(Return to the past to understand the future . . . or not.  Your choice. I’m not a dictator.)

Halcyon Hall of Bennet College

Squinting through the flowing soap, Aurora does her best to reach up and get the body wash bottle that Jennifer is dangling over the shower stall wall. Hearing a muttered curse from her right, her fingers slip and the container falls. Bouncing off the faucet, she is hit by a burst of cold that drives her into the corner. Stretching through the frigid water, Aurora makes it hot again and practically dives into the warmth. She is busy picking up the body wash when a loofah comes sailing over the wall and bops her in the head. A playful laugh from Jennifer makes her smile when she experimentally sniffs at the rose-scented soap. Not a fan of the smell, she considers putting it outside with her regular shampoo. With a sigh of defeat, Aurora realizes that her aggressive friend would probably give her a sniff test. Putting a little of the body wash on the loofah, she goes about cleaning herself of two days of sweat and dirt.

“It looks like I’m leaking oil in here,” Bryce states from her stall. The sound of her fumbling with the hair dye bottle is met with another round of cursing. “I’m telling you, Jenn, that these directions make no sense. Wouldn’t a shower wash out the dye before it has a chance to set? This better not be a waste of my time because I was serious about this. By the way, does anybody have an extra disposable razor?”

“Are we really going to start throwing sharp objects around?” Aurora asks before a box sails over her stall. A startled yelp from Bryce causes Jennifer to giggle, the redhead obviously enjoying the time away from her roommate. “So, I got a text that the boys went to check out Professor Ramel’s office. Apollo said something weird happened and they wanted to meet with us for dinner. Gives us a few hours to hang out and talk.”

“Or we can say no and make this all about us girls,” Jennifer replies in a lazy voice. She pauses when someone walks into the communal bathroom, the whispering person leaving a minute later. “Pledging hasn’t given me much time for socializing with all my non-sorority friends. Should be over in a week, but I’m getting antsy. Not to mention I dread going back to my room. I found half a peanut butter sandwich under my pillow yesterday. Natalie said she knew nothing about, but it isn’t like her boyfriend is smart enough to pull off even the simplest of pranks.”

Aurora throws the loofah back over and puts the body wash outside, her nose steadily becoming used to the smell. “Well, you do act like an idiot around her. She probably doesn’t think much of you. Let’s talk about something more positive. I did my first solo dissection two days ago. It was a-”

The sounds from the other showers change, giving Aurora enough time to consider that something is about to happen. She is busy trying to figure out what is going on when capfuls of water come sailing over both walls. Jolts of cold run through her body as she tries to avoid the attacks, her friends laughing too hard to continue for more than a minute. Aurora can hear their teeth chattering and faint murmurs about needing warmth as the showers return to pumping out steamy water. Taking the hint, she finishes shampooing her hair and quietly stands with her head back to let the suds flow from the long tresses. Hearing Bryce stop her shower and pull back the inner curtain of her stall, she considers doing the same, but the feeling of warm water on her scalp is too good to give up.

Closing her eyes, Aurora puts out her arms to brace herself against the walls and lets out a slow breath. She can feel her muscles relaxing and all of her pent-up tension flowing down her body, the idea of it seeping out of the soles of her feet making her smile. She cannot remember the last time she felt so loose and calm since she has been working so hard for her classes and extra lab hours. The knots in her shoulders and neck make it difficult to relax completely, but she still enjoys the sensation of coming close. Remembering that Bryce knows how to give an amazing massage, she makes a mental note to politely ask her friend when they get back to her room.

On the verge of falling asleep, Aurora scowls as the image of a familiar classroom slips into her mind. Blood is splattered on one of the walls and she can smell burning flesh. Struggling to wake up, she looks around and sees a brown-haired woman standing on the ceiling. The well-dressed figure stops writing in her notebook and stares down at the student like a serpent would eye a mouse. Instead of attacking, the woman pushes her thumb into her golden eye until one of the walls shudders. Aurora screams when the left side of the room pivots up and she is left standing over a dark abyss. Like a cartoon character, she remains hovering for a few seconds before plummeting into the shadows. To her surprise, she wakes up wrapped in her towel and sitting on the bench just outside of her shower.

