7. Enough fun for the day #2
I grab my phone and use the map app to search for a place on campus that has liquor. But looking at the size of this damn campus, I know it will take all day. Exasperation wins, and I decide to walk. One way or another, I’ll get a drink.
Traversing the stairs, I notice the dorm is filled with students outside their rooms, mingling about, discussing the Awakening and planning for whichever House they’ll be placed in.
Some are using magic to do tricks for girls in attendance–like a peacock showcasing its feathers, pursuing a mate.
I strut past one firing electricity from his hands.
“Dude, give it up, she’ll never sleep with you,” says a dark-haired guy with green eyes. Another one, opposite of him, pats his shoulder and points in my direction. They share a deceitful look, which I take as a signal to keep moving.
It’s a blessing having my room on the second floor of this wing, towards the back, meaning I don’t have to travel far until I’m outside.
As I descend the leftover stairs, I see a group of flirtatious women who have the guys eating from their palms. More magic is tossed about, and fireballs come dangerously close to burning off my brows.
Laughter erupts, and I barrel down the stairs, bursting through the door and sprinting until a bench within the courtyard becomes visible.
The noise of distant chatter dances in the wind as trees rustle back and forth in musical harmony.
Panting and taking a seat, I enjoy the blue lights sparkling over the earthly path as every flower and small tree soaks up the moon’s glow, which appears closer now, being outside. Interesting.
Assorted plants surround mesmeric flowers, planted along the trail and running down to its end. Bushes speckled with roses and lilies sit behind them, trimmed and vibrant with color. Beautiful.
There is a crisp, wintery feel amongst the air, and I can’t help but think, winter is coming, with visions of Rosie manifesting.
But reality crashes down on me, realizing I may never have a normal life after this.
If found to be a fay, the word ‘normal’ can no longer exist. The old me will burn away with everything and everyone I know.
A decision made for me after the glooms decided my life had expired.
It’s haunting how someone can put a time limit on my life. The idea never existed to me before now, which brings me back to the reason for leaving my room. A damn drink.
Footfalls sound from my right, and I face their direction, observing without shifting my gaze.
They pass a light post, revealing a male, wearing a full-length jacket, stopping mid-thigh, and whistling a strange tune.
Shit, not again. I ready myself for an attack.
He reaches me, stopping a foot shy while placing his hands in his pockets.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, his features hidden behind the shadows of his hood. A brief moment passes of me steadying my increased heart rate, and he speaks again. “My apologies, perhaps I’m interrupting your peace. I’ll leave you to it then.”
He advances, moving past me, when I notice the flowers leaning towards him like some gravitational pull, and I can’t help but feel its sensation as well.
“It’s quite alright. No apologies needed,” I respond in kind, but he continues walking, nonetheless. “Wait, I have a question,” I blurt, figuring it’s my chance to inquire about a drink.
He stops and peers over his shoulder with more shadows looming across his features. Nothing is visible but a pair of starburst pink lips, rising into a smirk. “How may I assist?” he asks, and I find myself thinking about biting them.
“Right.” Shaking this unholy feeling, I get out, “By any chance, do you know a place around here where I can get a drink?”
“A drink?”
“Yes. Something a little stronger than coffee.” Removing my stare, I glance back at the flowers, but only for a half second, when his body shifts in my direction.
“Did you try your phone’s map?”
“Yes and no. Let’s say it wasn’t helpful.”
“I see.” His smirk widens, and I’m back focusing on those lips.
He approaches with black boots crunching the gravel beneath his calculated steps, and my lungs cease doing their job.
A slight shift reveals the nervousness stirring within my stomach, and it doesn’t take long until his shadow drowns out the moon’s glow, engulfing me in its darkness.
He is close but leaves a space between us so as to not come off overbearing.
“Hi,” I mouth, but I doubt he hears it.
Removing a hand from his pockets, he reaches out. “May I see your phone?” he asks with kindness, though his tone is more demanding than anything. Yep, he didn’t hear me. As I hand it over unlocked, he inquires about the seat beside me. “May I?” I nod.
My lungs decide to work as an intoxicating fragrance wafts as he sits. A mixture of Honeycrisp apples, melted chocolate, and something else I can’t put my finger on. Then again, I could be hungry.
Now I’m biting my lip, considering how good this mixture would taste. “Here, I believe this may have what you’re looking for.” He hands it back, and a nervous chuckle wanders from me. Focus .
“Speak Easy? What kind of name is this?” Side-eying him with a chuckle, I hope he didn’t notice me lusting over his smell.
The corners of his lips raise into a grin as he reaches over, pressing the ‘Magna’ button on my phone. Colors explode into a hologram, showing the bar and adjacent buildings.
“Ohhhh, it’s supposed to look like this,” I whisper, taking in my new scenery.
“Your expression tells me you haven’t used this part of your map.”
“Not like this. I tried but was blinded, so I closed the app.” I explain, adding a shrug.
“A bit of advice, next time hold the phone away from your face. It should help,” he teases, hinting at humor. “Follow these arrows, and they’ll guide you. It doesn’t require your phone to remain open.”
After witnessing multiple uses of magic, I’d expect not to be surprised, yet here I sit wide-eyed and mouth open, viewing the radiant green arrows displayed over the ground. Speechless. “Uh-huh.” Well, minus an awkward grunt.
