SURV!VE FOR YOURSELF ... the boyz ?!

[ O2 ] - DETOUR.

Jacob sighed, leaning back in his chair. He sat in the on-campus café of Creker University, a guitar on his lap and his sixth cup of coffee in front of him.

Even though it was only the first day of winter break, Jacob had already started on his project — writing a song.

He rubbed his eyes, checking the time. It was already 7 in the evening. He took another sip of coffee.

Just a couple more minutes, he decided.

Jacob left the café hours later, feeling burnt out. It'd taken him way too long to finish two stanzas, and he'd barely gotten to the chorus.

Maybe it's not too late to change my major, the boy thought, then shook his head. No way. Songwriting isn't supposed to be easy. Just power through it. You'll be fine, he told himself.

Jacob's steps seemed to echo down the empty sidewalks of the campus that was once brimming with student life and activities. He passed by the spot where the arts club performed twice a semester, and where the volleyball team first asked him to join.

For the first time, Jacob realized how much of his life his extracurriculars filled. Loneliness tugged at his heartstrings, but fatigue pulled even harder.

The boy yawned, hefting his guitar case higher up on his shoulder. He couldn't wait to take a nice, warm shower and curl up in his sheets with his headphones.

Of course, his dorm building had to be across the campus from the café.

Jacob trudged up the slight hill, his legs aching for a soft bed. He eyed the shortcut through the forest, behind all the buildings, then looked around to see if anyone was watching. No one.

"Fuck it," he muttered to himself, then headed into the underwood, dead leaves crunching under his feet.

The wind seemed to slow, only lightly rustling the branches overhead. Jacob carefully walked along the worn trail used by many other students, as if leaving it would leave him vulnerable to the forest.

He saw a huge shape up ahead in front of him. As he got closer, he realized the shape turned out to be a cargo truck, turned over on its side, blocking the path completely.

Then, there was the smell — burning flesh and gasoline. "Ugh." Jacob pinched his nose, making his way around the truck, but keeping as close to the path as possible.

There was a squelching sound and Jacob looked down at his shoe — now covered in some kind of dark, black goo. The smell was even worse up close, making Jacob reel back in disgust.

He kept going, trying his best to ignore the sticky feeling under his shoe that came with every step. As he turned around the corner of the truck, he noticed another pile of sludge near the front wheels. But strangely, this one wasn't all slime.

Curiosity tugged Jacob closer, and he realized it wasn't just goo. His eyes widened, and he backed away in horror.

There was a human body, half-intact, half-melted down into black goo.

Oh, right.

And missing a head.

WORD COUNT // 543 words

AUTHOR'S NOTE // can u tell i have
no idea what uni life is like