“How do you know that’s what happened?” Naya has been asking the same question over and over again, but I still lack an answer. “I don’t know, okay? I just..my gut is telling me something so I’m listening.” I blunder. “Okay, I hear you. But there has to be a logical explanation for what you saw, other than there being a fucked up combination of slender man and a raccoon wandering through the dorms, based on your description.” She points out. “Jesus girl, I get it, I sound insane, but I know what I saw.” I insist. “Hey.” She interrupts, placing her hand over mine. “I believe you, I really do, but until we know what that thing really was we should assume we know nothing.” I sigh, she’s right, always is. Naya is smart, like, really smart. Give her the most ludicrous eight step equation and she’ll have it solved in two minutes tops. We’re in my dorm room, the two of us, sitting on my bed and staring at the wall at the current moment. Where Naya’s wall is left as is, mine is covered in posters and photos, covering up the painted cement block surface. The mattress beneath me is comfortable enough, but the bed frame creaks as I shift my sitting position. I let myself fall backwards, effectively splaying my limbs all over the bed, and landing my foot right in Naya’s face. “Kennedy! Really?” She shrieks, shoving my foot out of her face as I cackle. “You are a twenty year old man, get it together.” She scolds. I snort, “Yeah, and you’re a twenty year old woman, why don’t you get it together?” That one earns me a playful punch to the arm. “What time is it?” Asks Naya, glancing around like a clock will magically appear. I pull my phone from my pocket, and it’s–shit, 10:48, I have a lecture to get to at 11:00. I launch myself off of my bed, throwing my drawer open to grab a pair of socks. “Dude, what are you-” Naya starts, but I cut her off. “It is ten-forty-fucking-eight, Naya! We don’t have time for this, get up!” A look of pure horror crosses her face, before she launches herself up much in the way that I did and runs to grab her bag. I yank my socks on, lace up my combat boots and grab my backpack. Naya waits at the door with a calm expression like she didn’t go into a frenzied panic when she found out how little time we had. We rush out of the room, and I fumble around with my keys while Naya taps her foot impatiently. Then, we take off.
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“Okay, let’s agree that was the worst day of our lives and move on.” I groan. Naya chuckles. We’ve just finished our classes for today, and although it went smoothly, it was still exhausting. Well, it went smoothly for the most part. As long as you make the exception of Naya and I dashing into class red faced and hyperventilating ten minutes late. “I think this might have been worse than that night we stole your mom’s bottle of vodka and got hungover when we were sixteen, if I’m being honest. Like, this has to be worse right?” She’s not even convincing herself. “Look, today sucked, but not that much. That night was another kind of hell. Makes me wonder how we ended up best friends when you were so wild and I was so straight-laced. We were such lightweights.” I comment. Naya snorts. “You were absolutely horrified at the prospect of getting drunk. And no, you are the lightweight. Always have been, always will be.” She shakes her head at the memory. Naya falls into step beside me, as we exit the building. Through the silence, a chilling scream rakes the air. Suddenly, our joking demeanor is gone, my mind spins. Who? Why? Fear consumes me, enveloping my entire body, paralyzing me. Cold, numb, frozen. A bone chilling, animalistic terror, the kind that can’t be fought, can’t be stopped. Instinctively I grab Naya and shove her into a classroom, my heart pounding. I sink into a chair in shock, but instead of sitting in one, Naya grabs one and fixes it against the door so no one can open it but us. God bless her survival and self defense training. She continues by flipping down the numerous switches by the door, sending us into darkness, and only furthering that darkness by closing the blinds. “Back closet. Go. I’ll be there in a second.” Her voice is commanding, no room for argument. I drag myself up, hurrying to the closet at the back of the room and storing myself within it, waiting to close the door until Naya comes inside too. She pulls the shade down over the window on the door, then silently dashes to me and snaps the door shut behind her. I fumble around in the dark, reaching for her hand, when I find it, I realize that mine is trembling. Naya gives my hand a gentle squeeze, reassuring me that everything will be alright. Nothing is alright though, because whoever that scream came from, they aren’t coming back. It’s so silent you could hear a pin drop, it’s as if nothing happened in the first place. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s okay, but a nagging feeling in my gut reminds me that hoping only leads to more disappointment—or pain. A staticky voice comes across the loud speakers, ‘This is a lockdown, please report to the nearest classroom and initiate lockdown protocol. Under no circumstances should you leave the classroom until the threat has been neutralized, security is actively working to ensure your safety. Please stay calm and quiet, further instructions will be given once it is safe.’ I bite my lip, a coppery taste filling my mouth, and only then do I realize I drew blood. Naya and I cling to each other, terrified. We’re just two best friends trying to drag our asses through college with minimal student loan debt, we’re not ready for this. Or I’m not, at least, Naya has a high enough IQ to take safety classes unlike me. The words of the staff member on the loudspeaker blair in my head, over and over and over. There’s thousands of people on campus right now, and one of them is a cold blooded killer. Funny, a lockdown and a murder were not on my agenda for today. I shake my head, these things don’t just come as you will them to. Someone died, I feel it, and someone else intended for it to happen. Whoever it is, the law clearly doesn’t scare them, and that might be scarier than the law itself.
