"AND THAT'S IT for today, everyone have a good summer," the teacher, Ms. Smith, finished as the bell rang.

The final bell of Junior year, October thought with sweet relief. School sucked, to say the least, and Toby couldn't wait to get away from the crippling homework and annoying people.

As Toby and her best friend, Venus, walked together down the hallway, the two heard a muffled scream. It was too loud in the hallway to hear clearly, so Toby just shrugged it off.

"Looks like someone's excited to leave," Venus chuckled, commentating on the scream and pushing her long, blonde hair behind one ear.

"I guess so," Toby responded. Still, they couldn't help but feel a slight sinking feeling in her stomach. But, of course, nothing was wrong. It was probably just some people messing around.

But, within a few seconds, more people started screaming. That's when everyone started running. Students pushed others out of the way as they ran, and one girl near Toby and Venus tripped and was trampled by the flock of fleeing teenagers.

Venus, being the person she was, tugged on Toby's sleeve. "We have to help her," she shouted over the screams.

"No, we don't have time, Vee! We have to go!"

Venus ignored her, pushing through the crowd to help the girl. Toby attempted to go after her, but the raging crowd pushed them back.

"Venus! Vee!" she yelled over the crowd as they pushed her outside. The day was hot but overcast, the thick, rolling clouds casting foreboding shadows over the land.

Toby clamped their hands over their ears as warning sirens began to go off. She scanned the crowd, looking for Venus, but couldn't find her.

Everyone was running, the sirens were blaring, and Toby couldn't. Find. Vee.

That's when she saw it. Of course, the thing was a person once, probably, but the only way to describe its current form was it.

It lurked out of the door, crouching to get under the doorframe. Drool dripped from its mouth, spraying when it hissed, exposing its long rows of sharp teeth. It stood on two feet, but seemed uncomfortable—almost as if it wanted to go down on all fours but couldn't find a reason why. Ragged clothes clung to its dropping, ashen skin.

Toby has never felt fear like this before.

Her first instinct was to run. Get the fuck out of there. Hide. Survive.

But what about Vee? Would she be okay? Is she okay? If Toby hid, would Venus be able to find them?

No time to think about that now—the monster had begun to devour a nearby classmate, blood spattering everywhere as nearby students screamed in horror.

So Toby ran. Ran until her legs burned and their breaths came out in huffs. Ran until her school was far behind them, until she found themself at the entrance to a junkyard.

Here. Here is where they hid. Here is where IT ALL STARTED.

THE AUTHOR SPEAKS.

hey! this applyfic is now closed !! please get your forms done soon as possible ! i think i'll release the cast in a few days, so look forward to that ! thank you to everyone who applied !