Chapter Text
by 
by marcel
Things were bleak. In a small liberal arts college in the middle of the U.S.A. run on a shoestring, was a diminished yet brilliant faculty committed to a very talented student body. Despite non-competitive salaries and ever decreasing resources, and the running string of federal funding cuts for months on end, the disheartened faculty was energized somewhat by the onset of autumn. Beautifully colored leaves blanketed the ground and the skies were cloud-striped, grey, blue, and white. Mid-terms were approaching and work distracted the professors from any impending doom.
The lights were off and the custodial staff had gone home. Low automatic lights threw long, ominous shadows across the worn, aging carpet. Around the top of the narrow stairs, a figure crept around the corner, their long-fingered gloved hands gripping the bars of the metal railings.
“Hello,” the voice said with eerie softness.
The guest turned around.
“Oh, there you are! Phew! I was wondering if you were already up hERE AAAAHHHHHH!!”
The scream was cut short and the shadowy figure descended the stairs.