THE LAST BELL

The Awakening Chamber

“Axel, they are everywhere!” Chloe shouted as the skeletons closed in, their bones clattering loudly in the dark chamber.

The skeletons moved fast, too fast, their chains rattling with every step. Their empty eye sockets glowed faintly under the light of the blood moon that shone through cracks in the old ceiling.

Damian stood at the center of the chamber, his smirk wide and cruel. “Do you see now?” he said, his voice echoing. “This is the truth of the school. The hidden past. Every failed student was sent here centuries ago. Their bodies were broken, but their souls never left. Tonight, under the blood moon, they rise.”

Chloe grabbed Axel’s arm tightly. “What do we do? They’re coming closer.”

Axel’s heart pounded. He spotted a rusted metal bar lying on the ground. He snatched it up and swung it hard at the nearest skeleton. 

The bones cracked, the skull went rolling across the floor, but the skeleton only rattled, bent down, and picked its skull back up before standing tall again.

“They don’t die!” Axel shouted.

Damian laughed darkly. “Of course they don’t. They are cursed. You cannot destroy what is already dead.”

Chloe’s eyes darted around the chamber. She noticed strange markings glowing faintly on the walls. She gasped and whispered, “Wait… what is that?”

She let go of Axel’s arm and ran toward the glowing inscriptions. Her fingers brushed against the carvings, and suddenly the skeletons froze in place, their bones stiff, their chains hanging silently.

Axel breathed heavily, lowering his bar. “Chloe… you stopped them.”

But Damian’s face twisted with rage. “No!” he growled. “How dare you touch what you don’t understand!”

He lunged forward, attacking Axel with sudden force. The two clashed, Axel blocking with his bar, sparks flying as metal struck against Damian’s chain weapon.

“Damian!” Axel shouted through gritted teeth. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I was never chosen!” Damian spat. “I was thrown aside, forgotten. But I found the truth down here. The power of the cursed ones belongs to me!”

Axel pushed him back, but Damian moved fast. In the struggle, Damian’s mouth opened, and his sharp teeth grazed Axel’s arm.

Axel cried out, stumbling backward. He clutched his arm, feeling warmth spread from the wound. His heart raced, panic rising.

Chloe turned, eyes wide. “Axel!” she screamed.

The skeletons suddenly began moving again, their frozen bodies jerking back to life, chains dragging across the stone floor.

Chloe ran to Axel, grabbing his arm. “Are you okay? Did he—did he bite you?”

Axel looked at her, his face pale. “I… I don’t know. But it burns.”

Damian laughed again, his voice low and taunting. “Yes… Now you feel it. The curse spreads quickly. You cannot escape it.”

Chloe’s eyes filled with fear. She shook Axel’s arm, desperate. “No. No, this can’t happen. Not to you.”

The skeletons drew closer, forming a tight circle around them. The sound of rattling chains filled the chamber, like whispers of death.

Axel forced himself to stand tall, even as pain throbbed through his arm. He lifted the bar again, determination in his eyes. “I won’t let them touch you, Chloe.”

Chloe’s voice trembled. “You can’t fight them all. We need another way.”

Her gaze went back to the glowing inscriptions on the wall. She whispered quickly, “Maybe the markings… maybe they can stop all of this.”

Axel nodded weakly. “Then do it. I’ll hold them off.”

“Axel, no!” Chloe cried.

But he didn’t listen. He stepped forward, swinging the bar hard, striking one skeleton across the chest. Bones scattered, but again, the skeleton pieced itself back together. Another lunged at Chloe, but Axel shoved it back, his arm burning with pain.

“Go!” he shouted. “Chloe, go!”

Chloe hesitated, her heart torn. She didn’t want to leave him, not even for a moment. But his eyes, even in pain, were full of fire. She nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks, and ran toward the inscriptions again.

Damian followed her with his eyes, fury burning. “You won’t ruin this for me again!” he shouted, charging after her.

But Axel caught Damian’s chain with his bar, pulling him back. “You’re not touching her!” Axel roared.

The two fought again, their clash shaking the chamber. Chains wrapped around Axel’s arm, digging into his skin. Axel pushed forward, ignoring the blood dripping down.

Meanwhile, Chloe pressed her hands against the inscriptions, whispering desperately, “Please… please work again.”

The walls glowed brighter, and for a moment, the skeletons faltered, their movements slowing.

Damian screamed in anger. “No! You can’t take them from me!”

He broke free of Axel’s hold and rushed toward Chloe. But Axel threw himself in Damian’s path, tackling him to the ground.

“Run, Chloe!” Axel shouted.

Chloe’s hands shook, but she pressed harder into the markings. Light burst from the carvings, filling the chamber. The skeletons shrieked, their bones clattering as they dropped to the ground. Chains fell silent.

For the first time, the chamber was still.

Chloe turned, breathing heavily, her eyes searching for Axel. “Axel? Where are you?”

She saw him on the floor, holding his arm, his face pale. Damian was gone, vanished into the shadows.

Chloe rushed to Axel’s side, dropping to her knees. “Axel, talk to me. Please.”

He tried to smile, though his face was tight with pain. “You… you did it. You stopped them.”

Chloe shook her head, tears falling. “I don’t care about that. You’re hurt. That bite… It’s spreading, isn’t it?”

Axel’s hand trembled as he touched hers. His skin felt cold. “I don’t know, Chloe. I feel different. Strong… but also wrong.”

Chloe gripped his hand tightly. “No. You’re not going to change. I won’t let it happen. We’ll find a cure. We’ll fix this.”

Axel gazed at her, his eyes soft despite the fear. “Chloe… if I do change, if I become one of them…”

“Don’t say that!” Chloe snapped, her voice breaking. “You won’t. I won’t lose you. Not now.”

Axel’s lips curved into a weak smile. “You care too much.”

Chloe pressed her forehead against his, whispering, “Of course I do. You’re all I have.”

For a moment, the fear faded, and the two of them held on to each other. But then, the sound of chains rattled faintly again from the shadows.

Chloe’s head snapped up. “No… they’re supposed to be gone.”

Axel’s grip on her hand tightened. His voice was hoarse. “Chloe… what if it’s not the skeletons coming back? What if it’s me?”