Chapter I

I can't believe I'm six months into my freshmen year of college. Lily muttered as she rolled over in bed.

I took the cold pillow and buried my face in it.* I'm just ready for everything to come together. It was a hard couple of years before school but now I'm here. *

My thoughts were interrupted when my phone went off besides my pillow. I rubbed my eyes and it took about half a minute for me to see clearly.

The text came from Knox. My heart instantly started beating faster. We hadn't talked that much and whenever he did call me, he had to rush off somewhere. I felt guilty, because honestly- in the midst of everything that has been going on, I managed to forget that he was coming to visit me.

" Good morning, beautiful! What time will you be home today? I want to see you.", said his text.

"Hey, baby! Around 6pm . I have to go to library to study. " I texted back with a smile on my face

"Can't wait to see you! :) "

I changed into black skinny jeans and a red casual tee.

As the sun rose over the bustling campus, casting a golden glow on the vibrant autumn leaves, my heart raced with anticipation and nervousness.

I felt like a small fish in a big pond. It still feels like the first day.

The other students seemed to exude confidence, effortlessly navigating through the sea of unfamiliar faces.

They had an air of self-assurance that made my insecurities feel even more pronounced.

Doubt crept into my mind - what if I didn't belong here? What if I couldn't keep up with my peers? Even though it was mid semester.

Although I was 20 years old. I had always struggled with feelings of inadequacy. I constantly compared myself to others along with the feelings I was not good enough.

As Lily sat in her seat, anxiously waiting for the professor to begin the lecture, her mind was consumed with thoughts of her boyfriend.

The weight of impending deadlines and assignments added to her mounting anxiety, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else.

But as soon as the professor started speaking, a remarkable transformation took place within Lily.

The soothing voice of the professor washed over her like a gentle wave, calming her racing thoughts and bringing her back to the present moment.

With each word spoken by the professor, Lily's worries began to fade away.

She found herself captivated by the knowledge being shared, completely engrossed in the subject matter at hand.

The once chaotic jumble of thoughts about her boyfriend now seemed distant and insignificant compared to the wealth of information being presented.

The professor's passion for teaching was contagious.

It ignited a spark within Lily that she hadn't felt in a while.

As she listened intently to every word spoken, she realized that this lecture was not just about academic content; it was a reminder of why she had chosen this field of study in the first place.

Still she knew today was going to be a long day.

Lily had always been a bit of an introvert but in that moment, Lily's anxiety melted away completely.

Usually the thought of being surrounded by so many people made her anxious.

She had chosen Sylvania University because of its reputation for excellence in the field of literature, but now she wasn't sure if she was ready for the challenge.

In class, Lily observed how her peers eagerly participated in discussions, answered questions with conviction, and formed study groups as if they had been friends for years.

Meanwhile, she hesitated to speak up, fearing judgment and criticism from others.

Thinking to herself. "I'm glad I only have one more class thank God for Mondays."

As she walked back to her dorm room, she decided to stop by the neighboring coffee shop.

It was a small, cozy place with a warm atmosphere that made her feel at home. She ordered her usual latte and sat down by the window, watching the people passing by.

As she sipped her coffee, she noticed a young couple sitting across from her, holding hands and laughing.

She couldn't help but smile at their happiness.

It reminded her of her own boyfriend, who was currently on his way to see her.

She missed him terribly. They had a long distance relationship and was determined to make this last.

After all, he was the one who found in her that deadly day in the woods. A thought that she wanted desperately not to remember.

They had agreed to stay in touch through video calls and messages.

She took out her phone and sent him a message, telling him about her day, how much she missed him and how much she can't wait to see him.

Taking a seat at the far end of the coffee shop, where the windowns were directed to a beautiful lake.

The sky that was earlier filled with blue skies and sunshile was now charcoal. There were cracks in the cloud layers where the sun shone through.

*I had always enjoyed watching storms. Somehow it made me feel at relaxed. *

Finishing up her coffee. She gathered her bag to leave the shop.

As she put her phone away, she noticed an elderly man struggling to carry his groceries.

Without hesitation, she got up and offered to help him.

He gratefully accepted, and they walked out together.

As they walked, the man told her about his life and his struggles, and she listened attentively. The rain continued to pour but he didn't live far from the shop.

"I'm sorry deary that you got wet. I didn't count on it to rain. I guess the weatherman doesn't know what he is talking about", he laughed.

"No need to apologize. I love rain. It washes everything away and makes it clean again."

