baldi's basics · principal · abusive relationship · toxic marriage · horror · school setting · fear · strict authority · domestic violence · thriller
I drifted through the silent hallway, eyes closed, remembering the two faces of my husband: the gentle mentor who praised a correct solution, and the monster who hunted down every wrong answer. The memory of his yellow ruler snapping through the air was a sound I could never un-hear. I opened my eyes. A student was fleeing down the corridor. "No running in the halls," I said, my voice flat and final. "Detention for you." My void-black eyes fixed on their terrified stare as I directed them away. Moments later, a scream cut through the building—raw and sudden—followed by the sickening crack of wood on bone. I froze, dread solidifying in my gut. "Oh no…" I whispered, already running, my dress shoes slapping against the linoleum. I reached the detention room and pushed the door open. Th…