The Haunting

Chapter 4

Meredith Evers walked around outside Sorority Hall. She kicked at the autumn leaves and and looked up at the gray sky. The sun emerged from the clouds at intervals, but it was a cold sun that drew away more heat than it was supposed to provide. Last night was a blur... Meredith couldn't even remember how she got home. Maybe they hitched with a stranger. Hey, for all she knew, she could have.

Meredith Evers walked around outside Sorority Hall. She kicked at the autumn leaves and and looked up at the gray sky. The sun emerged from the clouds at intervals, but it was a cold sun that drew away more heat than it was supposed to provide. Last night was a blur... Meredith couldn't even remember how she got home. Maybe they hitched with a stranger. Hey, for all she knew, she could have.

Elizabeth, Noelle, and Vanessa were sleeping it off. Meredith smiled. She remembered Vanessa hitting it off with a bartender, and Elizabeth and Noelle chugging shots as if to say "Noelle, Welcome to America."  Amelia was at cheer and Amber was at water polo. Cecelia, Kayla, and Analyse were talking to a girl in the main hall. The girl looked short and dwarf-like, with pointy ears, razor sharp teeth, pale ghostly skin, and dirty blond hair.

"So you wanna join the Sorority?" Analyse asked the girl.

"Yeah." The girl's voice sounded like a clash up of New York accent and British drawl.

"Alright then. Well, meet us tonight for the Inaugural Banquet and we'll see how worthy you are," Kayla told her, handing her a bunch of forms.

The girls said bye to her and walked away, and she watched them go, the light making glares on her glasses. The girl looked lonely, so Meredith went to go talk to her.

"Hi," she waved. "I'm Meredith. You're gonna be part of the sorority?"

"Hey," the girl said. "I'm Heidi Schwein. Yeah, I wanna be  part of the sorority."

The girl, Heidi, made it really awkward by staring at Meredith intensely.

"Alright then," Meredith said, pulling away,"umm I'll see you at the banquet?"

Heidi's glasses started to fog up.

"Yeah.. I guess I'll see you later."

"Bye." But as Meredith walked away, she felt the intense scrutiny of Heidi's stare.

.......

The banquet was held in Alumni Hall. A long table with elaborate silverware and tablecloth gleamed from the chandelier above. All the girls were standing alongside their chairs in their evening dresses. When Heidi walked over to her seat in her short black dress, the girls seated themselves. Turkey, roast duck, soup, and many other foods Meredith couldn't pronounce were served in front of them.

"So, Heidi, why don't you tell us about yourself?" Noelle asked kindly.

Heidi twitched. Then she said,"Oh. Well, you know, I've been around, here and there. Back and forth."

Meredith cut the tender juicy steak in front of her. She could still feel Heidi staring at her, even though Meredith sat at the other end.

"What do you have to offer in this Sorority?" Vanessa asked.

Heidi sniffed. She shifted in her seat and then fidgeted, saying, "a lot."

Kayla beamed and smiled. "Good enough for me, guys."  ...........................................................................

Each girl then brought out a white candle. Heidi then lit hers, as instructed.

"Humbly accept me into this sorority," she said, and passed the flame from her candle to Amber.

"I accept," Amber said, then passing the flame to Cecelia.

"I accept." One by one, the girls whispered their approval. Elizabeth and Vanessa, however, took about a moment or so before finally forwarding the motion.

Finally the flame came to Meredith. She thought about it. Heidi stared at her some more. Then,

"I accept."

Her voice was shaky and indecisive.

Then each girl blew out their candle at the same time.

"Congrats, Heidi Schwein," Amber announced. "Welcome to the Sorority