The teachers suddenly found themselves standing in the bright hallways of their school. Sunlight shone on the floors. Everything seemed normal. Students were laughing, books were opening and closing, and bells were ringing.
But Miss Mariya Aktar whispered, "This is too perfect. It's fake."
Miss Ifra looked around carefully. "Look at the students. They're smiling but not blinking at all."
Miss Aneeza hugged her arms. It was true. The students stood frozen with empty smiles.
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed. The man appeared again, stepping out of thin air. He wore a neat coat and smiled, his eyes dark and sharp.
"Smart teachers…" he said. "But not smart enough."
He tapped a cane on the ground, and the bright school around them shimmered and turned dark for a second. Screams echoed in the darkness before the school reappeared again.
He raised his hand. Shadows rushed toward the teachers like black smoke. The teachers fought back with all their powers. Sparks flew, lights glowed, fire and ice crashed in the air.
But the man was too strong. He just laughed and walked through their attacks as if nothing could touch him.
Miss Mariya Aktar yelled, "Stay together! Don't let him win!"
But the man waved his hand. The teachers were pushed down by an invisible force.
"You have two choices," he said quietly. "Join me… or disappear forever."
Miss Ifra stared at him bravely. "We'd rather vanish than betray our students."
He sighed. "So be it."
Suddenly, black chains shot out and wrapped around the teachers, lifting them off the ground. The chains glowed, locking them inside floating balls of light. The teachers felt sleepy as their world faded to black.