1 Chapter 1
Dylan Johnson dipped his left hand into the large packet of potato chips before shoving an obscene amount into his mouth. He was talking to his best friend, Scott Henderson, on Skype, but the asshole had to take a toilet break. Hence, he was stuck waiting for the other man to return, so that they could continue their nightly conversation. The two of them had been best friends since kindergarten. Unfortunately, they had been accepted into different universities more than three years before. Thankfully, he was in his last semester. He couldn’t wait to return to his hometown, get a job somewhere, and share an apartment with his best friend. Talking about junk food, he realized that its incessant consumption was one of his unhealthier habits, but he couldn’t stop himself. Junk food was always the top priority on his shopping list whenever he had to go to the local grocers.
“Hey, buddy. I’m back.”
“I can see that, asshole.”
“Fuck you, bitch.”
“Anytime, brother,” he retaliated automatically before he could digest the implication of his words. “Oh, eww! Yuck! Forget that. You’re like my brother.”
“Yeah, forgotten. Shit! I need to bleach out my brain. I love you, Dyl, but…Fuck! That’s nasty.”
“What? Fuck you, asshole. Anyone would be so lucky to get a piece of my ass.”
“No, thanks, bro. Besides, you don’t smell as good as Chris or Alicia.”
He rolled his eyes upon hearing that sappy declaration. Scott had been involved in a threesome with Christian Brady and Alicia White for almost three years now. The three of them were living together. He had met both Chris and Alicia last Christmas, who apparently agreed to move to Scott’s and his hometown after college graduation. Thinking about that was rather depressing. He was still uncertain if Scott, Chris, and Alicia would want to share an apartment with him. The threesome might want to live together without him cramping their style.
“Whatever! Anyway, where are Chris and Alicia?”
“Somewhere. I don’t know. They usually cuddle on the couch while we have our Skype session, buddy.”
“Cool. By the way, any plans for Halloween?”
“Not yet, but Chris and Alicia want us to dress up for the frat party. We still don’t know what characters we want, though. Maybe we will come up with something later or tomorrow. I don’t know, man. I don’t really care for this costume stuff.”
He gasped and clutched at his chest dramatically.
“Sacrilege! I’m going to send the costume police to arrest you. Don’t you fucking roll your eyes at me, young man. Everyone should dress up for Halloween. Everyone!” he exclaimed in the most theatrical manner he could muster.
“Yo, Dyl, I think you have missed your calling. You are in the wrong major. You should have done Theater, or something like that.”
“Whatever. I will be the most amazing kindergarten teacher ever. Just you wait and see. Oh! Damn! Nice costume!”
“What?”
“Is that Chris or Alicia?” He inquired curiously while stuffing another handful of potato chips inside his mouth.
“Dyl, I really, really love you as my brother, but I just don’t understand you. What are you talking about?”
“The person in that crazy costume behind you? Big, messy wig? Torn up clothes? Nice touch with the knife, by the way.”
“Are you drunk?”
“No, Scott! Turn around.” He waited for Scott’s face to return to the screen before pointing with one dirty finger. “See?”
“See what?”
“That person behind you?” he asked, albeit with slightly less conviction now.
“There is nobody in the bedroom other than me, bitch.”
“Scott, I’m serious. There is someone behind you.”
“And I’m telling you that I’m alone in the bedroom.”
He was about to retort when the person behind Scott looked up at him with reddish eyes. He let out the manliest scream ever before pulling his wits about him.
“Bro, I need you to stand up and walk out of the room now!”
“What? Dyl, our conversation…”
“…is over. Get out of the room now.”
“Okay…Are you sure that you’re alright?”
“Yes, Scott. Get out now!”
This time around, his best friend didn’t hesitate at all. He watched as Scott dashed out through the bedroom door before turning his eyes to stare into the creepy eyes of the…Well, whatever that person was. Abruptly, the other person disappeared for a few seconds only to re-appear next to him. He shrieked one more time before losing consciousness.
* * * *
“Hey, old hag. Come on out wherever you are,” Dylan called out the moment he had made it home.
He had regained consciousness and packed up some stuff before rushing out of his single dorm room and driving his car like a man possessed. Fortunately, the spirit, or whatever it was, was gone by the time that he regained conscious. He reached his hometown in less than three hours and accelerated the car to his grandmother’s house.
