was right, there was definitely something off. As the students filled the seats in the auditorium, everyone questioned where the teachers and administrators were. 

Ahhhhh!

Students yelled and screamed as they saw a man dressed in all black armed take the stage. The man stood in the middle of the stage and shot off two shots. “Everyone shut up! You’re now a part of the Prep Experiment. You will listen and do as I say. If anyone speaks I will kill them right here right now.” said the man dressed in all black. Following him, another man dressed in all back came from behind the stage with a man with a bag over his head who was  strapped in a chair. They took the bag off his head and it was principal Johnson, he was beaten brutally and barely looked conscious. 

“Yo whats going on, this can’t be real. I think I’m gonna I’m gonna… I’m gonna throw up!” said Evan.

“What the hell is going on, why is principal Johnson getting treated like this? Why?” worried David. 

“Look guys we are all in this together, we can take them okay it's two of them versus all of us in here. We need to tell people our plan.” said a shaking John.

“John, what plan? They have guns, we have nothing, are you insane?” said Bella.

“I am the Black Mask and I promise to make tonight fun! Hahaha!” the black mask chuckled.

The doors to the auditorium opened and the students made a b line for the doors. The black mask continued to laugh and followed the students as they ran away from him. 

Jazmine, who wasn’t your ordinary high school queen, had dark secrets that no one knew, but that would all soon change. Jazmine had tripped on her friend Gina’s foot and they both fell. 

“Please please don’t kill me, kill her instead she deserves it more than me!” cried Jazmine. 

“Huh!” said her friend Gina. 

“You’re a slut and a snake, you slept with my boyfriend and thought I wouldn’t find out? You deserve to die!” yelled Jazmine. 

“I’m sorry I.. I.” uttered Gina 

“Well look what we have here. If you think she deserves to die, kill her right now and I’ll let you live.” said The Black Mask psychotically. 

Gina rushed to her feet but was beaten to the race by Jazmine. Students stopped to watch for the outcome of this confrontation. The two girls fought and went back and forth but nothing was coming out of this. 

“Here take this,” said the Black Mask as he threw a knife in the middle of them. They both looked down at the knife then back up to each other. They simultaneously made a move for the knife…  Jazmine got the knife and started swinging and without noticing she slit Gina's throat. Because she didn’t notice she pounced on her lifeless body and continued to stab her as she screamed to the top of her lungs. 

Everyone scattered away from the auditorium when The Black Mask’s voice filled the halls once more. “Hello students! You can run and hide all you like, but I will find you. Hey Jasmine how does it feel to take a life huh? I know you like the feeling, oh yeah students I know something you don’t. Hahahaha. That wasn’t her first time. Oh also, there’s someone in this school who isn’t who you think they are. Hey partner, principal Johnson still hasn’t woken up. Hahahah”

The students looked at Jazmine and started to back up. “Guys don’t listen to him, he’s the reason we are all going through this tonight. Look what he did to principal Johnson!” exclaimed Jazmine.

“How do we know it was him who did that to principal johnson? I mean after all, there were two people in black and now there’s only one… for all we could know you could’ve been working for him and the plan went wrong and now you’re irrelevant to him and now he wants to get rid of you.”

“After all you’re wearing all black and and tell us Jazmine… where exactly where you were earlier? We all saw you walk in the auditorium late.” said Matt 

“Matt what the hell are you talking about? Trust me I would never do something like that to principle--.”

“No no, answer his question! Where were you!” said John

“John stay out of this we don’t want to get into this,” said Evan

“You all need to get off of Jazmine, I was with her. We came from the bathroom.” Eve pitched in. 

“How can we trust her? She just killed Gina like it was nothing! They were friends and she just threw her under the bus? She cannot be trusted!” Matt added. 

Matt was the typical jock quarterback and had a past with Jazmine though it was more one sided. Jazmine never wanted Matt and he resented her for that. Eve and Jazmine are best friends and they both tell each other everything. “Matt you’re just saying this because Jazmine never wanted you! She continues to turn you down every time you decide to send a late night drunk text.” said Eve. 

