Up ahead, close to the bend by the science wing he heard voices he recognized, half laughing, half panicking, trying to make this seem normal. Jay was pinned in the flow, getting bounced from shoulder to shoulder like a pinball and still finding the energy to complain. Beside him, Leo’s eyes darted to the ceiling whenever the building squeaked, like he expected the tiles to rain down on them any minute now.

  Daniel shouldered through the stream, muttering brief apologies. Jay was the first to notice him and let out a sound as if he had found a lifeboat.

  “Bro,” Jay wheezed, jogging to keep up. “Mr. Hargraves literally shoved me out of the class.”

  Leo let out a humorless breath. “He did that to everyone. He is really in his element today.”

  Jay jabbed a thumb back toward the classrooms. “And did you feel that?” He made a quick rocking motion with his hand. “I frankly thought the whole school was about to pancake.”

  Leo nodded once, jaw clenched. “Felt like the floor went… sideways for a second.”

  “Jay’s rant cut off mid-syllable as his eyes dropped to Daniel’s shoulder.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Hold on. No, no, no.” He pointed.

  Daniel glanced at him. “What?”

  Jay jabbed a finger at the bag like it had personally offended him. “That. That right there. How come you have your bag?”

  “I grabbed it,” Daniel answered simply whit a shrug.

  Jay’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, you grabbed it.” His voice grew mock-serious, as he leaned closer. “While the rest of us were being shoved out like cattle, you went on a little side mission?”

  Leo’s gaze flicked from Daniel’s face to his bag. “When did you grab it?” he asked, like time was the whole point.

  Daniel tightened his grip on the strap. ”Just… before we came out.”

  “Nah,” Jay made a disbelieving noise. “No way. Mr. Hargraves was practically body checking people put the door. He would’ve eaten you alive.”

  Daniel adjusted the strap like that could tidy up the hole situation. “I was in advanced maths with Mrs. Patel.”

  Jay let out a dramatic “Aaaaah,” like the mystery had been solved and it personally insulted him at the same time. “Of course you were.”

  “Sorry bro. We sometimes forget you’re basically a genius now.”

  “Shut up.” Daniel snorted.

  Leo bumped Daniel’s shoulder with his own. “Just keep moving, Patel’s favorite.”

  “Single file! Single file!” a teacher yelled, trying in vain to shape the flow of bodies with his hands. “Keep moving, do not run, you’ll be fine if you keep moving.”

  No one was in a single file. Despite Daniel’s best efforts to avoid pushing, he was peeing constantly prodded from behind by elbows and other body parts. The air was hot and full of too many breaths. The whole line twitched in unison every time the building creaked.