How to Survive Your 19th Life [BL]

Chapter 40: Double Take

I didn't put my suspicions away like I wanted.

The very next morning before my first class, I went down to the Offices of Student Development's office to see the Student Life Coordinator. The door was closed so I knocked on the old wooden frame. It opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with dark purple lipstick and a very conservative outfit. Her eyes lit up when she saw me as though she knew exactly who I was.

I recognized her as well from when I was a freshman, but not enough to warrant such a response. For some reason, I placed my foot in the doorway – almost anticipating her to slam it in front of me. She furrowed her brow in bewilderment at this.

"What do you want?" she asked. There was not an ounce of professionalism in her tone. I glanced back at the other nearby offices, only one slightly cracked open. 

"Let's go inside to talk," I told her.

"Young man, whatever you need to say to me, get on with it," she hissed quietly. 

Needless to say, I was quite flabbergasted. I didn't expect this reaction at all. I swallowed and said, "I am just here looking for answers. About Emiel."

"Don't say his name," she whispered sharply. "Speak of the devil and the devil may appear." Something flashed in her eyes. Fear? Hatred?

"Did he blackmail you?"

"Of course he did."

"Why? With what?"

Her face set into a stern disapproving glare. "You don't know?"

"All I saw was that he wanted me to board with him during my dorm repairs?" I queried. 

She nodded, very slightly.

"All that trouble for a roommate for a few weeks?"

"That boy would burn the world just to roast marshmallows."

I shook my head. It took everything in me not to laugh. "That's crazy. No way." I opened my mouth to ask her another question but she swung the door closed. I yanked my foot back, barely avoiding it being crushed.

I stood there awkwardly in the following silence for a few minutes, then decided to walk to class. On the way, I called Henri. I'd been avoiding him due to that stupid dream, but that's all it was... a dream.

"Why are you calling me so early?" Henri asked. He sounded wide awake.

"Something strange is going on, Chicken," I said as I hustled over to the Moore's Technical Center where my class was held. "Emiel blackmailed someone I think."

"Holy shit!" Henri shouted.

I then told him everything I had discovered so far, except for the strange dream I had. I did mention my encounter previously with Jason. That part happened before that otherworldly nightmare took place. When I was done, I was standing outside of my classroom in the hallway, which smelled like stale crackers.

"How much do you know about Emiel?" Henri asked me when I was done. 

"I'm not sure. I don't really push him for answers about his past."

"Do you feel safe?"

Before I could even think about it, I immediately said, "I am not sure." Nausea turned my stomach upside down. "Sorry, gotta get to class."

"Call me later tonight, Sol. This is serious."

"Sure." I hung up.