Part 8

I walked into the history class and found the room nearly empty, except for Jacob."Where is Emma and Lucy?" I asked him."Come here," he said, spreading his arms wide with his signature smile. I embraced him in a tight hug, laughing. It felt wonderful to be with my best friends after the long weeks of stress.We spent the rest of the time catching up and chatting. I was genuinely glad to be back to my old self, and as the day passed I began to relax and feel happier.Just when I thought my day couldn't get better, the door to the classroom flew open, and I gasped in surprise. John stumbled in, and my mood soured instantly."Ugh," I muttered under my breath, earning a curious glance from Jacob. I filled him in on the events of the past week involving William and John. Jacob's face darkened with anger, and he shot John a steely "I'm watching you" look.John had quite a reputation on campus for his nasty attitude and rude behaviour toward nearly everyone."Is the jerk still giving you a hard time?" Jacob asked, concern evident in his voice."Not really," I whispered, trying to hide my feelings.John's eyes locked with mine, and I worried he might have overheard me. But honestly, I didn't care much if he did; it wasn't like he wasn't aware that he was a jerk."That's all for today. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Professor Hans said, dismissing the class.As Jacob stood up, he immediately moved in front of me, taking a protective stance when he saw John approaching. "I'm so glad to see you having a good time with your plaything," John said with a sneer before walking out of the classroom."What's his problem? What does he mean by 'plaything'?" Jacob asked, clearly puzzled and annoyed."Just ignore that jerk," I replied, trying to brush off the comment as we walked out of class. Jacob's hand rested reassuringly on my shoulder, a comforting presence as we left the building.An unsettling feeling of being watched lingered in my head all day long. Whenever I tried to pinpoint who might be causing it, the feeling would suddenly disappear, leaving me with an uneasy sense of paranoia."You know what? It's been forever since we went to any parties. Let's go tonight!" Jacob suggested with excitement.I didn't want to be alone anymore, so I agreed, which made him beam with happiness. Emma and Lucy joined us, their excitement was palpable."Did I just hear 'party'?" Emma asked, bouncing up and down with enthusiasm.I smiled at her eagerness. Emma's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I can't wait! It's been way too long since we've had a good party."Later that evening, I arrived at Lucy's house wearing a simple black body-hugging backless gown paired with red heels."Wow, Kristen, you look stunning tonight!" she exclaimed. "That dress is perfect."I gave her a grateful smile, adjusting the neckline of my black body-hugging gown. "Thanks, Lucy. I'm really looking forward to this. It's been a while since I've had a night out."Emma looped her arm through mine as we made our way to the living room. "Let's make tonight unforgettable," she said with a grin.As we settled in, Lucy added, "I've been hearing that John's going to be there too. Do you think he'll cause any trouble?""I think John is stalking you," Lucy said, her tone shifting to concern. "We heard from Jacob that he's a creep. We've seen him a few times staring at you in class.""Why on earth would he stalk me?" I asked, a knot of worry forming in my stomach."I think he likes you!" Lucy said, her mood brightening as she spoke.I couldn't help but respond sarcastically, "That would be the last thing I'd look forward to on earth."Lucy's eyebrow shot up, her expression was mixed with concern and curiosity. "Are you sure? It seemed like he was paying a lot of attention to you.""Lucy, he's a jerk. I'm pretty sure I'd be the last person he'd be interested in," I said, trying to dismiss the thought. My mind wandered to William, and I found it hard to focus on John's unsettling behaviour.Lucy gave me a doubtful look but let the topic drop."Well, I saw him watching you—stalking, really—in class, in the corridors, and wherever you go. He was always there," Lucy said, her smile meant to be reassuring but coming off as unsettling.A wave of disbelief washed over me. The idea was more than a little frightening. "John is nothing to me. Why would he stalk me when he could just come up and talk to me?""Let's not worry about it now," Lucy said, trying to shift the focus. "We should just enjoy ourselves. Come on, let's go have some fun." She tugged me towards the party.The party was a repeat of the last one, with a sea of drunk people scattered everywhere. As Lucy and Emma disappeared into the crowd, I found myself alone on a