Soul Bearers

Chapter 1 - No Time

Alarm blaring, Lizbeth startled awake. Groggy and in need of coffee, she turned off her alarm and begrudgingly sauntered to the kitchen. Turning on the kettle, she grabbed a cup and spooned in her coffee and sugar.

Dragging a hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes, she reached for her phone to check for messages. One from her mother, "Have a good first day. Love you.", it read. Lizbeth smiled and replied to her mom with thanks.

Today Lizbeth started her first day of classes at university. Unfortunately she couldn't get a room on campus, but she did manage to persuade her parents to help her pay for an apartment in walking distance from the campus, which was a big help, considering her parents lived about an hours drive from the university.

Taking a big gulp of coffee, her taste buds sang with joy. She played music on her phone and went for a quick shower, singing to the songs. All dressed and ready for the day she toasted herself a slice of bread and grabbed her bag and phone on the way out.

She shivered as a slight chill hung in the air. "Seems like rain." she mentioned to herself as she watched rain clouds gathered in the sky.

The trek to campus was uneventful as suspected, all students having different classes and schedules was obviously the cause. Lizbeth glanced at her watch and noticed she still had about thirty minutes before class.

Lizbeth decided to check how busy the cafeteria was, hoping to catch another coffee. Warmth hit her face as she opened the doors. Cafeteria was bustling with students.

Checking the line, Lizbeth sighed. Too long, she'd be late for class if she fell in line now. Just as she was about to head to class a hand waving caught her eye. An instant smile lit up her face. Lizbeth walked up to her high school classmate, "I didn't expect to see you here." Joshua greeted.

"Neither did I, to be honest." Lizbeth mentioned, "Last we spoke you were talking about going to a different university."

"That was the plan, but things didn't pan out, this place was option two." He seemed slightly dismayed at the thought.

"Well, their missing out on one hell of a student, to be sure." Lizbeth said, hoping to make him feel a little better.

He grinned. "Yes, their missing out on the best." Joshua paused, "I'm up next, do you want anything?"

"A coffee would be great!" Lizbeth accepted eagerly.

"I got you." he winked.

Lizbeth moved away from the line and stood off to the side, waiting on Joshua. He finished up quickly and met her with a smile, handing her a cup of coffee.

"You were in the line for coffee too?" Lizbeth asked.

"Of course, I need something to get me through my morning class."

She could tell he was jesting. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nah, this one is on me. You can get the next one." he grinned cheekily.

"Oh, is that right." she flirted back.

"That's right." he winked.

Checking the time Lizbeth said her goodbyes. "Catch you later."

"Yes, I don't have your number."

Quite a ways from Joshua she raised her voice. "I'll give it to you over that next coffee."

He smiled brightly and Lizbeth giggled as she proceeded to her class.

She wasn't surprised when she saw the turnout for the morning class. The students would probably dwindle during the course of the first semester. Most are probably still on edge as new students. Even Lizbeth felt the strange pressure to be at class this morning.

She took a random seat. Everyone was still chit-chatting, waiting for the professor to start the lecture. 

A book was slammed to the desk, everyone grew deadly silent within one second. "Morning." the professor greeted.

The students returned the greeting as a monotone choir.

"I'm professor Matthew Kingsley. Remember my name, or don't. I certainly don't intend to remember yours."

His introduction was definitely odd, if nothing else. "Let's jump right in, shall we." And so, Professor Kingsley sprang into his lecture with no other words of encouragement or any other explanations.

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Lizbeth sighed as she left the building. She had all of three classes and she felt all of them had stressed her out. Not only did it seem like none of the professors gave a damn, she was lost on what to do, honestly.

Rain poured from the sky and it was just another reason for Lizbeth to feel miserable. Her first day was not as grand as she hoped it would be. Her phone chimed with a message, it was her mom, "How was your day?" it read.

She decided to ring her mom. "Hi Sweetie, did you get my message?"

"Yes Mom, that's why I'm calling."

"Are you okay, you don't sound very happy?"

"Let's just say today was rough. I'm hoping for a better day tomorrow."

"Did something happen?" her mother suddenly sounded worried.

"No, nothing like that. I just felt lost today during classes, a bit thrown into the lions den."

"I see, I'm sure it'll get better once you get used to it."

"I know, just needed to talk."

"Are you lonely out there by yourself?"

"No, I'm fine!" Lizbeth replied, too excited, hoping to hide that she did miss home.

"Good, cause you know I'll drive out there to see you every day if I have to."

Lizbeth laughed. "I know you would. I have to go now."

"Okay, be safe. We love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

Lizbeth looked up at the sky and noticed the rain hadn't let up even a little. No one else in sight, she decided to make a run for it.

"Hey, you!" the voice was gruff and desperate.

Stupidly she stopped. Lizbeth wondered if this person was calling out to her, what a stupid thought. Her eyes swiftly checked around her, it was raining so hard she could barely see. She caught a glimpse of red and before she could do anything she was ran into within a split second.

Lizbeth was breathing harshly once they stopped tumbling on the ground. She opened my eyes to see the face of a young man. Desperate, miserable, angry. "Sorry, no time, I need to attach my soul to you." he rushed out in a breath.

Her brain hadn't even a chance to register his words when he grabbed her face and desperately pressed his lips to hers. Lizbeth closed her eyes, feeling shaken and ready to push this person off her when all of the sudden he was nowhere in sight.

She quickly sat up and darted her eyes, but she didn't see anyone. Extremely confused and upset Lizbeth pulled herself together as best she could and walked all the way home in a confused daze.

Was she just kissed? She wondered. Words for the situation escaped her. More than that, she felt crazy. Did that even really happen? She would arrive at her apartment, soaked.

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Lizbeth steamed in a hot bath, hoping to get rid of the cold chill she was feeling. Her thoughts jumbled. Her sudden experience not making any sort of sense. She got dressed and ate dinner, but doing those menial things did not make her stop thinking about that young man's face.

She needed to catch up with some assignments given for the day, but decided to do them after a nap.

Lizbeth climbed under her covers and hugged herself tight. She could not get rid of this awful chill clawing at her body. She brazed herself for a restless sleep.