H'S

over Siege University's vast campus. Students milled about, lost in th

ontagious. It had been a few days since I'd met them, and st

ischievously. "So, tell me, pretty boy, what's the m

a brow.

me on, spill. Ev

ants material to tease you

that would be f

pop sound. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'

ly. "Liar! That's impos

op

eas

N

a tiny

ill

Give it up, Penny

atically. "Gosh..,Y

ed pout. But then, out of the co

esso

him, it was like

his elbows. His dark brown hair was slightly tousled, like he'd been running his fingers through it t

people noticed. It w

, they weren'

uld stop them. I didn't k

ne thing was certain: professor Rex Lutz, was like a haunted house, one my curiosity kept daring me to step into, despite the obvious d

s," I muttered to Penny and

t behind me, bu

then quickly correc

espo

essor

l no

ckened my pace.

ade hi

head, his golden eye

in a quie

n't just intense, it was searching, like he was trying to fi

ealized I had no idea w

r

k, N

cuse. "Uh... I wanted to ask

rrowed. "An

know, helping with grading papers, or

I had just suggested

ir of finality,

nked.

N

sharp. Firm.

, he turned and walked away, lea

in tugged

rest

g when I returned t

o... you wanna tell me why you

eyes. "I was

ike chasi

casual but full of somethi

n my lolli

you're into hot professors,

t? No!"

our reaction isn't

not

ted at me.

e gives off this weird vibe,

ummed. "

. "You're enjoying

ee

ly. "Can we go

r Lutz. If you are getting a weird aura from him, then you should keep off. He doesn'

rd aura from him too, so ple

the advice, but please

I forget, we're having a sleepover

ha

orward. "Yep! You're my new best friend, and

er was girls stuff

lly"who cares, you guys are my

th a knowing look. "Unless, of course, you would ra

. "Fine.

you're so sassy. I wonder how

. "By the way, why are you not

iffe

h

l shrug. "Uh...

ed her eyes.

ked. "Very

pushed ahead. "You

bad you are stuck

e I don't blow off m

~

was already listing snacks and horror movies, practically dragging me into her plans before I even agreed. Nathan, as

ying attention, but m

ying to focus on Penn

range. We walked toward the campus gates, Penny and Nathan still deb

when I

ch

om the

fading warm

somethi

or someone..

tered. My sk

rustling leaf, every distant voice, every

slightly, scannin

ading out, laughing in gr

I

thing, someone

uffocating, pressing against

oa

oice pulle

etching my lips into what I ho

u o

I tel

o

ant to sou

ed. "Yeah, jus

er, grinning. "Come on, pretty boy.

along, trying to

never

restroom," I said, waving my friends off with a ca

away, a deep voice

esso

ell, phone pressed to his ear,

steps, ear

eep an eye on hi

the call and walked away, his tall

and hurried t

ly, it w

, washed my hands, and re

dn't

ened. I jiggled

th

n my lung

rder this time, my pulse

l no

read slithere

o, no

"Hey! Someone

le

palms sweating. "Hell

th

's just a door. S

wouldn't st

ame faster,

uddenly fel

ir to

, pressing in, wrapping around

here. I w

ain. Alone

in the corner, hugging my knees, my tiny body trembling. The lights flickered.

for a split second,just long enough to see th

d. But no

of thunder.

ne c

t as I stumbled back, my body co

to force air into my lung

dn't b

oed from the othe

pen, bringing me

. Low.

h

avy

ath hi

deeper into the w

le

hat stretched long enou

en

O

r explo

stroom, the force sending a gust of air

my heart slammin

oorway was the last p