The bell shrieked as Aiyana rushed down the hallway, her books nearly falling out of her arms. She dropped them to the floor as she struggled to turn the knob, but it was to no avail. The teacher had locked her out.

She sighed heavily, groaning at the prospect of another call home for absences. However, there was nothing she could do, so she began the seemingly perpetual journey to her locker.

As she slowly piled her belongings atop those of her locker partner, a chill shot down Aiyana’s spine. “Hello?” Her nervous voice echoed throughout the empty halls, which offered no response.

She closed her locker with a soft click. Passing through the hallway, she began to notice how ominously empty it was. Not just the hallways – every classroom she peered into was devoid of human presence. She was struck with the sudden realization that she was utterly alone.

Her long-time phobia swiftly took hold of her, and the walls began to close in. Aiyana’s breath grew frantic, and she threw herself in panic at the nearest door. It refused to move an inch. She darted between each door leading to the outer world with wide eyes, each time bearing the same result.

Terror-struck, she fled the hallway walls that were bound to crush her in only moments. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she ran towards the safety that the vast space of the cafeteria would surely provide.

But Aiyana stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes beheld the south wall. Scrawled upon the plaster were the words:

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

Aiyana’s deep blue eyes grew wider, and she slowly began to step backwards into the claustrophobic hallway. Within moments here stride had evolved into a full sprint for the long window along the wall.

She shielded her eyes from the flying shards of broken glass as she leapt through the window pane. When she opened them again, she gasped in terrified surprise, for the midnight hour had turned and she was alone in a sinister alley from distant memory.

Aiyana sprang to her feet and turned about in desperation, unable to gain a sense of direction and locate the only escape from the alley. She saw it too late, for a shadowy figure was already advancing, a malevolent gaze emanating from its feral, glowing eyes.

She whimpered, no longer susceptible to the claustrophobia as a new wave of terror rolled over her. In blind fear she turned to run, only to be stopped by a looming brick wall at alley’s end.

A strong grasp tightened around her throat, lifting her from her feet. As she looked down into the eyes of her wraithlike assailant, she screamed, a scream akin to that of any creature that has been struck by the realization that its life is over.

The figure threw her furiously into the wall. Her vision blackened as her skull split, but her stupor did not dim the horrifying sensation of her clothes being torn from her body.

“Aiyana! Aiyana, sweetie, wake up!”

Aiyana opened her eyes to her mother’s voice and the sound of her own terrified screams. A cold sweat had broken on her forehead.

“Sweetie, did you have another nightmare?” her mother asked, as if the answer wasn’t evident.

“I was in the alley again, Mom, and he was there, and he…” She trailed off as her voice broke, unable to continue.

“Awww, poor baby.” Her mom stroked her hair soothingly. “You have to move on with your life, dear. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Jarek’s in jail. Big Brother can’t hurt you anymore.”

Aiyana nodded shakily to appease her mother. “You’re right,” she said feebly.

Her mother smiled sadly as she left the room. “Try to get some sleep, honey.”

As the door shut softly, a dark silhouette stepped out of the shadowy corner of her room. Aiyana’s breath caught in her throat as she realized the identity of the monster before her.

“Shhh,” he whispered, a twisted smile gracing his visage as his fingers moved down her skin. “Big Brother’s been watching you.”