Look After You | Colby Brock

Horror

"Colby!" I chirp down the phone when he finally picks up. I'm feeling grateful for Professor Cowden giving me this separate assignment but I still feel guilty for whoever my classmates are working with. Hopefully none of them are falling for their client, it is a bit strange.

"Hey? Everything ok?" He sounds like he is panting which throws me off but I don't comment. "Yeah, left class a little early so I'm just calling to let you know I'm going to be spending the remainder of the evening at the library.." He cuts me off by sighing heavily, "Sorry am I boring-" "No, I'm just in the middle of the something, that's fine, I'll bring you dinner okay, I'll call you soon." And with that he hangs up the call, my lips part and I let out a scoff, alrighty then.

I place all my notes about Colby into my largest box under my bed and grab my fresh notepad and laptop. I decide to leave a post-it note for Rose to let her know I'm at the library in case I don't return. My watch tells me that classes are finished for the day so I head off into the campus to make my way to the library. The library is one of the quietest parts of the campus, a lot of people have been studying off campus at the local library, but that benefits me to get more done here. I sign myself in with the library after I climb the large steps, attempting to catch my breath I find a quiet table and place my laptop down.

Professor Cowden wants me to write about mental health on campus, and sadly I've came face to face with some of the most mentally challenged people here. I pull up a blank word document and get to work. I start off by writing about the councillors and therapists that I knew back home and how they differ from those living in Los Angeles, then go on to discuss the guidance councillors on campus. I think back to class last week on one of the days Professor Cowden had all the councillors in for a chat and the lady we spoke to seemed sweet but I can't see myself discussing my thoughts and life problems with her, something I bet a lot of people on campus worry about. I comment on the easy access to campus to the public and the alcohol and drugs that college students consume without a second thought, I do second guess this as I'm a bad example for this too.

The librarian comes by taking me from my work, that is already over two thousand words. "Hello, can I get you anything? It's getting late and we do close the library in half an hour" she tells me. The evening has definitely came into full effect and I hadn't even noticed, "Sorry Ms. My boyfriend was suppose to bring me dinner, I guess he forget. I'm almost done." She nods with a sympathetic smile before leaving my side. A frown comes across my face as I look outside and see nobody, he must have really forgot.

The walk back to my dorms seemed longer than the way here as I carry my tired body. I'm just glad I finished my assignment and hopefully it can bring me some sort of grade this semester. I stop in my tracks to double check I put everything in my bag as my stomach growls, I really should grab something to eat but the cafeteria is shut. I groan loudly "Something wrong?" I jump turning quickly to be welcomed by Brennen, just as I'm about to make a response he grabs my arms and turns me so my back is pressed against him, covering my mouth he laughs, "This is how this is going to go sweetheart." I gulp, confusion and terror prominent on my face. I pray someone would come in this direction but he got me at the worst time, no windows are around us for someone to spot us and the lighting is already awful. "I'm not happy with your little boyfriend..he owes me a lot of money Aliyah..." he tightens his grip around me, "I got a tip off someone today that there's some snitches around campus that are working to bring me down.." he sniggers, "I really hope that's not because of you.." he removes his hand from my mouth to push my hair back, I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out, I'm in complete shock. "Why-Why are you doing this?" I whisper, tears filling my eyes as his grip begins to hurt me.

"Because I know he loves you, We don't fuck around Aliyah. I've been working around this campus for a long time and you come alone and suddenly, people are trying to rat me out?" He laughs, the laugh drills into my brain and tears start to trickle down my face.

"Please.." He removes his arms from around me and instead pushes me into one of the trees, I fall to the ground from the impact and he lowers over me. "Tell your little boyfriend that this is from me.." he laughs again before my head hits the grass from the blunt object that makes contact with my skull.