The clock on the classroom wall ticked, each second dragging, stretching out the final moments of the school year. Five minutes. Just five more minutes until summer.

My fingers idly twisted strands of my long blue hair, pulled into two tight ponytails, a nervous habit. The red tank top and black shorts I wore offered little relief from the stifling heat that permeated the room. To make time pass, I started to daydream, the dull hum of the classroom fading into the background.

Then, the bell. A sharp, triumphant ring that cut through the oppressive air, signaling freedom. School was finally over.

I sprang up, a surge of adrenaline pushing me out of my seat. The hallway was a chaotic river of bodies, students surging towards the exit. I weaved through the crowd, dodging outstretched arms and bumping shoulders, desperate to reach my locker for the very last time.

By the time I got there, the halls were eerily quiet, everyone else having already vanished. The only sound was the sharp, metallic click as I unlocked my locker, followed by a low groan as the door creaked open. A small, pink note fluttered out, landing softly on the tiled floor.

"What is this?" I murmured to myself, bending down to retrieve it. My brow furrowed as I unfolded the paper. The message, written in neat, unsettling script, read: "I am always watching."

A shiver traced its way down my spine. The thought of being watched, of unseen eyes on me, sent a prickle of unease through my skin. I glanced around, scanning the empty hall. No one. Just silence.

"It's probably a joke," I tried to reassure myself, stuffing the note into my pocket. Still, the unease lingered as I quickly packed my things and headed outside.