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We sit in the assembly hall, waiting for what we all know is coming. Mrs. Cline, the dean, steps up to the podium. I feel like I’m going to be sick. Naya nudges my shoulder with her own, giving me the best form of comfort she can right now. It’s not much, but I feel ever so slightly better. “Yesterday, on the very grounds of this university, a tragedy occurred. Many of you here experienced the lockdown at the time of the attack, and I am here to fill you in,” Mrs. Cline begins, her voice carrying through the auditorium. “As I said, a great tragedy has occurred, and yesterday, we lost one of our students.” Time freezes, it feels as though the entire room is holding its breath. “His name was Nicholas. Nicholas Benton. He was a sophomore, only twenty years old, his time came too soon. I regret to inform you that neither security nor the police managed to apprehend the killer, so out of precaution we are stationing officers around campus and all classes this week are canceled. Your safety and the safety of our staff is the most important thing right now, so if possible, we advise you to remain off campus until classes resume. If that is not possible, please remain in the dorms and if you see anything that is suspicious in any way, report it to me immediately. You are all functioning adults, I know you understand the weight of this situation. There will be a ceremony in honor of Nicholas Benton, attendance is not mandatory, but I think that it may help those of you who experienced the lockdown in the healing process. This was a traumatic and horrific event for all of us, we need to be there for each other. Please contact me if you have any further questions, this assembly is adjourned.” I stare at her, my jaw tight and fists clenched. “Kennedy, what are you feeling right now?” That’s what Naya always asks me when things are hard. “I’m scared Naya.” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Of the situation, or your feelings?” She asks gently, placing her hand over mine. “That’s the thing, I don’t feel anything. That’s what scares me.” She watches me for a moment, then sighs. “You’re in shock, boo. It’s going to take a minute for us to process and accept what happened. You need to be patient with yourself.” I nod, she’s right, but it’s easier said than done. Everyone around us is standing up to leave, talking to their friends in hushed tones. Naya and I sit together in silence until the only ones left in the room are us, and the dean. “Is there anything you two need?” She asks sweetly, concern etched into her features. “He’s in shock. We were very close to the murder, probably around the corner at the furthest, we heard the screams.” Naya says quietly, seeming as shocked as I am. “I’m so sorry, truly. Would you want to talk to one of our therapists?” Mrs. Cline asks. I shake my head mutely, that’s the last thing I want to do. “The screams weren’t even the worst part…” I say shakily. “It was hearing them go silent.” Naya wraps an arm around my shoulder, saying, “It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay, Kennedy.” Mrs. Cline watches us, seeming as if she doesn’t know what to do with herself, that must be a first for her. “I should get him to his room, no on the therapy, but thanks for offering. We’ll see you, Mrs. Cline.” Naya says, keeping her arm around but directing her attention at the dean. "Wait. You said you think you were close to where the murder happened?" Naya nods. "Okay, I'll shoot you an email when the time comes, the officers on this case will want to talk to you." Naya nods again. "I’ll be on my way then."
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My body is rigid and stiff, my limbs frozen in place. The air is cold, prickling against my skin and causing my breath to cloud. I dart my eyes back and forth like a caged animal, at this moment, that’s essentially what I am. Bloody handprints coat every available surface, I can smell it. Bones of humans and animals alike lie in pools of blood, and fresh corpses are scattered around me on the ground. My throat clenches and I reach a hand up to cover my cough, when I pull it away, It’s covered in blood. A coppery taste fills my mouth, intoxicating. I squeeze my eyes shut, this can’t be real, it can’t be. I hear thundering footsteps, rapidly approaching. I try to scream, but not a sound comes out. A blood curdling scream rings in my ears, violently ripping me from sleep. I have woken from a nightmare, only to walk into another. But this time, it’s real.
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