“Did you have one of your bad dreams again?” Jennifer asks, giving her shivering friend a tight hug. Having heard Aurora shout, she only had time to wrap a towel around herself, making only slightly less clothed than Bryce, who is in her underwear. “All we heard was you yell and then a thud. Looks like you hit your shoulder against the wall and slid down. Good thing you didn’t fall and hit your head.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Aurora blurts out as she tries to stand. Her legs feel numb and there is a throbbing in her head, which makes the room spin. “It was different this time. Almost like I showed up late to the dream and was punished for it. The other students were already dead, the teacher was on the ceiling, and I was simply . . . dropped out of the nightmare. Maybe my subconscious is angry that I haven’t slept much or the medication I was taking to help me sleep did something. Apollo doesn’t seem to have these problems.”

“Well, we’re not the types to give suggestions on this kind of stuff,” Bryce mentions while she puts on her shirt. Looking in a mirror, she runs her hands through her black and blonde streaked hair. “You talked about it, which is good. We’re always here for you just like Thomas and Harvey are there for Apollo. Still, you might want to talk to a psychologist together since shared dreams are strange. Maybe the whole twin psychic connection theory would be fun to delve into.”

Aurora is about to agree when she notices that Jennifer is biting her lower lip and tapping her bare feet on the wet floor. “It is killing you to keep your mouth shut and not voice your opinion. For the last time, Apollo and I are not going to do any psychic tests, we aren’t aliens, and I can’t read your mind. Besides, you always think of the number five anyway. Can we get dressed and move on to something else?”

“You’re no fun,” the theater major pouts as she heads back to her stall.

Bryce chuckles as she unwraps her towel from her waist and puts on her pants, the young woman not caring if anyone sees her underwear. Closing the curtain for privacy, Aurora finishes drying off and takes her time getting dressed. Looking for her shampoo, she nervously sticks her head into the shower and reaches for the bottle. The thought that she is still dreaming crosses her mind even though the world feels real around her. Noticing the floor drain, she waits for it to transform into the abyss that continues to lurk in her memories. Aurora relaxes when she hears someone knock on the stall, her snooty neighbor waiting patiently with a towel over her shoulder and a basket of toiletries clenched in her hands. Muttering an apology, she moves out of the shorter woman’s way and uses the outside mirror to fix her hair. As she follows her friends out of the bathroom, Aurora just misses the silhouette in the curtain suddenly disappearing as if the floor has been pulled out from beneath the showering student.

(Too busy to read yesterday?  Then step into this time portal.)

University of New Hampshire

Apollo steps out of the bushes and waves for his friends to follow, the security guard heading off to his next patrol stop. They hurry toward the science building and keep low even though the crouched walking makes them look suspicious. Harvey is the first to stop when he catches his reflection in a window and he whistles for the others to do the same. With everyone muttering about Thomas’s ridiculous suggestion, the four students cross the street and act like they are out for a stroll. Relaxing by the bottom of the stairs, Chris shows off the newest trick he has learned with his hockey stick. Flipping a puck from one side to the other, he gestures for the others to move away when he spots an attractive woman coming by. She smiles back at the handsome athlete, who promptly misses his next juggle and watches his last puck roll into a nearby storm drain. Leading their morose friend to the front door, they take a final look around before Thomas grabs the handle.

“I’ll keep watch and text you if anyone is coming,” Chris whispers as they step inside. He takes out his child psychology book and opens to a random page to pretend that he studying in the hallway. “If campus police come back then I’ll say I wanted a quiet place to study. Let’s not take too long though. They have pizza at the dining hall. We don’t want to miss that since the best pies will be gone in the first hour.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Thomas says, staring at his friend with his head cocked to the side. Looking at the far end of the hallway, he wonders if he can drag the stronger man to Professor Ramel’s office, but doubts his chances. “First of all, you never study, so nobody is going to believe that. Second of all . . . don’t be a coward. You agreed that something didn’t seem right about this and we should check it out. The fact that there’s no police tape makes this even stranger. Come on, Chris, or somebody else is going to get a chance to poke around before us. Even Harvey is coming.”

