Algebra is the worst. I have a math final next period and I’m most likely (more like positively) doomed. I walk into the bland classroom and sit as the bell rings over the speakers.

“Settle down, class today we have a major final for 50% of your overall grade-“ she says, then suddenly the lighting gets weird. The fluorescent lights go red and wash Mrs. Smith’s face blood red. I look to my right, panicked, but a new kid is sitting there.

“Who are you?!” I shriek, falling out of my seat.

“Sam! Take your seat immediately!” Mrs. Smith yells, and just like that everything is back to normal. Accept, I never sat down.

“I-uh… yes ma’am,” I sputter, plopping into my seat. I run my fingers through my mousey brown hair, trying to calm down.

“As I was saying, your final will cover all we have studied the semester, including-“

The lights go green this time. Mrs. Smith is replaced with a strange man with a bushy mustache.

“Including product of powers, basic quadratics, and more. Any questions?” He asks.

A girl to my left raises her hand, “Mr. Smith, when will we have our grades back?”

“Who’s Mr. Smith?!” I yelp, falling out of my chair again. But I don’t hit the ground. I fall straight through, falling through pitch blackness save for flashes of light illuminating new scenes in similar but different classrooms. I fall past classes with male Algebra teachers, female, a dog teacher?

“WHAT IS HAPPENING!” I scream, and just like that… my body freezes midair.

My arms are forced across my chest and my legs are made straight.

“How, how did that happen?” I whimper. I look at you, “Please, I swear I’m not crazy. Please help me!”

I scoot towards you, “I’m not crazy! You saw, I felt you watching. You know I’m not crazy. But I was crazy once. They locked me in a room. White and bouncy like rubber. I’m not crazy, you can tell them!” At this point I’m screaming at you, “I’M NOT CRAZY!”

You blink and suddenly that strange girl is screaming at the white wall of her cell in the insane asylum. You cluck your teeth, joy something on your clipboard, and walk towards your next experiment.