Summoning every ounce of courage, Tina sprang into action. She moved quickly, urging the confused and terrified children back into their classrooms. Despite the fear coursing through her, her voice remained calm and steady. “Inside, quickly!” she ordered, ushering them into the closest room. Once everyone was in, she shut the door and locked it, then grabbed a chair and wedged it securely under the doorknob.
Without hesitation, Tina moved from classroom to classroom, repeating the process—barricading each door with whatever she could find. Chairs, desks, even heavy cabinets were pressed into service. The children, their faces drained of color, were clearly terrified, but Tina’s composed presence gave them some measure of comfort. “Stay quiet, stay close,” she said softly, yet with a firmness that left no room for debate.
With the students safely secured behind locked doors, Tina turned her focus back to the hallway. The wolves hadn’t left. They prowled restlessly, their claws clicking against the linoleum floor. The largest one—clearly the leader—still carried that strange object in its mouth. Whatever it was, it swung slightly with each step, and Tina couldn’t take her eyes off it.
The rush of adrenaline she’d felt earlier was nothing compared to the surge flooding her now. Her heart pounded so fiercely it drowned out every other sound. The image of the wolves, especially the one with the mysterious item, burned into her mind with alarming clarity. She felt an undeniable pull to do something—not just out of fear, but from a deep sense of responsibility… and an unshakable curiosity.
With a determination that even surprised herself, Tina made a bold decision—she would try to lure the wolves into the nearby storage room. It was a long shot, but it might contain the threat and give her a moment to figure out what to do next.
Drawing a steady breath, she grabbed a broom from a supply closet. Then, with a sudden burst of noise, she began banging it against the walls and floor, the clatter echoing down the corridor.
The wolves froze. One by one, they turned to face her, their eyes locking onto hers—sharp, watchful, and unblinking. Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t falter. Step by step, she began backing down the hallway, guiding the animals away from the classrooms.
When she reached the far end of the corridor, she saw it—the door to the school’s storage room.