Death and the Girl

To say I felt like crap that morning would be an understatement. I stood in front of my mirror, dragging a brush through my hair. There were dark shadows under my eyes and my skin was paler than usual. I left my room earlier than normal and walked down the hallway. It all seemed quiet. I could see the sun streaking into the dorm hallway.

Pushing the doors open, I ambled down the steps, but paused when I felt like I was being watched. Whirling round, I noticed a guy was sitting on a wall. He looked strange. Actually he looked like nobody at this campus. Even the alternative kids would be amazed by him.

His black hair was long and sticking up. He was wearing very tight trousers that looked like he'd spray painted them on himself as well as a leather jacket. He noticed me and smiled. His lips were red. He approached me.

"You must be Junko." He grinned, flashing perfect, white teeth.

"Yeah, and who are you?" I asked, stepping back slightly.

"Wow, I'm amazed you'd tell a random stranger your name," He said, ignoring my question, blue eyes flashing mischeviously.

I often didn't tell random people my name, but he'd seemed so friendly that I couldn't help but tell him.

"Do you know Keith, by any chance?" I asked, and he nodded.

Another demon? He looked too young to be a demon. He looked like he was a year or so older than me.

"I'm Andy, by the way." He said, following me when I started walking to class.

"Hi, Andy." I smiled.

"Where you going?" He seemed genuinely interested.

"I have an English lecture to go to." I replied, and he pouted.

"I was told to retrieve you and not take no for an answer." He stated.

Who the heck would have issued that kind of order? Oh, wait, give me one guess and I'll bet I can guess right.

"Did Chris give you that order?" I asked, glowering at the young demon.

"Maybe," Andy replied. "Ok, fine. He did. Please come. He doesn't like to be told no."

Sounds ominous. I rolled my eyes and agreed. Andy seemed happier now and grabbed my hand in his. His hand seemed warmer due to the fingerless gloves he was wearing.

The feeling of being propelled from my world to somewhere else was still awful. Andy let go of me when we were in the foyer of wherever they were based. I followed Andy this time. He led me down a hallway and up a flight of stairs. He paused at a large door and knocked.

"Well, good luck." He grinned, walking away.

"Wait, you're not coming in with me." I said, freaking out.

"Nope, just you alone," He replied. "See you real soon, Junko."

Great, just perfect. The door opened and I faltered. I didn't want to go in. Chris still scared me so much. It was clear he didn't really like me. I was a major inconvinience to him. He'd made that pretty clear. Against my better judgement I stepped into the office.

No one was here. Who opened the door? This room was decorated dark red. A couch was across the way. It matched the walls. Books lined one wall and at the end of the room was a desk. I seated myself on the couch, perching on the edge, feeling out of place. My eyes roved round the room.

And landed on the bookcase. There was a snowglobe in-between the books. It was so pretty. I got up and walked over till I was in front of it. Inside the glass sphere was a small figure of a woman. She had no features except for being in a dress and her little head was angled to the side. On the side of the glass was a monster, looking in at the woman.

The two of them were either in a really heated staring match or were two lovers seperated by the glass. I really wasn't expecting something like this to belong to someone like Chris. I reached up and traced a hand down the glass, being careful not to leave smudges.

"Shall we add touching other people's things to the list of greivances about you, Junko?"

I shrieked and whipped my hands away when Chris spoke from behind me. He was literally inches from me and I stumbled backwards. He chuckled at my shocked expression.

"Holy crap, you scared me." I yelped.

"Given that reaction, it would seem obvious." He replied, sitting on the couch.

I lowered my tensed shoulders, but stayed rooted to the spot. My eyes went back to the snow globe.

"It's really pretty." I murmured, and then glanced at him.

"Small talk, Junko?" He leaned back, still observing me.

"I never really know what to say to you." I replied, lowering my gaze.

"Evidently." He chuckled again.

I noticed he looked a little tired. His eyes were closed and he'd rested his head against the back rest of the couch. With his neck exposed, I could see the tattoos there and they trailed below his shirt to places my eyes couldn't see. When I thought about it I blushed.

"You wanted to speak to me?" I said, stepping a little closer.

"It would seem that Keith and the others feel you are an asset so I will trust their judgement," He said, simply. His eyes opened again and he glared at me. "You are free to come and go as you please."

"T-thank you. Are you ok?" I asked, not for small talk this time, but because he seemed tired.

Those dark eyes observed me for a few seconds and he seemed to be thinking. I looked away again and waited. If he didn't want to be friends then fine. I guess I was cool with that. Why should it matter? It shouldn't. It didn't. Seriously, brain, it doesn't.

"I'm fine. You should go now," He replied, the ghost of a smile appearing on his lips. I nodded and started to walk away. "I agree, Junko. The snowglobe is pretty. It's fragile, like you."

