I stared at the phone intensely. My hand reaching out to dial the number nine one one, he hated that he was so weak. He looked back at the picture and saw the autographed photo of Professor Eppes on his wall.
"It isn't fair," he whispered to himself. Ever since he witnessed that man killing someone life for him has changed. He kept seeing him everywhere, in the park, in the sky, and most importantly in school. He knew deep down that those were just his own fears surfacing but when he saw him today his heart ran cold. "Why," he asked himself again. The Professor should know something is up. He should understand that the man called Jack is not really who he is. He should know. The phone glared at him from the corner of his room. Mocking him, laughing at him, he was weak and he knew it, but the professor always said otherwise. The professor always comforted him when he was sad. He was safe to say that they were friend, but he didn't know if their friendship went this far. He couldn't risk telling someone who might not believe, but The Professor always believed him even when he was lying to him. The Professor needed his help, he needed protection.
"I mean he is grown," he muttered out still staring at the phone. He didn't need his help. He was fine he told himself. The Professor always turned out fine in the end right, and Jack probably isn't after The Professor, but he should still call. It would be the right thing to do. "Screw it," he answered harshly. They were grown men they could do what they wanted. After all he was just a college student right, and who would believe him. He looked at the poster and felt his eyes water a little bit. "I'm sorry Professor, but it's not my problem," he said trying to prove his point but failing badly, and the fact that he had over heard Jack scream the Professors name in pleasure didn't help his guilt at all. No, I already said that he wasn't after him, he couldn't be. He looked at the phone once more and screamed. He hated this. He hated knowing that that serial rapist was standing next to The Professor. He hated knowing that he might be after his teacher. He hated knowing that he could stop it but was too scared to call. He hated himself. He looked at the picture once more and felt his mind crash. Why do are you so naïve. Why can't you look at that man and see him? It's your own fault he started telling himself. If you could use your math Professor then you would find him. It's your fault, that's why I can't help you he screams silently.
"I'm sorry," he started to yell at the poster, "but this doesn't concern me at all! You can understand that can't you. You understand everything," he shouted desperately. He knew he was fooling himself. He knew that he should do something he knew, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't risk his life. He couldn't risk putting his face out there. He couldn't risk it, but he should. He should risk it. He should but he couldn't
"Dude are you okay," he turned around startled to hear a voice in his room.
"Sorry, Jason I guess I was just remembering something," he tried. Laughing off the situation, but the icy guilt wouldn't leave him alone. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, and deep down he knew it was true and he knew he could stop it. He stared at his hands; he didn't deserve to be called human. He didn't deserve it.
"Man ever since you came back from Chicago a couple of weeks ago you have been acting weird," Jason stated. Chicago that was the dreaded place that started his inner destruction,
"I know." He yelled in his mind but answered lightly to his friend. He had to get away from this place, from his dorm room, he had to leave. He couldn't bear to look at the man he failed any longer. He knew he would break if he kept looking.
"Oh, did you want to go to this really awesome party. I heard that they were going to have strippers and drinks, if you know what I mean," Jason said slyly. Drinks were all he needed to hear. He gave him a nod and Jason whooped for joy.
"Alright, I'll pick you back up in half hour," with that said he left him to sit in his mind for a little while. He stared at the poster and glared at him.
"This is your fault," He yelled at The Professor, "If you would notice how he looks at you. If you would notice my pain," he yelled again. The poster covered with equations and The Professor just smiled back at him unknowingly. "That's right, even in the real world your just a poster unaware of the problems surrounding you, but the problems concerning others gets your full attention." He chuckled darkly and turned and looked at the phone. No, he wasn't going to interfere with anything. He was just going to sit on the sidelines and watch what happened.
"Brian," Jason yelled from down the hallway. Good he needed a drink.
