Page 26 of Deck of Scarlets

The darkness of the alleyway contorted into monstrous shapes, sounds of unnatural growls echoing through the emptiness of where I stood, braced against the brick wall. My feet were glued to the concrete, the fear clutching hard on my pounding heart. My airway was constricted in fear; fear of what stalked the midnight shadows. Laced with the stench of death, it formed before my eyes, dark and menacing. One reached forward. Long talons circled around my throat, black sludge dripping off its distorted form. Teeth as sharp as needles hissed in my face, saliva spraying in every direction. It sniffed my hair, my clothes, its black tongue glazing over my cheek. Any attempt to cry for help was lost in the grip of its claws. All the blood rushed to my head, my hands limp by my sides, refusing to touch its skin to break free. Its eyes an endless black pit, with a head covered in horns of all different sizes, was nothing short of demonic.

Every passing second was another waste of trying to escape the clutches of the ghastly beast. My vision started to blur, the hissing turned into snapping, and I braced myself for the impact of teeth. My life flashed before my fucking eyes, every minuscule memory on a film reel, rapidly showcasing what I was about to leave behind. From my friends to family, places, and emotions rooted deep in my psyche.

As if time stopped altogether, I let my final thoughts be of my grams. Her sweet face and strong demeanor never faltered in distress. The last of her words to me came on a wind, of promises to never let my mother control who I was. To never back down and embrace all of me.

Which would cease to exist in a matter of seconds.

All at once, its claws disappeared from around my neck, a rush of air passing through my lungs, sputtering a cough to regain some consciousness of my surroundings. Falling to my knees, the concrete ground dug into my flesh, a strangled whimper escaping my lips from impact. My head hung low, gulping in air. Every inch of my skin seemed to be covered in the sludge it produced from its grotesque body.

I was startled by cool fingers grasping my chin, the action rough and demanding, lifting my head, only for my stained hair to cover my eyes. Too weak to fight, I submitted to whoever held me in place, my body drained and defenseless.

Four simple words chilled me to the bone.

“I will find you.”

I jolted awake, my body shaking with alarm. Looking around my room, night still covered us, Heather softly breathing in the silent space we shared. Racing with anxiety, I quickly grabbed the silver flask, taking a hearty sip, trying to stay silent while recovering from the nightmare that plagued my thoughts.

I took another sip, then twisted the cap shut, shaking the flask only to find barely a shot was left. I would have to head home and refill it as soon as possible.

Unable to fall back to sleep and refusing to revisit whatever sinister nightmare invaded my REM sleep, I shuffled on my slippers, snagged my key card off my desk, and snuck out of the room, into the deserted hallway.

Alcohol rushed through my veins as I descended the stairs and tiptoed right out the front door. I needed to be someplace else besides that dorm room; the walls felt like they were closing in, and not even the alcohol could snuff out the anxious thoughts.

I sat by myself in the dark on the front steps of Carman Hall, thankful to only hear the normalcy of sirens in the distance. Putting my head between my legs, I focused on trying to steady my heart, still racing at an abnormal pace. I couldn’t let my mind wander back, not yet, and maybe not ever, to what lurked in the shadows of my dreams.

It was the male voice, dominant and threatening, issuing a promise to find me that shook me to my core. Who was he? Why did it seem so real?

Dreams of the mysterious red-headed female hadn’t resurfaced since my arrival, and part of me wished for something so dependable to return. At least it comforted my mind knowing what I already expected from the dream.

Who was the man with the baritone voice, and how had he slithered into my unconscious mind? Surely, I couldn’t conjure up something so otherworldly if I even tried.

When my heart slowed down its erratic beating, I lifted my head to the night sky. Stars were never seen in the big apple; rather, the city lights created a soft pink, hiding the little beauties from sight. How I wished sometimes the whole city would shut off the lights just for a few seconds, just to get a glimpse of the world above.

A warm summer breeze lifted a few strands of my hair, my clothes still damp from night sweats. With a shaky breath, I stood, stretching out my limbs and rotating my stiff neck. The alcohol did exactly what it needed to do—tame the phantom that lingered in my soul.

I should go back inside and try to sleep, but how could I when across the campus stood a figure, somewhat unsuccessfully hidden behind a few hedges, dressed in that striking scarlet cape.

I didn’t hesitate as I rushed off the stone steps, straight through the dewy grass, almost slipping as I ran toward the cloaked figure. If this had any connection to what was going on behind closed doors on campus, now was my chance to unmask them.

They must’ve spotted me because they began to run, the scarlet cape trailing behind them. I kicked my legs faster, thankful for the years of chasing my older brother at the country club house, and just made it to the other side when a strong tug pulled me back.

“No!” I shouted as I watched the figure disappear in the night.

I spun around to find Josh holding tightly to my arm. “Let me go, you asshole!” Trying to wrangle myself free was like trying to uncuff my own hands—fucking impossible. “What is wrong with you?”

Josh released me rather quickly and retreated a step back. “Go to bed, Remi.”

“Excuse me? Who are you to tell me what to do?” I snapped, rubbing the arm he’d had hold of.

Josh was tall enough to lean down without moving, inches from my face. He wore black pants and a black zip-up hoodie, covering his head with the hood, a scowl forming on his lips. How he wasn’t melting in the heat, I didn’t know, but he was oddly dressed for a midnight stroll. “You’re lucky it was me who found you.”

It didn’t go unnoticed when his eyes flicked up to peer over my head before giving me his full attention once more. I glanced behind me to see where his eyes had traveled, only to find an empty campus. Whoever that mystery person was with the scarlet cape, they were long gone by now.

Turning back to his stupid, gorgeous face, I crossed my arms in irritation. “Lucky? Right now, you’re lucky I haven’t kicked you in the balls. What are you, the campus police?”

The sneer he showcased on those plush lips was enough for me to reach forward and try unsuccessfully to smack him across the face. Josh’s giant hand closed over mine, pulling me up against his chest. “Trust me, they’re around. Like I said, you’re lucky I found you first.” He looked over my head again. I was about to follow his line of sight once more when he pulled me even closer.

I struggled against him, only to realize my breasts were pushed against his chest. That was enough to cause my nipples to peak. “I just needed some fresh air.”

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