couch, waiting for Jacob to arrive. The atmosphere was loud and chaotic, a stark contrast to the unsettling thoughts about John still lingering in my mind."You look good," a familiar voice said, sending a chill down my spine."John," I said with deliberate sarcasm. His eyes swept down my body, intensifying the chill that spread over me. I stayed silent, holding his gaze."I see you've got a new boyfriend," he remarked with his usual venom, glancing past me. I turned to see Jacob talking to someone across the room.I didn't feel like correcting him, so I decided to go along with it."Thanks," I said, smiling. He growled at me with a deadly glare."Have a good time," I say, and walk away from him. He didn't follow me which made me, a little relieved."Hey," Jacob greets me with a hug."You look great tonight." He says with a wink."Well, you look hot as always. I said, earning a grin from him.We danced in a group, enjoying ourselves as the party's energy grew. Emma, with her usual enthusiasm, suggested, "Let's play Truth or Dare!" We gathered around on a couch, ready for the game. Lucy spun the bottle, and it stopped on Jacob."Truth or Dare?" Lucy asked, her smile mischievous."Truth," Jacob chose, leaning back with a relaxed demeanour."Who do you love the most among us three?" Lucy asked, her grin widening.John stood nearby with a vodka bottle in hand, his gaze fixed on us. It felt more like a glare, but I chose to ignore him and pretend he wasn't there."Of course it's Kristen!" Jacob exclaimed, pulling me close and planting a playful kiss on my cheek. I glanced at our group, noting that Jacob was clearly drunk."No, I love you the most," Jacob said suddenly, his gaze locking with mine as he held my hand in a tight grip. It was a bit painful, but I didn't mind. I knew him well."Well, I love you too, my handsome prince," I said, laughing.John scoffed, drawing everyone's attention. "Seriously?" he asked, glaring at me.We brushed off John's presence and kept playing. The bottle spun and pointed at me this time."Truth or Dare?" Lucy asked with a grin."Truth," I said, my voice a bit shaky. John's soft chuckle from behind didn't help my nerves. I chose to ignore him again."Who is your first love?" Emma asked her tone light but curious.Before I could even process the question, Jacob, who had been drinking heavily, slumped onto the couch and passed out. I blurted out the answer, almost as if it were a reflex."Stanley."The moment I said it, a low, dangerous growl sounded, making me shiver. John's gaze locked with mine. Something in his eyes was menacing, but before I could react, he vanished as quickly as he had appeared.Emma and Lucy looked at me, confusion evident on their faces. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I was stunned by my own revelation."Who's Stanley?" they asked in unison."I... I don't know!" I stammered, my blush deepening as I half-lied.John was nowhere to be seen, as if he had never been there. The girls moved on, the topic forgotten. Soon, everyone, including Emma and Lucy, was drunk and swaying on the dance floor.The cold night air was sharp against my skin as I stood by the tree, lost in my own swirling thoughts. My breath misted in the darkness, and the silence of the backyard only heightened my unease.Suddenly, the eerie quiet was broken by John's sudden appearance. His looming figure startled me, and I gasped, stepping back instinctively."What are you doing here?" I half-screamed, my voice trembling with fear and frustration.John's eyes were intense, almost burning with fury. "Who's Stanley?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. He advanced towards me, closing the distance with each step."Like you care!" I retorted, trying to mask my fear with sarcasm as I took a few steps back.John's anger seemed to boil over. "How many guys do you have wrapped around your ass?" he spat, his face twisted in rage.My eyes widened in shock, and my heartbeat quickened. The aggression in his tone and the space he was invading made me feel scared. I took another step back, feeling the cold bark of the tree against my back."Why the hell do you care about whom I date?" I asked, bewildered and angry.John's expression darkened further, his eyes narrowing. "You didn't answer my question.""About what?" I screamed, my fear now mingling with exasperation."Stanley," he hissed, his voice dripping with hostility. "Who is he, and how did you meet him?" His eyes were hard as he took another threatening step closer.I felt a surge of panic. The intensity in John's gaze was unsettling, and I had no idea why he was so fixated on Stanley. "I don't have to answer to you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising dread."I don't owe you any explanation. Get out of my