Chapter 3

The word Demon was about to hiss out of her thoughts earlier, but now? Now it was in the forefront of her mind. Their new professor was almost around her age, if not a little older (her being 30 was a curse sometimes). With brown hair that was short and seemingly swept, darkish eyes alive with emotion, spry in build and smiling with a clean, white bridge of teeth and dressed impeccably, he almost looked like the deer demon in the forest in facial style and build. All he was missing was the fangs, the red hair and eyes, ears, and antlers. He was looking at the schedule, and Dina was slowly going to back out. She was hoping against hope that this professor wasn't paying attention. However, she had to know her luck sucked.

"Dina Mendes. So lovely of you to be early!" he almost sang out.

Even his voice, mellow and tenor ranged, brought thoughts of the demon on the southern trail! Dina froze. He didn't even look at her! How did he know!? Okay, mere coincidence! Just calm down! Dina reasoned within herself. She forced a smile and went to her station for Digital Photography III. When her back was turned the professor smiled impishly. She genuinely had no idea he was here…perfect. He watched her with a grin, her body radiating tension and nerves. She was nervous? Good. As she should be. He thought smirking. Alastor liked it when his prey was so blissfully naïve. It made the upcoming hunt even more entertaining.

He watched her as she booted up the computer. She grabbed out her flash-drive that harbored all her photos that needed editing. She gazed up at the board. Professor Alan was written across it…Now she had a name. His eyes never left her form. He stood up from the desk and sauntered over. She was working on the photos, adding the finishing touches here and there to her art work. He slid next to her, leaning in and observing her art. She was barely privy to him there, being so intensely focused. He added with a purr that made her jump in startle,

"Well done! Your nature shots are quite lovely."

"Thanks, Professor Alan…" Dina said while keeping her eyes on the screen.

He took in her shots of the deer and the hawks. She was an excellent shot. She even caught a hawk midflight. But after the date of August 29th, nature began to be replaced by man, and man-made objects. Her shots consisted then of architecture, and people. He smirked; he knew why the shots had changed. She wasn't going into the woods anymore. Awwww.. he scared her out of the woods, eh? She'll return…I have faith. He thought wickedly. He asked with a soft, almost velvety tone,

"Is it usually this quiet in here? There's only us two…"

Dina tensed at the comment. She looked around, only to see he was right. She dared not look this man in the eyes. She caught the smell of his cologne and her eyes widened in fear. He smelled like….She felt her cellphone vibrate. It was thirteen vibrations later, and Alastor smiled as he headed back to the desk. She looked, only to see her worst fear. All her classmates had bowed out for the week. One even said, Digital Photography II said new prof is a dick! Not gonna kill my vibe with that shit! GL Dina…Hope ya didn't go to class today!~ She felt herself twitch in fear. She said with a small forming blush, "Everyone got sick, I guess…" before she went back to work. Dina was terribly frightened. She was alone….and had no idea what his issue was! She continued to work, and the 'professor' smirked with delight.

She had his attention after escaping him. He never had a victim escape him before, and his victim was quite the lovely specimen of woman. Hell, his latest victim betrayed her. Her former professor's soul betrayed her beautifully in his dying moments before Alastor devoured it. His memories of her were that she was industrious, hard-working, and always early to class. Alastor gave the old man a very quick death in his gratitude for helping him escape his prison. He even provided Alastor a way to access his prey. He smiled evilly at the woman whose back was turned to him as she worked.

Her curves in the right places, her lovely auburn brown hair…and her eyes…How he loved to see them glow in terror and some anticipation. Terror often brought out his victims' true natures into their eyes…she was so pure in her eye's lilac gleam. He wanted it. He wanted her. Dare the Radio Demon admit it…he wanted to possess, enslave and own this beautiful creature before him. He smirked; was this that elusive emotion lust? Well; it won't do rushing in…after all, I want her alone. Completely alone before I seduce her. And besides, passion is best not anticipated. he purred within his mind.

The hour class dragged on, and Dina had to fight the urge to bolt out of the class. She really didn't want to stay here. Twice the professor got close, and twice she fought the urge to ooze and melt into a puddle of anxiety. Seeing class was over, she broke down her setup. She went to almost sprint out, when he purred out languidly,

"Dina, for your next photography assignment, I want you to go back to the woods. Your nature shots are quite lovely! I'd love to see more..."

Dina swallowed harshly. She wanted to argue, but she knew better. She nodded while fighting the urge to scream and headed to her job in the heart of town.

The next three days were Hell on Earth.

She kept waking up to hearing more bodies popping up in the woods. But this time, the profile had changed. Young men, women, older folks, and even a couple of teenagers were killed. There was no more rhyme and reason to the demon's murders now. However, now Dina was getting the notes from an unknown source into her mailbox. They were poetic, raw, seductive, and passionate about their desire to own and possess her. However, the only key that told her that this was still the deer demon at work was the dried red upon the paper. Dina would burn them due to the bloodstains possibly incriminating her, and God forbid someone found out she was getting them. However, there was more to worry about.

