How does the narrator react when they see the skinless face outside the window?

The narrator reacts with terror and disbelief when they see the skinless face outside the window. They scream in fear, stumble back, and try to convince themselves that it is a nightmare.

Upon seeing the skinless face outside the window, the narrator is overwhelmed with fear and disbelief. They scream, their terror echoing down the hall, and they stumble back into the wall of lockers. The sight of the decomposing face, with its grotesque features, causes the narrator to chant in their head that it must be a nightmare, pinching themselves repeatedly in an attempt to wake up from what they hope is a dream.