Sample chapter from a compilation of twelve short stories
8
APPARITION
As
I walked along the campus track leading through a common of evergreen tree’s I
could smell the sweet scent of the pine needles through the night air and the
warm soft breeze flowing through the branches gently swaying to and fro.
A
sudden crack and a rustle of foliage drew my attention to the left of me in the
rough ground.
“What the hell was that?” I thought to myself only able to hear
my own heart beat as it pounded within the walls of my chest trying to break
out of my rib cage. With eyes wide and
feeling light headed with fear I began to strain my eyes trying to make sense
of the darkness and odd shapes within the trees.
Suddenly
without warning I saw the movement of a dark shadow rushing towards me swiping
to the sides the low branches. As it closed in on me I saw those eyes, red and
glowing and sharp teeth snarling at me. “Ohhh,
shit! “ I cried out in a shriek as a squirrel emerged from the darkness in
front of me stopped, turned and scurried off again more afraid of me than I of
it.
“Jesus!” I regained my composure and
began to quicken my pace as if this would protect me from harm.
“It’s nothing
Sam, just a darn squirrel now don’t be silly” I
looked ahead of me and saw in the moonlight the end of the common where the
dirt track joins the concrete sidewalk leading to the dorms, this gave me a
relief as I began to jog towards the street lamp flickering at the end of the
track.
As
I exited the common and my feet stepped on to solid ground I felt elated and a
feeling of being safe came all over me as I stood motionless under the streetlamp
catching my breath from my forced run.
I
was just about to set off walking when all of a sudden I felt a tight grasp
around my body, a strong and firm grasp forcing me to scream out in fear. My
heart jumped a few beats and I could feel myself begin to well up in tears as I
realized it was Patrick a fellow student. “You
bastard, don’t you realize I could have died from a heart attack!” Patrick just
stood there chuckling as the rest of my friends were laughing hysterically at
the prank.
“Sorry
Sam, I just couldn’t resist when we saw you running back there.
“NOT
funny!” I said.
“Anyhow, what were you running for? “ Asked Sarah.
I turned
bright red and swallowed my pride and told them about the squirrel which made
them laugh even more but I did see the funny side of it all. Patrick came
towards me and put his arms around me “Sorry Sam, forgive me?”
“Yeah
yeah” I said “Come on let’s get to the dorm.” With that Patrick gave me a
quick kiss and took my hand and as a group we all headed to the dorms
I
was restless in bed, tossing this way turning that way “oohhhh, darn it!” Tired
and frustrated I wrestled with my pillow getting into positions that a
contortionist would find demanding.
“You
OK, Sam? “Spoke a soft little voice from the bed across the room belonging to
my roommate, Sarah.
“Yes, I mean NO!” I was so tired I didn’t mean to snap at
Sarah “I just can’t seem to fall asleep.”
“You
want me to get you something?”
“No
thanks Sarah, I’ll be fine go back to sleep.” With that Sarah fell quiet again
and then I heard her little soft snores as she fell back into dreamland. “So
jelly!”
I
lie on my back and put my arms up to my
head clasping my hands at the back of my head under my pillow and stared at the
ceiling listening to the night sounds. I
came out of the campus gym and entered the locker room where I pulled off or
rather rolled off my gym slip soaked with sweat from my treadmill workout and
threw it on to the floor.
I was naked with nothing covering me so I grabbed my
2 bath towels and my toiletries from my gym bag and made my way to the showers.
I turned on the shower and then took a quick sniff of my armpit. “phewww, oh my god ha-ha you really did
yourself this time Sam.”
