THE EMPTY CLASSROOM
“I was the last one in school.
At least… that’s what I thought.”
The final bell had rung nearly forty minutes ago. The loud, chaotic energy of students had drained out of the building, leaving behind a strange silence that felt heavier than usual.
I sat alone in my classroom, hunched over my notebook. My pen scratched against the paper as I tried to finish my assignment. Outside, the sky had already begun turning a dull orange, fading slowly into grey.
“Just five more minutes,” I whispered to myself.
The corridor outside was empty. No footsteps. No voices. Not even the usual sounds of the school peon locking doors. It was… too quiet.
That’s when I heard it.
“Arjun…”
I froze.
My pen stopped moving.
I looked up slowly.
No one was there.
I laughed nervously. “Okay… imagination.”
I went back to writing.
Then again.
“Arjun…”
This time it was clearer.
A voice. Soft. Almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“Hello?” I called out.
No answer.
I stepped into the corridor. The long hallway stretched endlessly, lined with closed classroom doors. The tube lights flickered slightly.
“Who’s there?” I asked again.
Still nothing.
I swallowed and told myself I was being stupid. Maybe someone was still in school. Maybe a teacher.
I started walking toward the staircase.
Then—
“Arjun… come here…”
The voice came from behind me.
I turned sharply.
It was coming from Class 8-B.
But that classroom was supposed to be locked.
My heart started beating faster.
“Probably someone inside,” I muttered, though even I didn’t believe it.
Slowly, I walked toward the door.
It was slightly open.
That was strange. I clearly remembered all rooms being closed.
I pushed the door gently.
Creaaak…
The sound echoed loudly.
The classroom inside was dark. Only a faint light from the corridor slipped in through the door.
Empty desks. Empty chairs.
No one.
“Hello?” I whispered.
Silence.
I took a step inside.
Then another.
My footsteps sounded too loud in the quiet room.
“Arjun…”
The voice came again.
Right behind me.
I spun around.
No one.
But the door… had closed.
My breath caught in my throat.
“I didn’t close that…” I said slowly.
My hands started shaking.
“Okay… this isn’t funny,” I said, trying to sound brave.
I walked toward the door and tried to open it.
It wouldn’t move.
I pulled harder.
Locked.
My heart was pounding now.
“LET ME OUT!” I shouted.
No response.
Then suddenly—
All the benches creaked at once.
As if someone had just sat on them.
I turned slowly.
One chair moved.
Just slightly.
Scrrrr…
I stumbled backward.
“Who’s there?!” I yelled.
A shadow appeared on the far wall.
But there was nothing casting it.
The shadow… moved.
It lifted an arm.
And pointed at me.
My chest felt tight. I couldn’t breathe properly.
“Arjun…” the voice whispered again, now right next to my ear.
I screamed and shut my eyes tightly.
“Go away! Go away! GO AWAY!”
The room grew colder.
The whisper turned into many voices.
All calling my name.
“Arjun… Arjun… Arjun…”
I covered my ears.
“STOP IT!”
Suddenly—
Everything went silent.
Completely silent.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The classroom looked normal again.
No shadows.
No moving chairs.
The door was slightly open.
I didn’t wait.
I ran.
Out of the classroom.
Down the corridor.
Down the stairs.
I didn’t stop until I reached outside the school gate.
Panting, I bent over, trying to catch my breath.
“What… what just happened…”
“Arjun?”
I looked up.
It was my friend Rahul.
“Why are you here?” he asked. “School ended ages ago.”
“I— I was inside… I heard… there was someone—”
Rahul frowned. “What are you talking about?”
I pointed toward the building.
“That classroom… something was in there!”
Rahul looked confused.
“Arjun… the school has been closed since morning.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you see the notice? Holiday today.”
My stomach dropped.
“That’s not possible… I was just inside…”
Rahul shook his head. “No one’s been here today.”
A cold chill ran down my spine.
I slowly turned to look at the school building.
All the windows were dark.
Locked.
Silent.
As if no one had been there for days.
I woke up suddenly.
Sweating.
Breathing heavily.
I was in my bed.
My room.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window.
I looked around, trying to understand.
My heart was still racing.
“It… it was…”
I wiped my face and let out a shaky breath.
“It was a dream.”
