Jonathan was not having it.

The stress of the day was just too much for him. He had been late waking up after hitting stop on his alarm instead of snooze. He hadn’t had time for breakfast and had to grab one of those nasty protein bars his sister ate after running. He left his computer in his bedroom when he ran out the door.

Thank god he remembered his backpack at all. He’d jammed a hoodie in there the other day and had been able to change out of the tee that stank of sleep sweat and filthy sheets.

Now he spilled his energy drink on the way to his comp lab. And his exasperation was reaching stratospheric heights.

The day had lasted forever and it was only 10 o’clock.

He sighed as he climbed the steps to the second floor and headed down the hall to the classroom.

Peeking through the narrow glass window in the door he felt his first relief at not being late. In fact, he was the first to arrive.

“That’s more like it,” he muttered.

Taking up his seat in the back corner he pulled out his book and journal and started in on his homework.

Twenty minutes passed. Confused at being the only one still in the class he scowled at the clock and ambled out to the hall to take a look.

Ghost town.

There wasn’t a soul in sight. Jonathan leaned back against the door and, with a puzzled look at his watch, he saw something that made his heart stop. It was Friday.

“Dang it! Dangitdangitdangitdangit DANG IT!” The screech echoing in the empty corridor. Jonathan took off at a sprint for the stairs, leaving his things behind in his haste.

Jonathan was breathing hard as he exited the Camden Building and hustled to the concert hall. His face grew more and more pale and his breathing became ragged as he saw that no one was walking around. “Nonononono I can’t be the last one here. I can’t I can’t I can’t.”

He ripped the doors open and tore through the entryway. Reaching the doors to the hall he stopped and took a breath.

“I’ll slip in quietly and no one will notice I’m last. It isn’t too late.”

Jonathan leaned into the door as if by his own weight he could open it quietly and not let any light in. He pulled it slowly, just enough to squeeze his slim torso through.

The dividing curtains had been pulled and he could slip in unnoticed. He would have a chance at not being called out.

Sliding through a gap, Jonathan stopped. A cold sweat broke out on his face and the blood in his veins turned to ice.

He was too late.

Every single person in the auditorium had already put on black wolf masks. On stage, the dean wore his white linen suit and had donned a solid white faceless mask. His head was down so he hadn’t seen Jonathan. None of the other students had turned to see him enter.

Jonathan knew he only had one chance. He would have to run now before they had assigned him as the goat. If another was chosen he would be free until the next year.

As he turned to go, the dean looked up and saw him.

“You are all very fortunate. This year it seems we have a volunteer burden bearer,” the dean addressed the assembly.

Every head turned in Jonathan’s direction.

The master turned towards Jonathan. “Thank you for your sacrifice. May you bear it well. Now then. Your time is up. Better run!” The last of it came out as a growl and the gathered students burst into a frenzy of howls and cries.

Jonathan turned and ran.