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Paige slipped her key in the door to her old room, wincing as the scraping sound filled the quiet house. The click of lock announced her presence, but no one came to welcome her. She pushed the door open and slid inside. The first thing that struck her was the underlying scent of iron and the dim light didn’t help, it only fueled her imagination.
She reached for the light switch and the bright fluorescents roared to life, making her squint against the sudden flood. Paige’s gaze locked on the stained mattress and rust colored splatter that painted the wall behind April’s bed. Comprehension was slow, but when it finally sank in, her hand clamped over her mouth and she almost spun on her heel and ran out of the room.
The fact she had to fumble with the doorknob gave her just enough time to get a grip on the flee instinct, and she stood staring at the pristine white door, trying to catch her breath. Without turning toward the blood soaked mattress, she shuffled to her desk to the right of the door and opened the bottom drawer. The box of candles and spices was still tucked in the back of the drawer, along with the jewelry box Paige had told the doctor about. She reached for one of the empty book bags hanging on the hook on the side of her closet.
The box of candles and spices fit snugly next to the jewelry box and, keeping her back toward the devastation on the other side of the room, she opened the middle drawer and picked up her pocketbook, slinging it over her shoulder. Her gaze dropped to the small photo booklet sitting under where her purse had been. The album contained all her favorite pictures of Hunter, along with some personal mementos, like a small clip of hair from the time he finally gave in and cut off his unruly locks into a more adult looking fashion, concert tickets, and anything Paige deemed worthy of remembrance. Paige picked it up and flipped to the page with Hunter’s hair taped in the middle, along with the before and after photos. With a sigh, she snapped the book closed and dropped it into the bag. The pictures as well as his hair would play a key role in the success of the banishment spell.
Her car keys were still in the top drawer and she slid those in the front pocket of her jeans before standing and gripping the edge of the chair, hoping to find some strength in the cheap wood. Her bureau was behind her in the direct line of sight of the bloodstains.
She almost chickened out, but she needed clothing for the next couple of days, and with a deep breath, she turned, focusing on the bureau at the foot of her bed, but the knowledge of what transpired on the other side of the room kept pulling her eyes in that direction. She resisted the urge and opened the drawers, throwing underwear, socks, shirts and jeans into the bag.
The last item was in her closet and she swung the door open, reaching for her warm coat hanging in the corner. The reflection caught her eye and she froze in place at the vision of April, propped on the edge of the bed, watching her every move. Her heart skipped in her chest and her throat closed around her windpipe. Air whistled in and out of her mouth, and she forced herself to pull her coat off the hanger and hugged it to her chest as she blinked at her roommate.
“Don’t forget your boots,” April said, her voice soft and frail like a swirl of fog.
Paige dropped her gaze to her favorite scuffed up cowgirl boots and snatched them off the floor, dropping them in the overstuffed bag before turning away from the reflection and closing the closet door. The chill bit at her skin and she gripped the handle of the bag along with her coat like both were a buffer that would protect her from the ghost in the room.
She turned, bracing herself for an assault of some manner, but April was no longer visible and the chill slipped away.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and didn’t wait for a reply. Paige bolted out of the room, slipping under the tape and shutting the door with a loud bang. She let the flight reflex take hold and bolted out of the sorority, skidding to a stop at the bottom of the stairs to catch her breath.
The ding of an open car door caught her attention and she looked up to see Dr. Schaeffer standing with the driver’s side door open behind him. She sent a shaky wave toward him and pulled her keys out of her pocket, dangling them and nodding her head toward the parking lot next door.
“Stop by my office when you get back, okay?” he said. Even with the questioning lilt at the end of his sentence, she knew it wasn’t a question, and she nodded before heading to her car.
She dropped her bag on the passenger seat and propped the coat over it before leaning back in the seat and running trembling hands through her hair. The keys rattled in her shaking hands as she tried to slip the ignition key in. The third try was the charm and she turned the engine over; slipping her little Prius into gear, she pulled out of the parking lot just as some of the lights in the house came on.
