Casey,

I saw you today. Finally after days without you, your prescience touched my darkened soul with its warm light. I also saw him. I saw him with his hands on you beautiful, pale shoulders. They rested once on the small of your back. He even kissed you once. And you looked so happy, so peaceful. I wish I could be the man that brought that look to you face, made it light up like a streetlight when you looked upon me.

It saddens me because this thing you have with him is only temporary. He isn't the one you should be with, Love. He isn't the man for you. I feel guilty for encouraging this the night we talked. I feel as if maybe my words had something to do with your choice. What I should have told you was to be patient. To wait for me. I should have told you to hold out for me.

I have no worries about him. He is no competition for me. Sooner or later, he will ruin things just like he did before. Maybe then I will show myself to you, help you to pick up the pieces once he is out of your life for good.

Until then, Love. You will be in my thoughts and in my dreams, always.

Tennyson1987

The wind was chilly. I felt it like a ghostly touch against my arms and legs. My footsteps resounded loudly on the pavement of the street as I made my way to the Kappa Tau house. I tugged at the headband that held my cat ears and reached behind me to try and straighten the long tail, despite the gusting breeze that tried to tangle it around my ankles. Yes, that's right, I was dressed as Fifi the cat, the prissy one from the bugs bunny cartoons.

I couldn't fight against the urge to look over my shoulder as I made my way in the darkness of night. I felt like I was being watched. Every since the first eerie e-mail I had received from my mystery man, I felt that I couldn't go out without being observed. I never knew when he was watching. I jumped at every shadow, afraid that any moment something or someone would leap from the darkness and snatch me away.

I hadn't told Cappie about the messages. He was already worried enough about me, I didn't want to add to his troubles.

I was feeling much better. After spending almost a week in bed, not exactly relaxing the whole time, maybe not even taking it easy, I was back in top form.

I also felt like maybe things were finally working themselves out. Cappie helped me gloss over all the financial records of the house, making them at least appear as if we had everything under control now. The contest planned for next weekend was on track and going full steam, with a team of people assigned to deal with the food, decorations and all the other things that went into a campus wide event.

I couldn't believe everything was turning out so well. Emotionally and physically, I was in an entirely different place than I had been a week earlier.

Was it only a week ? Was that really all the time that had passed ? It felt like weeks. Cappie and I had spent every second possible together. Neither of us wanting to leave the other's side for longer than was absolutely necessary. He was even going to class. At least he was going to all the classes he had with me. It was the beginning of an effort on his part and I appreciated what he was trying to do. He was trying to show me that he was capable of being responsible and sturdy. It was a slow process but he was making a good start.

I was making an effort as well. I made myself stop stressing so much over things I had no control over. I had never felt more relaxed and carefree. I still had my goals and my plans, and my new attitude didn't seem to be impeding them, at least not yet.

I was doing a precious juggling act between classes, the presidency and a man I was completely in love with. So far, all the balls were still happily floating in the air. I didn't know what I would do if one of them slipped. I refused to let myself dwell on that possibility. Like Cappie told me, I'll worry about that when and if it happens. His philosophy was planning on a disaster almost always brought one on. So as long as things were running smoothly, I was anxiety free and really enjoying the feeling.

Well almost anxiety free. I amended in my mind as I looked around me once again. The e-mails had begun to really creep me out now. The idea that someone out there was watching me so closely caused a shutter to run through me and goose bumps to appear on my arms. I tried to ignore the nagging little voice in the back of my head, screaming at me to be cautious. Somehow along the way, my mystery man had turned into something much, much darker and more sinister.

Even as I told myself it was all just my imagination the words in his messages kept turning over in my mind. It saddens me to think this thing you have with him is only temporary. Was that some kind of veiled threat ? He made it sound as if he was certain Cappie would mess things up between us, but something there made me wonder. Instead of looking forward to his words of love and devotion, now I dreaded seeing his name on my mail. I had even considered deleting a few messages without opening them, but my curious nature would have none of that and I'd read every word.

I took a deep cleansing breath as I went up the front steps of the Kappa Tau house, brushing all my dark thoughts aside. Tonight, I was going to have fun. Cappie had wanted to come and get me himself, but as the president of the hosting Fraternity, I told him to stay and greet his guests. I would meet him.

More than once during the long, dark walk down Greek row, I had regretted that decision. I flexed my hand as I realized I was clutching my cell phone so tightly in my palm that the muscles in my fingers were aching.

Stepping inside pushed all my anxiety to the back of my mind. A blast of music,laughter and Wade, dressed as a solider greeted me as soon as I entered. He jabbed a glass of something very foul smelling into my hand. Rusty called a very loud hello to me from across the room. He was jammed into the far corner, dressed like an old west cowboy, surrounded by Beaver, the.. well Beaver and two other guys I didn't recognize. One of them was wearing an Elvis costume while the other was dressed in some kind of gothic garb.

I waved at him and immediately began to scan the room for the person I was most anxious to see.