I stepped into
the shower and at first it bit with pain because the water was too hot but with
a little adjustment from the cold tap I found the perfect balance. I stepped
into the warm soothing water cascading over me as I broke its perfect arc,
running my fingers through my long blonde hair ensuring it was soaked through
to my scalp I then took my shampoo and lathered my hair into a foam mass. Once
happy I stuck my head under the shower and let the foam shampoo run out of my
hair and down my body making me tingle and freshly clean. I turned off the
shower and could only hear the drip of water from the tap as I stepped out of
the shower. All refreshed I grabbed my towel then commenced to dry my hair then
wrapped it up high, then I grabbed my other bath towel and dried myself head to
foot.
I
looked in the mirror after checking no
one was around looking for any signs of pimples before getting dressed being
just sweatpants and a baggy sweater and sneakers, no underwear as I was going
to get my night clothes on once back at the dorm.
“OK Sam, time to
move your ass and get back to the dorm girl. ” With that I grabbed my gym bag
and headed out of the locker room stepping into the corridor it was quiet and
no one seemed to be around, I looked at my watch “8:47pm, I’m later than
usual.”
I
made my way to the exit door that squealed and creaked as I opened it and
stepped outside into the warm open air, this made me begin to sweat again having
just come out of the shower.
I
looked over my options
“Now do I go the long way staying on the sidewalk or do
I take the short cut through the common?” I had heard that a female student 3
years ago had been attacked and raped in the common but I never saw any proof
that it was true so I assumed it was just from the old rumor mill that we have
on campuses.
“Screw it, fast track to
the dorm!”
I commenced to walk towards the common walking track and I figured
that the lamps along the track surly wouldn’t be all out.
As
I entered the track I looked far ahead of me and saw that the track winds
around a bend out of sight but the lamps where lit and giving good light so I
began to walk into the common.
As
I walked along I could hear the soft crunch under my feet as I stepped along
the dirt track, the light and the shade as I walked from lamp light to the next
and the rustle of branches on both sides of the track from the evergreens with a
pleasant aroma of pines six feet away from the track on both sides.
As
I rounded the bend I looked ahead and realized that about 30 yards ahead of me
was in darkness and the lamps where out, I strained my eyes and could just make
out that the next bend in the track the lights where on in the far distance.
“Bad
idea Sam, bad idea girl” But I had come too far to go back and so with a
little apprehension and hesitation I continued wearily.
“You crazy bitch, this
is totally a bad idea” One foot in front of the other, eyes wide I stepped
into the darkness gingerly moving slowly on, not even the moonlight could
penetrate the trees as they were so thick.
I
was trying to adjust and focus my eyes to the darkness listening to every
single noise, every creak, every snap of a twig and rustle of branches. “It’s
all in your imagination Sam.” I told myself over and over but it didn’t make it
any less scary.
With
my legs weak and my heart thumping, a jolt of fear hit me deep in my stomach as
I heard movement in the trees to my right. I froze and stared into the darkness
of the trees not able to see clearly.
“Is that you guys?” Not a sound, nothing.
“Patrick, Sarah. Anna Jimmy, I hope you guys aren’t trying to prank me again?
“ But nothing, not a sound, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand
on end and chills run through me to the bone. At the same time, I had an
overwhelming feeling that someone or something was standing behind me so I
slowly turned my head to the left with total fear in my eyes, my eyes locked
onto a females gaze but I couldn’t make out her facial features.
Frozen
to the spot, the warm night air suddenly turned freezing cold and my breath
became a mist as I exhaled. I noticed that I was looking through her as if she
were transparent and her skin was pale white, I could feel myself begin to shake
uncontrollably at the knees and I’m not ashamed to say I let go of my bodily
function and urinated myself.
Finally my knees couldn’t hold my mass up any
longer and I collapsed to the ground whimpering, my eyes on the ground I saw
her feet all pale and transparent so I took a moment to compose myself and
slowly looked up at the apparition now looking down at me.
“What
do you want?” I sobbed out of my
pathetic little body and the apparition just raised her right arm and pointed
further down the track as if she wanted to show me something.
