Etta stood at the edge of the pool, her fingers twisting the strap of her swimsuit. The smell of chlorine filled her nose, its sharp bleachy scent made her nauseous along with the water stretching endlessly before her. The other students laughed and splashed in the shallow end, their voices echoing off the tiled walls. Etta's toes curled against the wet floor. 

Clutching her towel tightly, stares at the water with wide eyes. Susie stands next to her friend, rubbing the aggravation out of her arm. She bit her lip, glancing from Etta to the water and back again. For a moment, she managed a smile.

"I don't think I can do this." Etta sighed, I can't swim, and I can't float...every time I try, I sink like a rock."

"You won't sink," Susie said, though the words came out thinner than usual. She brushed her golden bangs out of her eyes and noticed her forehead felt clamy. "You've got the floaties and stuff. Plus, Mr. Anderson is right over there watching. She gestured half-heartedly toward their swim instructor, who was helping a younger kid with a kickboard. "He won't let you drown. Besides all you gotta do is be in the water to pass, it's not hard."

"Easy for you to say, you're practically half fish." Etta scoffed, looking at her friends Ariel themed swimsuit. "A natural mermaid, clam bra included."

Susie released a half-hearted chuckled, still rubbing her arm. It was beginning to turn red around the edges of the bandage. Perhaps they were irritating the wound.... or it was healing. It was hard for her to tell at this point. Etta couldn't help but notice Susie's fidgeting, brow furrowing. Her complexion was paler than usual with dark rings under her eyes like a raccoon.

"You okay?" Etta asked concerned, "You look a little pale."

"It's nothing," Susie quickly brushed off, "I'm not really feeling well. Women's business."

"Oh?" Etta nodded, she leaned over and spoke in a hush tone. "Did your red peony blossom?"

Susie felt sick at her stomach, "I have to go to the bathroom."

Before Etta can respond, Susie turns and hurries off, leaving Etta alone by the pool's edge. Etta's hands tremble slightly, her eyes darting between the water and the door Susie disappeared through.

The whistle shrills again. Etta flinches. To avoid a bad grade and lack of participation, she eased herself down the ladder near the lighter ends. Planting herself on the steps so that she's at least in the water from the waist up.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Susie paced back and forward. She was getting sicker by the minute. Ripping the bandage off it oozed with infection. She rushed to the sink and washed it vigorously; the cool water only burned the wound. 

Another wave of nausea hit causing her to run to the bathroom to vomit. Gently, she pulled her hand away to reveal the angry red swelling on her arm, the skin stretched tight and pulsing with pain. She squeezed her eyes shut as her vision blurred, breath coming quick and shallow. Her heartbeat slowing.

Still no sign of Susie, Etta continued to look over her shoulder at the doors behind her. She wasn't the only one either. Mr. Anderson glanced in her direction, His clipboard was in hand and whistle around his neck. Etta released a deep sigh, already preparing small speeches about what to say once he finally reached her.

"Ms. Durnin. Another student has made me aware that we may be missing one of our own. Susan Grayson."

"Um....yeah," Etta started, "She had to go to the bathroom, she told me she wasn't feeling very well...mentioned it may be that time."

"I see," He complied, "Well, I know you and her are very good friend. Perhaps you could go on a mission for me and fetch her for me once you see she's alright. I need to know if I need to call her parents with what's been going on recently."

"Of course. I understand. Leave it to me!" Etta leaped out of the pool and grabbed her towel, happily darting for the door. Excited and relieved to gain an excuse to get out of that class.

"No running, please." Mr. Anderson called out.

Etta calmed herself and slowed her pace before taking off again just as soon as she cleared the door. She stopped by her locker and snatched the purple makeup purse of goodies before heading back to the girls' locker room. She caught the eye of a hall monitor as she rushed by.

"Excuse me!"

"Hey! No running in the halls."

"Sorry! Women's business!"

The bathroom is quiet, the fluorescent lights humming softly. Etta pushes open the door cautiously, her wet feet making soft slaps against the tiles. Taking a short breath and a sigh of relief, she looked around the vacant room. "Susie Q, you in here?"

No one answered her. Looking around, she saw Susan's locker door open. Her clothes and other effects were laid out on the bench in front of it. Etta figured the girl was changing out of her swimsuit when she noticed the inevitable and locked herself in the bathroom.

There's a faint rustling from one of the stalls at the end of the row. Etta inches forward, her fingers trailing along the cold sink edge. The door to the last stall is slightly ajar, a shadow shifting behind it. Bending over she peeked underneath the stall door to spot a pair of bare feet. Each toenail painted a different color of the rainbow. She felt relief.

"Hey girl, You okay? You kind of ran off back there..." No response. The rustling stops. An unnatural silence settles, heavy and wrong. Still, she kept her composure. "Mr. Anderson sent me to come look for you, I told him you may have started."

No answer.

Etta playfully held out her bag and waved it under the gap of the door. "I have a variety."

No words came from the other side, only a harsh gargle or a snare. Like she was coughing up something revolting. Maybe her friend was just sick, remembering the day before when she went home early due to a fever.

"Boy, that cough sounds rough," Etta told her friend from the other side of the door, "Sound like you may be coming down with that virus that's been going around."

The snarling continued, this time more aggressive and harsher. Etta was beginning to feel uneasy, yet she wanted to ensure her friend was okay. Opening the side pockets of her pouch, Etta only found about four cough drops and a few butter scotch candies. All which she was more than willing to give... but would it be enough. "Susie? Do you want me to go to the nurse's office? She has that throat spray in her cabinet. It's cherry flavor. That may help some."

Placing her hand on the stall door, it nudged just slightly. It wasn't even locked. Realizing this, Etta made her move and slowly pushed it open. Susan was standing there, back turned and head slumped down. Swaying back and forward like she was hypnotized. 

The girl slowly turned around, and Etta looked at her friends face only...it wasn't Susie anymore. Her eyes are clouded, skin sallow and gray, lips pulled back to reveal teeth. Her left arm is twisted unnaturally, the spot she had been rubbing now an oozing wound.

Susan lunges with a guttural snarl. Arm's outstretched and grabbing at her. Etta stumbles back, heart hammering, her heel catching on the wet tile, she fell backward hard. Smacking her head on the floor, her ears began to ring. The assault and the screams never stopped as her classmate continued to go after her like a wild animal. Wiggling herself out of her towel, Etta managed to crawl into an open stall, slamming the door shut just as Susan's fingers swipe through the air. Missing her my inches. Etta's hands fumble with the lock—click! —just in time. The door shudders violently as Susie slams into it, clawing and hissing. Etta presses her back against the cold metal, eyes wide and unblinking, tears streaming silently down her face.

The door swung open, and another girl seemed to have entered the bathroom. Susan stopped beating on the door and turned her attention to the new student. "Get out!" Etta warned her, "You have to leave!"

It was too late; the girl began screaming horrifically. All Etta could do was cover her ears and scream all the same, hoping her own voice would drown out whatever was happening on the other side of that stall door. Suddenly, someone snatched her ankle, causing her to jump. It was the other student, she was covered in blood, and the fear in her eyes was so surreal. 

Etta grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her into the stall with her to safety, but a much stronger force pulled her back, her body smacking and cutting against the metal of the stall. Etta backed away and climbed up on the toilet. She closed her eyes and covered her ears once more as she pressed herself against the wall. Outside, Susie's grotesque growling and the wet scrape of nails on metal fill the bathroom, trapping Etta in a nightmare.