The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (38 page)

  
              Once we had everything we needed we made our way to the counter and placed our items in one big pile. The clerk slowly picked up each item one by one and scanned them moving at a pace slower than a snail. I knew Josie was getting impatient by the way she was shifting from one hip to the other, hoping he would hurry up.

  
              After what felt like an hour, he was finally done ringing up all the items. “That'll be 175. 85,” the clerk said, turning to me. Josie pulled out her card and handed it to him. He managed to peel his eyes away from mine long enough to take the credit card. Now I was the one who was staring. Under close inspection, just behind his ear was a flap of skin that looked like those bald caps Hollywood makeup artist used. I leaned in a little closer to get a better look. I thought maybe I was imagining things considering he had a thick head of dark brown hair.

  
              I pulled back when he handed Josie back her card. He pushed his glasses up his nose reflecting back a pair of dark brown eyes. He smiled and his eyes flashed gold and then violet. I blinked and took a step back. He took off his glasses and wiped them clean with a handkerchief he had stashed in his cardigan then replaced them back on his face to reveal a pair of dark brown eyes. “Did you find everything you were looking for?” he asked, handing me a garment bag with my costume.

  
              “This party is going to be killer,” Josie squealed.

  
              “You both made a wise choice in your costumes. I have to say, they definitely are to die for,” the clerk said, smiling.  

  
              “Yes,” I nodded. The way he said it sounded like there was something else behind those words. I stood there, almost entranced by his kaleidoscope eyes. Josie grabbed my arm pulling me away. I shook my head telling myself my mind was just playing tricks on me. I attributed the color change of his eyes to the different colored flashing lights behind him reflecting on the glass counter, but that didn't stop me from making a beeline for the door.

  
              “Enjoy and have a nice day,” the clerk called out and waved as we left. I breathed a sigh of relief once we were outside the door. When I turned back and looked inside the man was gone. I shivered from his odd behavior and quickly took off with Josie to the craft store.

  
              As soon as we got back to our room, Josie dumped all her stuff on her bed and began collecting the items she needed to make her mask. I sat down on my bed and watched Josie sift through everything we bought today. I couldn't stop thinking about that odd man at the costume shop. “Aren't you going to decorate your mask?” Josie asked.

  
              “Huh? Oh yeah,” I said, getting up.

  
              “You okay?”

  
              “Yeah, just a little weirded out by that store clerk.”

  
              “Who, the old man dressed like Mr. Rogers?” I nodded. “He definitely was creepy but nothing to worry about. I'm sure he's just some old perv’ who gets his jollies by scaring the shit out of people.”

  
              “Yeah, ‘cause that makes me feel much better,” I laughed as I sat crossed legged on the floor, spreading out my supplies in a more organized fashion as oppose to Josie's careless mess.

  
              “It's Halloween. Maybe he was just playing the part, trying to up the spook factor.”

  
              “I guess,” I shrugged, not wanting to think about it anymore.

  
              We spent the rest of the day decorating our masks. We had glitter, feathers, and gems everywhere. It was stuck to our fingers, hair, and the floor. When we were all done, we placed the masks by the windowsill to dry in the sun. Then we cleaned up our mess the best we could. “I think the carpet is going to be permanently glittered,” Josie laughed.

  
              “We might be to if we don't go wash this stuff off,” I joked. Josie and I skipped down the hall to the bathroom and removed all the glitter and glue from our hands, arms and where ever else we could find it. Twenty minutes later, and glitter free, Josie and I headed back to the room. On the way back I decided to stop by Jack's room and explain to him what happened last night. I'm sure he thought I was giving him the brush off and I wanted to let him know that wasn't the case.

  
              “Hey Josie, I'm going to see if Jack's in his room real quick,” I said, stopping at his door. I knocked while Josie leaned against the wall and waited with me. I got no answer. I knocked harder this time and the door opened a crack. I looked at Josie and she shrugged. I didn't want to just barge in, but clearly Josie thought differently. “Josie, wait,” I protested, but I was too late.

  
              She swung the door open and we both stood there staring into the pitch black room. I felt around on the wall for a light switch and flicked on the lights.

  
              Josie screamed. I gasped in horror at the sight before us.

  
              It was Jack's roommate. He was lying on the floor. His lifeless body sprawled out in a puddle of his own blood. At first I thought it was just some horrible Halloween prank, but the smell, the smell like he had been here for days told me different.

  
              I walked closer to the body.

  
              “What are you doing?” Josie grabbed my arm and tried to stop me, but I shook her off. I didn't know why, but I wanted a closer look, just to be sure.

  
              It was horrible. It looked like a scene straight out of the movies. Blood was everywhere, soaked into the floor, on the walls, ceiling. The sheets were stained dark maroon. I couldn't seem to steel myself away from the sight before me. “Ella we need to get out of here,” Josie said, pulling me out of the room.  She dragged me down the hall and to our room where she took out her phone and dialed 911.

  
              I sat on my bed, motionless, staring into nothing. Still unaware of what I just saw, not able to comprehend.

   
              Then it hit me.

  
              “Jack!”

  
              “Huh?” Josie said, still a little shell shocked.

  
              “Where's Jack? What if he was kidnapped, or worse, the killer got him to and we just haven't found the body yet?” I said, rambling hysterically.

