The next day when i saw him, he was smiling
.
Not a smirk , not that sharp, cold look he usually wore like a armor.
It was a real and genuine smile. And it messed me up more than the blood .
Alex was sitting outside the library , hoodie down, his head tilted to the sun like he wasn't carrying half a graveyard in his silence. His lip curled slightly , eyes closed . For a second, he looked normal, safe to be with.
I hated this feeling, because I knew it wasn't real.
I sat down across from him before I could talk myself out of it.
"You look like someone who doesn't wake up at night to threat tape at someone's door".
He opened his eyes, his smile disappearing like it was never there before. "So you got it".
"You were expecting I wouldn't"?
"I expected you to ignore it, like I told you to?
I lean forward. "Who sent it?". He didn't answer but instead asked, "what did it say?"
I recited it slowly to him, not missing a word.
Something flickered in his eyes, it was not fear, not surprise but resignation , like he knew this was going to happen.
"I don't want you to get involved in this". He said .
"Too late ".
He stared at me, like he was unraveling me from within. "You are not the king of person, who gives up are you"?.
"No".
Alex signed still staring at me. "Then I hope you are the kind , who can survive.
He stood up slipping something into my hands and left without another word.
Looking down to see, what he gave me.
It was a key,a one small plain key.
I stare at the key , the entire time, back to my dorm . Turning it over and over again. I was wondering why he would give me a key.
That night I didn't wait. I went out and started trying every door in the dormitory. But none fit not until I got to the abondoned old music room . The room has been condemned, locked tight since the fire last year.
Putting the key on the door. the door clicked opened .
Walking in darkness swallowed me whole.
There were candles inside and something else. Pictures,taped to the wall,strung with red thread . Old articles , surveillance photos, map and names.
My name , Mira's name and even my roommate's name.
Alex has been watching me long before we even spoke.
And in the center of the room, lying open on the floor...
Was a journal.
I picked it up with shaking hands.
Inside:sketches of me ,in every single pages. Me sleeping, laughing and even bleeding.
What the fuck? This is so messed up.
"He doesn't know I see him yet".
"Am trying not to want him but I think I already do".