“Well that’s because that’s all she’s good for, a late night text. Glad I didn’t get a text back, I could’ve been another one of her victims. Remember, Gina wasn’t her first murder.” 

Bella came running panting “Guys… guys, there’s another body in the math hall and the black mask isn’t in the auditorium. That means he must be watching us, we need to get away from here.” 

“I have something to say. I know I’m new here but I think we all need to come together and put our differences aside. Look there is a mad murder running around the same halls we are. At some point we are going to run into him and bodies will still drop, but if we come together and unite we can make it out alive tonight.” said David

“For all I care, both of them can die, I refuse to save that killer and her best friend,” replied Matt.

“Matt grow up, we need to make it out of here alive you can sort your differences out tomorrow when we get out of here,” said Bella 

“Fine,” Matt got over himself but would still resent Jazmine and Eve. 

“Great, first things first, we need to find where he is. My group  come with me, you too Matt. We are going to go to the office and access the cameras and find this sick guy. The rest of you break into two groups, the first group go to the auto tech corridor, there should be weapons we can use. Janice, go with group two, go back to the auditorium and make sure principal Johnson is okay. 

Janice was the student assistant to the school's physical trainer and planned on studying health in college. “You know I’m glad to help but, ima need someone to protect me cause uh uh. I’m not the one.” 

“Janice, Tony is going with you, you’ll be okay. I’m sure you know him, ‘Big Tone’ he’s the linebacker for the football team.” said John.

“Oh I’m very familiar with Big Tone,” laughed Janice.

The three groups separated. While on the way to the auto tech corridor, they walked past room 213. Almost completely passing it, the students heard banging coming from the door.

“Help Help! Let us out!”

“What is that? Do you hear that?”

“Is that Coach Ward?” asked Ryan 

“It is! Help us!”

“Yeah why don’t you try helping them huh? I dare you hahaha! After all that is your coach right?” The Black Mask asked jokingly.

“Guys I found them! They seem to be talking to someone in a classroom.” said David 

“I know who it is, it's the teachers!”said John

“You’re right! They had a teacher meeting in room 213. They must be locked in there.”

As Ryan turned and looked at The Black Mask, confusion possessed him like a demon. He had taken his mask off and revealed his true identity.

“Who are you, why are you doing this?” asked Ryan 

“You just don’t get it do you. You all were going to run away and leave your teachers to die. Now you’ll die with them.” replied The Black Mask.

Bang Bang Bang! 

Bella began to panic after seeing the live footage from the camera. “Guys what just happened? Why are they on the Floor? What did he do to them?” she said. 

Matt got up and attempted to  storm out of the office, though he was stopped by David. “Where are you going? It isn’t safe out there, we need to stick together.” said David 

 “Whoever that man is will die! I won’t let this continue to happen! You guys can sit in here and just watch all this happen, but I can’t just sit back and watching knowing I can do something to help.” said Matt as he left the office

Back in the auditorium, principal Johnson woke up coughing and didn’t look too well. “Where is he?” he said. 

“Who are you talking about?” Janice asked.

“Chase… Where is Chase?” said principal Johnson firmly.

“Who is Chase? I’ve never heard of a Chase.” replied Janice.

“Man you talking about that lil weirdo that stares at people in class? That dude got some serious issues, almost had to pop ole boy for looking at me crazy. Like I was one of his lil victims.” said Tony.

“Well you will be one of his victims if we don’t find him. He’s the guy behind the mask.” replied principal Johnson.

Back in the auto tech corridor, Chase was watching Eve crawl away from him as she was bleeding out. “Go ahead little worm, keep crawling, you’ll make it.”

Bang Bang!

Chase let off another two shots as he laughed at the lifeless body. He walked over to Eve and picked her body up and threw her over his shoulder. “You deserved this way more than Gina did. Maybe if you didn’t turn me down I would’ve let you live. Ehh oh well, you’re dead now.” said Chase.