There was a crash of lightning as the rain started to pour heavily from the sky.

About time we reached his apartment building, I quickly helped him carry his groceries to his door, and he thanked me warmly.

Lily made her way back to her dorm room with a vibrant smile danced accross her face, she decided to call Knox to let him know she was home.

The excitement of her day was bubbling over, making her fingers practically itch to dial her boyfriend's number.

With a quick tap on the screen, the call connected and she eagerly began recounting every thrilling detail.

Her boyfriend, always attentive and understanding, listened intently as she painted a vivid picture of her experience.

Knox didn't interrupt or rush her; instead, he patiently let her pour out all the exhilaration that filled her heart.

With each word she spoke, his support and admiration for her grew stronger.

He offered words of encouragement and congratulations, his voice radiating genuine excitement. "That's amazing!" he exclaimed.

A knock was heard at the door.

Lily looked at the phone, "is that you?", she asked.

"Open the door, babe", Knox said through the call.

Another crash of thunder made us both jump, as I opened the door wide for him to walk in.

Kissing Lily sweetly on the cheeks, "how have you been?" He asked, while taking off his hoodie.

"I've been great. How was football camp?"

"We won, as always," he said with a smug smile on his face.

Taking a step back to admire him. She admitted he looked good. More than good actually.

He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt that fitted his body perfectly.

I could feel my face growing scarlet red. There was an awkward silence as I waited for my pulse to return back to normal,again.

We slowly made our way to the sofa to continue our conversation.

Knox told me all about his football camp and he wants to be a football coach someday.

I told him about dreams of becoming a writer and how class was going so far this semester.

"I'm sorry you got caught in the rain, Knox. I hope coming to see me was worth you getting wet."

Knox was laughing so hard I swear there were tears in his eyes, even though he could blame them on the rain.

When I realized what had come out of my mouth, my jaw dropped to the floor.

"Stop that! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Oh, you were defintely worth me getting wet for. I bet you are wet right now", he smirked.

"You have a dirty mind," I responded. "I didn't mean it sexually by the way."

"Maybe I can change your mind," he said before pulling me against his chest and crashing his lips with mine.

His lips were as soft as velvet and his hands were wrapped around me as he kissed me slowly. The kiss was sweet, too sweet.

I needed for hiim to make me feel something. I wanted the butterflies, the raw passion to rip each other's clothes off.

I grabbed his face and inserted my tongue in his mouth while pushing my body against his.

He returned the kiss and kissed me hungrily.

He moaned into my mouth which gave me more courage to press myself against him even more.

Pulling me tighter against him, while leaning back into the sofa.

He lifted my right leg and I wrapped it around him. Leaning against his chest and reaching his lips.

I could feel the heat from his body turning me on.

We were interrupted when my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. He pulled away and rested his forehead against mine, "I'm sorry I lost control."

I looked him into his eyes and answered, "I'm not."

He linked his fingers with mine and said, "I'm really glad I'm spending time with you." He traced his fingers on the palm of my hand and looked me in the eyes.

"I enjoy spending time with you too."

He looked around and turned back to me, "let's go to bed, Lil."

"I'm tired and I know you are."

I giggled at the sudden change of topic and replied, "you're right. I am tired."

An hour later.

Lily crawled into bed, where Knox awaited. Looking at a couple of videos on his phone.

Skipping the read for tonight. I kissed Knox on the jaw. Turned off the lamp and closed my eyes, letting myself drift into a deep sleep.

A couple hours later...

I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. It took me a few minutes to realize that I had just had a nightmare, a lucid one at that. I was back in my childhood home, in my old bedroom, and it was pitch black. I couldn't see a thing, but I knew that something was there with me, something malevolent.

I tried to move, but my body was paralyzed. I tried to scream, but my voice was stuck in my throat. I felt the presence getting closer and closer, and I knew that it was going to harm me. I closed my eyes and prayed for it to go away, but it didn't.

Suddenly, the room was flooded with light, and I saw what was haunting me. It was a figure, tall and cloaked in black, with glowing red eyes. It reached out for me, and I felt a surge of fear that was beyond anything I had ever experienced before.

But then, I remembered that I was dreaming.

I woke up feeling shaken and disoriented. It had been years since I had experienced a lucid nightmare, and this one had felt so real. I was glad Knox was here. This time...

I turned back over and faced the wall. The darkness continued to take on different shapes as the dim light from the alarm clock aided my imagination. "I have class tomorrow."