You had spent the whole Sunday trying to distract yourself from Saturday. Bootless. Gabriel was everywhere. Even if, for once, he wasn't. Every time you were with him, the next day it felt like it never really happened. Maybe it was because he was so... unique. Not like anyone you had ever met. He was still pretty much a stranger to you. And a mystery. But the thought of the previous night made you feel all tingly. Being near him had been like stepping into a warm, comfortable bubble.
It was a little strange actually. Did your brain make that all up, because someone simply was kinda nice to you? He wasn't even a friend to you. Hell... you knew as good as nothing about him.
Gabriel - janitor and sugar fancier, dog owner, 5' 8" or something. That was all.
Your sanity told you to keep your distance. This wasn't how you're supposed meet someone. No. It was insane. Completely messed up. He could be any kind of sicko. There was no way you could refute that possibility, other than the fact that he was nice so far. But sociopaths were nice at first too, right? Well... at least he wasn't a demon. And a demon was, what was most likely, haunting the college. So your stupid thoughts of him, eating sugar-coated students, were off the table. That was a big relief for you at that point.
Now it was Monday again, sitting at your favorite place in the cafeteria. You had barely touched your bagel yet, nervously playing with a napkin. Dan had texted you earlier, telling you to meet him here. But you were secretly hoping to see someone else before that. Your eyes kept searching for a grinning blonde somewhere between the other people. Someone with a piece of cake. Maybe a muffin.
Minutes passed, but he didn't appear.
Well. Okay. You weren't sure if what you felt now, was disappointment. But the first time you actually wanted to see him, he didn't show up. It was like a joke again. Somehow you were hoping for a chance to clean up the mess in your head a little. For him to become more human to you. Even if the thought of meeting him, still made you nervous. Maybe that kiss and your rashly escape made you the odd one now. Maybe that had been a little too much? An awkward feeling started to manifest in your stomach.
»AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!«
A horrible scream woke you from your daydream. It clearly came from far away, but it was so loud, everybody had heard it. Some special sense in you made you jump up from your seat and rush out of the cafeteria. You followed the direction the scream had come from, and soon realized, that the way was familiar. You went there before, not long ago. And before you knew it, you stood in front of Professor Evans' office once more. The door was open this time and four or five other students were looking in, visibly shocked. As you slowly pushed one of them to the side, you saw why.
The professor laid on the floor, motionless and pale, eyes wide open. His whole body was distorted in an impossible way. It looked like every bone in him must be broken at least once. Blood from his mouth was making the gray linoleum reflect in an awful red. A woman cowered left from him, with her back to the wall. Her whining was the only sound to be heard.
This can't be real.
A trance-like feeling fell over you, as you walked away from the scene in slowmotion. You didn't just see a dead body in there. You didn't just see a corpse twisted like a rubber band in that room. No way. No.
Thirty minutes later, the police was all over the place. Most students and teachers had been sent home, but you still sat on a bench outside, trying to pull yourself together. Dan was with you, rather excited, than shocked. He had brought the book, trying to find a certain page.
»Snakes. Remember?«
You blinked twice, giving Dan a questionable look.
»...what?«
»Snakes.« He said, like it was self-explanatory.
»Snakes did that.«
»...excuse me...?« Your face hadn't changed.
»Like... really big constrictor snakes. Did you know that Professor Evans was petrified of snakes?«
Dan's words sounded like absurd gibberish. Why was he so fevered anyway?
»Just... what are you trying to tell me here?«
»I think... I know what we are dealing with. And It's not a demon.«
Now your face changed. What?
»W-woah. Wait a second. I thought everything else was unlikely?!«
»Everything I had thought of until then. But... I found something else.« He found the page he was looking for, holding up the book for you to see.
»... and that is our culprit.«
You squinted your eyes to read the letters in the setting sun.
»Trickster?«
You had never heard anything like that.
»Bingo!« He grinned a little, looking confident.
»They are said to be rather rare demigod-like creatures.«
»Demi...god-like...?«
»Look. I was thinking... « Dan waved around his hands.
»What do all the victims have in common? They didn't even know each other. Well... I finally saw it.«
»...« You just raised your left eyebrow.
»They are bad. Assholes, bitches, rude dicks.«
»Uh... what?«
»See... I asked around a little more. That guy in the asylum? He was known to be sort of a bully. Bad type. The girl that disappeared? An arrant liar. Spread shit all over the campus. Tina's guy – a cheater. And Professor Evans? Well, you said it yourself, a pervert.«
Your brows narrowed. He was right. Damn right. Everything made sense all of a sudden. Just when you were about to ask, Dan spoke on.
