Chapter 8 Campus Spooks

• It was Sunday and only a few students were in class, finishing off on their group projects. So it was good, less distraction. We said hello to a couple of students there, and carried on to our corner.
• I sent Bert back after dropping us off at campus and told him I'd give him a call when I was ready to go home.
• All the other students have gone. It was past six already and we were still working on our project.
• "Bitch! This is going to be awesome! I just got this picture taken a couple of days ago, and your spooky drawing, shit! I know you can see the dead and all that jazz but your drawing is very dark, very real! We might just get the highest points in class."
• Then Diane's phone beeped.
• "Fuck! I forgot about Brad we were supposed to meet up for dinner, we got too carried away with this thing." She laughed hard.
• "Yes I guess we did, so you want to finish this for now and continue after class tomorrow?" I asked while I was already tidying up my drawing kit into my bag. I was feeling a bit tired myself.
• "Shit yes! Brad is picking me up. He's already in the parking lot. Do you want to hitch a ride with us? Or you have your driver picking you up?" She was already finished with her things, and now retouching her make up for Brad making me smirked at her.
• "No you go ahead, you look like you need a head start. I don't want to be your third wheel."
• "Fuck you, Lilian! You're my wingman, never a third wheel, girl! But okay then if you're sure. Text me when you got home okay?" She hugged me and dashed outside the art class studio.
• I scanned everything before I leave the room. I could see the janitor was still cleaning the hallway. I quickly text Bert to come and pick me up and decided to go to the restroom to freshen up. I would hear noises and see glimpses of shadows, but I just tuned them out. But suddenly It was eerily quiet, I could even hear the water droplets from the faucet.
• I'm calm...I can do this...they won't bother me.
• I kept chanting to myself over and over again. Then my phone rings, breaking my concentration.
• It was Anthony.
• "Lilian... where are you? Why did I just see Bert leaving the driveway? He was supposed to be with you, at all times." He sounded annoyed.
• "I'm at the campus, I just texted him to come and pick me up...." I haven't finished my sentences when I see a woman with blood all over her torn dress. Her eyes were looking mad at me, she looked so real. Her eyes were so pale, then she reached out her hand to me scraping her nails to my arm. And that was when I screamed and ran out of the bathroom.
• The hallway was all quiet now, the janitor was nowhere to be seen. I ran faster gripping my phone tightly, my backpack was weighing me down, then I reached the main door it was locked.
• Shit! Shit! Shit!
• I could hear her screaming and laughing throughout the hallway. Then I tried the smaller door next to it and was relieved that it opened right away.
• I was running out of breath when I reached the parking lot. I slumped to the ground, hugging my backpack on my lap, and cried. "Fuck!" then I remembered my phone call with Anthony. "Anthony? Still there?" But there was only silence.
• The next thing I know, there was a car stopped in front of me. The headlights were still on, making me winced and shielded my eyes with my hand.
• I was too tired to look.
• Maybe NOW I'll be dead...fuck! I'm so tired.
• Then I could feel him. He was wrapping his arms around me, helping me to stand up.
• "It's okay Lilian. I'm here, come let me take you home." He grabbed my things and throw them in the back. Then, helping me to the passenger seat.
• I put my hands on my ears. I could still hear her laughing in my ears. I grabbed Anthony by the hand. "Turn on the radio...volume! turn it up..I can still hear her." He quickly turned on the stereo and drive off the parking lot.
• Anthony carried me into the house and seated me on the sofa. He was pacing in front of me. He was trying to say something, but every time his hand shuts his mouth. His other hand continuously grasping his hair.
• Uh, oh...he's mad...
• "Anthony, I'm sorry. I should've listened to you." He crouched down in front of me, stroking my hair.
• "Lilian, what am I going to do with you?" he asked while slowly kiss and pull me into his embrace. And I shrieked.
• Shit!
• He let go of me and finally noticed the cuts on my arm. He gently pulled off the jacket, revealing the wound. "The entity, she scratched me".
• "Let me get you clean off okay? Then we'll have dinner." He kissed my temple and carried me in his arm to the bathroom.
• "Stripped now Lilian, while I set up the bathwater." I could see him adjusting the warmth of the water, and adding some liquid bath soap into the water.
• "Hurry Lilian, or you want me to do it for you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow trying to prove a point. I quickly stripped naked in front of him, making me blushed.
• He chuckled at my sudden shyness, and start walking towards me stripping himself. He stopped in front of me naked, with his lower half standing proud to greet me.
• I blushed even further. Then he laughed and carried me, then lower me to the bathwater. He was behind me, he was engulfing me. Making me feel secure, as I rest my head on his chest and slowly closing my eyes, and relaxed my body.
• "I need you to let me protect you, Lilian." He lifted my wounded arm to the edge of the tub to keep it dry. He started to wash my hair and rinsed it. Then he started to rub my shoulder, putting more pressure and massage my back, making me relax as I moaned his name.
• He left me to soak for another fifteen minutes, then he helped me up and dry off. He tended to my cuts, and continue wrapping me with one of his t-shirts. Later he put his palm on my back and ushered me to the kitchen.
• We talked through dinner. We talked about other things, as he was still upset about what happened to me earlier. We moved to the couch after dinner and finished the wine from dinner. "Lilian you really scared me today. I need you to know, that I care about you. I need you to be able to take care of yourself if you're not with me. So, what actually happened earlier?" He turned me to face him.
• "I'm too tired I guess. I should've dialed down with Diane. But we got caught up painting and designing, we lost track of time. Everyone had gone home. Diane was dashing off to her boyfriend and I was left alone. It has been awhile. I'm usually aware of my surrounding. It's my fault. I'm sorry Anthony, I didn't mean to make you upset." I leaned in and kissed his cheek.
• "It's ok sweets, I should also text more just to remind you. I will just have to make sure, it's not going to happen again. I'm sure you have learned a lot from Aunt Ann. Maybe you should call her tomorrow, just to check in with her and share about what happened earlier." He finished his wine and put it on the table.
• "Come, Lilian, I still need you in my bed." He smiled and offered me his hand.