  
              “Ella,” Josie sat down next to me. “I'm sure Jack is fine. He probably wasn't even there,” she said, trying to help me relax. I had this nagging feeling in my gut that something wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I pulled my phone out and opened up my contacts list. I scrolled down the names and numbers wondering who I should call. The more I thought about it the more I realized the only person I wanted to or could talk to was already here with me. So I closed my phone and waited.

             
It wasn't even ten minutes later when the police arrived. They took us down to the station for questioning. We told them over and over again we just found him. That was it. Three hours later, and several threats from my father over the phone for questioning us without a lawyer present, they finally let us go. Josie called Billy to come get us. She didn't feel safe staying in the dorms and was going to spend the night with Billy at the fraternity house. She insisted I stay with them but I refused. I wanted to be in my own bed. I wasn't going to have someone scare me away.

  
              Josie tried suggesting I stay with Tristan. I laughed and told her I'd feel safer by myself. My dad also suggested I find somewhere else to stay the night. He said if I wanted he would call Dean to come down and stay with me, but I told him the same thing I told Josie that I would be fine and there would be plenty of security surrounding the building. It took everything in my power to convince my mom not to fly out. I didn't know what my dad said to her, but he pulled off a miracle and calmed her down enough to keep her from hopping on the next flight. I was happy to avert that crisis, which allowed me some relaxation while we drove back to the dorms.

  
              When they dropped me off out front, Josie tried one more plea for me to stay with her. I could tell she didn't want to let me go. I promised her I would be fine and if I wasn't I would call. The second I stepped out of the car I was bombarded by reporters, questioning me about what happened, what I saw. Billy got out of the car and escorted me inside, trying to protect me from all the chaos. George met us at the door. He angrily waved off the cameras and helped us inside locking the door behind us to keep the vultures out. “Don't worry you'll be safe in here,” George said. “I won't let anyone get by me.”

  
              “Thanks George,” I said, smiling politely at him.

  
              “Ella?” I turned my attention to Billy. “If you change your mind, don't hesitate to call. No matter what, okay?”

  
              “Thanks Billy, but I think I'll be alright. Besides, I got George,” I said, tilting my head in his direction.

     
              Billy gave me a look saying he didn't quite believe George was the man for the job, but at least he was better than nothing. “And just so you know,” he started nervously, “Tristan knows what happened and he's going to be staying in his dorm tonight so...if you...”

  
              “Got it, no worries, I'll be fine,” I said, feeling like a broken record. He waved good bye and braced himself for the media bedlam. I decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator knowing it would be less crowded. I took my time climbing the stairwell. When I finally reached my floor, pushed open the heavy metal door, was greeted by a sea of men in blue surrounding the hall. They were everywhere questioning students. Asking them if they heard or saw anything, how well they knew the deceased, if he had any enemies, and so on. They also asked if he knew or was friends with Skylar Hawkyns.

  
              That one made me stop.

  
              What did this have to do with Skylar? Did they think the incidents were related? I glanced back over my shoulder at one cop. He eyed me suspiciously. I turned around and kept walking straight to my room and quickly closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door in the darkness with my eyes shut trying to catch a breath. I exhaled and opened my eyes. I was startled when I found Jack standing by my bed.

  
              “Jack!” I ran up to him and threw my arms around him. “Oh thank God you're okay.” He stiffened at the embrace and pulled back looking at me confused. “Where were you?” He didn't say anything. He just kept that puzzled look on his face. “Oh it doesn't matter, I'm just glad you're okay,” I said, hugging him again.

  
              I felt him tense up. He tore himself away from me and backed up quickly. “What is it?” I asked, and then realized I probably owe him an apology from last night. “Jack, I'm sorry about last night.” He furrowed his brows and I knew now why he was acting weird. “It's just when I get migraines, it gets bad, and I don't remember much afterward.”

  
              A malicious smile spread across his lips and he threw his head back laughing. I looked at him not understanding what was going on. “Jack...what's so funny?”

  
              “You don't remember anything from last night?”

  
              I shook my head. “No, the last thing I remember is getting coffee at the student center and then you dropping me off. The rest is blank.”

  
              “That's right, you got a headache so I dropped you off and you went to bed, that was it,” he said. But something about the way he said it made my skin crawl. He sounded as though he was following a script, his voice was very monotone. Something started to bug me. His reaction when I ran over to him, the way he was watching me, and that laugh. I started to get a bad feeling in my stomach.

  
              I felt compelled to ask, “Where did you go last night after you dropped me off?”

  
              “I went home, to see my mom,” he said with a straight face. “I just got back now.”

  
              I wanted to ask him why he was here in my room instead of talking to the cops, but was afraid all he would give was another well-practiced answer. He took a step closer to me. I felt the sudden urge to run, to get as far away as possible, but I didn't move. Something was telling me not to make any sudden movements, so I kept still. My eyes searched his face. He seemed different somehow, older, worn down. His usual shy demeanor was replaced with a self-confidence you normally get from people on the verge of something big. I always thought of Jack as this harmless, young man, who lived down the hall, but now I wasn’t so sure. I didn't understand how I was suddenly afraid to be alone with him, but my gut was telling me to get away while I had the chance. Of course I ignored it.

  
              “Ella, there's something I need to tell you,” Jack said gravely.