Chapter 5 : Darkness Calls

Nessa

Sweat dripped down my back from under my sports bra as I stood wiping my brow. I’d spent all day unpacking boxes in the heat because of the AC issue in the building, and though they sent out a notice saying it had just been fixed—it’d take hours to cool. Lifting my phone from the desk beside me I checked the time.

7:57 pm. Fuck, I worked through dinner.

I hadn’t realized how long I had been working at trying to get my dorm unpacked, but after the altercation with Nash earlier it was the only thing that kept my mind busy. The only thing that distracted me from the look he gave me before he left me standing alone on the sidewalk.

Something about what I said had set him off, and though I shouldn’t have been worried about what he or anyone thought. I couldn’t help it. Especially since I knew that Trevor was lurking somewhere around the area outside the school, and now I was basically confined to the safety of the campus.

Even the thought of ordering a pizza made me nervous.

For all I knew he had made a deal with the pizza company to try and deliver it himself. Paranoid, maybe. But that was literally how crazy my stepbrother was.

Taking a moment to think over my situation, considering I had no food in my dorm. I looked at my phone once more and settled for the canteen that was open until 8:30pm. It was unlikely I’d run into Nash because he didn’t even attend here anymore and hopefully most students would be in their rooms for the night.

Biting my bottom lip I let out a groan of protest and shoved my phone into the pocket of my leggings as I grabbed my student ID card and keys making my way out of my dorm, and towards the elevator.

The common building lobby was empty the moment I stepped out of the elevator, and though there was an eerie feel to the place I pushed through the uncomfortable silence and headed for the double doors that led outside. Unfortunately for me, the canteen was in a large building to the east of the common building dressed in dim outside lighting and small steel tables with benches that couldn’t be moved.

I quickened my steps as I approached the building. A few lingering students settled into the chairs and tables inside. Their eyes locked into their computers and phones more than likely preparing for classes that were to start in a few days. Or maybe that was wishful thinking. Regardless, I didn’t give to shits about them.

I was just hoping there was food left for me to scrounge from.

Stepping up to the counter I was greeted by an older woman wearing a hair net with salt and pepper strands sticking out from beneath it. Her brown eyes looked like they had, had their fill of hormonal youth for the day and the last thing she wanted to do was to speak with me this close to closing time.

Slowly, she wiped down the stainless-steel counters as I grazed over the selection of deli sandwiches until I found a turkey, lettuce and tomato that looked halfway appetizing.

“Will that be all for you then?” Her throaty voice said, causing me to glance up at her with slight hesitation as I grabbed a bag of chips and a bottle of water.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Well, hand me your card then.” She said disgruntled, her boney fingers held out as she waited for my student ID.

One of the great things about this place was that in the canteen, you didn’t use cash. Everything was charged to your student card, and because I was on scholarship, it was the one place I could constantly eat free on campus. Not that I would ever let anyone know. I didn’t want to seem like the charity case most students in this place made me feel like.

She glanced at my card before she swiped it. Her eyes reading over the kiosk before she glanced at me from over the screen, and back to my card. “Hmm…”

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” she replied softly. “Enjoy your night.”

An internal sigh escaped me, pleased that she didn’t comment on the status of my card like a few of the workers did last year. Nodding, I took my card from her outstretched hand and grabbed my items turning quickly as I fled to my dorm before I ran into someone I didn’t want too.

The moment I returned to my dorm, I closed the door and let a heavy breath escape me. I didn’t have the slightest clue why I was so uptight tonight, but when my phone rang and I jumped in fright… I knew I had to get myself together.

“Hello?” I gasped into the phone.

“Dude, are you okay? You sound like you just ran a mile or something.”

Sasha. “Yeah, I’m good. Just got back from the canteen. I’m starving.”

I perched my phone against my shoulder and ear as I made my way to the counter and placed down the items I purchased. My hands quickly tearing into the sandwich container as I took a bite and moaned in satisfaction.

“I can tell. Let me guess, you worked through dinner?”

“Mhmm,” I muttered through a mouthful, quickly swallowing. “You know me too well.”

“That I do,” she muttered. “So, how’s school going so far?”