He titters while standing, “Glad I can help. Enjoy your night.” Stepping through the surrounding map, he continues in his original direction.
It doesn’t take long to realize how inconsiderate I’ve been, and I put my phone away, following after him.
“Wait,” I urge, rushing to catch up. He abruptly stops, causing me to damn near slam into his back.
“Yes?” He turns, dropping his hood, and now I see him.
Oh my God.
His sculpted cheekbones slice the air, angling down to his stubbled jaw line with loose strands of jet-black hair gleaming a metallic gray and curling behind his ear. He’s like a fairytale prince.
Lengthy lashes hover over lemon-lime eyes as a sea of onyx swirls his irises. The way his top eyelids cut those beautiful orbs in half, reminds me of the perfect fruit to add to my beverage. My jaw slacks at the sight of him.
Stop staring. We’re not here to find love, no matter how attractive he is. I examine my fingers, trying to keep the blood from dominating my cheeks. “Kyra,” I voice or rather mutter.
“Excuse me?” he rebuts, and with a soft touch, he hooks a finger beneath my chin, redirecting my perusal. “Are you telling me your name?” I nod at a loss for words, and his hand drops. “Well, Kyra, I’m Raine. Nice to meet you.”
After a snap of time, he frowns at my returned silence. This is awkward.
“Anyways, I’m getting drunk–a drink–I’m getting a drink.” *Sigh* “I hope to see you around?” Giving it a second, I recognize how desperate I sound. Not to mention he may think I’m an alcoholic. I should leave.
“Before you go, my number is stored in your phone. Use it whenever you feel inclined.”
Raine smiles before leaving, whistling the tune from earlier.
Excuse me, what? Retrieving my phone, I scroll through the contacts. It doesn’t take long finding it with only two numbers saved. ‘Lost and Found.’ There it is, hidden under a ridiculous name. One I’ll change later, but still, I smile.
Continuing my plan, I step onto the trail of green, pulsing arrows with an upbeat attitude. Walking past them triggers a burst of glitter, awakening a gleeful laugh. I keep a steady pace, opposite of Raine’s direction, stepping on arrows like a game of whack-o-mole as I watch them explode.
The shorter bushes grow taller and the trees larger as I pass, but with the moon orbiting so close, the campus stays well lit. Floating lights are scattered to keep shadows at a minimum, but one spot ahead captures my gaze.
Trampling an arrow, I notice that those after lead into the one shadowy spot with zero lighting. Great. I sweep the land and glare around its dreaded void. Nothing. This is my only way through.
Remaining calm, because why shouldn’t I? Me and shadows mix sooo well. I hustle to the next arrow, my single light source, not letting my sight falter for a second, anticipating someone jumping out and grabbing me. Like Ethan.
After enduring an eternity of this hell, a peak of light becomes my beacon of hope.
With ten or so feet to go, the thrumming in my chest elevates.
Five feet. Four feet. Three feet. My eyes are wide with optimism as my foot breaches the veil, and warmth hits my skin.
I’m beyond the years of being afraid of the dark. Keep this in mind.
A lamp floats above, and I exhale my relief in a single breath. It’s daft to think someone was waiting to peel off my skin and wear it as a coat, but then again, watching too many horror films will conjure deranged ideas. I blame Rosie.
A sentiment I soon discard as an eerie feeling presses against my skin with a warning to flee. But screw that . Tonight, I’m not cowering from the shadows, but instead, standing firm.
Turning around and facing my fears, I raise my middle finger. “Fuc–” Shit.
My lungs turn solid, peering at a set of pink, glowing eyes, shining amidst a sea of darkness. One millisecond they were there and gone the next. Blinking. Something is observing me, watching and waiting.
An inner dialog of heroism urges me to remain, despite my knotted stomach and sweaty palms, yet this silent stare fights against those impulses. I hate those eyes.
Disregarding my better judgment, I step forward, mustering the courage to confront this ominous being, but I stall. The glowing pair is directed towards my feet, and a second later, the pink hues lift to meet mine .
Cautious, I take another step, and they shift down in haste again, squinting with disapproval before returning up. Before I can take another step, a faint tap against the ground catches my ear. Did those eyes become larger…No, they’re getting closer.
Dirt shuffles beneath the oncoming steps, and a primal growl roams from the darkness. Fuck that, I’m not dying in this horror movie. I squeal, turn, and run. Adrenaline moves my legs as fast as they can carry me, ending my game of whack-o-mole.
Before long, ‘Speak Easy’ introduces itself with bright neon lights, and the last arrow glows red at its entrance. Out of breath and panting, I’m relieved. Still, I turn. Nothing. The eyes are gone. “I’m…taking another way…back.”
Two guys approach from another direction, whispering amongst themselves and halting after seeing me hunched over. “What is she doing?” one asks, looming with tattoos of fallen angels depicted on his arms.
“I don’t know, but she’s a first-year student. Leave her be,” the other says, and I notice red tips of his hair dangling from underneath his hooded jacket. A symbol on his chest shows a sword in a rock it seems.
The first guy waves me off, and glimmers of green light fade from existence. Sassy.
They stroll past, entering the bar, and behind me, I hear twigs snap and branches shutter in the darkness. Despite not remembering much of the past thirty seconds, or what was said, I scurry inside, stomping on my last arrow and shutting the door behind me.