Silence

Chapter 2

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"If you guessed fire, you were correct," the Riddler's voice says. A dark chuckle rings over the intercom. "And that's what this school will be on if anyone leaves the building."

I'm frozen in place as his laugh echoes through the halls. The wind is gone from my lungs, every beat of my heart thumping in my ears. No, this can't happen. What am I gonna do? I hear several gasps and even some screams, but it is immediately silent again as the Riddler speaks again.

"The same thing will happen if anyone calls the police. In fact, if anyone makes any calls, sends a text, or even uses a single byte of cellular data, I'll see it, and Gotham North will go up in flames. Everyone take notes! This'll be on the test."

What does he want? I think to myself. I can hardly breathe. Why is he here? What's going on? Where are Mel and Bridgett?

The questions swirl in my head like a whirlwind, almost too fast for me to comprehend. I turn to see my classmates are just as confused and afraid as I am. We hear more gasps as a girl faints in the middle of the hall and several rush to her aid. Everyone turns to look at one another in fear.

"Oh, and one last thing."

We all turn our attention to the intercom, frightened that missing a single word could end in our deaths, which it very well could.

"What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?"

The intercom turns off, and no one speaks a word.

Then chaos erupts.

The riddle is forgotten and it's every student for themselves. Everyone races this way and that through the hall like a stampede, looking for friends, shelter, and hopefully a teacher. I feel myself shoved with the crowd.

My heart races. After bumping into a several people, my stuff falls from my hands, but it's not worth picking up. I hear frantic questions between students.

"Why is he here?"

"What does he want?"

"Is Batman coming?"

"Does Batman even know?"

"What are we gonna do?"

"Are the teachers gonna do anything?"

"What can they do?"

Everyone has the same questions but no one knows the answers. The only thing in my mind is complete fear. My thoughts race as I fear the worst, imagining every tragic scenario that could occur. What happens if I get caught by him?

I don't have to time to contemplate it anymore as I'm shoved and hit the ground. The wind is knocked out of me. I can't scream for help, so I'm stuck on the ground under the feet of other students. I try to turn on my stomach, but to no avail. I attempt to kick and stretch out my arms trying to get attention, but everyone is too frightened and in a rush to notice. I clench my teeth in pain as I feel stomps on my legs, arms, and sometimes back. I notice the crowd dies down a little, and I pray for it to end soon. Tears stream down my face as I prepare to be trampled, kidnapped, killed by Riddler, or every terrifying circumstance.

I feel a hand on my arm, and the trampling stops around me. I'm pulled onto my feet by Bridgett and Melony. Before I've got my balance, Bridgett crushes me with a hug. Her eyes are filled with tears.