Beauty
I slowly picked up the book I recommended to the person I was talking to earlier, which suddenly disappeared. Oddly, he left, but I didn't hear the door swinging or the chimes clinging.
Was he a ghost? Did I converse with a spirit? How did I do that? As far as I can remember, I'm just an average human who can't move from the past.
That can't be happening. I saw his feet on the floor. His color is pale, but I'm sure he's human. I think my hallucinations have become delusions, and I need to talk to my psychiatrist again. Matt can make me a schedule for that; he already knows what to do.
I again turned the book I was holding and then neatly put it back on the shelf. It's a book written by Stephanie Perkins, which I have already read. It's not just horror that I'm reading. I'm a sucker for young-adult novels, romance-comedy, and regency romance.
People will say being odd is what I get from writing paranormal slash fantasy novels. Sometimes I forget to separate the world of the supernatural and fantasy from the real world. I sometimes want to live in the world I created than here. There are no fake friends and traitors who will make money off the story you have for yourself.
Just like this couple I'm about to meet.
"Beauty! It's been a long time since we met. How are you?"
What a jerk to act like nothing happened in the past, and I hate how his girlfriend, Faye, smiles at me. She's smiling like a dog. Faye was my ex-best friend who sold her soul to the demon. And the devil was Siegfried, my ex-book agent. I won't wonder why they are still together. They both shared the same attitude, beliefs, and modus operandi.
"Yeah, it's been a long time since you milked those supporters of mine using my stories. I'm still suffering from their hate, by the way." It sucks to prove that I'm also a victim of Siegfried and Faye. I cannot blame them, though, because it's well-earned money we're talking about. Although I paid all of them, they still can't trust me.
If I have many supporters, I also have many haters, and Siegfried was the one who did it. I rolled my eyes when I heard Siegfried and Faye chuckling. I was about to scowl at them, but Matt had already approached me and kept me away from the two of them.
"Come on, Beauty. Let bygones be bygones. Hope we can chat soon!"
I glared at them, but Matt made me face in front. He helped me into the car and ensured I was settled before turning to the driver's seat.
"I didn't know they would come here, Beau," Matt said while wearing his seatbelt.
"It's okay, Matt. It's not your fault, so forget about them, hm?" I took a deep breath and dropped the book I had bought on the floor. "Anyway, do you happen to have met a guy outside? He's taller than you, has ocean blue deep eyes, pale skin, reddish lips, and neatly trimmed beards on his face."
"Are you describing a character? It's nearly perfect, Beau, aside from the pale skin. What, was he a vampire?"
"That's what he said he was to me, but I know it's a joke."
"Maybe he's a fan of yours. He knows you for writing vampire novels."
"Or maybe my hallucinations become a delusion now. Can you book me a schedule with my psychiatrist?"
Matt nodded, then maneuvered the car away from Meadow Ville University. I'm planning to take a History class crash course, but sadly, the professor left for home early. I will see that professor tomorrow. I need to be in my characters' world, so I'm taking this crash course. I want to sound believable in every word I will use in my upcoming novel. And with that on my plate, I have Matt re-fix my schedule.
No accidental book signing or launch for the next two months for me. Because when I'm into something, no one can divert my attention. I'm putting myself in my characters' world in a term unclear to a simple-minded being. Only I can understand those who want to delve into my world...
***
"Okay, Beau, you said on our online session that you were dreaming, right?"
I slowly nodded after hearing Dr. Saavedra's fundamental question. She's been my psychiatrist since I was a kid. I've struggled mentally since my parents died and have had to live independently. Writing novels has become my escape from the real world. Dr. Saavedra told me to channel my grief and struggle into different things, and that's writing for me.
"I was in the dark alley, walking... no... running. Yes, I'm running with my barefoot. I could feel those sharp stones goeth at my feet. I knew my feet were bleeding, so I'd stop. Something or a shadow passed my back right after I stopped running, but when I glanced, it was gone. Suddenly, a cold wind blew and penetrated my bones. It howled my name repeatedly..."
I covered both my ears. I wrapped it tightly because I could still hear that howl that my name was being shouted. I don't want to listen to it. I don't want to.
"It's okay, Beau. Come back to me." I felt the grip of Dr. Saavedra on me, and when I raised my face, I couldn't stop crying. I hugged her tightly. "It's all right. You did good, Beau. You did good, and you're brave."
