Chapter 5

Looking at myself in the mirror I realise it’s the same usual outfit; black jeans with an oversized sweatshirt, I should invest in clothes. I roll up my sleeves and notice something weird on my arm. It’s as if something scratched me but it’s more like a bruise. That’s when I remember my dream, well… nightmare.

I run down the corridor and start running up the stairs when one of the monster grips on to my arm. I scream in pain before its’s finally released.

It’s a nightmare that I used to have almost every day as a kid, it was because of grandpa that they stopped; he put a cup of water under the full moon, 3 days before and after and made me drink it. Grandpa believed that nature is something that we live in and learn to harness, when he found out about my nightmares, he tried that remedy and surprisingly it worked.

I stopped getting that dreadful nightmare and in fact forgot about it until yesterday.

Grandma was a religious Catholic woman however grandpa believed in Taoism. He wasn’t brought up in it, but his beliefs developed into it, dad shares a lot of his beliefs, but grandma wouldn’t let me.

I rolled my sleeves back down and run downstairs, “dad shall we leave?”

“You haven’t eaten anything; shall I pack you something?”

“No, I’ll eat outside”. I say as I walk past him.

“Okay, wear a coat, its cold outside” he inquires as he grabs his keys.

I nod my head and grab my coat; I didn’t want anyone to see the marks on my arm.

I walk out of the car and into the breeze that wraps itself around me. I message Hava but she’s not on campus yet, so rather than dying in the cold I head to the library. The library is my favourite part of the campus, the university is well known for its prestigious books. I take one of my favourite books and sit down in the far end of the library, I send a short near the back of the library text to Hava and put my headphones in.

I’m a couple of pages in when someone comes and sits opposite me, I look around and notice the library is practically empty. I take a glance at him, before going back to my book. I squirm in my seat because I caught him staring, he’s so intimidating. His features are sharp, and his brown hair is curved upwards. His eyes are pitch black and hollow, there was no emotion in them when I saw him.

“Hey, aren’t you a first-year psychology student?” he asks me.

I ignore it and continue to read; headphones clearly signify leave me alone.

He taps his fingers on the table, making me look up at him, “Yeah?”

“Aren’t you a first-year psychology student?” he asks again. I nod and I’m about to put my headphones in again when he speaks up.

“I’m in second year so if you need notes or anything, just ask”. I smile and am about to repeat the process of putting my headphones in when he speaks up.

“This is my num-” he starts off and starts writing down his number until I butt in.

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude but if I need anything, why would I ask you? I don’t even know you”.

He smirks and rests his head on both his hands, “I know you though, I’m sure you probably want to know more about Randall”.

How did he know that? Is he one of them? I didn’t see him in my nightmare, not that the nightmare can be real, but it makes one wonder.

“Do you know me through him?” I lean forward slightly in curiosity.

He leans back and laughs “you can assume that but no. I’ll be honest, you’re not what I expected”.

I furrow my eyebrows, “who are you?”

He writes down his number and hands it “here, call me if you want to know more”.

He gets up to leave and that’s when Hava walks in, she waves at me with a smile but when she sees him her face drops and before I say anything she drags him away.

They know each other?

Hava walks back in after a while, looking annoyed, “What did he say to you?” she says standing in front of me with her hands on the table.

I’m taken aback, “nothing, he just-”.

“The truth, Sienna”.

“He said he knows me and to ask him if I need notes, that it. What’s wrong?”

She crosses her arms and goes into deep thought.

“Hava, what’s wrong?” I inquire again.

“I have to leave, make notes for me please” she says as she turns to leave.

However, I get in front of her and stop her “no, everyone connected to you is confusing me. So many questions and no answers. Please tell me. I asked Randall and he didn’t answer either”.

She sighs and looks down, “if Randall didn’t tell you anything then I can’t as well, please understand it’s for your benefit. Whatever you do though, don’t contact the guy you just met”.

Hava sprints out of the library before I have a chance to respond. I glance down at the paper where he’s written his number and his name.

Tristan.

I guess I don’t have a choice but to ask him, the only person who was willing to say anything.

I’m sorry Hava.

I dial the number and pack up my bag as the call is going through.

“I knew you’d call” Tristan says as soon as he picks up.

“Can we meet?” I say whilst walking out determined to get answers.