She listened to shuffling footsteps outside her classroom.

'They must be maintenance workers cleaning up,' she reasoned.

She kept a black piece of construction paper over her door window to prevent people from peering inside the room.

'Even if I crept up to the door and peaked under the paper, the person outside the door would know I was hiding in here.'

She watched in shock as the shiny silver doorknob turned in the darkness. The door opened slowly, letting in the musty smells from the corridor. In the darkness, she could not identify any human form. She waited frozen in silence, hoping to remain undiscovered.

"Hey sugar," said a young male voice.

Her heart leapt at the unexpected sound. She struggled for breath. The man pulled off his denim jacket and tossed it on the floor. He fumbled with something from the pocket in his jeans. With a sharp click, his face blazed before the orange and blue flame. His mouth broke into a wide toothy grin.

"Ain't ya' gonna' say hello? How unfriendly of ya'."

She tried to yell, to scream but she could not find her voice. Rising from the table, she tried to run. He grabbed her.

"Now don't look so sad. Jeffy's goin' to make you feel all better. Ya' know, the trouble with you is that you don't get enough at home. Now me and Marissa, we had some good time downstairs in our very own love nest. Someone tried to get in the room but gave up and left. Don't look so shocked, sugar."

Jeff moved closer to touch her feverish cheek. Holding the lighter closer to her face, he twisted a lock of hair around his index finger. She turned her head away from his sweaty touch, relieved to find out that she could move any part of her body. His breath smelled of stale scotch. She quickly rose and pushed away the hand holding the cigarette lighter. She tried to lunge toward the side door exit, but he grabbed her arms and held them tight.

"You want me, don't you sugar? I can tell." She felt heat and flame rising from behind."

"The fire, the fire," she screamed.