sight," I growled, my voice low but firm. The intensity in my tone seemed to make John take a few steps back. The anger coursing through me was like wildfire, mingling with a strange, almost magical warmth that I tried to push aside as the urgent need to escape overwhelmed me. I felt a sudden change in my eyes, a shift in color that John clearly noticed, but I didn't stop to process it. I turned on my heel and walked away.As I walked away, a sense of disorientation hit me. It felt like I didn't belong anywhere, whether at the party, in college, or even in my own life. There was a deep, nagging feeling that there was a place where I did belong, but I couldn't seem to find it.The dreams about Stanley faded, replaced by haunting nightmares of William. My outburst with John seemed to trigger a new wave of unsettling dreams. Every night, I would lie down to sleep only to wake up gasping for air, drenched in sweat, after being chased by unknown, menacing creatures. I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to these dreams.I don't remember much from last night's dream, but I saw William. When those monsters chased me I ran into the woods and bumped into William."Kristen! What are you doing here in the woods?" He asked me with concerned eyes, and I held him tight, panting for air. "William, save me, please! There is something coming after me." I said, looking behind me, scared like hell."Nothing is there, Kristen; look." He pointed behind me.With a puzzled expression, I looked around. I think those beasts are hidden somewhere, we need to get out of here. I said and returned my attention to William. His posture altered, his body tensed, his breath became shaky, and when he lifted his eyes, they were pure black, like a devil. I took a cautious step back, but he was quick to seize me. His concerned eyes were now filled with loathing and disgust."You smell so good." He said, taking a whiff of my neck and holding me by the hair."What happened to you, William? Please. I'm scared," I said, struggling in his arms when his hold on me tightened. Tears ran down my cheeks in horror. My sob penetrated the air. He simply smiled wickedly at me and opened his mouth, revealing four pointed fangs that froze me.I screamed in agony as he sank his fang into the side of my neck, sucking the life off my veins.My ear-splitting screams filled the forest. For some unspoken emotion, I can't explain what I was feeling. His bite becomes harder, draining every ounce of my blood. I could feel the light in my eyes fading away as I left the world of the living.With a gasp, I woke up from the nightmare. I fight to gain control of my pounding heart. Once I found the strength to calm down, goosebumps trace along my skin and the coldness of the Air conditioning sinks into my veins. The darkness surrounding me made it harder for me to see anything. I switched on the light from my bedside lamp.Days passed without any unusual events, but William continued to haunt my dreams like a vampire from a horror movie. I sometimes mistook my dreams for visions, feeling overwhelmed and distressed when I woke up.I desperately needed a break from it all. Anne used to say, "If your day sucks, focus on one thing you can look forward to, and you'll get through it."Tonight, I planned to take Anne out for dinner. Our busy college schedules had kept us apart, and we hadn't spent much time together recently. We used to go shopping or dine out every weekend, but in the past few weeks, we'd barely seen each other.I dialled her number and waited for her to pick up. When she answered, I said, "Hey, what's up?""Anne, could you come home a bit earlier today?" I asked."What's wrong, honey? Is everything okay?" she replied, her voice filled with concern."Yeah, everything's fine. I was just thinking it's been a while since we went out to dinner," I explained."Okay, no problem. I'll be there by 7 p.m.," she agreed."Great! I'll be ready," I said with enthusiasm before hanging up the phone.I dressed in black trousers and a pink pullover, paired with sneakers. Anne arrived right at 7:00 p.m., honking from the driveway, signalling me to come out."Hey, what's up?" I greeted her, trying to sound upbeat.She looked at me with raised eyebrows, clearly questioning my mood."What?" I asked playfully."I was just wondering what's going on with you. You've barely spoken to me in the past few weeks, and it made me worried. I thought maybe you were dealing with some boyfriend drama and needed time alone," she said."What? Seriously! There's nothing like that," I said, trying to sound reassuring."Hmm, if you say so," she sighed."Honestly, I just missed you and wanted to hang out," I explained.She smiled warmly. "Okay, hon. Let's go.""Anne, if you drive like a snail, we'll be there in time for tomorrow's dinner," I joked.She laughed, and we headed out together, excited for our much-needed catch-up.Anne scowled at me and focused on the road, speeding up slightly despite the empty road. I groaned and fell back into my seat."So, how are your classes going?" she asked, trying to start a conversation."It's been excruciating," I replied, my mind drifting to thoughts of William. I quickly blinked away the distraction."Have you met any impressive guys lately?