“Yes, but I feel like paying my respects to place where he was last alive,” the taller student admits, shying away immediately. Taking out an inhaler, he has a puff and relaxes before speaking again. “I don’t think we should force Chris to follow. After all, we do need a lookout and getting into trouble would cost him his scholarship. You two are paying to attend and I don’t care if I get kicked out, so he is risking more than the rest of us. Besides, standing here and arguing increases the chances of us getting caught. Not to mention the small office would make it difficult for three, much less four, people to escape. I alone would hog a single window given my size.”

Before Thomas can say anything, Chris holds up his phone and shows that it is already set with a warning text. “Trust me with this. I want to help, but I can’t be stupid about this. Much rather my last adventure with all of you being more than sneaking into a dead man’s office. I will stay right at that intersection where they have a desk. They won’t even see me texting from my pocket. Come on, Thomas. You know this is smart.”

“Fine, but . . . Where’s, Apollo?”

“He’s pretty good at disappearing.”

“I know. It’s like living with a ninja cat.”

“Do you mean a cat trained as a ninja or a ninja that turned into a cat?”

“I don’t even know how you could guess the second one.”

“Sounded wittier in my head.”

“Uh-huh . . . Good luck keeping watch.

Thomas heads down the hallway with his friends a few steps behind, Chris stopping to get comfortable at the desk. The other two press themselves against the wall until they come to a door. Harvey crawls across the hallway and stays low while continuing ahead, Thomas imitating him when he comes to the next room. The pair repeat the odd maneuver, both of them doing a clumsy combat roll when they reach an open doorway. Sweating in their heavy winter coats, they stop at a barely working water fountain for a drink and continue being what they assume is stealthy. By the time they reach Professor Ramel’s office, Thomas and Harvey are exhausted and rest for a minute before opening the door. Focused more on being quiet, they nearly crash into someone standing only a few feet inside. They reach up to cover their mouths, the muffled screams of fear still able to be heard in the hallway.

“You guys sure are loud,” Apollo says with his back to his friends. Seeing a clean spot, he jumps to it and crouches to check a toppled stack of books. “This place is a mess, but I heard Professor Ramel wasn’t much of a cleaner. My nose is clogged from a cold, but I swear there’s a chemical smell in the air. Almost like I taste it. Does anyone know what we’re expecting to find here?”

“Signs of foul play,” Thomas declares in a terrible British accent. Showing less concern than his roommate, he walks over the scattered papers to check the broken anatomy dummy. “There’s definitely the smell of bleach around here. Probably the murderer attempting to clean up all of the blood. That or the janitor wanted to disinfect everything. I think this used to be a hamburger, but I can’t tell. We might have made a mistake.”

“I found some black feathers and bird droppings over here,” Harvey announces as he checks the shelves. Trying not to step on anything, he trips and lurches to the desk that shifts with a loud screech. “Sorry about that. I think I’ve given enough respect to the late professor, so can I go wait with Chris?”

“There will be no more quitters here,” Thomas replies while he checks a cabinet. Whistling at what he found, the grinning young man pockets the small bartending book and turns around to find his friends scowling at him. “I’ve been looking for one of these and it isn’t like anybody will miss it. Fine, I’ll put it back, but you two better remember this for my birthday next month. Have we figured anything out?”

Taking a seat at the desk, Apollo cautiously taps at a warm can of soda that hisses when it is jostled. “The smartest idiot is the one who is probably taking a nap in the hallway. We have nothing that says anything funny happened. Considering how cold it is in here, it’s easy to assume the windows were left open and some birds must have come in. You know, this was a smart idea an hour ago. Now, it seems really stupid. I vote that we leave and take a walk to the newest fast food place. Harvey, do you have any coupons?”

“This isn’t the time for food.”

“Says the guy who ate my last donut.”

“You had the chocolate milk.”

“Which you left out of the fridge for a full day.”

“So about those coupons, Harvey.”

The windows slam shut with enough force to crack the glass, a single shard falling into the room. All three of their phones go off at the same time, the rapid beeps making them fumble to check their messages. Instead of a warning from Chris, they see gibberish and random pictures of puppies and kittens. The sound of flapping wings emanates from the shadows that shift around the room, the patches of darkness causing a chill whenever they pass over one of the students. A desk drawer rattles and bursts open to spew a fountain of saccharine-smelling soda. The last straw is when the anatomy dummy’s organs launch out of the body one at a time, the plastic pieces driving the students away.

