The Campus Demon {Nanowrimo 2020}

Chapter 19

The pure stench of lighted cigarette and alcohol filled the gelid air as Jessica made her way past the brightly lit hotel. The sky was darkening little by little, the sun long gone from the horizon. Strong winds howled through the trees, leaves shaking roughly, specks of dust swirling in the dampened atmosphere. She took a quick glance at the bleak clouds, trying to determine the exact time the rain would begin falling from the sky. But there was no way of knowing.

Jessica absently waved a big hulk she caught staring at her as she walked past. Something about his intense look and the way he licked his lips as he took a cautious sip of his beer seemed familiar to her. She had to have known him from somewhere before, she concluded, thoughtful. He had a well structured face, straight nose, dark skin, light brown eyes, and a stubborn chin that looked sharp enough to cut through an edge. Subconsciously, her face bore a hint of a smile as his deep voice halted her.

"Hi, what's up?" He greeted as she found herself walking up to him with furrowed brows.

"I'm so sorry. But I feel like I know you somehow. Just can't remember exactly where we've met," Jessica said, scratching her head.

The guy chuckled, shrugging. "I'm just your neighbor though. Don't you remember me commending you on the blue dress you wore yesterday? I said you looked really pretty in it and you laughed and said you'd wear it again today."

Jessica frowned, biting her lower lip. "Oh it's you. But I don't remember anything like that. Are you sure that it's me?"

"Yeah, of course it's you. You went out earlier in the evening, all dressed up, I thought you were going for a party or something." The guy took a sip of his drink, eyeing her over the rim of his glass.

"Chike, right?" At her question, he nodded his head. "I really think I'm not the person you saw, I don't attend parties all that much. And I don't have a blue dress, not the one that matches your description. But in other case, I'll see you again sometime, I have to hurry inside. I have someone I want to see," Jessica concluded in a rush.

Chike's face was scrunched up, he looked deep in thought, running his hand over his combed hair. After a while though, he gave up, leaning back in his chair and staring at Jessica's retreating back. A thought flirted across his mind and he called out to her. She stopped, turning with a light scowl. "Sorry to disturb you but do you have a twin?" He sounded worried and concerned at the same time.

Jessica blew out a breath, arms folded, her feet tapping on the sidewalk. She was sure Chike was going crazy, imagining things that weren't there. She considered it absurd, enough to shake her head to his reply and walk off, muttering obscenities.  A flash of lightening tore through the sky a minute before the heavy rain began. She raced to the sheltered passageway leading to the club, her clothes a bit drenched. Sliding easily through the revolving doors, she paused to catch her breath and survey the dim light area.

Not much people were around, soft music played from the overhead speakers, barely blocking out the ring of laughter and mindless chatter. Jessica's eyes searched around for the one person she was there to see, spotting him opening a beer glass for a customer. He straightened his back and turned, his face turning pale. She thought she saw a look of surprise flit through his features but it was gone as fast as it came.

Didn't register much in her memory. He attempted to crack a smile heading through the back to the counter. "What can I do for you?" He asked, slapping an unfolded napkin on the gleaming surface. Jessica noted that his fingers trembled slightly and his tongue found his lips several times—just enough to mark that he was quite nervous.

She brought out a brown envelope from her jacket pocket, sliding across the table to meet his eyes. Making herself comfortable in a high back chair, she spoke cooly, "So I've been thinking of who in particular sent me that. It didn't cross my mind then because you haven't been in the picture for a while. Not since Valentina's death and the day of the police questioning. Suddenly, this shows up in my front door at exactly the same time my boyfriend's house was broken into. Coincidence?"

Danny slapped his forehead, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Look, I had nothing to do with that. In fact, I don't have anything to do with any of this," he spoke, pushing the item away from him with shaky hands.

"But your body language says otherwise. Tell me, why me? Why of all people was that addressed to me? Me specifically and why was I told to keep it a secret?" Jessica leaned in, forcing Danny's shifty gaze on her. His piercings glinted in the subdued lighting and behind him, something fast moved. She blinked, her mouth flying agape.

"What was that?" Danny asked, following the direction of her gaze. She waved a hand in front of her face, dismissing what she thought she'd seen.

"Look, I think you should leave. Because, I'm not going to tell you anything," Danny said with a note of finality. Someone from a far distance called for his attention and he shrugged, stalking off. Jessica tucked the letter safely in her pocket, bringing out a stick of cigarette, lighting the end up and taking a quick drag. She had never smoked in her life but she was trying to buy time.

She coughed, forcing air into her deprived lungs. Her chest tightened, Danny threw her an anxious glance. As soon as she regained composure, she took a longer drag, allowing the smoke hover about her mouth before dispelling it in the air. She could hear the rain pelter on the old tin roof, swinging her legs back and forth, she waited till Danny was close before grabbing his arm roughly.

"I need answers," she said through gritted teeth. She was damn needy.

Danny tugged his hand away, rubbing the sore spot. "Fine. Let's get this over with then. I have work to do."

Jessica muttered her thanks, rolling the blunt between her stiff fingers. "You see, I wasn't close to Valentina. That you must already know. I was just a watcher from the window, we shared silent nods as a form of acknowledgement. She ran into me on that night as I was heading to meet up with a friend of mine. She couldn't recognize me though, I wore heavy makeup."

Danny smirked, his elbows placed on the table. "Anything else I need to know?"

Jessica's lip turned downward. "Just that I found her dead body and discovered that the bitch of a boyfriend had been dating my friend secretly, way before Valentina got killed. I need answers, answers to why sometimes I black out and can't remember much later, answers to why I have strange dreams, answers to why I look behind my shoulder as if someone's watching me, answers, answers, a whole lot of them."

She blew out a shaky breath, tears clouding the rims of her eye. Danny placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, urging her to be calm. "You sure as hell need a drink right now. I'll pour you a glass, bills on me."

Jessica curtly nodded, her chest heaving.