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement.I opened and closed my mouth, unsure whether to mention William. I hesitated, searching for the right words."Not much; we've had a few new students in my history class, but no one's joined our group yet," I said, grabbing a water bottle from the back seat."Does that mean nothing's going on between you and William?" she asked suddenly.I nearly choked on the water."How do you know, William?" I asked, surprised."I met him at the hospital after the accident," she said flatly."You didn't answer my question," she pressed, her curiosity evident."Well, I haven't seen him in a few weeks; he quit attending college and vanished without a trace. Nobody knows where he is or what he's doing," I finished sadly."What? That's strange. Because I saw him parked outside our house last night, looking up at your window. When I offered for him to come inside, he just shrugged it off and said he was only passing through before leaving," Anne said.I was stunned. "What? William was here last night?" I asked, surprised and excited. My heart pounded in my chest.So, he wanted to see me but didn't. Why? He's not attending college, and I wondered what's going on with him. "Was there anything else he said?" I asked hopefully.Anne's expression shifted to concern. "Is he stalking you or something? He seems like a nice person, but something doesn't feel right," she said, her voice rising."Everything's fine. I'm just surprised. Maybe he should have come to check on me. We're not that close, unfortunately," I said, trying to sound more at ease than I felt.We arrived at the restaurant after what felt like an eternity. I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of the fresh air. This place is usually bustling on weekends, but tonight it had an unusual quietness.A few people glanced our way as we walked in. The restaurant was nearly empty, and the silence had an eerieness."Don't you think it's odd that there aren't many people here tonight?" I asked Anne."It's fine. At least we can discuss your mystery man without interruptions," she replied with a hint of excitement.We picked two empty chairs in the main area. The few people present seemed to give us brief, curious glances before returning to their conversations."Hello there! What would you like to have?" A waitress asked with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. There was something off about her. She didn't resemble the typical waitress; her well-manicured nails, pointed heels, and flawless makeup made her look more like a television actress.I found myself staring at her striking appearance until she cleared her throat, her tone slightly amused. Embarrassed, I quickly looked away from the menu, feeling a bit intimidated.Anne ordered a glass of wine and a mutton steak with broccoli and vegetables. The waitress nodded and quickly went off to the kitchen.As we waited, Anne and I chatted casually about my parents' upcoming trip to London, which they hadn't mentioned in our last phone call. I shook my head, trying to ignore the odd feeling that had settled over me.After a few minutes, a different waitress brought our food. I was puzzled by the change but pushed it aside as I eagerly dug into my steak. It was delicious, and I ate with a hunger that made Anne chuckle."This tastes great," I said, shovelling another spoonful of steak and potatoes into my mouth.Anne's gaze became thoughtful. "Oh, by the way, a handsome boy came into the library a few days ago. He said he was from your school. I believe his name was John. He was looking for some ancient witch mythology book, which was odd. He also seemed very curious about you."I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "John? He's William's friend, but we've never spoken before. What did he ask about me?"Anne paused, her face becoming serious. "He asked about your life interests and what impresses you.""That's strange. Why would he ask all those questions?" I murmured to myself.Anne swallowed hard, her face paling slightly. "You should be careful around new people. Sometimes they can be... creepy."I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "There's nothing to worry about," I said with a bright smile, hoping to ease her concerns.