(Psssst. Wanna go back to tomorrow?)

Salem University

Across campus, students sit in the class or one of the public lounges while waiting for a message about the gruesome death of Professor Ramel. Rumors have spread about what happened, but nobody is sure of the details. The story that he slipped and broke his neck has been overshadowed by word of his head being found in a bush outside his office. Having been found by the tightlipped Coach Warner, there is very little information being shared before the administration gives their official statement. Yet, most of the student body would rather continue guessing and seeing if their version can get more social media likes than the others. Many tell stories about a serial killer being on the loose while others try to push the idea that there are ghosts. Hearing Trina’s name come up several times, Bryce repeatedly wishes that she could stay in her room and avoid this sickening circus.

“The teacher already took attendance, so we can leave,” Aurora suggests, putting a hand on her friend’s shoulder. She yawns and holds up a hand, her cheeks turning bright red from embarrassment. “Sorry about that. I was going to take a nap since this was my only class today, but we can hang out if you need to talk. Jennifer can come along too in case I pass out. She’s been looking for an excuse to get away from her roommate anyway. Right, Jen? Hey, O’Connor, stop winking at boys. You look ridiculous.”

“You mean I look cute,” the theater major replies, her bubbly personality in place. Wiggling her fingers at her admirers, she keeps her hand out to reapply her nail polish. “I’d be happy to go to your room. Mine is being used for stuff that I don’t want to think about. This new girl is determined to drive me away with cigarette smoke and loud music. She doesn’t hide the fact that she wants a single. Enough about me though, how are you holding up, Bryce?”

“Let me put it this way. I miss being teased for having the same name as that crappy dorm Aurora lives in,” the blonde-haired student replies with a smirk. Looking at her long tresses, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a bottle of dye. “Maybe you two can help me. I was thinking of putting black streaks in my hair in memory of Trina. It sounds crazy when I say it out loud, but I always loved her color. It was this natural darkness that sparkling when the light hit it just right. If I do this with friends, then maybe it won’t feel as insane.”

The other girls look at each other and shrug before Jennifer states, “I’ve done crazier over losing boyfriends. When we get out of here, I’ll show you some pictures of my dark period in high school. If there’s one thing this redhead can’t pull off it’s the emo goth look. Yes, I know those are two different things, Aurora, but I still don’t know which one I was going for. Chalk it up to youthful confusion.”

“Well, this is turning into a fun party,” Bryce dryly replies, her mood improving thanks to her friends. Spotting Apollo and Thomas on the other side of the room, she is about to wave them over when she sees them call out to Chris and Harvey. “Maybe it’s best to have it only be us girls. Don’t think I’m ready to deal with Chris again. I know he means well with his teasing and jokes, but he still comes off like a jerk.”

“Probably because he acts that way on the hockey team and can’t always turn it off,” Aurora mentions while putting her head down. She is about to fall asleep when Jennifer reaches over to pinch her on the leg. “Why did you do that? Now I have that ugly polish on my pants and I didn’t want to do laundry until the weekend. Guess I’ll be cleaning these in one sink while you two work on the hair.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Jennifer whispers, patting her backpack. Looking around, she opens it just enough to let her friend see a familiar box. “Got these in the mail this morning. They messed up my order and sent me three instead of one. Figured even the occasional health nut over there would be happy to indulge.”

“How does someone who devours twelve gourmet cupcakes a week stay so thin?” Bryce asks, her stomach rumbling at the thought of the tempting treats.

“I don’t own a car and walk everywhere.”

“So do I, but three slices of pizza still force me to wear elastic waistbands for a few days.”

“Maybe I’m part hummingbird?”

“Does that make any sense, Aurora?”

Having nearly fallen asleep again, the zoology major yawns and looks from one friend to other. “Yes, because I’ve been sneaking into her room to conduct experiments. I’ve been injecting her with hummingbird DNA to see what happens. My hope is that she’ll sprout wings in a month. You can already tell that something is changing because her tongue is a little longer than when I started.”