»The point is, this is exactly what a trickster does. They punish or teach a lesson to people acting like douches. In an often humorous or humiliating way. Explains Jason, heh.«
Dan sounded like he actually found that funny. He probably did.
»I need to find out how to identify a trickster as such. They usually look human. Also the book doesn't say how to kill one.« Obviously it was a mission to him.
»Can you do that...?«
»We'll see. I'd better get to work! I'll text you, if I find out anything!«
He grinned broadly, before leaving you alone on the now empty and almost dark campus. You sat there another few minutes, enjoying the silence. Then you stood up, ready to head home, when you flinched from a sudden feeling at your lower leg.
»Uh-?«
You looked down to find it was the feeling of a little paw. Two deep-brown eyes were looking up to you, sparkling with joy.
»...Archie?« You had to smile a bit, kneeling down, to pet the dog.
Of course he wasn't there alone. Before you even thought about that, Gabriel appeared next to you, looking down on the two of you.
»Looks like someone's in love.«
You were so distracted by the little guy, the janitor's typical popping-up-out-of-nowhere didn't even startle you this time. The little terrier wagged his tail happily, as you lifted him up to hold him close. You were smiling in the same amount of joy as your eyes finally met Gabriel's.
»H-hey.« You felt your cheeks heat up a bit.
He chuckled at the picture of his dog in your arms.
»Typical. A pretty lady appears, and he abandons me.« He raised a brow at Archie.
»Guess I cannot blame him.«
You tried not to blush, looking back at the dog.
»...going for a walk...?«
»Jepp. Also getting him some treats. Since he cannot eat mine... unfortunately.« He smirked a bit.
»Wanna come along?«
»Uhm...y-yeah. Sure.« You had answered before you even thought about it.
You were truly happy to see him. Somehow he just put your mind at ease. Which was strange, considering that he usually made you extremely nervous. And in a way you were. But he made you think of something else than the professor. You put the dog back down and let Gabriel put a leash on him.
You headed down the South Street, not talking at all. Thinking of the peck still made you feel a little uneasy, and you wouldn't have the heart to take his arm again. But being in someone's company surely felt good. Soon the both of you reached a little pet shop, where Gabriel bought a bag full of dog treats, while you waited outside with Archie, who whined sadly, soon as his owner left his field of view.
You took him to sit on a little stone wall on the opposite side of the street, where Gabriel soon joined you. He pulled what looked like a little sausage, and held it before the dogs face.
»Who loves daddy?«
Archie almost went crazy, his eyes following the sausage, like hypnotized.
You were grinning in rapture, when you felt your phone vibrating, as a message came in. Taking a quick look, you saw it was from Dan.
'Guess what tricksters really need? An enormous amount of energy! Like all the time. Crazy huh? We should look for people with Red Bull in hand! :-D lol'
Sometimes you really didn't know what Dan wanted to tell you. Anyway you decided not to answer now. The scene in front of you was far more interesting. You noticed how adorable Gabriel could smile, when he genuinely did. Almost childlike. After Archie finally got his treat, his owner leaned back, looking at you, as if he had felt you watching him.
»Want one too?«
»A dog treat?« You laughed a bit.
»If you like. But I also have chocolate.« He grinned.
»Not if I have to beg.« You peered at him, slightly grinning back.
»What? You don't love me?«
Blood shot into your head like on command. Your face resembled a chili within three seconds, leaving you unable to respond. Gabriel's grin faded, but his eyes didn't move. It was like suddenly he saw some kind of chance, as he grabbed you by your upper arm, pulling you dangerously close. Now all you saw were those eyes. Those damn eyes, in a deep shade of yellow ocher, under the faint street lights.
»... last wish, honey.« He whispered, his eyes focusing your lips.
After those words, all you kept hearing was your heart, beating so hard, it almost made your chest hurt. Everything around you began to disappear and an invisible force seemed to draw you closer. And honestly, you wanted nothing else in the world right now, but to kiss this guy. Only an inch was between you and him.
Then something clicked inside your head.
Energy.
Energy.
SUGAR.
You flinched away from him, eyes wide open.
Sugar. Pure damn sugar. All the time.
The professor got killed. When he wasn't at the cafeteria.
You jumped on your feet, breathing hysterically. Everything was spinning. The whole world was turning around like a carousel. All the city noises sounded dull and hollow. The last thing you heard was Archie, barking once.
Then everything went black.
Hey people! :) In case that will be deleted for being the wrong format, you can still read at deviantart username NESSASAN
