Page 5 of Origins
“Are we talking about the ‘Finn’ who happens to be Damen’s shithead little brother?”
I frowned.
That seemed to be enough of a response for Dr. Stephens, and he continued. “I didn’t even know he had any friends. Who the hell would be stupid enough to put up withhim?”
I wasn’t even sure how to respond. I didn’t generally argue with authority, but that wasn’t very nice.
“You must not be…” He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “Why are you here, again?”
He forgot already? Perhaps he was senile—he did seem extremely old. “I need to talk to Damen. Do you know where he is?”
Dr. Stephens waved his hand in the air impatiently. “Yes, I got that much already. Butwhyare you looking for him?”
I could only blink at him—he was very nosy. Perhaps, since he was Damen’s mentor, he was interested in the paranormal too? Maybe he’d understand and might be able to help?
“Because if you are here to ask him on a date, I’ll have you know that he has no time for games.” Dr. Stephens gazed at me appraisingly. “You are a very attractive young lady. But before you have your heart broken by the follies of youth, I need to warn you that…”
“I’m not here to ask him out on a date!” I blurted out, horrified that he would think such a thing. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I stared at a point over his shoulder to avoid looking at him.
“Then what is it, girl? Hurry it along.” He crossed his arms impatiently. “Out with it. Clearly something is upsetting you.”
“I’m being haunted!” My skyrocketing anxiety had me blurting out everything in a rush. “I mean, again. I’ve always been able to see things, but now it’s getting worse. No one believes me. I tried to tell Finn... He said that his brother did ghost hunting stuff, so I thought that I could…”
My words slowed as the reality of what I had just done slammed into me. I hadn’t been thinking, as usual. The fear at what was happening to me had temporarily overshadowed an even darker fear. And the expression on the professor’s face was no less comforting.
He was staring at me as if I had grown another head. Panic caused my heart to race as I screamed internally at having told a professor—apsychologyprofessor—my absurd problems.
I had to make this better before I ended up locked in an asylum.
“April fools.” I tried to laugh as I waved my hand in the air playfully. He had to buy it. I had to get out of here. I began to step back, and his expression changed from shock to acute amusement.
“It’s September,” he deadpanned.
I nervously laughed as I continued to inch backwards, ready to make a run for it. He had to think it was a joke. Hopefully, I would never have a class with him. “Let’s just forget that I was here, alright? Sorry to bother you.”
“Wait,” he commanded, and I froze. His face was carefully neutral. “Do not move.” He turned around and walked back into his office.
Meanwhile, I was in agony. I wanted to run, but he was a teacher. He said not to move. He could track me down.
And now, because of my big mouth, I was going to be institutionalized.
But if he had called the police, then he had done it quickly, because seconds later he was back.
“Here.” He handed me a folded piece of paper. “Damen is gone today. But he has a meeting, tonight, for an outside association of which he is a member. There’s only a few in the group, but I am certain that they would be interested in hearing your story.”
I glanced at the paper, which only had a single address scrawled on it. As if that wasn’t creepy. “Do I just—”
“It starts at six,” Dr. Stephens cut me off. “Don’t be late. Now I’m sorry to rush you, but I really must be going.” He pulled on a dark trench coat before nodding at me as he passed me in the hallway. “Don’t get into trouble today, and we’ll hope to see you there.”
I glanced back at the paper, stunned, then looked up at his retreating form.
What did he mean,we?
Chapter Two
Strange
If anything was inconvenient about small towns, it was the lack of public transportation. Of course, after looking up the address, I realized I would need to improvise if I was ever going to get there. Unfortunately, the shuttle only went so far, and then I would have to walk for three miles to get to the meeting location.
