Chapter 285

The students who jumped were rushed to the hospital and, after being treated by the doctors, survived their injuries. Once they regained consciousness, the teachers and parents asked them why they had decided to jump. Their answers made John's skin crawl, which was why the school leadership agreed to bring in a priest to take a look. Each student gave the same response: they felt overwhelmed by pressure. As they stood in the hallway looking down, they heard a voice in their ear telling them to jump. That voice echoed in their minds, over and over, until they gradually became lost in it, convinced that life had no meaning. They climbed over the railing and jumped. As they fell, they thought someone was smiling at them from below. They also heard a voice saying, "That's right. Just jump. Now we'll have company." They all regretted their decision briefly, but it was too late. The fall from the top of the building to the ground took less than a minute, not giving them time for second