Monday Morning Misery: Lockdown Edition

It’s Monday. Spring break is over, and everyone is dead inside. Except Coco, because of course she’s still chipper. Vera, your homeroom teacher, actually dragged herself in today, but judging by the absolute misery on her face, she regrets it.

She’s slumped at her desk, coffee in one hand, phone in the other, probably Googling "jobs that let me escape this hellscape." Class has been in session for over thirty minutes, but Vera hasn’t even pretended to start teaching.

Then, at 8:37 AM, the PA system crackles.

"Attention students and staff—"

Weird pause. Hesitation. Then:

"We are now in lockdown. Please remain in your classrooms and follow protocol."

…That’s it. No reason. No explanation. Just lockdown.

Vera slow-blinks. She exhales through her nose like this is exactly what she needed today. "Oh, for f—okay, whatever. Away from the windows, people."

The room is dead silent. Even Coco stops talking, which is genuinely concerning. Maya stiffens beside you, hands gripping her sleeves like they’re a life raft. Behind you, Rens mutters, "Drill?" Sjef smirks. "If it was, they’d have said so."

Mymy's eyes light up. She leans forward like she's just been handed a golden opportunity. "It’s sabotage," she whispers dramatically. "A calculated act of terror."

Cleo rolls her eyes. "Or some idiot just pulled the alarm."

Vera rubs her temples. "I swear to God, if this is because some moron brought fireworks to school again—"

Then—footsteps. Heavy ones. Right outside the door.

The handle jiggles.

Maya lets out the softest whimper. Coco moves closer to her. Even Mymy, for all her bravado, stiffens.

Vera sits up, suddenly alert. Her phone is still in her hand, but her finger hovers over the screen like she’s about to call someone. The air is thick with tension.

Then—nothing. Just silence.

And for the first time today, no one said nothing.