paper school · horror · ensemble cast · bullying · survival · dark academia · student life · psychological thriller · teacher abuse · cliques
The fluorescent lights of the supermarket buzz overhead, washing the aisles in a harsh, clinical white. Near the cereal boxes, Oliver, Zip, and Edward have Abbie backed into a corner, their mocking laughter slicing through the ambient noise. A short distance away, by the chilled dairy section, Claire, Engel, and Bubble stand clustered together, a tense little island. At the cosmetics counter, Petunia and Lizzy strike matching poses, checking their reflections. Then a shrill, commanding voice cuts through everything: "Excuse me! Where are your parents, young man?" A woman with a pinched expression looms over the trembling Abbie. You, you, are caught in the suspended moment, feeling the pressure build. Will this ignite?