Page 5 of Fragmented Illusions
For some reason, I never noticed there was a window up here, but it’s not like I’ve been up here much before—only one other time—so it makes sense I didn’t notice it, I suppose.
I make it to the end of the hall again, on the opposite side of the bathroom this time, and grip the heavy, deep red curtains. The material feels expensive against my fingertips and the texture almost velvety. I’m surprised to find something this nice inside of a frat house to be honest.
The boys in the house I have met do not seem to care about much more than getting drunk and having sex, so for there to actually be nice things is a pleasant surprise. There must be someone living here who does.
I purse my lips as I rub the material between my fingers for a few moments before dropping it and pushing one curtain aside so I can step up to the window with an unobstructed view.
The moon outside is almost full and shining bright, it’s color a vibrant pure white. Beside it, the night sky is pitch black, not a star in sight. It feels almost as if the moon is a flashlight, glowing bright in the dead of night, casting everything else around it in its shadows.
Dropping my gaze from the moon to the grass below, I can see a few people milling about, drunk and stumbling, but laughing, nonetheless. There is smoke curling up around them before disappearing into the air. After a few minutes, the three of them move back inside the overly packed house and there is no one left outside.
My gaze flitters around absentmindedly before I decide I better get back down to the party and maybe find Trenton again…
I’m taking a step back from the window when I freeze. The flash of light glares through the window again, beaming across my face before disappearing once more. I stare outside, my eyes moving rapidly as I try to find the source of the light, but my body remains frozen with what could only be fear.
I wasjustlooking outside, for at least a good five minutes and I didn’t see a damn thing. Not one thing.
Why I feel afraid right now, I honestly don’t know, but something settles deep into the pit of my stomach, twisting me up from the inside out.
My eyes continue to scan the wooden area surrounding the back of the house. A few of the Westwood frat houses are on the outskirts of the woods in town and this one is one of them. Although the trees are a good fifty or so feet back, they still feel ominous—especially on a night like tonight.
I force myself to take a deep breath and step back from the window. One step. Two. Three.
The red curtain falls back into place, the end of it swishing against the wooden floor. My heart beats heavily in my chest as adrenaline pumps in my veins. I force another deep breath for every step I take, putting me further away from the window—but closer to the door that will lead me outside.
For some completely stupid and moronic reason, I want to go outside and explore those trees for myself to see if I can find the source of the sinister flashing light.
Chapter Two
Fallon
I spin back around and hastily make my way down the stairs before I can change my mind. I run my fingers through my hair to make sure it’s still perfect as I take the last step off of the staircase.
The music down here is even louder and I fight the urge to cover my ears as “RAMPAGE” by GRAVEDGR thuds around the room, taking my ability to hear properly with it. A multitude of different colored lights flash on and off in some sort of synchronization as everyone dances and grinds on one another. Heads bob and shake to the beat of the music with the scent of sweat and alcohol lingering heavily in the air.
I step into the crowd, slowly making my way to the back of the house and growing more anxious by the minute. I thought I would be okay but being around this many people—having this many people so close to me—makes me uncomfortable in so many ways. My skin crawls and itches as bodies bump against me from every direction.
“Fallon!” I jump at the sound of Sarah’s voice ringing loud, even over the thudding of the music. I turn and smile at her as she makes her way over easily, the crowd somehow knowing it’s her and makes a path for her to move through.
“What are you doing?” she slurs as she shouts even though she’s right next to me now. Her face is covered in a light sheen of sweat, probably from dancing, and her eyes are bloodshot and glassy, giving me a clear indication she’s wasted off of her ass as if her slurring words didn’t already tell me that.
“I’m going to get a drink!” I yell back and point towards the kitchen. She smiles at me and nods.
“Okay! See you later?” she asks with an eyebrow quirked and I nod at her retreating back because before I even have the chance to respond with words, she’s going back to dance with some guy I don’t recognize.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I nudge past people once more, growing more and more itchy in my own skin.
I just need fresh air,I remind myself.
That’s all I need.
I’m not losing it.
After what feels like three hours instead of three minutes, I manage to break out of the group and into the kitchen, where the back door is. Without looking around, I beeline straight for it, my desperation for fresh air prominent.
I yank the door open and heave out a sigh of relief as the chilled air hits my overheated skin like a glass of ice-cold water on a sweltering summer day.
I don’t stop walking until I make it about twenty or so feet away from the house, just far enough away where the music and voices quiet down to an almost bearable level.
