As the odor drifted through the corridor, curiosity turned to discomfort among the students. Whispers filled the air, each one speculating about the source of the stench. "What do you think they're doing in there?" Sarah murmured to her friend Tom, who was pinching his nostrils shut in a futile attempt to block out the foul aroma.
“It’s probably another one of those experiments gone wrong,” Tom replied, glancing nervously toward the closed door of the science lab. Just last week, Mr. Johnson had boasted about a chemistry experiment involving some unusual chemicals. They had all laughed when he claimed he was working on something revolutionary, but now they were starting to wonder if it had actually gone horribly awry.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the lab followed by a series of frantic voices. Students strained to hear what was going on, some even standing on their tiptoes for a better view through the small window in the door. Among the voices, they could discern Mr. Johnson shouting, “It’s okay! Just stay calm! We need—”
The rest of his words were drowned out by the sound of shuffling feet and what sounded like glass shattering. The smell grew more potent, thick and acrid, making several students gag.
“Should we call for someone? Maybe the principal?” Sarah suggested, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before Tom could respond, the classroom door swung open, and a panicked looking student dashed out, his face pale. “You guys!” he gasped, “You need to leave the hallway! It’s... it’s bad in there!”
The atmosphere shifted instantly from curiosity to alarm. The students began to back away from the door as more students streamed out, coughing and waving their hands in front of their faces.
“Evacuate! Everyone out!” a voice shouted from behind them, and the figure of one of the teachers appeared at the edge of the hall, gesturing urgently for everyone to move.
Concern swept through the students as they turned to flee, the stench now a distant but terrible reminder of what was happening in the lab. It was a moment of chaos, a far cry from their usual routines, leaving them to wonder what exactly had gone wrong in the science lab that day.