Every part of me wanted to tell her about Trevor and what had happened last night, but I couldn’t. The last thing I wanted was for her to worry about me when she was starting her own year at school and was states away from me. My mind swirled back to the look on his face as he realized he had finally found me, but also the look he had when Nash very publicly announced I was his.

Something I was sure would make its way around the school before classes started.

“It’s good. Same shit different day honestly.” I lied, trying to sound convincing.

She was quiet for a moment before she replied. “Are you sure?”

“Yep, everything is good.”

“Uh-huh,” she muttered causing me to go stiff as I swallowed another bite of my sandwich. If she was acting like this then she definitely knew something.

“Um, why what’s on your mind?” I asked, trying to sound inconspicuous but failed horribly at.

“Oh, I don’t know… maybe why a sex god named Nash is following you around?”

Following me around? What the fuck is she talking about? “He isn’t…”

“Don’t lie to me, Nessa. Becca told me how he was talking to you outside the dorms today and how he was talking to you last night.”

Shit. “It isn’t like that. He just asked me a question. I didn’t even know his name until Becca told me.”

“Girl, you have been holding out on me!” she squealed. “She showed me a picture, the guys scream bad decisions.”

Rolling my eyes, I picked up the now empty sandwich wrapper and thew it away before turning to my bottled water. “It doesn’t matter what he screams. I’m not interested, Becca.”

“Oh my god, Nessa. It’s sophomore year. You need to have fun, and Nash definitely sounds like he can provide some fun.”

“No.” I sighed. “It’s not happening, end of discussion.”

She already knew my outlook on school relationships. They were pointless and distracting and the last thing I wanted to do was to get involved with someone who was just going to drop me for the next piece of ass. I had seen how these upper society men act around this place, and I was not about to be another statistic.

Becca was quiet as she processed my decision. The line so quiet that I had to double check my phone to make sure that we hadn’t gotten disconnected.

“You still there?”

“Yeah.” She sighed disgruntled by my choice. “I just don’t want you to waste one of the best times of your life.”

“I’m not Becca. I promise. And when we graduate and I move out west to be with you then I’ll let you play matchmaker for me, deal?”

“Do you promise?” she asked questionably. And as much as I wanted to take back my offer I knew if I was ever going to let her drop this I couldn’t.

“Yeah, I promise.”

A shout of glee rang through the phone causing me to laugh as a short knock on the door drew my attention. There was no way in hell that someone should be knocking at my door, and the fact that they did… made me uncomfortable.

Hesitantly, with Sasha still on the phone. I made my way towards the door and peeked through the peephole. From what I could see, the hallway was empty. But that didn’t mean that no one was out there. My heart thumped within my chest like a rabbit on the run, begging me to ignore it.

However, my head was more curious than a cat looking for adventure.

As Sasha rambled on about her classes and the friends she made so far before school, I took the opportunity and opened the door—slowly. There was no one present, and looking down both sides of the hallway I furrowed my brow in confusion, until I looked down.

There on the floor in front of my door was a letter. The black envelope lined in gold captivated my attention, and as I picked it up and closed the door once more, I tried to wrap my mind around what it could be or better yet, who could have left it.

“Nessa, are you still there?” Her voice called out pulling at my attention.

“Yeah, yeah…” I replied absentmindedly. “But can I call you back? I need to take care of something really quickly.”

“Yeah, sure. Just give me a call tomorrow. I’m about to head out for the night.”

Mumbling my acknowledgment I hung up the phone flipping the envelope in my hand before deciding to open it. The contents were nothing spectacular, except for a piece of paper that had been folded neatly. I opened it, reading the contents and dropped it to the counter, gasping for air.

‘Next time, don’t forget to eat. You’re going to need your strength for what I have planned. Until we meet again. -Nash’

Fuck me. I’m in trouble.

My blood ran cold as my eyes widened in fear.

Why the hell had he left this on my doorstep, and why the fuck was he watching me?

I didn’t know how to feel about the way Nash was acting. Part of me was scared, the memory of how Trevor had treated me constantly and making me watch over my shoulder as if he could appear at any moment. Yet even though Nash did weird and creepy shit like this… I didn’t feel scared in his presence. Instead, I felt desired and wanted. That anticipation of when I would see him made my heart flutter, no matter how much I tried to hide it.

Confliction weighed on me heavily, but I couldn’t let it control me. As much as part of me wanted to obey him… I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.