gather all of your assignments. mark them, label them, scribble over the top in bright red sharpie, do SOMETHING to indicate the papers you need to do. keep track of all of these assignments. make sure you get them all finished. make sure they don’t try to take them away from you. the ones at school are far more terrifying than the ones in your room with you.
decide where you will be working for the night. make this decision apparent and clear by pointing to the place and stating out loud, “this is my space, and mine only”. be confident in your tone and posture. they will be able to sense your fear and will not leave you alone if you show it.
always keep three pencils within reach, in case one goes missing. keep them sharpened, in case someone decides to join you.
keep your workplace well-lit. they are afraid of light and won’t bother you if you do so. as an added strategy, if you wish for the dark corners of your room to stay unoccupied, light them as well. that way there will be nothing staring you down or standing behind you as you work.
if your calculator starts malfunctioning on its own, leave it be. ghosts have to do their taxes, too. you will anger it if you tamper with it while one is occupying it, and your homework may be the price you have to pay for a peaceful night. if you need the calculator while it is being occupied, ask for help out loud. they may work the equation out for you.
likewise, the others in the room with you may know a bit about other subjects. don’t be afraid to try your luck. the worst that could happen is getting your assignments confiscated.
keep track of your assignments.
it is best if you refrain from listening to music with earbuds or headphones in while you work. music transcends reality, and so do the beings that surround you. you would not want to be somewhere you don’t want to be.
do not fall asleep. if they know you gave into your urges without finishing your work, they will become annoyed, or worse, cause a ruckus in an attempt to wake you up. this may take form in shrieking, flying papers and writing utensils, flickering lights, and other paranormal activity. keep yourself busy and focused. do not succumb to the darkness.
don’t obsess over the time. time is a social construct and all of its rules disappear with the sunset. seeing the time on the device that is most convenient for you will only confuse you, and they will take advantage of that. the goal is not to work until a certain time. the goal is to work until your work is done.
keep track of all your assignments.
the rattling noise you hear from outside your room is just the fridge making ice. don’t think too much about it.
the rattling noise you hear from inside your room is just the vents. don’t think too much about it.
it is best if you keep your blinds and door closed while you work. others may peek into your room out of curiosity, and as unbothered you may be, you want the least amount of company as possible. do not peer outside at all. you may find something disturbing peering back.
don’t mind the long, lanky figure underneath your bed. he won’t harm you if you leave him be.
do not give up on your homework. there will be a punishment, and it’s much worse than a bad grade.
keep track of your assignments.
you may start hearing someone or something knocking on your door a few hours into your work. ignore it. they’re just playing tricks on you.
don’t worry about wrong answers. they won’t judge you for putting in your best effort. only worry about the rest of the factors you need to keep up with.
if you wake up in an unfamiliar place, that means you fell asleep and they took you away. all i can help you with is to obey them. don’t act out. the better you are, the higher your chances are of getting out of there. prayers will not work. god will not be able to save you. all you can do is comply.
remember. don’t forget. all you lose during the night is lost forever.
