Excerpt: The Mystery of Morris Elementary

They didn't make schools like this anymore. The layout and architecture was very unique. Seven floors, one for storage and one for each grade, kindergarten through fifth.
Celinda Fiske smiled at the thought as she walked the still dark hallways of Morris Elementary. It was early, early enough to still be dark outside and really too early for even the teachers to be here. She liked the quiet, though. It was really rather conductive to getting work done and getting her classroom and herself ready for the day, without any students around. Fifth graders were maybe a little more disciplined than their younger counterparts, but kids would still be kids.
As a fifth grade teacher, her classroom was on the top floor. It was a good thing that she wasn't afraid of heights. She trooped her way up the several flights of stairs, opening the door at the top that led to the fifth grade floor. The classrooms lined the walls, and there was a courtyard in the center, where the students could meet before class started to talk to their friends or just do whatever it was fifth graders did. The teachers could also hold classes out there, for a little variety, if they so desired. That was the floor plan for every grade floor in the school. The floor alloted for storage was the only exception to this, but then, what did a basement need with a courtyard? She stood, looking out at the courtyard, trying to catch her breath from walking up all those stairs. That was her guaranteed daily workout. She smiled, tucking her light brown hair behind her ear and reaching into her skirt pocket for her keys. After a few minutes of standing there, which also allowed her to get used to the lack of light, she turned right and started walking down the hall. She passed Katie Murphy's classroom, and Sandra Peters' classroom, as well as the broom closet before reaching the door to her classroom. She held up her keyring to the light, making sure she had the right key before unlocking the door and attempting to open it. It wouldn't budge. She wiggled the doorknob again as the lights turned on. Nothing.
"Miss Fiske?"
Celinda turned around, startled, relaxing slightly as she saw that it was only old Mr. Garcen, the school janitor. He had been working here since she was in school, several years ago.
"Are y' havin' trouble, Miss Fiske?" he asked, his kindly eyes on her.
"It's probably nothing, Mr. Garcen," she said, her gray eyes flickering slightly in annoyance at the problem she was having. "But I can't seem to get the door to my classroom open. And I know I'm using the right key."
"Tha's odd. Lemme try."
Celinda moved away from the doorknob, giving Mr. Garcen room. He tried the doorknob a couple of times before turning back to her.
"'S unloc'd, Miss Fiske. 'S seems like som'thin's blockin' 't."
Celinda nodded. "What do we have to do to get it open?"
Mr. Garcen shrugged. "'Fraid w'll ha' ta break 't in."
Celinda took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders before stepping to the door. "Let's do it."
Both of them put their shoulders to the door, pushing. Mr. Garcen turned the knob in addition. Celinda heard a loud screech, like that of a student's chair being drawn across a tile floor. She also heard a loud crash before they finally got the door open enough for both of them to get through.
Celinda looked around, trying to pinpoint what had caused the crash just before they had gotten the door open. She could see one of the student's chairs on the floor, laying as though it had been knocked over. That, then, was the source of the crash she had heard, and also the screech.
"Wha' the..."
Celinda looked up. There was a dark shape, hanging between her desk and the front row of her student's desks.
"Celinda? Mr. Garcen?" A sharp voice said. It sounded like it was coming from the hallway. "What's going on?"
Both turned around to see who it was. A tall lady in her mid forties with curly hair was standing in the doorway. Celinda knew instantly who it was. Ms. Laura Kemball, the principal of the school, who was always at the school earlier than any of the kids and a good portion of the staff. Ms. Kemball pointed up at the shape hanging from the ceiling. "What's that?"
Celinda shrugged as she and Mr. Garcen approached their boss. "Probably some prank."
Ms. Kemball turned on the lights for Celinda's classroom, letting out a little gasp as she did so. "That's no prank, Celinda." She pointed toward the shape. "Look."
Celinda and Mr. Garcen turned around. "Oh, my God," Celinda said quietly, putting her hand to her mouth and trying to fight the sickness rising in her stomach. Of all the possibilities that the hanging shape could be, what it actually was had never crossed her mind.