Dark Academia

Part Seven: Oak Hill

Tonight. Of course. A few Oak Hill boys are hosting a little "get together" in the room under their dining hall. Nothing out of the ordinary, of course, Oak Hill boys are known for their ability to party. Though I have no problem with parties generally, the idea of being stuck in what is virtually a basement of a boy's school while hardly knowing anyone isn't particularly appealing.

But, Alice is going, so skipping is out of the question for me. I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, blouse and skirt tucked under the bed, ready to be thrown on at the very strike of one. The ceiling swims in front of me, the blacks and browns swirling together in a strange stream, barely lit by the low burn of the candle next to the bed. My bed suddenly shifts as someone sits at the edge.

"Mary?"

I sit upright, confused. Is it already one? That isn't possible.

"Mary? Are you ready to go?"

"What?" I speak into the darkness, the candle having already burnt out, somehow.

"It's time to go, come on."

A hand from the darkness grabs mine, the coolness of the skin shocking me. I pull away, my hand feeling like it had been submerged in ice water. The feeling travels up my arm, through my veins.

"Mary, what's wrong?" Alice's face materializes in the space before me, but it's... wrong.

"Are you okay?" The coldness reaches my shoulder, leaving me gasping for air. It feels like I'm drowning. Her eyes close, and not-Alice moves toward me, grabbing both shoulders and pressing her lips to mine. I try to pull away but our lips are stuck together. I feel the skin of my lips ripping, the hot taste of blood intermingling with the icy touch of her skin. Just as the cold reaches my chest, my eyes open.

"Mary," Clara's face peers over me, expression screwed into one of concerned amusement. "You were talking in your sleep." Her hand vacates my shoulder, returning to her collar to finish buttoning it. "It's time to go."

I groan and sit up, wiping the sweat from my eyes. Clara turns back to me for a moment.

"You must have some weird dreams."