Nora:
I imagined this whole college thing would be different, more bright like they show on T.V, where even nerdiest person having their own social circle. Yet here I was sitting behind my love of the the life who is enjoying his life with his girlfriend and new friends who suddenly emerged when he transformed.
Ugh why am I thinking like this? I couldn't care less before I cam to this town. I was different, before Mike broke up he said I am not the same person who I used to be. That's true I have changed, I was too cool to feel any jealousy, hate or love. Now it feels like every second of my time my emotion changes. Will I every go back to how I was?
"Hey! I thought I saw someone familiar!" a girl sat next to me wearing unusual clothes too many layers of colors to wear on a hot day.
I why sitting behind Allan because it's the only place with shade, else I would shrink in a day.
"Just keep talking" she whispers as she looks back and forth to a guy waving bye.
"Sure, how was your day ?" Nora asked.
"Escaping that asshole all day." she answered while smiling at him.
"Sounds tough " I turned the page of the book I was reading.
"Yup. It's insane we only texted on phone and he thinks we a special relationship of some sort. Enough about him. I came to you because you looked familiar." she paused and starred at me.
"I doubt that. I relatively new here." Nora replied.
"oh, I'm Tina." she introduced.
"I'm Nora." Nora replied with a smile also getting a feeling they have met.
A huge laugh burst from the group and Allan gets a kiss on his cheek. and the whole group cheers .
"ugh, I'm gonna puke." Tina enacted.
"Me too," we both laughed.
"You know that girl gives off a bad vibe. But he looks happy." Tina gives off a soft smile. And Nora's face goes shrinks. Maybe Allan moved on and feels guilty which he should be feeling. He has moved on and that's something I have to accept.
"Let's go to the pub then" They all stood up.
And Stacy grabs Allan shirt and pulls him closer to the back off our table. Nora and Allan were both startled.
"Got any time loser?" Tina asked.
"Hey, who are you calling a loser?" Allan's girlfriend asks in anger . And Nora wants to slip out of the situation as she doesn't want to be part of this drama.
"Tina?" Allan speaks.
At least they know each other.
"It's my old friend, you go ahead. " Allan speaks. She looks at both of us and leaves.
"Ok. Don't be late" and she leaves.
and her crows murmurs, "what's wrong with her."
"Look at you , I couldn't recognize you." Tina speaks raising her brows.
And Nora starts to pack to get out of the situation, whatever it was the less she knows the better.
"You look the same." Allan speaks in a nonchalant way.
"Still mad at me? I though we were cool after you met me the other day. " Tina asks.
Nora stands up and steps outside the table. At this point she notices that Allan isn't looking at her intentionally.
"I have a class now. It was nice meeting you Tina." Nora spoke.
"Really? Let's meet tomorrow same place same time. okay?" Tina's face sparkled.
"Yea sure." Nora lied and move away.
"So was that the girl you told me about? the one you loved?" Tina asked.
"I so don't want to hear it." Nora spoke in silence.
"No, that's not her." Allan spoke in a low voice but Nora heard as she walked by.
"you messed up didn't you?" Tina slams the table.
Nora walks away, "I guess there was a lot I didn't know about Allan"
her small steps eyes on her feet, the slow dissipating feeling that she is going away from him a little by little.
"Back to earth Nora." Crystal speaks.
"Crystal?" Nora asks.
"Yeah, I need your help. Can you spare some time?" She asked.
"Yeah what's wrong?" Nora asks.
"Lets go to my apartment I will explain there." both ways to her car.
"Something's wrong and I don't know what's happening." Crystal speaks without giving clarity.
"First you need to relax and then speak." Nora asks.
"I feel like someone's following me. It's been happening from quite a while." Crystal speaks as she steps into the car.
"Did you report it yet? Let me know how I can help." Nora asks.
"I thought it was some guy but these days it feels like my place is haunted. But do ghost steal stuff?" Crystal asks.
"You are confusing me now. Be clear and tell me what happened." Nora asks.
"yea , sorry about that. I used to feel like someone was following, and some times I would death threats on my door step. But from last couple of days, I hear noises all night from inside kitchen or bathroom, drawers moving. things misplaced. I was a little out of it ever since that incident. So I thought I was paranoid. But last night things got worse, I was locked up in the bathroom, it has only one way lock and there's no way to lock. I didn't have phone and my phone rang and someone answered it, They spoke in my own voice. Trust me I'm not lying. there was no break in signs." Crystal parks.
"We are here." Crystal hands were shaking.
"Yes." Nora speaks while she shares her location to Zuv.
they enter her home.
which was never bright and neat. Open kitchen and a huge living room. A room at the end, and a larger bath room on the opposite, The house was simple and neat, no basement or attic , everything looks new and neat.
"So that's the bathroom?" I asked.
Pointing towards the big bathroom.
"Yes, this one has tub in it so I usually use this one. I couldn't get out for half an hour." Crystal speaks.
the door would towards the inside of the bathroom when it's opened. So closing the door with heavy object to block wouldn't work.
"And its the things I got. dead rose, knife, letter," Crystal looks away as shive give me.
"I think you should go to police. Someone might be playing tricks with you." Nora asked.
"Even in my dreams? I have this same dream where a girl stabs herself while crying every night. when I wake up room is so cold even with the heater on. I hear whispers when there's no one." Crystal sits on her sofa.
"Why don't you come to our place then. Until this is resolved." Nora speaks.
"No I'm experiencing it even in office. I got this scratch while doing a presentation. I didn't have it when I started the meeting. I didn't have anything on my hand. That's why I left and came straight to you. I don't know whom else to ask." Crystal showed two pictures of her standing the scratch marks.
"How about I stay I here for the night and see how things go? I don't know how to get rid of it. But I can just be your emotional support. Or the one who breaks the door" Nora laughs.
"Thanks that puts my mind at ease." Crystal speaks.
Crystal orders food and gives a spare clothing.
She starts to do dishes and the bell rings.
"I'll go get it, it must be the food," Nora walks towards the door.
"Shall I pour some wine with it?" Crystal asks and hears the door shut she walk in a rush and open the door and see Nora running. and there a package.
YOU ARE NEXT
written on in she didn't had to open to know who sent it, she opens hesitantly. and opens it immediately, blood starts to leak.
there's a dead crow with a small knife.
"Are you ok?" Nora asks looking at this box.
"Good thing I'm wearing Gloves." Crystal speaks and runs towards the bathroom.
"Have some water" Nora gives a glass.
"why did you run?" Crystal asks.
"I saw someone running with mask on their face. I lost them " Nora replied.
"I should have ran after you , sorry." Crystal speaks.
"Don't worry, they got into car and drove away, It wasn't all for nothing. I got some of their hair. when I tried to catch them" Nora shows couple of long red hair.
"So a girl?" Crystal is shocked.
"Yes she did make a noise when I pulled the hair." Nora.
The bell rang again, this time was real food delivery.