I glanced back at those words. Only when I shut the door did I realise he had said I was fragile and pretty. My cheeks burned with the realisation. Then I felt guilt. I liked Hunter. I had always liked Hunter, but Hunter had never liked me. He'd always made it obvious. For some reason my heart was pounding. My hands were shaking.

I walked down the stairs and down the hallway and nearly walked into Tris. She didn't look angry, just pleased.

"Hello Junko," She smiled, brightly. "If you'll follow me, please."

She walked next to me and seemed unaware of my inner turmoil. My brain and heart were warring. What's worse is they were warring over two people who had no interest in me. When would I actually like someone that liked me back? I'd probably be that lady in her forties with fifteen cats. Mom would have been so disappointed.

We got to a room and she stopped, sitting at a desk. She handed me a black wrist band. I knew what it was immediately and accepted. My life would never be normal again now.

"For you," Tris smiled. "Your next mission will be with Andy and Ashley. I believe you've met Andy already."

Yeah, I sure had. I clipped the bracelet round my wrist and said goodbye to Tris. I went back to the foyer, glancing back towards the hallway where Chris' office was. Was I seriously hoping to see him again?

Hands covered my eyes and the world faded into darkness.

"Guess who?" Keith's voice said.

"I know it's you, Keith." I said, sounding petulant.

"Aw, you're no fun." He grumbled, removing his hands.

I turned round. His trousers were the same as Andy's, in the sense that I thought he'd spray painted them on. Demons sure were weird. I fiddled with the bracelet. I had no idea how to work it to get home.

"How do you work this dumb thing?" I said.

"Come here before you break it and I'll show you." He replied.

I held my arm out and his cold hands touched the bracelet, pressing the panels on it. The pressure exploded behind my eyes and when I opened them I was back outside the college. I checked my phone to find it was fifteen minutes before my class. I would never get used to that.

"Have fun studying." Keith grinned.

"Thanks. I'll try." I replied, mustering up a weak smile.

"You ok? You're not gonna puke again, are you?" He asked.

"No. I'm cool." I smiled a little more, trying to seem real.

I waved and walked up the stairs. Students were heading to class. I walked by Liam and he smiled, winking at me. I couldn't help but smile at Liam. I hadn't seen Collette yet. I hoped she was ok. I noticed Victoria chatting with her friends.

"Can you believe he'd do that?" She was speaking in an angry whisper.

She could have been talking about anyone. Why did I get the sense she was talking about Hunter? I guessed they'd match their relationship up and continue on their merry way.

*********************************

My classes went along as usual and I scribbled down my coursework. I hadn't seen Collette all day. Instead I'd eaten lunch with Liam, his boyfriend and their friend, Sara. I hadn't seen Hunter either. I made my way back to the dorm and noticed a familiar figure in black by my dorm. Andy.
I strolled over and he saw me. He walked over to meet me half-way. We ended up in the cafe down the street.

"Told you, we'd see eachother again." He grinned.

"Yeah, you weren't kidding." I agreed.

"Ok, I guess I should fill you in on our mission," Andy said, sipping the coffee. "Do you know where Penbroke trail is?"

I did know. Penbroke was a a hiking route that went through the forest at the edge of town. It was said to be a favourite camping area and very romantic. People from the campus parked their cars there and would hike up the mountain and do things.

"I've heard of it." I replied.

"It's a make-out spot, isn't it?" Andy asked, smirking.

"W-what, well maybe." I said, hating how my mind though of someone that wasn't Hunter.

"It is. I could tell by your face. So, how many guys have you been up there with? Or girls, if that's your thing?"

"W-well, you know. A very high number."

"Is that number zero? It is, isn't it."

I pouted at Andy and he raised a brow. A habit he seemed to have developed over time. He seemed to do so without realising. He also seemed incapable of not speaking. We were opposites in every sense.

"Anyways, the mission?" I said, distracting him.

"Oh yeah, I can tease you later. Did you know a grand total of five people per year have been wandering off and then being found dead by the park's reservationists?" Andy asked.

"Five people a year? Every year?" I replied.

"Every year for the past ten years. These a sane, not suicidal people, falling to their deaths." Andy said, drumming his fingers on the table. He'd already torn the napkins to pieces.

"That's crazy." I whispered.

"Yep, and this weekend, you, me and Ash are gonna find out why." He grinned.

Great, a camping trip with Andy. It would be like a dream come true. I groaned and rested my head on the table.

"We're going camping." I wanted to check.

"Yep, we're going camping. The other agents couldn't find anything on the trail, but Chris thinks only humans are affected by it." Andy said.

Well, this ought to be a barrel of laughs.

Notes