Photography Class' assignments of gathering more nature shots was looming in its deadline. Dina was panicking. The portfolio assignment was due every Friday, and with Friday only two days away, she was running out of options. If she didn't do the professor's assignment, he was going to fail her. But if she went into the woods especially near the southern trail, she was risking running into him again. Did she dare go to the forest!? Today, she went to the mailbox and opened the creaking lid to the tin box. She found a couple letters from home, and then…another note. She quickly rushed in, and even though she was terrified, she opened the note with fearful anticipation.

As always it was addressed to her. She was expecting a description of what he wanted to do with her, but instead, all her eyes read was See you soon, my love.~ This left Dina confused, and a sharp, and nervous laugh escaped her throat. He…He couldn't be serious! The Ouija Board kept him bound to that part of the woods! Then that meant…that meant that she was still safe! She grabbed the map of the trails and began to peruse the trails close to her. The murders were taking place near the Southern, and Southeastern Trails. She lived close to the Northern trail! Maybe she could get close! She knew the trails here but wasn't going to go deeply into the mountain base trails anyway. Hunting season was coming around the corner, and the trails had some spots one could hunt in. So, she grabbed her orange vest, and got ready for the hike.

She had no idea her suitor was far more liberated than she thought. He was quietly learning the trails near the town and biding his time. All Dina had to do was innocently slip into a false sense of security, and he would own her. All he had to do now….was wait.

After hours of hiking and taking photos, Dina walked home. Going through the camera, she smiled as she glanced at her shots. They were beautiful. A bright array of reds, browns and golds were her color palate, and autumn harmonized itself in her lenses. She had barely made it to the dorm's door, when Rose and her crew were heading out. She looked at Dina and asked with a grin,

"Yo! Party in the woods! Ya wanna come with?"

"Ew, we aren't inviting the murderess, Rose!" One of Rose's girlfriends snarked.

Dina rolled her eyes, muttered about her photos needing editing and stalked back into the dorm. she noted that the party was grouping up and growing. A boy named Kyle was with them. Kyle was Rose's current boy toy, and this time, as Dina overheard, she wasn't going to flake and try to weasel out of sex with him. After all, Rose had a nasty habit of being a tease. She shut her window as an early October breeze filled the air. The wind howled, whispering about the evil that was coming tonight.

The group had barely neared the designated party spot when the sky went dark. They chuckled and someone introduced a bag of marijuana. They set up camp and began to pregame before the night festivities began. Five bowl packs later and several 6 packs of beer, they were drunk and high having a blast. Kyle and Rose disappeared, and an hour later returned with disheveled clothes and red blushes. The crew whooped and cheered. Rose was a 'virgin no more', and she and Kyle were teased about it.

The sky was now starlit, and what little reception was out here said it was 3 AM. Still high from the drugs and buzzed from the alcohol, they were listening to the music on the radio. Suddenly, as Kyle went to get more fire wood, he heard a humming. The crickets stopped. He felt his hair on his neck stand up, and he quickly moved up the trail. He looked, and he saw he was a few minutes away from the Southern Trail. He felt his neck prickle as the humming grew louder. He neared the campsite, and asked the group,

"Did y'all hear that?"

"Hear…?" Rose asked.

"That humming! There's someone on the trail!" Kyle said in a hushed tone.

The radio suddenly went staticky, and it was cut short. The fire's crackle was being drowned out by the white noise from the air, seemingly echoing through the trees. The group hesitantly got up. They…Weren't they alone?! The hum grew louder at the base of their campsite, and Kyle went to investigate. Seconds evolved into a minute and then, an object rolled near one of the girls. She took her cell phone out and shined the light, only to scream at the sight before her.

There, staring back with a blank, and glassy stare into the light was Kyle's head. The college students all panicked and in their incapacitated states they grouped up together. They were like a herd of sheep and suddenly, even though they were tightly close, the shadows began to pick them off. One girl was dragged into the woods by her legs into the forest, her screams silenced after a minute. Soon, only Rose was left. She needed to get back to the car…immediately. She ran, but a soft and seductive laugh filled the forest air. She nearly neared the end of the trail, only to have the shadows grow darker than the norm. They blocked her exit, and Rose panicked. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone. She dialed the only person she could think of. The phone was picked up after scant seconds of ringing, and Dina growled angrily,

"Rose, it's 3:30 in the morning….Why are you calling?"

"DINA! I'm scared, Dina!" Rose panicked as the shadows drew closer.

"What, did you break up with Kyle or some shit? That's what happens when you act like a-" Rose suddenly snapped out, "NO! He killed Kyle! He killed everyone! I-I'm next!"

Dina alerted on the genuine panic in her friend's voice. She felt fearful, especially when the woods in the background noise sounded like a staticky radio. She put two and two together, and realized Rose was near the Southern Trail. Her roommate was a goner…. She quickly said with terror,

"Rose, run! GET OUT OF THERE!" she heard a soft thudding noise, and she heard the old-time radio voice purr, "Dina, darling! So good to hear from you…"

Dina silently sobbed, not privy to Alastor plucking Rose's soul from the air and eating it. He picked up the strange device and spoke into it. He purred as he began to back track to her dorm,

"I'll be there soon, love. ~ Don't bother trying to run. If you do, you will be punished when I find you…"

He put Rose's phone to the ground, and stepped on it, the sound of the glass screen shattering overriding Dina's sobs of terror and sadness.