11
The boys had decided it was best to let her stay in their room that night. At around 9 that night one of the few remaining RA's knocked to remind them when the last day to stay on campus was. In a rush of panic, they hid Raina in the bathroom. Rowen explained to, the tall, thin senior with a lackadaisical manner, Connor, that Rowen had special permission from the school to stay on campus over break. Max just nodded at him and said that his mom would be picking him up on Sunday morning after he took his last final. Just in time for the halls to close. Connor nodded with an uncaring "Sounds good guys. Enjoy your break of whatever" and left. A pungent, skunky odor lingered in the hallways after he left.
Max had pleaded with Rowen that he come home with him for break over the past few weeks even before the day's uncomfortable events. He even stated that his mom insisted he stayed for Christmas where they could all enjoy her world-famous turducken. But for whatever reason Rowen wanted to stay on campus so that he could "think over things". Rowen had asserted that he would be fine, and the school would quietly look over him like they had been doing the last five years. He would still stay in their dorm room but would be required to check in with the university president Laurence Thead once every other day.
"That's what skeeves me out though. Mr. Thead never really interacts with students. Hell, I don't even think I've ever seen him." Max discusses with the three of them before bed.
"Yeah Rowen I don't really like the sound of that either. You can come home with me if you'd like. I leave tomorrow night after my Chem lab practical." Raina suggests and gives him a playful wink.
Rowen and Max both got the feeling that there is seriously something strange and disquieting about Raina's sudden change. They both strike each other a quick look of agreement that Rowen would not be going home with her and that it was best not to address her change.
"I'll be fine. Really."
"Well if Dr. Freig is staying on campus could you at least try seeing her periodically?" Max says in a last-ditch effort.
"Fine. We'll talk to her about it tomorrow." Rowen gives in.
"Wait why are we seeing her?" Raina asks confused.
"We think she knows what is going on around campus and what might have happened to Craig. It's hard to explain." Max says.
"Okay. But she kinda makes me nervous." Raina says uncertainly.
"Yeah there's something behind that cheery façade that makes me question her." Rowen admits.
They let the thought linger and all decide to go to bed. Rowen offered his top bunk to Raina and he slept on the floor in a sleeping bag and his memory foam pillow.
For a while that night, Rowen did not want to sleep so he fought the increased weight of his eyelids. He keeps thinking about that thing chasing him through the woods, Raina's story, Raina, and of course the girl in the mirror/in the quad.
What really is happening? Why do I feel so drawn to this school now? I can't help but feel my emotions and thoughts being pulled in two different directions constantly. It's like a tug of war in my mind. Not my brain. My mind. Does that make sense? I don't know. Maybe it does. And why do I have this sorrowful feeling that that the girl in the mirror is Raina?