1.4. Back to school

It was a rainy, cold September morning. For the first time in weeks the air was chilly. The skies were dark and grey. The atmosphere was misty and gloomy. A blanket of small, yellow leaves on the dark grey cement announces the arrival of fall. Hundreds of little shoes step eagerly over the leaves heading towards the large light blue building hidden behind some chestnut trees. It was the start of a new school year.

The hectic of the day starts early in the morning. The youngest pupils, dressed up in their dark blue and white uniforms, rush with their parents to buy a bouquet of flowers for their teachers. And afterwards look for their class and mates on the schoolyard. All classes are present on the basketball field next to the old oak tree right in front of the big entrance. The school is one of the most renowned in Timisoara. The old buildings date all the way back from the late 18^th century. Back then it was only an elementary school. Later it operated as a school for girls and during the second half of the 20^th century it grew in size and added German, Serbian and Hungarian classes next to the Romanian ones. The buildings are a maze for little children, who love to run around the long, wide corridors. There is always a secret door or corner to discover.

This year was the start of the first grade for her. She was, just like every other first-grader, scared but eager to start school. Not knowing exactly what to expect, she packed her new backpack, fixed her hair and uniform in the mirror and left the house with her mom holding her hand. 
“It’s only a few questions that they need to ask you first. Then you can pick a seat in the class.”
“Why? What if I don’t know the answer?”
“They’re simple questions. You know the answer already. Let’s practice: Wie heißt du?“
„Ahem… Ana.“
„Good. Und wie alt bist du?“
„Hmm… ah, sechs!“
„No, no… say it properly. Ich bin…“
„Ich bin sechs Jahre alt.“
„See?! Easy, nothing to worry about.“
„Do other children also need to answer these questions?“
„Yes, everyone in your class will answer these questions.“

The way to school was short. They past the building of the old Obstetrics hospital, crossed the boulevard and arrived at the school entrance. Her mom had already bought a large bouquet of seven red roses wrapped up in cellophane for her daughters first-grade teacher. She grabbed her girl tightly and squeezed through the masses of children and parents, looking for the tall blonde short-haired teacher. They found the young teacher with the other future classmates in the far left of the large basket-ball field, right next to the entrance of the main school building. All first-graders were there. 
 
The headmistress, a large woman with grey hair and a stoic complexion, made her way towards the podium for the welcome speech. 
“Dear children, parents, teachers and friends, I hereby welcome you warmly to a new school year...”
she spoke loudly. Her speech was long and had political elements. She was after all a mere appointee by the Socialist party. All relevant high ranked positions around town were still held by party members even though 5 years passed since the Revolution. Change takes obviously time.

After the headmistress’s speech it was time for the Orthodox district priest to bless the pupils, school and all in attendance. He started a prayer and waved the golden incense-filled cup from left to right, then back and forth to spread the scent around. The little first-graders were getting anxious.

“How much longer does it take?!”, asked one freckled little boy
“Hush there now, don’t be rude. It’s almost over. The priest just completes the ritual and we are good to go.”, said the young teacher
“Why is IT necessary?? It stinks!”, replied another dark-haired little boy with green eyes.
“Now, now this is how things are done. You want to have a healthy and successful school year, don’t you? Soon it’ll be over.”, said one grandma to both of the boys.

But all of the children in the German class were talking and making a fuss. Parents could barely hold them still. They started dancing and playing, while it started to rain again.

“You girls want to see something amazing?”, asked a little red-haired girl Ana and her best-friend Maria.
“Sure, but we have to stay here until it’s finished...”
“They won’t miss us. We’ll be right back.”, and grabbed them both by the hand and dragged them towards the entrance of the main building. Once inside the red-haired girl whispered:
“It’s a secret what I am about to show you. Are you scared of the dark?”
“...yeees.”, said Ana.
“Don’t be silly. Of course we are not.”, answered Maria and grabbed Ana’s hand.
“I will take you to a place were no one has been since a hundred years. It’s a room were children used to be sent to when they were misbehaving. Some of them were forgotten there and died in that room. The ones that got out, were either blind or mute. They couldn’t tell the story of what they experienced there.”
“That sounds interesting! Let’s go!”
“Ahem, I am not so sure...”
“If I take you there, you have to promise to not say a word about it to anyone. Or else they will come after you and bring you there at night.”
“Why are we still standing on the stairs?? Let’s go already, so we can return in time.”, demanded fiercely Maria.

Reluctantly Ana followed her best-friend and the red-haired girl through the long corridor on the first floor. They arrived at the flight of stairs at end of the corridor. Upwards takes you to the classes on the second floor and the teachers room. Downwards are a few laboratories, a maintenance room and some empty rooms. They went down the stairs. As they descended it grew darker. Outside stormy dark clouds were gathering. The wind whistled through cracked windows.

“I don’t really like it here. Let’s go back….”
“We’re almost there. See straight ahead at the end of the corridor.”

They moved towards the door right at the end of the long, dark corridor. They could hear the priest still saying the prayer outside. And the wind whistling. Once they reached the door, the girl with the red hair warned them again:
“This is a secret. No one has to find out about it. Until next year, when it’s your turn to bring someone here.”
“What? Ok, ok…, just open the door.”

She took an old rusty key out of her blue uniform pocket. Then inserted the key into the keyhole and slowly opened the door. It was dark at first but as they stepped in, small figures began to take shape. The air was dusty and it vaguely smelled like mold. Old furniture, desks and chairs, filled the room. On the floor you could see pages of old books and notebooks. In the middle of the room small skulls formed a small triangle from which smoke appeared.

Both girls stood still but clutched their hands tighter. The red-haired girl dispersed into the smoke. A black claw crawled out of one of the skulls and grabbed Maria’s ankle. Maria shrieked and started crying. She grabbed her friend but couldn't hold her. The claw was too strong and dragged quickly her into a hole in the floor. Ana fainted.

When she woke up, she was outside in the courtyard. Her classmates were staring at her. Her mom was holding her.
"You fainted. Everything alright?"
"Ahem, I think so... I had a horrible dream."
"It was only for a few minutes. Must be from the nerves. Here some chocolate. Now get up, it's time to go to your new class."

She ate the Kandia chocolate bar quietly and followed her mates up the stairs on the second floor. While she sat down in her seat, in the first row on the right, she felt something in her uniform pocket. It was an old rusty key.