Lying in the infirmary bed, the dull hum of hospital machinery around me was the only soundtrack to my restless attempts at sleep. My eyelids were heavy, fluttering on the edge of surrender to fatigue, when a sudden commotion outside the door jarred me back awake.The doorknob jiggled, a sound unnervingly out of place in the quiet of the night. My heart hammered against my chest. The fear that Cameron might be coming back to finish what he started made me start shivering uncontrollably. I tensed, looking around the room in search of anything I could use as a weapon. There wasn't much. A plastic water jug and a few medical instruments that were too flimsy to be of any actual use against a guy who was easily a foot taller than me.The lock on the door clicked. A slow, deliberate sound that echoed ominously in the small space. I braced, ready to defend myself. What was the point of a lock if there were still keys out there that could open the door? I kicked myself for thinking I was sa
I spent the next couple of days in the infirmary, the sterile smell and the constant hum of medical equipment becoming overly familiar. The nurse, who seemed to take her role as guardian very seriously, always kept the door locked, requiring her to unlock it for anyone who wanted to visit. It felt like I was being kept in captivity, but I also somehow sensed that it was for my safety, so I didn't question it. The next day, a small brigade of familiar faces momentarily brightened the monochrome routine of my recovery. Adrien, Kris, Alec, and Nick arrived with contraband goodies the nurses would never have allowed past the door if Adrien wasn't leading the charge... I was more than a little happy to see lemon-lime soda, cookies, and other assorted treats. Nick approached me immediately, his presence always more intense than the others. He reached out, taking my chin in his hand, and turned my head to examine the ligature marks still faintly visible on my neck. A frustrated growl esca
The panic struck me like a physical blow. My hands trembled on the chess pieces, the game before me blurring insignificantly. "I need to go see Peter," I blurted out as I struggled to rise from the bed. Adrien was quick to react, his earlier playful demeanor replaced by concern. "Let's get you there," he said, stepping up to support me. We approached the nurse's station, where the nurse who had shown a soft spot for Adrien was seated. Her eyes flickered up as we approached. Adrien flashed his most charming smile, a strategic move I was starting to recognize all too well. "Hey, could you do us a huge favor? James really needs to see Peter. It's important for his recovery too, emotional healing and all that." The nurse hesitated, looking between Adrien's earnest expression and my anxious one. It was clear she was swayed by Adrien's appeal. "Okay, but just for a few minutes," she relented Adrien's charm had worked its magic once more. "Thanks," Adrien and I chorused, relief evident
After breakfast the following day, I felt a familiar wave of disappointment. The meal was bland and uninspiring. Simple dishes designed for those in recovery. I wasn't sure how people were supposed to regain their strength by eating this kind of food. The watery oatmeal and dry toast seemed like a punishment rather than sustenance. I was picking at a piece of toast, wondering if I could choke it down, when the door opened, and Nick walked in. He had a bag tucked under his arm, his usual silent demeanor intact. Without a word, he placed the bag on the table in front of me, giving me a quick nod before sitting down. As usual, he was a man of few words, and I was beginning to really appreciate this part of him. He wasn't overbearing like some of the other guys, and you didn't have to guess at his intentions... just pay attention to his actions. The bag smelled sweet, like sugar and vanilla. I almost attacked it, pulling out the cookies and slices of cake from last night's dinner.
The nurse walked me through the discharge process with a new sense of urgency, even for her. She normally carried an air of authority, but now it felt different. She rushed through the checklist, barely looking at me as she scribbled her notes. It was like she wanted me out as quickly as possible. Everything about this morning was off: the abrupt discharge, the barely there examination, and now the nurse's impatience. What was going on? "Hey, can I see Peter before I leave?" I asked, hoping to catch her off guard. "Sorry, not now. You need to head back to your dorm and rest," she replied without even glancing up from her clipboard. I refused to budge. "Look, I just need one minute with him. Please, it's important." She sighed, tapping her pen on the edge of the clipboard. "James, I really can't. We need to keep the infirmary clear for emergencies, and you need to get back to your dorm as soon as possible." I folded my arms. "I'm not leaving until I see him. Just for a minute."
Kris led me to a window near the second-floor stairwell door. He pointed to the north, where a dark, ominous cloud loomed on the horizon, its edges rolling like something from a disaster movie. It looked like the end of the world, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. "That's the biggest blizzard this area's seen in a hundred years," Kris said. "Holy shit!" I blurted out, my voice going up an octave higher than I'd intended. I coughed quickly, pretending it was something in my throat, but I could see the smirk on Kris's face. "What? Don't like storms or something?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. I laughed, but it came out more nervous than I'd hoped. "I'm from Texas. I've never seen snow," I said, sounding casual as possible. "Not once?" he asked, his disbelief evident. "Not once," I confirmed, shrugging like it wasn't a big deal, even though my heart was racing at the thought of being trapped in a blizzard. Kris smiled wide, his eyes lighting up. "Well, then you're in for a
I sighed in relief, recognizing his voice instantly. "Yeah, man," I replied, pressing my back against the cold tiles of the shower stall. "Wait, how could you tell it was me?" Jules laughed. "Honestly? Your green eyes show even through the frost." "Holy shit." My response was more of a startled whisper. I hadn't realized the frosted glass was that see-through. The implications of that were a little unnerving. I turned my back slightly, feeling suddenly exposed. "I didn't realize it was that see-through," I remarked, trying to keep my tone casual and my voice deep. Jules' laughter rang out again, and I could almost picture his amused expression. "Yeah, that's why they added the extra half wall. The folks who remodeled messed up and used the wrong glass on the last one." I chuckled, trying to hide my anxiety. The thought that someone could have seen more than just my eyes was unsettling. I ran a hand through the water streaming down my face, pushing back the damp strands of hair.
I walked over to the window, drawn by the low rumble of wind against the glass. The sky was a furious swirl of dark clouds, the air thick with the promise of snow. As I watched, heavy flakes began to fall, blanketing the ground in a relentless surge of white. The wind howled, whipping the snow into towering drifts, and the trees bent under the weight of the gathering mass. It was something I'd never seen before. Ominous and powerful, with the force to transform the familiar campus into an alien landscape. Alec came up behind me. I could feel the heat coming off of his body. Why was he so damn warm? He peered over my shoulder, looking out at the storm. "Yeah, it should be fun, especially if we get to play the game in it," he mused, his voice carrying a note of excitement that seemed at odds with the scene outside. "Do they still play games in that?" I asked in total disbelief. Playing a game in such a storm seemed ludicrous, almost reckless. Even if the game was indoors, peopl