The Campus Demon {Nanowrimo 2020}

Chapter 20

Fikkie sharply turned on hearing heavy footsteps approaching. His red rimmed eyes grew moist for the umpteenth time, racing the short distance to engulf Becca in a warm hug. She held him tight, inhaling the manly scent of his cologne and not wanting to let go. He looked much leaner—if that was possible, his cheeks were a bit sunken and his lips which he constantly bit out of nervousness, appeared dry and cracked.

He pulled back after a short while, his gaze settling on her parted lips as he traced the edge of her chin with his fingertips. "I'm so glad you could come." He chuckled before claiming her lips hungrily. Becca accepted the kiss wholeheartedly, their tongues entwining as they both tried to fight for dominance. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a lady with ebony black hair, straight aquiline nose and plump lips. Her slightly chubby face held several dark spots as visible as broad daylight.

She smiled against Fikkie's lips, drawing back to catch her breath. "How is he?" She asked worriedly. Fikkie linked hands with her and they walked over to his bedside, Becca dreading the kind of image she would see. She was right. Michael was hooked to life support and a heart rate monitor, his chest rising and falling softly, his handsome face ghastly pale, he was on a long white robe. A clip was attached to his thumb, she eyed the drip infusion on his right arm, suddenly realising he looked sort of dead.

A loud gasp escaped her lips at the horrid thought and she had to take a deep breath to hold her own tears at bay. "Is he—" she started but the lady sitting across from her finished up her question.

"He went into coma. And hey, I'm Smiler, their half sister." She held out a hand and Becks clasped it, her lips stretching in a broad smile. Although, one eye glared at Fikkie for not letting her know that he had a half sister, she tried to keep her cool. Smiler in all actuality, lived up to her name. Despite her distressed countenance, she had on a smile--that on a glance--one would think she never had a problem.

She occupied the empty space beside Smiler, hugging her leather bag tighter. Fikkie made as if to speak but Becks placed a finger on her lips in a bid to silence him, she was clearly pissed at him for shutting down talks about his family. She had really wanted to know all there was about him but it seemed like he had a terrible childhood; anytime his parents were unknowingly brought up in a conversation, he kept mute, starring off into the distance.

An akward silence that seemed to stretch on forever—reined. Becks battling with her own thoughts, Smiler leaning forward, hands clasped, lips pressed firmly in a line and Fikkie pacing back and forth. The beeping of the heart rate monitor, the occasional blaring of a car horn, the faint voices coming from outside the private ward were the only thing disrupting the tranquility.

"Look, I don't think this is the right time to get mad at me for not telling you stuffs, we could resolve the issue at home alright, let's concentrate on Michael getting better, " Fikkie said, his voice broken. Becks nodded, thinking that perhaps, she was being insensitive.

"I'm sorry. You're right, we shouldn't be doing this right now. Where did you find him? What happened?" Becks asked, picking at her nails.

Fikkie was the one that spoke up, dragging in deep ragged breath, "I don't know who placed an anon call but I was informed about his state and had to rush down here. I can't say for sure what happened but from what the doctor said, it looked like he'd suffered a physical attack. Something or rather someone was trying to kill him, taunting him, driving around in circles, his brain couldn't take it so he collapsed."

"My God," Becks whispered. "That's terrible."
Something flashed in her memory, memories from the night she'd quarreled with Fikkie resurfacing. It was unclear then, as to what she saw behind him in the thick darkness, but she was sure there had been something. A pair of red laser eyes, staring at her, calling to her. She'd dismissed it as a trick of light and now, she knew better.

Becks gulped, her fingers trembling, "That night, the night you came back to me after leaving abruptly, I saw something. You remember? When you looked in my direction and couldn't see anything?"

Fikkie frowned, his bushy brows furrowed. "Umm yeah. But what has that got to do with anything?" He looked to Smiler whose light brown eyes darted between the duo.

"Did something happen?" She inquired, concern laced in her tone.

"Do you school here?" Becks found herself asking.

She shook her head, scratching the back of her neck. "I school at UST."

"Oh." Beck's mouth rounded, realizing Smiler couldn't have known much about what waa going on. Not unless, Fikkie has been secretly filling her in on the details. "It's out to get us, Fikkie, you know this. The demon is chasing after us."

Fikkie grunted, letting his arms fall limply by his side. "Come on, demons don't exist in real life. They're just fake, like in the movies." His face held an expression of indifference.

Becks tapped her feet on the tiled floor, biting her bottom lip. Smiler's phone began to ring and she excused herself to pick the call. Fikkie resumed her position, taking his girlfriend's hand in his. "Come on, those are rumors. It's like the one that went around, saying I was the one who killed Valentina. People make up stories out of the blues because they have nothing to do with their lives."

"But you said it yourself. Something attacked your brother," Becca said through gritted teeth.

"Well, I was wrong," he stated simply. Smiler walked up to them, tucking her Nokia torchlight into her bag. "I think I might have to leave. Mom called," she directed at Fikkie.

He slapped his forehead, muttering obscenities under his breath. "Good. Mom finds a way to claim full attention. Like always." He stood up, rubbing his sweaty palm on his jean trouser.

"It was nice meeting you." Smiler waved after she'd placed a soft kiss on Michael's forehead and murmured a quick 'get well soon b'. Becks waved back, staring at her retreating back. Fikkie followed right behind her. "I hope to see you again sometime," Becks called out.

Smiler turned, her peculiar smile lighting up the gloomy room. "Hopefully." Fikkie slipped his hand in his pocket, his gaze on the floor like it was that interesting.

"I'll be back in a bit," he said to Becks. "I'm just going to see Smiler off. If the doctor comes, let him know I'm around." With that, he walked off, closing the door behind them.

Becks heaved a sigh, grabbing a plastic chair to sit close to Michael. She reached out a hand, placing it over his, rubbing off some warmth onto his cold skin. Shivering slightly, she said her prayers to God to keep him safe. As soon as she concluded the short prayer, her eyes flew open. She noticed his lips moved, but he was eerily still.

Beck swallowed, leaning forward, her heart pounding so fast she thought it was going to pop out of her chest. Michael's lush lashes shimmered in the harsh sun rays flittering through the open windows.

It was then she saw it, the sharp claw marks that designed one side of his face, the smaller cuts that were covered with a white gauze, the receding hairline and dented cheeks. "Whatever happened to you," she muttered, pure horror etched on her features.