“Very funny, mad scientist,” Jennifer replies with a nervous laugh. She turns away and sticks out her tongue, which she curves up to see if it looks different. “That wouldn’t really work, right? DNA can’t be swapped out like in the movies. I mean, that kind of technology isn’t possible, especially by a college student. Right, Aurora? Aurora?”

Every classroom computer and television comes to life, the face of Charlene from the administration building filling the screen. The middle-aged woman leans back in her chair and dabs at her eyes with a tissue. It is obvious that she has been crying, the red and puffiness on her face looking more vivid when she turns on a desk lamp. Her brown hair is neat and tied up in a simple bun, but there is a single strand sticking out from the back. Calmly folding her hands in her lap, she waits until someone behind her computer gives her the signal to start talking. Sitting up straight and clearing her throat, the administrator fixes the camera with a stare that silences everyone who is looking.

“Good morning. Thank you for your attention and I apologize for the disruption to your education,” Charlene says in a sweet voice. Pausing to fix a porcelain kitten statue, she puts on her best smile and sighs. “As many of you have heard, Professor David Ramel was found dead in his office last night. There have been many wild stories going around campus, so I am here to tell you the truth. He was not murdered or found grotesquely torn apart. Professor Ramel’s head was not found in the bushes and the rumor about a raven eating his eye on top of the central dining hall is entirely false. All that occurred was he went back to his office, had too much to drink, and tripped over a stack of books. The corner of his desk caught his chin and his neck snapped. I am sorry to upset the sensitive ones out there, but this had to be said. Too many lies have circulated in the few hours that have passed. The faculty asks that you show the deceased some respect by holding to the facts. For those of you who had Professor Ramel as an advisor, you will be reassigned by the end of the week. Finally, all anatomy classes will be taken over by his teaching assistant, Ms. Sherrywood. Thank you and please take today to give your condolences and refocus your attention on your studies.”

“That sounded more like they wanted us to stop making a big deal out of this,” Aurora mentions as the other students begin to leave. Having taken a seat in the middle of the room, she waits with her friends until the crowd has cleared. “She didn’t have to give all those examples and look so hungry doing it. Has Charlene ever given either of you the creeps? I’ve only dealt with her a few times, but she makes my skin crawl. Nobody even knows her last name. Ugh, now I’m sounding like my brother.”

“At least you don’t smell like him,” Jennifer quips, giving a playful sniff. Her nose wrinkles at the faint aroma of animals and blood. “I take that back. You need to take a real shower. I’m buying you soaps and shampoos from the student union. Don’t even argue. There’s being unladylike and then there’s smelling like a veterinarian’s office. One that doesn’t have air conditioning on a hot day.”

“Glad somebody else said it,” Bryce mutters with a smirk. Seeing the look of shock on Aurora’s face, she takes her friend’s hands and leads her toward the door. “We really do care about you. So, know that we say this out of love. Not only for you, but for our own senses of smell.”

“Thanks. I’m so touched,” the zoology major ruefully replies.

(Miss a day? Got you covered HERE.)

Georgetown University

Thankful for the end of the day, Professor David Ramel rubs his eyes as he pops an antacid and heads back to his office. Having spent the day trying to teach anatomy without his dummy, the tenured instructor wants nothing more than to relax with his collection of cruise pamphlets. He is still deciding on where to spend his sabbatical, which his wife has repeatedly told him will be five years overdue. Feeling a gurgle in his stomach, David stops at the nearest water fountain and drinks until the sensation goes away. Still caught up in his thoughts, the professor nearly turns into his anatomy dummy that is standing behind him. With a high-pitched yell, he jumps back and slams into the wall, a dull pain running up his back.

“I’m sorry about that, Dave,” Professor Soleman says, the man standing only a few feet away. He takes a drink before patting his coworker on the shoulder in a half-hearted attempt to calm him down. “Good thing you have that vacation coming in a few months. I found Gem here in the library. She was left her standing in one of the rear stacks, but I have no idea who left her there. Probably one of the rowdier fraternities. You know how those pledging challenges go around this time of year. Can’t do anything unless we have evidence. By the way, Charlene, wanted me to talk to you about Harvey Pugh.”

