Chapter Two
CHAPTER TWO
JASON PULLED HIS car into the parking lot of their university apartment building. Ethan had spent the ride home huddled in the passenger seat knees pulled against his chest. He cradled his head in his hands his eyes closed, as Jason surveyed him concerned.
“We’re home, babe,” Jason said softly. Ethan looked so small, so fragile. His already petit frame appeared even more delicate as he fought the throbbing in his head. What was there for Jason to do? How could he help him? He’d been quiet the whole ride home, falling further into himself. Something Ethan was no stranger to, yet Jason had thought they’d seen the last of this quiet boy a few months ago.
Ethan groaned as Jason gently roused him. “Want me to carry you up the stairs?”
Considering it for a moment, Ethan opened the passenger side door and got out of the car. Each step he took marshaled another jolt of pain in his head.
Soon they were up the stairs and in their modest one-bedroom apartment. The space was neat and tidy, decorated with movie posters and second-hand furniture.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jason asked, his concern growing.
Ethan pulled his large blue hoodie with the university’s lion mascot over his head. He winced in pain as he pulled his head through, “I’ll be fine. My head just hurts. Probably just from the stress of the semester coupled with tonight’s little Ferris wheel fiasco.”
Jason gave a small grin, “Ferris Wheel Fiasco— sounds like a great punk band name,” he said nervously.
Ethan chuckled lightly then winced as a stabbing throb was produced behind his right eye. Jason always loved to banter when he was nervous.
“I’m going to bed. Maybe I can sleep it off,” he murmured.
Jason kissed him on the forehead and wished him goodnight. “I’ll go to bed soon. I need to finish some homework before class tomorrow.”
Ethan disappeared into their room and Jason grabbed his backpack from beside the door and took a seat at the desk positioned opposite the bedroom door. He grabbed his Bluetooth headphones and played music softly as he pulled a large statistics textbook from his backpack.
The small apartment was dimly lit by the single lamp light as he poured over the textbook. He enjoyed the feeling of losing himself in statistical equations for a moment.Or, at least that’s what he told himself.
Jason and Ethan had agreed to move in together about three months ago. They dated for nearly a year before taking the leap. Ethan was Jason’s first boyfriend and it had taken some time before Jason felt totally comfortable living together. Ethan had been the one to suggest the arrangement having grown tired of living in the dorms.
The two quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm. While Ethan was tidy and attended to keeping their space clean, Jason was handy and able to fix things and build the newly acquired furnishings. Ethan was particularly impressed after Jason had easily assembled a bookshelf for Ethan’s growing library of books. Indeed this was the first home that Jason could call his own and he was grateful he made it with Ethan. After completing the set of problems assigned by his statistics professor, Jason put away his coursework, extinguished the lamp, and retired to the bedroom.
A tingling sensation of thrill shot through him as he pulled his shirt and pants off. He climbed into bed next to Ethan and pulled him close. If you had asked Jason what the best part of living with his boyfriend was, he would say — this. Getting cuddled in next to someone he loved was something he would not trade for anything in the world. As he pulled Ethan closer, he felt his eyes become heavy with sleep.
Jason jolted awake, his heart hammered in his chest, he felt the bed shifting beneath him.It wasn’t subtle, the mattress trembled, a low rhythmic vibration running from the headboard to the edge of the bed. Jason bolted upright, his pulse spiked. He reached for Ethan and shook him gently awake but froze as the vibration ceased the moment his hand reached his boyfriend’s shoulder.
“Ethan,” Jason whispered, his voice trembling. Ethan stirred sluggishly, a faint groan escaped his lips.
“What’s wrong?” He said, his voice thick with sleep while muffled by his face buried in the pillow.
Jason hesitated for a moment, the question seemed stuck in his throat. What had he just experienced? Was it a dream? How could explain something he didn’t understand?
“I…thought I felt something moving the bed,” Jason said finally. He paused then added, “It was vibrating.”
Ethan pulled himself up slowly, turning his head towards Jason. He furrowed his brow, “Vibrating? This better not be one of your dirty jokes,” he said yawning.
“No, it felt like. I don’t know how to describe it. Like, there was an earthquake or something.” Jason rubbed the back of his neck, all too aware of how absurd it sounded saying it out loud.
Ethan sighed, then winced as he pressed a finger to his temple, “It’s probably just your nerves, Jase. Halloween jitters from that corn maze, or something.” His voice was hoarse, and he winced once more as he squeezed his eyes shut. “Can you turn off the lamp? My head is still killing me.”
Jason nodded and reached over flicking off the lamp. The room fell into a thick darkness, as he heard Ethan quietly snoring. He slid back against his pillow, lying down.
His unease refused to let up.
The apartment felt too quiet now, he could hear every creak and groan. He stared at the ceiling, willing his ears to detect anything that sounded out of place. His muscles became taut waiting for something to emerge from the darkness and seize him or Ethan.
A faint creak came from the direction of the door and just beyond that was the living room. Jason’s eyes snapped toward the bedroom door. For a long moment, he refused to breathe. He strained to hear. Another creak followed, then a soft scraping sound — like wood dragging against wood.
Jason sat up again, his pulse quickened once more. “Did you hear that?” He whispered.
But Ethan gave no response, his breathing steady but shallow just across the bed. Jason swung his legs out of bed, his feet hitting the cool floor. He padded cautiously towards the doorway. The cool air of the living room hit his skin as he stepped out of their room. There was a dim glow of a street light just outside which cast a long shadow across the floor.
He crept out of the bedroom, his eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness. He rounded through the living room into the small kitchenette off to the side. The space was eerily quiet, still even Jason detected the faintest movement. A barstool sat slightly askew at bar on the wall opposite the sink. He could have sworn he tucked it in, Ethan was particular about the kitchen.
Jason’s stomach tightened as he took another step forward. A soft breeze brushed past him, as the skin rippled on his exposed chest. He stopped in his tracks, where had that draft come from?
The hairs on his neck stood on end as another faint creaking sound came from behind him. He whipped around, his heart pounding.
Nothing but shadows.
“Jason?” Ethan’s voice called weakly from the bedroom, startling him.
Quickly, he was back in the bedroom, his earlier bravery evaporating. Ethan was sitting up now, his face was pale in the street lamp light that crept in. He rubbed the sides of his head, his expression tight with pain, “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice worried but exhausted.
Jason hesitated at the doorway. Should he tell Ethan? But what was there to tell? He hadn’t seen anything, just heard some creaks and groans. The barstool askew was hardly newsworthy. Finally, he forced a smile and said, “Nothing. It was nothing. Go back to sleep, babe.”
Ethan looked unsure but fell back on his pillow with a groan. Jason sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes drifting towards the darkness in the living room hallway. Eventually, crawling back towards his pillow, he struggled to sleep the rest of the night.