Blood Shades

FRANCES

 I saw myself in a hallway with rooms highlighted with tongues of fire like that of the day of Pentecost. It took me an hour to decide on what to do, suddenly a hand pushed me and I started running searching for that familiar room which could take away all my fears but the hallway seemed endless as I kept running breathing heavily.

 Once again, the dark hallway came to light which brought a large grin to my already swollen face. But then as I ran past each room, the lights went off and the bulbs were falling. Fear gripped me badly as my forehead started heating, my teeth vibrating but the tears refused to fall off. I kept moving scared to turn back when I finally did, a face with fierce eyes stared back. I tried to scream but it kept staring and coming closer and closer, as I tried to absorb the fear by closing my eyes, it smiled and vanished. 

 It seemed like I was on a roller coaster, I turned like a whirlwind under the spell of a witch and suddenly, a sharp-edged knife screwed into my mouth, down to my throat dragging out my intestines which seemed like a long rope with lots of blood in them. All I could do was stand there transfixed staring at the devil performing his task, he immediately opened his mouth to mutter something and as he opened his mouth, I could see maggots and dead things in between his large teeth and on his tongue. The smell alone drove me mad as I slumped with my intestines hanging on my lips. He carried his elephant legs full of thorns and kept on my stomach making me scream while he kept laughing wickedly. 

 His face was invisible but I could see his mouth, feel his presence, and hear whatever he said. When he was satisfied, he took off his legs and smiled while I lay there helplessly. He opened his mouth once again to say something but closed it again and again then finally, he said,

   “ Don’t ever think I’ll harm you, Frances, I love you" That gave me a good laugh as he went away, and the hallway lights came back on. I felt at peace kinda but his words bothered me "Love?" was that how to show it??

And with that, I woke up to my mum tapping me hard, 

   “ Frances, get up and take anvil, you’re heating up!” I jerked up immediately breathing heavily to realize it was just another nightmare. My mum was confused as I let out a loud cry. "Frances, what’s wrong??" my mum asked with a concerned voice, I was scared I couldn't mutter a word all I could do was stare at her confused face and close my eyes.....

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I started College with the help of my mum's best friend, Maggie. She made sure I and her daughter Della started at the same time at Preston College of Arts which was my dream right from high school. I felt so good with Arts even my dad tried pushing me to major in science, I and Della had been childhood friends so it was so easy for both of us to get along and have fun yunno, leaving the house finally and staying away from the outside world for awhile were one of the things that made me glad about college. Mum and Maggie dropped us off at Preston College on the resumption date and seriously I didn't expect Mum to shed a tear but she cried and that alone made me remember my dad.

" Don't fail your dad" That's all she could mutter between sobs and I appreciated that after all.

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   My first day in college was exciting as I looked forward to making friends and becoming a star girl!!. Della and I hurried to grab coffee before rushing over for our first class. I guess we were a bit early because the door was still locked and we met a guy equally waiting for the door.

"Hey, I'm Desmond, and  I'm new here"

"Ohh. I'm Della and she's Frances". We shook hands as expected. "And we're new here" I added smiling which gave him a good laugh.

As we started chatting the lecturer arrived and the door gave way for us and others who joined us later on.

The lecture was just an introductory lecture.

"Hello everyone. I welcome you all to Preston College Of Arts” he paused and everyone applauded him.

"Okay. I'm Spencer, and I'm gonna take you on the introductory part of what is ahead of you, it will guide you in choosing your major eventually. And I want you to be at your best behavior"

And that's how it ended though I was glad because the next lecture venue was far off.

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 Desmond became our first friend in college which made it easier for us. At least he was a guy and what surprised me was that freshmen are not treated like juniors here, everyone is the same. We grabbed ice cream to go watch some movies in the school's cinema though I kinda hated going to cinemas since my dad died I just had to so I won't fail my friends.

When we got there, it was already filled with people so we sat at the back close to the door which I suggested was good. 

Everyone clapped. The first movie was over and the next was about to start as people stood up to stretch themselves a bit. The movie started funny as I laughed seriously but suddenly everywhere became dark yet a girl was standing in the hallway before she started running and yelling loudly. A face black and thick showed up at the end of the hallway laughing hysterically, the girl in question was scared that she ran off and that same face she saw behind her hurriedly took off a sharp-edged knife and screwed it into her mouth and that she screamed loud and as I watched that part with fear, I screamed and passed out.

DELLA

 I was so scared when I heard Frances scream, though I studied her when she was laughing she suddenly stopped at the beginning of a particular scene. Her face went pale as she watched with keen interest before she screamed and passed out.

Everyone in the cinema paused but continued with the movie when she passed out and I was so grateful for that. I and Richie quickly rushed her to the College hospital which was not very far from the cinema, though the hospital was a bit crowded, we were attended to quickly because of the emergency.

 The nurses had Frances put in bed as she was rolled to the Special Care Unit for tests.

"I'm sorry about the incident D”I pleaded when I noticed how worn out he looked already. I had already started calling him D instead of Desmond because of how we clicked.

He only smiled,