I
looked down the track and I saw nothing but when I looked at the female again
she was gone. There was nothing there so I picked myself up and I ran as fast
as I could then I seemed to be frozen in one spot. No matter how hard or fast I ran I seemed to
get nowhere as if I were running on a treadmill. Then I felt a hand grab me and
as it pulled at me I screamed out loud and kept screaming closing my eyes, I
was too scared to see what was happening to me then I heard a voice.
“Sam, Sam,
it’s me Sarah!” I opened my eyes and I realized I was in bed. “You were having
a nightmare.” Sarah said. “Do you wanna talk about it?” Sarah asked me.
“No
it’s silly” I said.
All
that day I was in a daze, Patrick thought I was still upset with him over the
prank he pulled the night before and tried his best to be sweet all day, but I
just couldn’t shake the dream out of my head and what made it worse was the
fact I could remember every little detail.
I
had a major exam that day but needless to say I do well on test when I’m tired
so I knew I aced the exam.
That
night when I went to sleep I had the exact same dream again, and again I woke
up at the point of running only this time I was soaked with sweat and the female
spoke one word, “There.”
That morning I decided to confide in Sarah.
“Did you
have another nightmare Sam?” Sarah inquired when we woke up.
“Yes, can I
confide in you Sarah?”
“Of
course you can Sam that’s what besties are for” Sarah said, “What’s wrong
Sam?”
So, I commenced to tell Sarah all about the dreams and the ghostly girl
and Sarah listened to every word I said. “Do you think I’m crazy Sarah?”
“Hahaha,
Dumb ass, drop dead sexy, can have any guy you want BUT crazy…No… Not a
chance!”
“Maybe
I’ve been studying too hard” I told Sarah.
“Maybe, but then again maybe it
could be your inner self saying scare me scare me Hahahaha.”
“You’re
Crazy Sarah.” I said with a chuckle,
“Takes one to know one.” With a smile she
went into the bathroom and shouted “AND I DON’T PISS MYSELF Hahaha!”
“Sarah
not so loud!” I winced at the thought others may hear her through the thin
walls of the dorm.
After
getting showered, dressed and some leftover pizza from last night for breakfast
both I and Sarah made our way over to the campus cafeteria to meet up with the
rest of guys.
“Hey...
If it’s not my favorite gal “Patrick was awash with a grin from ear to ear once
he saw me coming towards him; we had both been dating for 2 years in high
school and now in university.
“Hey
peeps!” I leaned over and gave him a kiss full on his lips.
“Why peeps?” asked
Gary “You never did tell us why you call him peeps.”
Patrick laughed. “Because…
I’m so fuckin handsome Gary.” Patrick retorted with a grin.
“No!” I said “It’s
because I caught him peeping through my bedroom window from the elm tree
outside my parent’s home one night.” With this Patrick turned bright red and
Gary wasn’t going to miss the opportunity of a comeback.
”Hahahaha so you’re a
peeping tom or rather peeping pat!”
“Yeah
...Funny. “ Said Patrick.
At that point I looked at my watch “Shit...Sarah,
Phoebe we gotta get to class!” With that I gave Patrick a quick peck and said
“See you at lunch peeps.” He smiled and off we ran.
The day was long and hot,
mid-summer and the air conditioning in the University being down didn’t help
much, Patrick got a call from home saying his father was ill, I wanted to go
with him but he insisted I stay so that kind of ruined our day.
That
night myself and Sarah , Phoebe and Anna decided to have a girlie night thought
it might cheer us up a little so the Jacks and the Smirnoff ice started to pour
and the more we poured the more we drank.
I
don’t remember much about that night but I know I drank myself into a stupor
but it didn’t stop me from having the dream again, only this time I saw a male
figure in dark clothing further along the track. It was as if the apparition
was trying to tell me something but what? I know I have to find out so from
there on I began to write down notes every time I woke up.
I
had the same dream for 6 weeks and each time there seemed to be a little bit
more of the puzzle.
