Love, Basketball and Demons

Chapter 8: Time Doesn't Heal All

The morning sun cast a warm glow through the narrow window of Deb's dorm room, illuminating the array of books and papers strewn across her desk. She rubbed her eyes as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and yawned. Another day in this strange new world awaited her, full of tests and packed with coursework.

Deb slid her feet into her slippers and grabbed her shower caddy, stepping out into the hallway. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee wafted through the air as she closed the door behind her. She had barely taken three steps when she bumped into Abby, who was distracted from changing the song on her phone.

"Oops, sorry," Deb said, adjusting her glasses.

"Hey, no problem, I'm Abby," Abby replied with a warm smile. She adjusted the golden cross necklace around her neck, which caught Deb's eye.

"Nice necklace, I'm Deb," Deb remarked, admiring the intricate design.

"Thanks," Abby said, her fingers grazing the pendant. "It means a lot to me." She hesitated for a moment before asking, "What's your full name, by the way? Every name has a history I always say."

"Deb Hayashi," she responded, curious about Abby's sudden interest.

"Interesting," Abby murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'll see you around, Deb."

As Deb watched Abby walk away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something about Abby that seemed off, like a beautiful painting hung on a slight angle.

Meanwhile, Ethel stumbled into the basketball team's locker room, her face pale and her breathing labored. She scanned the room for Zack but found only Boon, who was lacing up his sneakers. The infection from the dagger had spread faster than she expected and it was taking everything she had just to stand. She could sense Zack had been in the locker room and desperate for help she moved towards Boon.

"Where's Zack?" Ethel asked, her voice strained.

"Whoa, you look like hell, also I don't know if you've noticed but this is the men's locker room," Boon remarked, eyeing her warily. "What's going on with you?"

"None of your business," she snapped. "Just tell me where Zack is."

"Look, I don't know what you're on, but I'm not getting involved," Boon retorted, standing up and moving towards the door.

"Wait!" Ethel coughed, a thick black liquid spattering onto the locker room floor. Boon's expression turned to one of disgust and concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, taking a step back.

"Please... help me find Zack," Ethel pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. But before Boon could respond, a surge of power rippled through Ethel's body, causing her eyes to glow a dim green.

Without warning, Boon froze in place, suspended in time by Ethel's uncontrollable powers. She looked at him, horrified by what she had done but unable to reverse it. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what was happening to her, and how she could save herself before it was too late.

Ethel's head throbbed as her hearing became overly sensitive, picking up even the faintest sounds. Through the noise of the busy campus, she caught a familiar voice - Rob singing off-key to "Dancing Queen" somewhere nearby. Grateful for the discovery, her change in focus released Boon from his frozen state as she stumbled out of the locker room.

Her vision blurred as she made her way down the hallway, using the walls to steady herself. The sound of Rob's singing grew louder, guiding her towards the parking lot. She stepped out into the open air just in time to see Rob's white Nissan Sentra starting to back out of a parking spot.