As I drug out my books, I focused on the text, completely pushing all of this from my mind. That’s when it started to make sense when I wasn’t really thinking about it. That was what the dreams had been about before. The important image I couldn’t quite grasp.
The Creeper had been in my room many times while my brain healed and I couldn’t do anything about it. After all, I couldn’t see him at that point.
I shivered and picked up my books to move closer to the few students pulling the all-nighter or the super early birds who were engrossed in their work. Safety in numbers felt like a good idea.
Chapter Fifteen
Each day my mind seemed to get stronger. It was the end of January. I tried sleeping as much as possible, but more times than not I woke as soon as The Creeper entered my dreams. Tyler and I had hung out some, tried to contact his grandfather, but really with the shortened semester, homework was too demanding for much else.
This day however, I felt the joy run in my veins, because today was the day Camryn came home. I couldn’t wait to see her and hoped silently that she felt the same way. She had posted several great photos on social media, and I could tell she had a fantastic trip.
I tried not to be too needy, but seriously I couldn’t hold my own head on straight without staring at the clock every five minutes wondering when she would officially be back on campus.
I shot her a text telling her to let me know as soon as she got here. Checking my phone every three minutes didn’t make it any less pathetic. FINALLY, at 3:00 pm she texted stating she was headed my direction.
I met her in the lobby, throwing my arms around her, I just couldn’t believe how much I truly missed her.
“SOOO, how’s Tyler?” Camryn couldn’t even wait three minutes.
The red in my face rose like a thermometer. “He’s really good,” my smile refused to relax. “More importantly, how was Belize?”
We prattled on about her trip, the snorkeling, and the jaguar sanctuary that they studied at. The cold January day seemed to get colder as she went on and on about her amazing trip. “Next time, you have to go.”
“That isn’t even in my field.”
“So? Change majors!” Camryn missed me too.
I filled her in on the latest in the supernatural world, ending, all be it hesitantly with The Creeper in the hall.
“I think he is bad. Every time you talk about him, it even makes my skin crawl. I do not know how you handle seeing him, especially right out of the shower.
I shrugged. “I think I am supposed to help them. I think somehow, I am supposed to either help them cross over, or figure something out.”
Camryn smiled, “Yeah, I saw that movie too.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’m serious. When I had no sight at all, I wondered if it was because I hadn’t done what I was supposed to do with it. Maybe I had it taken away because I hadn’t wanted it. Now that it is back, or at least kind of back, I have to figure out why.”
“Maybe it’s just the way it’s supposed to be.”
“What does that mean?”
She shrugged, “Maybe you are supposed to see the dead for the living as well as the dead. Maybe you are supposed to simply have this gift for the simple sake of having it. Sometimes it is important and sometimes it won’t be.”
“Doesn’t that make me lazy?”
“How does it make you lazy? Because you are not constantly trying to find the reason for everything and a purpose for every action? Maybe just knowing this is real, and knowing that you have it is enough?”
I looked down at my feet not convinced, “Maybe, but if it is, I don’t see why to even have it.”
“Who knows. I’m hungry, wanna grab food?”
I shook my head, “No, I’m not hungry. Go ahead.”
“If you’re sure,” she started texting someone, “If you want to join us, text me.”
“Thanks, but I’m good. I’m glad you’re back.”
“I missed you too.” She shut the door and I sat in the silence.
Maybe I was over thinking this--shocking--first time for everything.
But maybe.
I grabbed my phone and typed out the message, “You up for something far out there?”
Tyler was waiting at the foot of the stairs at Blachley. He kept moving because the cold, arctic temperature had brought its friend the wind with it tonight.
“Sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“No, just got here.” We walked up the steep porch, and I focused on grounding. I took a hold of his hand as we approached the top step.
We opened the door and exhaled the cold. I looked around and didn’t see my little ghost friend anywhere. I turned to Tyler without letting go of his hand. “So here is the plan. I am going to try and communicate with the,” what should I call it? “The resident of this house. Since I know they are stronger than others, I am not sure how this is going to go.”
“And what do I do?” Tyler looked around nervously.
“You just don’t let me fall. Basically, you are here so I don’t take a dive down the stairs, or crash on the floor, or hit my head on the fireplace and bleed out right here” Ok, I may have been a tad over-dramatic, but all of those thoughts