Am I?
I hugged Dr. Saavedra even tighter until I calmed down. We stopped talking about my dream. She was happy with the progress of the assignments she gave me, and when I said I would take a crash course in History, she was even more content. Little by little, I was able to go out and meet others.
"Do you believe in ghosts, Dr. Saavedra?" I asked, remembering that man I met at the Meadow Ville University Library yesterday. I don't want to think he's a ghost, but why did he suddenly disappear?
"Well, I am a doctor, Beau, so that will be hard for me to believe. But if I talk to you as a church deacon, I would say that what you saw was a demon. They're trying to lure us, humans, to do something bad."
I nodded. Even that priest in the church, as said by Dr. Saavedra, will answer me.
My psychiatrist advised me not to stay in the dark. I should talk to others and make friends as long as I can. She increased the dosage of some of the medicine she prescribed. To help me have a good night's sleep without dreaming badly.
After the session, Matt picked me up and drove me to Meadow Ville University. Now I'm going to see my History professor. I'm curious about who he will be or what he looks like. I hope it's not terror and old age so I can keep up. But based on the description of another professor yesterday, Mr. Dario is the best professor at Meadow Ville University.
"Do you have to be with me inside my class, Matt? It's not like I'm super famous. Then Dr. Saavedra said, I should mingle and stay away from the dark."
"Okay. I'll be outside waiting for you, Beau."
I smiled, then nodded and waved at Matt. I understand how he is overprotective of me. But I chose this path, and I have to embrace my oppressors. I looked around and saw that almost everyone knew each other. I think it was wrong to send Matt away because I didn't know anyone yet. Not until someone took the seat beside me.
"Hi, I'm Olivia!" She greeted me warmly.
"Hello, I'm Beauty." I smiled at her after saying my name.
"The author?" she asked weakly and almost in a whisper, to which I answered with a nod. I should have answered that a man had entered the classroom, and my jaw almost dropped when I recognized him.
It was the guy in the library. The ghost!
***
"Make sure to submit your research paper on the topics I provided on or before Friday. Failure to submit original works will receive zero points from me." Mr. Dario gave a long reminder after he finished our class.
He's a good professor. There is no need for visuals because he knows every topic well when explaining. When my fellow students stood up, I cheered. I collected my things and bid goodbye to Olivia. I waited for the students to finish before I approached my professor.
"It's you," I said when I stood near him.
"You..." I smiled at him. "I didn't know that you're my student."
"Not for long, sir. I'm taking a crash course only for references."
His deep ocean-blue eyes delve straight into my soul. It was as if he wanted to read my mind. I couldn't help but be horrified by the way he looked. A sudden gust of wind accompanied the thin curtains. I also swayed my long hair, noticing the windows were closed.
Where does your wind come from?
"I need to go."
"Hey," I turned when I heard him speak. "Welcome to my class, Ms. Carisi." The horror feeling embraced me, making me shiver in a good way.
I came out of the classroom, and Matt immediately approached me. I almost fell. He was excellent and prompt. "Are you okay?" Matt asked me, but I couldn't answer directly because my eyes were focused on my professor, who had left the classroom. Our eyes met again when he stopped. "Beauty?"
"Let's go home," were the only words I could say. I turned around again when Matt and I walked away, and he was still looking at me.
I carried the feeling I felt in the classroom to home. So here I am, instead of doing the research paper Mr. Dario assigned to us, staring at our ceiling, especially the shiny chandelier.
"What happened to her, Matt?" I heard Helene ask Matt. I knew they were close by and staring at me. "She just entered the school, and that's it. It feels like you pick the wrong Beauty Carisi."
"I don't know, Helene. That's how she was when she left the classroom. If only I had known that she would be like that, I wouldn't have left her."
"You left her? What if there is already a bully with her?"
"Or maybe it's because of the medicine?"
"Call Dr. Saavedra now -" I turned my head to them, causing them to stop talking. "Beauty? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am." I have a weak response. "I'm hungry, Helene." Helene quickly said goodbye to getting me food. "Matt, is there something odd with my professor?"
"What's wrong with your professor?"
I took a deep breath after getting up. "I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I'm the weird one, and he's not."
Matt groaned, and I breathed a deep sigh.