The Campus Demon {Nanowrimo 2020}

Chapter 2

Jessica's mind floated into nothingness as she watched beads of sweat coating the can of Pepsi drip down the sides before dissolving on the plastic table. She zoned out the chirpy voices around her, her eyelid fluttering close to picture the crippled form she'd vaguely seen on the night of the murder. She was supposedly at Fikayo's friend's party which got ruined when her glass of red wine sloshed on her white outfit.

She raced to the bathroom to clean up before the group of hot guys that had been admiring from a distance, lost interest and snicker at her. She tried getting the bright red stain off with a wet handkerchief but no matter how much she dabbed at it, it refused to diminish. Left with no other choice but to sneak out of the party, she hailed the first cab that stopped by the club gate and headed home.

Immediately she arrived at her house, she changed into a plain tee and shorts and soaked her party clothes with bleach, making a mental note to wash the next day. Jessica lived next door to Valentina, the girl who had been gruesomely murdered. They barely talked or saw eye to eye – apart from the occasional 'hello' and 'hi'.

Although Jessica knew Valentina was in a relationship with a particular tall handsome guy who frequently visited her on weekends, she never pried into their business. She was the type of person that found it difficult to befriend someone who lived close to her. She couldn't label it abnormal but that was about it. Her neighbors called her a shy butterfly because she turned down offers of conversations politely.

Jessica pointed a finger at the can, pushing a little over the edge as someone slapped her arm, hard. She winced, rubbing the sore spot that was turning red and glaring daggers at Becca, her course mate.

"Have you even been listening to all I was saying?" Becca quizzed, creasing her perfectly lined brows. She bit into her club sandwich and moaned in delight, creamy sauce soiling the red glossy lipstick on her mouth.

Jessica frowned, placing her elbow on the table. "Is that why you had to slap me for effect?"

Becca stopped chewing her snack and took a large gulp of her drink, belching loudly. The corners of Jessica's lips turned down in irritation as she did a quick survey of the small crowded canteen. A group of dark muscular guys were seated at a table opposite, eating eba and ofo soup while throwing mused glances at them.

"Becca, you're embarrassing me," Jessica stated through gritted teeth. Becca wiped her lips with a napkin and gave a seething glower at the intruders, making them recoil in their seats.

"You self, you like to follow people's opinion too much. If it's to close your ears to what I'm saying now, you will be a master." Becca tucked her napkin on her lap, feigning anger.

Jessica heaved a deep sigh. "Okay, I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Becca suppressed a smile. "I was saying that I won't be coming to school tomorrow or next, I am traveling to Dubai to spend the weekend with Fikayo."

Jessie's ears perked up at the mention of his name. "What? You're already hanging out with that weird dude? Did he charm your brain or something?" She knew Fikayo to be a million dollar playboy.

Becca scoffed. "You have started again o, what's your own issue with my boyfriend self?"

"Are you kidding me?" Jessie asked, clearly baffled. "Isn't he the same guy that slaughtered his ex-girlfriend, leaving her severed body parts in the bush? You know I was the first to find out and inform the necessary authorities abi?"

"And so?" Becca shook her head in obvious disapproval. "Students can spread rumors ehn. He informed me earlier that he wasn't dating the girl. Who told you he was the one that killed her now. Do you have the evidence?"

Jessica slumped in her chair, shrugging her shoulder. "I am just trying to look out for you sha. You know that the days are evil and this school is no longer a safe haven."

"I understand. Sorry for lashing out on you. Are you going to see Dami today?"

Jessie blushed, cueing her signature eye roll. "Who even told you we were dating, you this girl. Your aproko is becoming too much o."

"Shift jor, who doesn't know the two Abuja campus love birds?" Becca winked suggestively, finishing up her food in silence and peering at the apple series watch that Fikayo got her as a birthday present. "Shit. I think it's time for Mr Nwabuzie's lecture."

Jessica cussed, her eyes widening in realization. She grabbed her nearly empty Pepsi can and rushed to make payment for their meal.

The compound was quite rowdy as Jessica entered; it was rather unusual. She juggled her keys, sparing a glance at Valentina's ajar door. Her caretaker, a short burly man was standing with a middle aged couple who were trying but failing miserably to hold their tears in. The man was blowing snort on his handkerchief while the woman was wailing and rolling on the ground, calling on her savior to intervene and bring her daughter back.

She felt a pang of sadness hit her as the furniture movers set to work, heaving different house items to a loading van outside. She fought hard to tear her gaze away from the pitiful sight and unlocked her door, slipping out of her ill fitting shoes. Jessie was about to plop tiredly on her bed when she heard the sound of something scratching its sharp nails against the wall. Her first instinct was to bolt but she forced her jumbled nerves to remain calm.

Frowning, she tossed her bag to a corner, taking cautious steps to the kitchen where the noise was prominent. She flung the transparent glass door open but found nothing out of the ordinary. Still, something gnawed at her gut. Dark. Dangerous. A piercing sound began echoing in her ear; it increased to a frightening crescendo. She blocked her ear drum, falling forward as blood trickled from her lobe down her fingertips.

Jessica coughed heavily, hitting her chest—she forced breath into her deprived lungs. After a full minute of writhing and groaning, the acute pain began to subside and Jessie rushed to the bathroom with wobbly legs. She ran cold water in the sink and washed dried blood off from her shaky hands. Then, she snapped her rusted backyard lock to let air into the stuffy room.

That was when she saw it; laying by the side of her big generator was a white pussycat that lay drenched in a pool of blood. Jessica let out a high pitched scream and passed out.