The
female apparition, the male figure, the rumor of the violent rape and attack
and in recent dreams the male was wearing a campus jacket with the crown of the
university insignia on the left chest. There was a tear down the left sleeve
and a number 28 in gold on the right upper arm.
I
began to look into the history of the campus and I started asking questions to
the university lecturers who had been there forever, but all said there has
never been any murders on the campus. Frustrated, after a while I gave up and
the dreams seemed to subside on their own.
Patrick’s
father passed and I wanted to be with him in his time of need but he insisted I
stay at University and that he would be doing an extra year but dropping out
for the remainder of the semester.
Sarah
met a new boyfriend Danny who lived off campus and moved in with him so here I
am all alone and no roommate to replace Sarah, strange though I haven’t seen
her in a week.
“Oh
well off to the gym, shouldn’t have left it so late though but, it’ll do me
some good.”
I arrived at the gym at 6:30pm and as I walked through the door I
saw Anna and Gary just leaving, “Hi guys! How’s the treadmill working tonight
it was a bit stiff yesterday?”
“Great” Said Anna …."They had a tech out to it this morning and it’s running smooth
now.”
“Is
Pat coming back Sam?” Gary asked
“No not till next semester.” I said.
“That’s
tough!” Said Gary. “Bad time for him
with his Da.” I could feel myself welling up and wanting to cry but I managed
to keep my composure.
“Hey! Anna have you seen Sarah?”
“Not
for a few days, I was gonna ask you the same but must be loooove!” Anna said.
“Maybe,
see you guys later.” With that they went and I entered the gym.
I
walked into the change room and was immediately met with the odors of chlorine,
sweat and damp clothing left behind. The concrete floor tiles where still wet
from the showers and garbage was left here and there but it’s to be expected on
a university campus after all, we are still kids going through puberty. “Dirty
pigs and this is the female change room; hate to think what the male’s room is
like”
“Oh
well Sam get changed and get some calories burned off girl.” I quickly stripped
off to my modesty and pulled on my blue gym slip and sneakers then I headed to
the gym floor expecting to see other bodies trying to get fit. “Fuck! Not a
soul to be seen, I must be the only crank pot to be here at this time.”
“OK,
speed 5 mile per hour, distance 10k.” I climbed aboard the treadmill and began
to concentrate as the machine started up smoothly and I got my rhythm. I could
feel my calf muscles begin to burn and sweat began to pour from my pores, my
breathing at first labored settled into a regular pattern as I pushed myself
through the pain barrier. At the end of 10 k I felt good about myself “Well-done girl you’ve done enough for tonight, shower and change.” Not one
sole had been in the gym and I began to think I was the only one around, I made
my way to the change room and entered with the whiff of that horrible smell I
had walked into an hour and a half earlier, Chlorine and sweaty socks “Yuck, I
feel like gagging!”
“Feels
like Da Ja Vu”
I
went into the locker room where I pulled off or rather rolled off my gym slip
and threw it on to the floor. Whilst naked, nothing covering my all I grabbed
my 2 towels and toiletries from my gym bag and made my way to the showers.
I
got a strong feeling of Da Ja Vu when I turned on the shower and took a quick
sniff of my arm pit, even more so when I said “Phewww!, oh my god you really
did yourself this time Sam.”
I stepped into the shower and at first it bit with
pain because the water was too hot so I adjusted the cold to balance it out and
then I realized “This is what happened in the dream” I thought to myself.
After
showering and getting dressed in my sweat pants and baggy sweater, no underwear
I stepped out of the locker room in to the familiar corridor. I looked at my
watch 8:47pm , I made my way to the familiar exit door and stood there a short
time as I pushed it open I heard the familiar squeal and creak.
“My
god this is uncanny.”
“Sam,
you’ve been brought to this point for a reason and it’s time to find out why?” I
was apprehensive but I felt like an unseen power was in control of me and I was
just along for the ride, I made my way to the start of the track across the
common and I began to enter the common.