A tap on the shoulder caused me to spin around and fall into right into the arms of date, Mr. Pepe La Pew. I ended up with my face buried in the shoulder of a skunk costume that smelled a bit like a wet dog. Pulling myself upright again I laughed out loud as I really looked at him. It was brilliant. He looked adorable.

He held me at arms length surveying my cat costume and smiling appreciatively.

A wolf whistle sounded behind me and I felt a sudden tugging on my tail.

" You know, if you ever get tired of the skunk, " Beaver grinned at me broadly. "You can always try a little Beaver. "

I laughed and jerked my tail out of his hand before turning my back to him.

I had never danced or laughed so much in one evening as I did that night. Fifi and Pepe topped Equine Elvis by miles. I was complimented and manhandled all night long. And I loved every minute of it. These were real people. No one here put on any sort of airs. When Beaver pulled me away from Cappie on the dance floor, their was no weirdness, no underlying motives. It was just fun.

Once during an Omega Chi party, one of Evan's brother's asked me to dance. When I accepted, it made Evan angry and it gave me an uncomfortable feeling like I was being passed around on some creepy level.

I danced with just about every member of the Kappa Tau Fraternity and not once did I feel weird or creepy.

Well there was once, when I danced with Rusty's roommate from freshman year, Dale. Rusty had dragged him to the party with the lure that there would be many, many sinners for him to illuminate about Jesus.

Rusty said that he agreed pretty quickly when he realized I would be there. That made me feel a little weird. Then, during a dance with Wade, he was suddenly there behind me and he grabbed me out of nowhere.

I cringed inwardly as the tempo of the music changed to a much slower one and I was abruptly pulled against his ridiculous Zorro costume. He smelled of cheap cologne and sweat as he put his arms around me.

Somehow, my hero must have sense how uncomfortable I was feeling, even across the crowded room. He came up behind Dale and tapped him on the shoulder lightly. Having shed his skunk head sometime earlier, he was still much taller than the younger man and he towered over him, not looking really threatening, but definitely letting him know that he could be if he needed to be.

Dale didn't so much step away as he slunk away. I could still feel his eyes on me as Cappie wrapped me in his huge fur covered arms. It was with a relieved sigh that I rested my head against his smelly chest.

" Are you about ready to retire from all this merriment ? " he asked, his lips moving against my ear.

I let the shivers that his breath in my ear caused consume me and nodded weakly.

" I think I'm ready for that pumpkin pecan pie that I was promised. " I told him.

He leaned into me and kissed me. It was hot, and heated and took the breath from my lungs.

" Go up. I'll get it and be right there. " he said when he finally released me.

" You better not be too long. " I warned him. " Beaver's looking pretty hot tonight and there's a policeman running around here somewhere complete with handcuffs. I've always wanted to try handcuffs. "

He arched his eyebrows at me suggestively. " Really ? "

I didn't answer, I just turned around and flipped my tail at him.

As I left the room, I noticed Dale standing in a corner staring at me through his slightly crooked mask. Something about the look in his eyes made me quicken my pace.

Making my way up the stairs as hurriedly as possible, I was panting by the time I reached Cappie's room and shut the door behind me.

I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath after the marathon run up two flights of stairs. I told myself I was being silly. But the way Dale was looking at me scared me on a deep instinctive level. I had to talk to Rusty about that guy. There was something very not right about him.

Every time I closed my eyes I saw him looking at me with that sinister gleam in his beady little eyes.

Then I had a sudden thought that turned my stomach queasy and sweat pop out on my forehead. Could Dale be my mystery man ? Could he be Tennyson1987 ? I did some quick calculating in my head. If the 1987 was the year he was born that would make him twenty. I assumed Dale was the same age as Rusty. Rusty who had just recently celebrated his nineteenth birthday. That would make Dale a year off.

Still that didn't prove anything. If he hadn't come to college immediately after he graduated high school, if his birthday fell in the right month, if he failed a year in elementary school. If any of those and a mirage of other things had happen, it would still fit. He could easily be twenty years old instead of nineteen.

The thoughts were coming so fast now that I didn't even realize how much time had passed since I made the mad dash up the stairs.

I glanced at the clock and noticed that I had been standing their against the door, thinking and breathing rapidly for the last fifteen minutes.

Where the hell was Cappie ? He said he'd only be a minute. Panic started to form in recesses of my mind and I took a deep breath to try and steady my shaking hands.

I sat down on the bed and tried to make myself calm down. I couldn't let Cappie see me like I was, shaking and obviously terrified.

My mind continued to scream at me that something was definitely wrong as I watched the minutes tick by in glowing red neon. Fifteen turned to twenty, then twenty-five.

Finally, at the thirty minute mark I couldn't take anymore. As horrible as the thought of going back down the stairs and possibly running into Dale again was, I had to find out what had happened to Cappie.

I swore to myself that if I found him, having a drink with his buddies, laughing and joking away I was going to strangle him with my tail for making me worry like I was.

As an afterthought I grabbed Cappie's jacket from the chair by the door and headed back to the party.

