Turning on the tap, she splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would help dispel the lingering unease that clung to her like a shadow. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes haunted by the memories of the night. The face that looked back at her seemed unfamiliar, a portrait of someone who had been through something inexplicable and terrifying.
As she dried her face with a towel, she caught sight of her reflection once again. The blisters on her body had worsened, their angry red hue contrasting starkly against her pale skin. They seemed to pulse with a rhythm of their own, a reminder of the physical pain she had endured.
But it wasn't the pain of the blisters that dominated her thoughts now. It was the memory of the cold touch, the feeling of invasion and violation that had left an indelible mark on her psyche. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as if trying to ground herself in reality.
Stepping back from the mirror, she looked around her bathroom, as if searching for any signs of the intruder's presence. There was nothing out of the ordinary, just the familiar fixtures and objects she had grown accustomed to. And yet, the sense of foreboding lingered in the air.
Evelyn sighed and leaned against the sink, her mind a tumultuous sea of emotions. She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had happened was not a mere dream. It felt too real, too vivid to be dismissed as a product of her imagination.
She turned the tap on again, letting the water flow over her hands as she desperately tried to wash away the residual fear that clung to her skin. Her thoughts were a jumble of questions, doubts, and a growing need for answers.
"It was just a dream, No need to worry, just forget it." She said ot herself and pulled her lips into a forced smile before blowing otu a heavy breath.
After getting ready almost on autopilot, Evelyn made her way to college, her mind still a haze from the events of the previous night. She walked through the familiar halls, the bustling energy of students around her creating a stark contrast to the unease that had settled within her.
The day passed in a blur of classes and half-hearted interactions with classmates. She moved through the motions, her mind elsewhere, as if a part of her was still stuck in the eerie shadows of the night. As her last class of the day ended, she found herself stepping out of the classroom without any real awareness of her surroundings.
Lost in her thoughts, she wandered down the hallway, her steps aimless. There was an eerie sensation tugging at the back of her mind, a feeling that she was being watched, that shadows were lurking just beyond her field of vision. She couldn't shake the persistent unease that clung to her like a second skin.
As she turned a corner, her gaze fixed on the floor, her thoughts far away, a sudden collision jolted her back to the present moment. The impact sent a shock through her, and she stumbled back a step, her heart racing in surprise.
"Oof!" a voice exclaimed, and Evelyn finally looked up, her eyes meeting the gaze of the person she had collided with.
"Professor!" Evelyn exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of horror and surprise. The collision had caught her off guard, and as she looked up, her gaze locked onto the man before her. In his hands were plant samples preserved in resin, now scattered across the ground due to their accidental encounter. A pang of guilt washed over her, making her feel responsible for the mess.
"I am so sorry! Let me help!" Evelyn offered eagerly, ready to make amends for the mishap. However, the man's response was less than receptive.
"Just don't touch anything! And stay back!" He snapped in an annoyed tone, a frown marring his otherwise handsome face. His abrupt rejection stung, sending a deep surge of pain through Evelyn's chest. She quickly stepped back, heeding his instructions even though it hurt.
Kneeling before her, the man appeared to be in his late twenties, a guest lecturer for a single semester. Tall and with striking brown hair, his gentle green eyes held a certain forestry allure, perfectly suited for his role in herbology. Evelyn, who had never been drawn to nature before, found herself captivated by him, leading her to explore various books to impress him. However, it seemed he wasn't interested in someone like her.
"What are you standing there for? Don't you have a class to attend?" He lifted his head from his task, his gaze narrowing at her. Evelyn's heart raced at his attention, her number one fan suddenly on the receiving end of his gaze.
"I don't have class," she replied, offering a soft smile in response.
His glare lingered for a moment before he focused his attention back on the scattered plant samples. He picked up the last one and straightened, clearly irked by the situation. "If you don't have a class, then go home! Stop bumping into people and causing trouble," he hissed before walking away.
Evelyn watched him go with a mixture of sadness and admiration, her heart aching as he retreated. However, he paused, his footsteps halting before he turned around to face her once more. The unexpected attention sent another jolt through Evelyn's chest.
"What is that?" he asked, his finger pointing toward her neck.
Evelyn's heart raced, and she quickly pulled up the collar of her shirt to conceal the blister. "Oh, this?" She tried to downplay it. "Just an allergic reaction, I think."
He shook his head, unimpressed, and carefully stacked the resin models he held on top of the books in his other hand. With one hand free, he reached out toward her, his voice gentler this time. "May I?"
Evelyn felt her breath catch as she nodded, her heart fluttering nervously. "Yeah."
Gently, he shifted aside her collar, revealing the irritated, red skin of her neck. His frown deepened as he studied it closely. "This isn't an allergic reaction, you dummy! How long have you had these?" he grumbled.
"Umm—since yesterday?" Evelyn admitted, her voice a mixture of uncertainty and embarrassment.
He clicked his tongue, clearly frustrated, before shaking his head disapprovingly. "Tsk! Get yourself to the infirmary. I'll find something for you to put on that," he said, his concern more evident than his earlier irritation. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Evelyn with a heart that felt both full and confused.
"Was he worried about me just now?" Evelyn murmured to herself, a sense of joy and wonder filling her momentarily as she let go of her worries, if only for a fleeting moment.