Sincerely, S.H

Chapter 2

Dear Shauna Herring,

 

I know that you don’t know me. But I know you more intimately than you could possibly imagine. You must be wondering how this letter came to you. I can see you asking your pathetic self “how did they get this letter into my dorm.” Such an inquisitive girl, aren’t you? You ask yourself questions in order to understand the world. How commendable. Keep asking the questions. Ask them to me personally, should you find me. I would be happy to watch you tear out your own hair as you attempt to converse with one as powerful as I. I would never answer your questions, dear girl. No, I would watch you suffer as the air that would become so devoid of reason, that it creates a vacuum. I want to watch as you head tries to fill the void of reason in the universe. I can’t, though can it? You don’t even know who I am.

               The time will come, though. The time will come, but for now

Sleep well, Shauna. Good luck on your test tomorrow. I’m sure nothing will go wrong. Expect more letters soon.

 

Sincerely, S.H

 

My blood runs colder and colder as I read the cryptic note. My heartbeat quickens until and quickens like the clacking of a train as it speeds off along its path. But my path is unclear. I know not how to proceed. My heart thumps uncontrollably until, for just a moment, it stops. My hands shake and my heart resumes beating, but with a warier rhythm. My heart is as unsure and scared as my head.

It must be a joke. Stephanie is sick of my imperfections, or one of Nick’s jokes has gone a little too far. Maybe it is some frat house game. Scare the heck out of some girl. Nice.  Classy. Neanderthals. Could they possibly make it through Halloween without causing any damage?

I mentally attack the local fraternity because I have to assume they are behind it. I must. There is no other option. The guys from the house down the street that typically smells like a brewery have to be the ones who wrote this letter. I have to believe that.

But in the back of my mind, I know that they can’t be. I have never attracted their attention. They don’t know my name, my room number or my course schedule.

Regardless there is no other explanation.

But how can I sleep well now? I had planned to come home, shower, dry my hair, reread my notes once more and then turn in early. So much for that. I am much too fidgety and fearful to do that now. With a longing look at my bathrobe hanging on the door, I decide to take a walk instead. I need to get my mind off that letter. I toss the letter onto my bed as if it burned me and start toward the door casting it aside and leaving it and my bag behind me, I take only my school ID because it is required to gain access to the building upon my return. I hear a quiet, yet exasperated sigh from Stephanie as my door’s hinges squeal when I open it. “I’m taking a walk” I notify her as I walk past her line of vision from the slouching couch to the bulky television across from it.

“This late?” she asks critically, looking up at me with mild annoyance, her tone falling somewhere between disapproval and lack of interest.

I push my unruly hair out of my face, only for it to fall back into place. “Um, yeah. I guess so” Silently, I snap “Obviously. I am leaving. I said that I am leaving, and though it is beyond my control, yes I am in fact going out this late.” Of course I would never say that. I hate fights, and I have always had a fear of confrontation in general, especially when my opponent has the perfect opportunity to make my life a living hell.