Nothing was even close to winding down, I saw as I took the last step. Everything was still in full swing, the music, the laughter. Although the laughter was definitely growing louder as the night progressed, thanks, I was sure, mostly to Wade's cauldron punch.

I scanned the crowd of people. I saw elves and bunnies, aliens and clowns. But I didn't catch even a glimpse of a skunk.

I took off for the kitchen.

Rusty was standing with his back half sticking out of the open refrigerator as I entered and I had never been so relieved to see him.

" Have you seen Cappie ? " I asked, quickly, causing him to spin around to me like I'd startled him.

" Not since you were dancing with Dale earlier. Hey I'm really sorry about that, by the way. I'll talk to him. " he apologized.

I gave him a quick, tense smile. " I'd appreciate that. He was really creepy tonight. Did he go home ? "

" I haven't noticed him either actually. "

" Okay, thanks. " I made to leave, but turned back quickly and went to the fridge. Pushing Rusty aside, I poked my head in and spied to box that held our pie. I opened it and saw that it was completely whole and untouched.

What the hell did that mean ? Did something happen on the way to the kitchen that distracted him ? Maybe, but not for this long. Surely he would have made it here by now if nothing was wrong.

" Something wrong ? " Rusty asked, reading my expression.

" Cappie was supposed to be getting us a piece of pie and meeting me upstairs. That was over thirty minutes ago and I can't find him. " I explained.

" I'll help you look. " Rusty offered. " I can go ask around and if I find him, I'll call you. You do have your cellphone, right ? "

I reached into the bodice of my costume and pulled out my phone. It was true, my brother was a genius.

Pushing the buttons with trembling fingers, I nearly dropped the phone twice before I finally got it right.

It went directly to voice mail. The sound of Cappie's voice did nothing to ease my fears. I think it just made them worse.

I closed the phone and replaced it in my bodice.

Rusty gave me a look, saw my face and left, telling me he'd call as soon as he found him.

I went back to the party to search myself.

Beaver met me in the hall. He wasn't quite staggering drunk, but I was pretty sure the drink in his hand would get him there.

" Have you seen Cappie ? " I asked.

" Yeah, just a little while ago. He was talking to David. " When my face didn't register recognition, he added, " the guy dressed like a cop. "

I nodded and went in search of the police. " Is there something wrong ? " Beaver called after me.

I turned back to him and explained the whole situation. I watched him go from almost drunk to completely sober in a handful of seconds.

" I'm sure he's around here somewhere. Someone probably caught him and he couldn't get away. " he assured me. " I'll help you look. "

I told him thank you and he promised to call me if he found him.

By the time I found David, talking to a group of other party goers in a darkened corner, my fear was all but consuming me. There was no doubt in my mind that something had happened to Cappie. The e-mail messages would not stop running through my now frantic brain. I was just one the verge of calling the real police when I spotted the fake one.

" Hi, " I said tapping him on the shoulder. " You're David, right ? "

" Yeah, " he answered, looking me over critically.

" Have you seen Cappie recently ? "

" Yeah, bout half an hour ago. He bribed me for my handcuffs. "

I smiled for the first time since making my trip upstairs and thanked him. " Did you see where he went when he left you ? "

" I thought I saw him talking to someone else, but honestly, there are so many people running around, I can't be sure who it was. "

" It wasn't a guy dressed like Zorro, was it ? " I finally gave voice to the fears that had been nagging me.

" It could have been . I remember he was dressed all in black. "

Dale was gone and the last person to remember seeing Cappie saw him talking to a man dressed in black.

I was in an all out panic now.

When I turned around, Wade, Heath and Calvin, dressed as gladiators, were standing behind me.

" We searched both floors upstairs and didn't find him. " Calvin said. All three of them looked truly worried.

" David said he saw him talking to someone dressed in black about half and hour ago. " I told them.

" Who was dressed in black ? " Heath asked.

" Can you get Beaver and Rusty and meet me in Cappie's room ? "

" Yeah, we'll be right there. "

When I got to Cappie's room, I went directly to the laptop and logged in to check my mail. A chill ran through me when I saw I indeed had a message. With a silent prayer that it was about some sorority business, I clicked the envelope icon.

My heart physically stopped beating as Tennyson1987's name appeared on the sender's line. I couldn't make myself open the mail. And thankfully I was saved from having to as five people piled into the room all at the same time.

" Did you find him ? " Rusty asked quickly as he came to me and rested his hand on my shoulder.

" I think I might have. " I nodded.

Then I turned to them and began to explain as quickly as possible about my mystery man and the creepy e-mails.

When I finished everyone was staring at me with wide eyes.

Rusty was the first one to speak. " We have to call the police. "

" What did the last message say ? " Calvin asked.

" I don't know. I couldn't make myself open it. "

Rusty lead me over to the bed and sat down with me. Heath joined us and both of them took my hands in theirs as Calvin and Beaver opened the message.

Beaver was paled and looked like he was about to vomit when he turned back to us. " We need to call the police. " he said simply before grabbing the phone.