Matt ran into the auditorium and joined Janice and the others. “Where are the others, and where are you coming from? You should be running out here alone with what could be multiple killers in the building.”

“He killed them, The Black Mask killed the auto tech group… they’re all dead!”

David’s group had joined them in the auditorium.

“So wait, you’re telling me we all just heard these gun shots and y’all out here running around like this a game? Y’all tripping.” said Janice 

Chase walked into the auditorium with Eve over his shoulder. “Oh hey everyone. Looks like we’re back where we all started. Look who it is, hey Matt, looks like you got what you wanted! Here’s her body for you.” Chase shouted as he walked to the stage.

“Oh please don’t run, look guys let's, end this game of hide and seek. Why continue to avoid your inevitable death.”

John and Matt made a b-line to Chase,

“No! Stop!” said David.

Chase raised his weapon and pulled the trigger. Tick Tick*. The gun had run out of ammunition, able to use the back end of his weapon, Chase smacked the buttend of the AR acrossed John's head, and kicked the top of Matt's knee, inverting it. “Stupid Stupid Stupid! Who do you think you are, a hero? I thought heroes didn’t die in their own stories.” said Chase.

Chase reloads the gun and kills both Matt and Chase. “They were such a nocainse to me this whole night, finally they’re dead. Looks like the nerd beats the jocks at the end,” he said. 

Chase looked up at principal Johnson and the others. “Dammit, you’re still alive? Ha wait, any last words? Oh baby, I've always wanted to say that.” laughs Chase. 

“You’re much smarting than this cha--”

Chase didn’t allow principal Johnson to finish his sentence. He took his life away from him without thinking twice. “Ahh such a lame choice of words. Especially for you, you lame old man.” said chase. 

“Now for you Evan, you saw me everyday sitting byself, getting bullied by Matt and John, and you sat back and allowed it to happen. Now I want you to sit back and watch me perform.” he added.

Chase began to walk towards Evan slowly, Bella ran towards Evan.

2 Weeks Later 

A man sat down in a chair in front of a desk and grabbed his laptop on the right side of his table and put it in front of him and slowly opened it. While on his computer he went to the camera and began to record. “What's up guys, this is Daivd back with another result of the ‘Prep Experiment’. This is test 2 with our recent experiment in Birmingham, Alabama being a fail. I am sorry to tell you that test 3 in Willmers, Florida was also a fail.”

“You would think that something as big as a school shooting would bring people together butas results show, when under pressure, teens will lose trust in each other and bash each other. I promise, I will succeed and bring people together.” said David. 

After closing the laptop David had a Flashback to that night. Chase walked towards Bella and Matt and he was tripped by principal Johnson. Chase’s guns slid forward. Matt jumped on Chase and started beating him to a living pulp.

Bang Bang!

Matt and Bella jumped off of chase out of fear , while he laid there coughing and bleeding. Matt and Bella turned and looked at David in shock. 

“Dammit Chase, we were so close! You can never finish the damn job! This would’ve been great for the video.” said David 

Earlier when the others ran out of the auditorium David stayed behind. “Nice job, go through the back door on the stage and go to the auto tech corridor, kill the teachers but leave the coach alive. That’ll surely get someone to stop, and when they do, kill them. This will be the best part of the video.” David said to Chase. 

When David's group went to the office, he put a USB into the cameras to take the footage of Chase killing them. Originally, killing David's friends wasn't a part of the plan, but when David saw John kiss Bella, they were dead to him. 

“David what are you doing, kill him, he killed John!” said Bella.

“That’s all you truly cared huh? You knew how I felt about you, and yeah I saw you two kiss. You’re dead to me.” said David

David raised the gun and shot Bella five times. Soon after, David would turn to Evan. “Great job Evan, you did great, you're with us now.” he said. 

“David you alright?” asked Evan.

“Yeah, just another flash back… But I told you this video would be big.”

The End