Chapter 4- Graveyards and Gargoyles

Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better. -Henry Rollins

I spent the rest of my week with my dad. The others offered to help me move in on Saturday and buy some decorations. I hadn't seen Nathan all week to, it was like him and his friends had disappeared from school and know one noticed. I asked a few people if they had any idea, they just said he does this at least twice in a month.

I was loading some of my boxes into the pickup, most of them contained the books I found in my mother's room, I didn't have that much to carry but I really just wanted to use my car. It wasn't old per say the paint job was still good it was white with blue designs all over the edges, my mother and I had painted it together my dad just took pictures he didn't have an artistic bone in his body.

My driveway was full of laughter as everyone on showed up well except Jonathan and Valerie. "Where's your bother?", I asked Jesse when he sat in my pick up.

He shrugged, "he had to do something for our parents and Valerie has this thing with her sister in case you're wondering."

I wasn't wondering but I thanked him. My dad came out later with lemonades for everyone, he seemed happy he was dressed in his suit, he was ready to go in a few hours. He pulled me inside once he finished handing out the drinks.

"I'm really happy you have friends, they look good for you." He whispered into my hair as he pulled me into a hug. When he let me go he put the keys for the house in my house. "I'm leaving for the office then I'll catch the plane with my colleagues.

This was goodbye I guess. I hugged him tightly, his cologne stuck to my nose. "I left you one of my sweatshirts in case you needed it. The one your mother got me, now you have a piece of both of us." He said before walking outside the house was empty now.

After he left Xavier and Xena stuck their heads through the door. They both wore shorts but Xena had a green shirt and Xavier red, the sight was really comical. Xena had braided her brown hair into a French braid, some of her hair had blonde highlights it looked good. Xaviers brown hair was disheveled from running his fingers through it.

"Don't cry Quinn, let's get going if your ready.", Xavier said wrapping his arms around me. I began walking away when I heard Anai's voice.

"Won't you take that photo with you?", I turned around to see what she was talking about. It was the picture of all of us, my mother, father older brother and me it was taken two years ago. I grabbed it and flashed Anai a grateful smile.

"Well let's go guys. I'm driving." I said while we were outside. The next problem was who was riding shot gun

Xena ended up beside me while the rest were in the trunk, I didn't think they minded the wind was blowing and they all looked like models. It was hard to concentrate on them and the road to Xena and I made small talk.

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The dorms shone with sunlight. It had a retro feel to it. It was huge there were two castle like structures what I assume are girls and boys dorm the school itself was further down fro there it was a walking distance. It still gave me chills. If you looked closer you could see there were bars on the windows. There were gargoyles on the roofs with red beady eyes that shine like rubies. This place reminded me of an ancient dungeon.

"Well Arindale used to be a school for troubled youth. I guess they didn't change the look to scare us from sneaking out at night.", Xavier said suddenly appearing at my side. That's explains the creepy feeling.

"Just don't go out alone at nights. Ok?", Xena said appearing right beside me.

We spent the rest of the day unpacking our stuff, I wasn't the only one who had moved in as well. Jonathan came back pretty late and just stayed with us while we ate pizza in Anai and Xena's room. Valerie never showed up. It was around midnight when we all left for our rooms before the dorms get locked. I wandered the hallways looking for my room till I found myself outside.

Xena was right it was really creepy, the gargoyles eyes shone more menacingly give me a more reason to get away from there.  I wandered around the moon guiding me till I came across a large area it was vast with slabs of rocks sitting on top of them. I continued to walk down till I realised I was in a graveyard.

I was suddenly aware of everything around me, the shadows, eerie voices of the night as well as the moon losing some of its shine, soon total darkness encased me. It was like my dreams a blanket of darkness surrounding me chocking me the shadows suddenly stood straighter their claws seemed to be reaching out to me. I was surrounded and clueless.

There was a light coming after me, I felt like a deer caught in headlights. Warm arms encircled me and pulled me across the graveyard, I was losing my mind I was sure of that but I kept my eyes closed. The arms left me and I felt cold opening my eyes I came eye to eye with Nathan his eyes blazing his eyes were no longer their usual amber colour but darker. He radiate danger and I took a step back falling on my ankle it twisted. I was going to feel that in the morning but I was to scared to pay attention.

"What the hell, Quinn how stupid can you be. Why would you been wandering around in a graveyard at night huh? Especially since you don't know here very well. When I said I'll see you later I didn't mean like this surrounded by those things.", he seethed

"So you saw them too?", I asked. I was accustomed to the monsters they were my burden no one could see them apart from my mother and Benjamin.

"Of all the things I said that what you got! You're killing me here."

"Wait, it's kind of weird that you say that what we're you doing outside as well! Mr hotspot cool down would you. Those things didn't attack you they attacked me and I could have handled myself I'm used to them!", my anger taking over. Nathan stared me down before exhaling his hair was hidden behind his hair. He visibly calmed down and I calmed down too it seemed like ages before any of us said something.

"Do you know what those things were? You saw them to right?", I asked my voice coming out in barely a whisper.

He groaned before looking at me. "They were demons Quinn and I think you know why they're after you."

"If I knew that I wouldn't be out here. Those thing demons you called them.", I scoffed " what they are, those monsters are worse than demons but their mine to handle just leave me and don't say anything about this okay. The least you could do is help me get back to the dorms by ankle hurts."

He pulled me up from the rock I was sitting on and led me back through a short cut through the trees. We reached the dorm in no time there was light in a room close to mine. The monitor I didn't even know how to explain myself. Sighing I turned away form Nathan and began to walk inside when he called after me.

"Quinn I can't not do anything. I'm gonna help you okay? I don't know why but I will help you", he whispered but I caught it the quietness of the night carrying his voice over to me.

Goodnight Nathan thank you