“Surprised to see you acting as her messenger,” David ruefully admits. Focusing on his dummy, he frowns at the gap where a plastic kidney once sat. “Thankfully, I have spares left over from previous pledge week casualties. Although, Gem has lasted a lot longer than the others. Glad I got her from that medical school in New York City. This girl is eighteen and looks as good as she did on her first day. Well, she will when I put the new kidney in. I’m rather surprised because it’s usually the liver or heart that the students take out.”

“Avoiding the subject won’t make it go away,” Jason claims, taking his glasses off. Holding them up to the light, he casually cleans them in the hopes of the other man speaking. “We’re all aware that Mr. Pugh has yet to attend a class outside of tests. He even got his syllabus off our websites, but that doesn’t mean he should be expelled. All of his work comes in on time and he communicates with his professors. Think of Mr. Pugh as a special case.”

Professor Ramel sighs and rubs his stomach, which feels uncomfortably tight. “He has no medical reason to avoid classes. I know he isn’t staying in his room since I’ve seen him leave to attend that mythology club. All of his professors have been talking about teaching him a lesson, but I’m going to do something about it. Maybe expelling is extreme, so I’ll write a letter to the dean about suspension. That’s the best I can do.”

“What if we can get him a note?”

“That sounds unethical.”

“Not by much.”

“Have a good night, Jason.”

“Try to do the same, David, but know that Charlene won’t like your response.”

Taking his anatomy dummy under his arm, Professor Ramel walks away without a second glance. Hearing a door close at the other end of the hallway, he relaxes and searches his pockets for his keys. Not wanting to put anything down, it takes him a minute to get the door open and push his way inside. Stacks of papers cover his desk and books are on every flat surface, a third of them written by the professor. David puts the dummy near the window, which he opens to get some fresh air. Checking his coffee maker, he grimaces at the cold remnants and settles for a soda from his mini-fridge. Sitting in his chair, the professor takes a few sips and chooses a paper to grade.

A thud makes him jump and he looks around to find that the anatomy dummy has fallen over. Going to pick it up, he hears a fluttering above his head and flails to wave away the raven that came in through the window. The bird snatches an old bagel before leaving, two of its feathers landing on the ungraded papers. With a muttered curse, David moves the dummy away from the cold draft and searches for a tissue. Feeling another gurgle in his gut, he rushes back to his desk and takes another sip of soda. Patting his stomach, a loud belch makes him blush even though nobody else is around. He is about to return to his seat when a playful giggle causes him to turn around, the noise continuing until he coughs.

“Must be my imagination,” he whispers, his eyes searching the shadows. The ceiling lights flicker, so he reaches up to tap at the bulb that falls to the floor. “And here I am without a spare and not enough moonlight to move around. This better not be a prank! Doesn’t make any sense that the bulb fell out. The socket would have to be stripped or sabotaged. I can simply leave the room and come back in the morning.”

Letting the silence last for a few minutes, the nervous professor eventually heads for the door and does his best to avoid the books. Banging into a shelf, he winces at the pain shooting up his leg from a broken toe. Surprised at how easily he was injured, David tries to move with more care and fights the urge to rush for the door. He grabs the doorknob and twists to find that it has been locked, the jarring stop snapping his wrist. Wailing in pain, the terrified man stumbles back and scrapes against a cabinet. The sensation of blood flowing down his arm causes him to reach up to a gash, the edges frayed and raw. Whirling around, David steps on the broken bulb and his foot is reduced to blood-seeping shreds. Unsure of when he took his shoes off, he stops moving and tries to make sense of what is going on.

Footsteps echo in the hallway before the doorknob starts to turn, the movement abruptly stopping. David tries to call out for help, but the attempt causes his jaw to break and hang loose on his face. Teeth fall out when he tries to push his mandible back up, the pain reaching a point where his body starts to feel numb. Attempting to reach his desk, he steps on a pile of books that slide beneath his feet. With a sickening snap, his lower leg twists and becomes completely turned around. Unable to walk, David hops and flails in the darkness, his moans echoing off the quivering walls. Having almost made it to his chair, his other leg suddenly shatters and he falls backwards. Professor Ramel hits the anatomy dummy with enough force to sever his neck and send his head rolling across the floor. A chorus of caws fill the room as three ravens fly through the window and begin to feast on the remains.