Paige didn’t wait, she pulled out, taking the one-way road that took her by the fraternity house. Slowing, she pulled to a stop at the curb and stared up at the monstrosity where everything dear in her life had been destroyed. She blinked away the lewd visions that had formed in her mind and refocused on the road, heading toward the sanitarium and the safety of her room.
After storing her clothing in the small closet in her room, she glanced around the room for a more secure place to store her spell box and the photo album. Paige had no idea if Austin was scheduled to work, but if he came in and saw the box, Hunter would know she was up to something. She thought about where she stowed the computer, but the nightstand had no compartment, which left the bed and the chair. If someone bent down enough, they would see the floor under the bed. The chair, at least, had a flap, and she stowed the box and album in the small space under the chair, biting her lip in angst as she stood back to study her handiwork.
With only the music box left in the bag, she stored that on the floor of the closet, next to the foldable wheel chair and the bag Austin had brought her the other day.
With her goodies stowed away, Paige stepped out of her room and gave the nurse a reassuring smile before heading down toward Dr. Schaeffer’s office. His door was still open and a quick glance at the clock told her he had another ten minutes before he would have to start his rounds.
He looked up from his computer and nodded towards the chair.
Paige took a seat. “Thank you for driving me there.”
“You looked a little frazzled when you came out.”
She laughed. Understatement of the year, but she kept that thought firmly behind her lips. “I guess I didn’t expect there still to be so much blood,” she said and his eyebrows rose. “The room hasn’t been cleaned yet,” she added. “I mean, the sheets are gone, but the mattress still has bloodstains and there is still some splatter on the walls.” She had no idea why she kept talking, but the release of nervous energy left her trembling in the chair.
Concern bloomed in his eyes and he stood, coming around to her side of the desk. He crouched next to her, covering her hand with his.
The pinch in her upper arm along with the physical contact of the doctor’s hand turned off the ramble that tumbled from her lips and she met his gaze, pressing her lips together as calm settled into her muscles. Mist covered her eyes and she blinked the sudden burn of tears away.
“Paige, your roommate’s death was not your fault.”
His simple statement drew more heat to her eyes and tears blurred her vision before brimming and tracing hot lines down her cheeks. Paige tried to smile, but nothing he said could wipe away the guilt. She hadn’t been able to stop Hunter’s rampage. Paige couldn’t imagine how horrible the fraternity looked if her bedroom was that bad.
A nurse appeared at the doorway and the doctor gave her a nod before bringing his eyes back to Paige.
“I am going to have Nurse Patty bring you back to your room. The sedative I just gave you should take the edge off, okay?”
Paige slowly shook her head. “I didn’t want drugs, sir,” she said, and whatever he had slipped her wrapped its control over the shudders racking her form, quelling them. “Isn’t it normal to freak out a little at the aftermath of a suicide?” she asked, meeting his gaze.
“Yes, but you were exhibiting signs of shock.”
She blinked rapidly, absorbing his words and becoming aware of the physical sensations of her breath coming in fast pants and the tacky sweat that layered her skin along with the pounding in her chest and temples. Paige forced a long shaky breath and formed a small smile on her lips for the doctor’s benefit.
“I wish you hadn’t done that,” she said after she harnessed her breathing. “I was going to use the time today to look for a place to live.”
He stood and gave her a nod. “You’ll have the chance to do that in a little while, but for now, I think you need a little rest.”
Paige got to her feet and took a step towards the door. Nurse Patty crossed the distance and took her elbow in an attempt to help steady her. Humbled by the help, Paige gave her a more genuine smile than she could muster for the doctor and let her lead her back to the room.
As soon as the door closed, she did a quick check under the chair, sighing with relief at the sight of her stash. She had more than enough time to put together her hex bag and write the spell on the back of the page with the pictures and hair. It was still early and a nap would help the shakes that had reappeared as soon as she collapsed on the bed.
Exhaustion consumed her, pummeling her muscles into submission and her eyelids dropped closed before her brain could argue.