"Zaslow!"

Lori and Julie were walking toward their fourth-period class when someone shouted after them. Lori turned. It was Mr. Holmes, the effeminate math teacher whose mannerisms were fodder for every class clown that had passed through the halls of Cedar High for years.

"Yeah?" said Lori.

Andrew Holmes made his way through the sea of students toward them

"God, what does HE want?" mumbled Julie.

"I was wondering if you could do me a favor," said Mr. Holmes. "You know Beth Jenkins, don't you?"

"Y-"

"Of course you do. Here," He handed Lori a sheet of paper. "Her math assignment. See that she gets it, will you?"

"Uhh... sure, Mr. Holmes."

Lori felt a chill go down her back. She had no idea why, but she got the distinct impression that Mr. Holmes didn't want to be that close to her or Julie. The disgust was radiating off of him in waves. She wondered if Julie felt it.

"Do you girls go to church?"

"No, not really," said Lori.

"You should. The world's changing, you know. You can get in real trouble without the guidance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Kids your age start to experiment with things they shouldn't. It can lead you into trouble."

"Uhhh...."

"Sure, Mr. Holmes," said Julie. "Whatever."

"Here." The teacher produced a yellow sheet of paper from his pocket. He handed it to Lori. "Come worship with us. Get to class now, girls."

<<Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. Or her.>>

Mr. Holmes lost himself in the crowd, slowly making his way back to his classroom.

"What's that?" said Julie.

Lori unfolded the paper. It was a flyer for Reverend Jericho's Church of the Holy Light. It had crude drawing of some three-headed, long-toothed, demonic THING in the center. The creature was surrounded by a group of poorly-drawn men and women, all holding crosses. Some sort of light was streaming off of each cross, and striking the slavering creature in various places. The beast... frightening though it was... was clearly loosing its battle. Right above the beast's head, printed in a large, gothic font, were the words: "The Sovereign Menace." Printed below the crowd of people was more text: "Slaying the Demon. Reverend Jericho and his Congregation, invite you to worship with them nightly. Protect your family and your soul! Summon the power of God to fight the evil that Satan has loosed upon our world..." It went on to give a time and address in Stone Mountain where the anyone could come and join the Congregation.

"Gross," said Julie.

"Why did he give this to ME?"

"Maybe 'cause he's got the hots for you," said Paul, who had just walked up behind them. "Watcha got there?" He peered over Lori's shoulder trying to look at the flyer, but Lori quickly crumpled it up and stuffed it into her bookbag.

"Go away, Paul."

"Yeah," added Julie. "this is an A and B conversation, so C your way out of it."

"Who ASKED you, Julie." shot Paul.

<<nosy bitch.>>

"YOU did when you walked up and interrupted our conversa-"

"Just ignore him, Debbie."

"Hey Lori, I got a friend that takes your history class first period, and he said they watched a film. If you cut class, then the two of us could sneak out for lunch."

"You checking up on my CLASSES now, Paul?"

"Geez, what a creep."

"Just get away from me. From US."

"Later then, okay?"

"NEVER then, okay? Geez..."

Paul backed away and quickly lost himself in the crowd.

"That was easy," said Deborah.

The class bell rang. They were officially late.

They both ran to Mr. Mitchell's history class. When they arrived, Mr. Mitchell, fiddling with the mechanical innards of an archaic film projector.

"Zaslow," said the teacher. "Do me a favor and go fetch the other projector from the AV closet. This one's broken"

"Aww, Mr. Mitchell... that thing looks heavy."

"That's why they put them on carts, my dear. Just roll the spare projector over here."

"Why me?

"You're late... that means you volunteer. Here..." He held out the AV key and Lori grabbed it on her way out.

The AV 'closet' was actually an unused classroom that was crammed with equipment, tables, stacks of cheap plastic chairs, and various other types of educational jetsam There was a small corridor of floor space down the middle, but he rest was floor-to-ceiling with junk. Since the room was never occupied, the heat was adjusted to a meat-locker temperature that gave Lori goose bumps.

Lori had to look around for a few minutes before she found what she came for. Just as she expected, the spare film projector and its cart were hidden behind a broken cafeteria table and a chest-high pile of old books.

"Great," she said as she began nudging the books out of the way. "Why couldn't he send a GUY to do this."

She heard the room door close gently.

"Wha-"

It was Paul. He was standing by the door grinning at her.

"Hey, baby."

"Paul-"

"Shhh..."

Paul move closer to her.

"Get away from me, Paul. What are you doing in here?"

"Oh come on... don't be like that. All I want is a kiss."

"No."

Paul came closer... well within grabbing range for his long arms. Lori was suddenly uncomfortable being in the closed room with him. Very uncomfortable. Paul had a hungriness about him that made her nervous. Lori looked away from him; her eyes lingered on the door.

"Come on, baby," Paul stroked Lori's arm. It was a gesture of tenderness, but it just sent painful chills down Lori's back.

"No!" she jerked away and backed up a few step. Paul followed her, and before she realized it, Lori had trapped herself in a corner.

"Please," Paul grabbed her again, this time harder. He leaned forward, and when Lori tried to struggle free he forced her back against the wall.

"Ouch!"

"See... don't make me hurt you again."

Lori opened her mouth to scream, but Paul clamped one hand down over the bottom half of her face and began pawing at her breasts with the other. She made a futile attempt to push him away, but another violent shove drove her head into the wall.

She was dizzy for a second, and then panic set in.

With strength amplified by fear, she kicked, pushed and clawed at her attacker. She even tried to bite the hand that was silencing her screams, but Paul ended it all with one quick rabbit-punch to her stomach and another hard shove against the wall. Tears of pain and terror rolled down her cheeks. She moaned into the palm of his hand.

She felt cold air on her chest as her shirt was ripped away. Lori screamed for help with both mind and voice, but no one heard either.

Paul stroked her breasts through her bra while he smiled at her.

<<...ohhh, god yeah. I'm gonna do her good...>>

Suddenly there was a buzzing noise, and the overhead fluorescent lights began to flicker.... on-off...on-off...on-off...

Paul didn't seem to notice. He squeezed one of Lori's breasts and then pulled the B-cup upward, exposing the naked flesh.

...on-off...on-off...on-off....

POP!

Sparks showered down on them as every light in the room went dark. The room reeked of ozone and burnt electrical wire.

"What the hell?" Paul eased back from her, but kept his hand over her mouth. The room was illuminated only by what little sunlight that was filtering past the blinds and junk blocking the windows. Everything was in shadow.

Nothing moved. Paul looked around nervously, eyes darting from one corner to the next Lori was frozen with fear.

Everything was silent...

"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!"

A shadow separated itself from the others and bore down on the two teenagers. It was a man. Paul released Lori, and she immediately began screaming.

"Who the hell are YOU!" shouted Paul. He rushed the man as if to tackle him, but the newcomer stepped to one side and tripped Paul. Paul stumbled, but quickly regained his balance and reached for the shadowy figure.

But the man had something in his hands... the projector... still in it's hard plastic case. He lifted it up and brought it down sharply as Paul charged.

KRUNCH!

Paul hit the floor... a pool of darkness spreading beneath him.

The shadow came for Lori now.

She screamed...

"Shhh... Lori, It's me! It's me, FRANK!"

Everything suddenly went black.

[To Be Continued]