“Bad idea Sam, bad idea girl!” I
continued wearily “You crazy bitch, this is totally a bad idea”
I
was trying to adjust and focus my eyes
to the darkness listening to every single noise, every creak, every snap of a
twig and rustle of branches. “It’s all
in your imagination Sam” I told myself over and over.
My legs began to go weak at the knees and my
heart was thumping in my chest as a jolt of fear hit me deep in my stomach when
I heard a sound in the trees. I froze and stared into the darkness of the trees
not able to see clearly.
“Is that you guys?” Not a sound, nothing “Patrick,
Sarah, Anna Jimmy! I hope you guys aren’t trying to prank me again?” Then it
dawned on me that this is exactly how the dream went and I began to panic. I
started to feel cold and the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand on
end, I turned slowly and there she was right next to me and transparent.
I fell
to the ground and I urinated myself and when I looked up she was pointing down
the path saying, “There I lay and he murdered me.” I looked down the track
frozen and saw a dark male figure running away with a crown crest on the front
of his jacket and a tear in the left sleeve with a number 28 in gold on the
right upper arm but he was gone in a flash.
When
I turned around again the apparition was gone. I was so uncomfortable from urine in my
baggy pants I was still shaken with fear, I carried on down the track to
the bend and that’s where I saw her.
I
came across a young brunette laid with her hair covering her face, head to the
side, her panties where down at one of her ankles and her legs forced apart.
Her dress was torn off of her and her breast uncovered as her brazier had been
pulled away from her breast and was now around her torso, one shoe on and her
remaining clothing all around her with a scarf around her neck. Her body naked
and bruised like a rag doll from the sexual assault forced upon her and yet I
knew this wasn’t good.
With
a trembling hand I reached for her wrist to feel for a pulse but there wasn’t
one , I knew she was dead and it’s at that point when I realized that the
apparition was this girl trying to tell me who her killer was. With eyes
streaming with floods of tears I gently moved her hair away from her face and
immediately fell back away from her screaming “No… oh my god No!” I grew cold
and began to sob uncontrollably “I’m sorry so… so sorry Sarah”
As I looked at
Sarah lying on the ground in front of me I took my cell phone from my pocket
and called 911.
The
Police where on scene within 10 mins and the campus Police within 4 mins, after
a long night answering questions and giving my version of events I returned to
my dorm room the worse for wear trying to figure it all out, trying to make
sense of it all and then began the what if’s, what should I have done what
could I have done and then the guilt.
Of course, the main suspect was Sarah’s
boyfriend Danny but he was cleared because the DNA found on Sarah didn’t match
Danny.
It’s
been 3 months since Sarah’s untimely death and I’m looking out of the window as
Patrick just pulled up in his truck, he does make me smile when I see him.
“What’s
he doing?” Patrick is pottering about in the cab of his truck. “Oh he’s getting
his jacket!”
That’s when my world fell apart; his jacket was a burgundy campus
ball team jacket. The university campus Royals with the gold crown on the left
side and the number 28 in gold on the right upper sleeve and the small tear on
the lower left sleeve.
My
smile broke and my heart sank as I began to cry uncontrollably, Patrick looked
through the window as Anna and Phoebe began to wonder what was wrong and then
began to console me.
Patrick
knew I knew and his face changed as he punched the side of his truck and
climbed back into the cab and went speeding off the campus.
I
did the right thing and called the police and 3 days later the police caught up
with Patrick, he had driven to his father’s hunting lodge in the mountains and
that’s where they found his body. Patrick left a note for me saying how very
sorry he was to hurt me and then he had hung himself from the lodge rafters.
This all happened over 15 years ago and I still
think of Sarah and Patrick. It took me a long time to get over it, and the
dreams, I haven’t had any since but I feel Sarah was a friend who needed me
that night and I hope I brought her justice, and so I hope now she is at peace.
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