The Phantom Crystal

Who’s There?

I tilt my head, straining my ears.

But it’s not just the whispering of one person, but multiple people. As if there is a small group of people and they are all huddled together, muttering amongst themselves. It's faint and I can't understand what they are talking about, but it's obviously something urgent by how rushed all the voices seem to be. If I didn't know better, I would say that there was a small group of friends coming from somewhere but there aren't any footsteps, which there should be for just how much these tunnels resonate sound. Another harsh shiver courses through me and I curl into myself a little.

"You're overthinking this," I scold myself, turning back toward Walnut. "You're just paranoid because of that weird grey alien-like creature who shoved that weird crystal into your chest. It's probably just some other students who are already in the Convenient Store."

The tunnel starts to slope a little and I keep to the left of the tunnel, straining my ears as the whispers grow louder. I slow to a stop where the tunnel connects to Walnut. The Convenient Store is closed, lights off and the cage is down in the entrance. Seriously? They couldn't even open the Convenient Store for students to grab some quick groceries? Not everyone has a car to go shopping with and nobody is going to walk all the way over to Wal-Mart or Target and lug all of that back to their dorm. 

My eyebrows furrow as I scan the lowest level of Walnut. Not a single person is there. Stepping forward three steps, I peek up the stairs leading to the outside entrance. Even the Campus Security desk is closed.

Who the heck is talking then? Wally's is obviously closed with how the door at the top of the neck-breaking staircase is shut and no lights are shining under the crack. Unnerved, I continue forward, glancing around the space. Just pass the Convenient Store is a small lounge area with two computers and a printer, a single tall table with a tall chair, and two cushioned armchairs on either side of a matching couch. Which is also empty. But the whispering is still there. My hands twitch inside my pockets as I follow the voices but it sounds as if the voices are everywhere.

Moving cautiously, I rub at the center of my chest as I follow the voices over to the door leading to the tunnel system connecting Walnut to Oak Hall, another residential dorm. The door is shut but I know that if I just reach out and push the handle, it will swing open no problem. But, for some reason, I just can't do it. Swallowing thickly, I shuffle uneasily as I shoot another look behind me. 

Still empty.

I turn back to the door and stare at the handle. 

There is obviously some sort of connection between this tunnel and the voices, why else would they be getting louder the closer I get? If anything, it could just be a group of friends who are trying to figure out what they can eat with everything on campus closed and none of them have a car and they just happen to be on the other side of this door and because it's so quiet I can hear them whispering. But, on the other hand, and I fully blame my parents for this, it could be something less alive. Something more along the lines of a group of ghosts or spirits, and because I'm the only one here, they're comfortable making themselves known. 

I wet my lips as I shift from foot to foot. 

Bemidji State University is kind of an old school, being founded back in 1919. Sure, it's not as old as colleges like Yale, the U of M, or even St. Cloud State, but it is old enough to have some history behind it. Even in this past year, we have already experienced two students freezing to death at Diamond Point Park. This place is more than old enough to house some spirits of some kind. Hugh has mentioned multiple times that he always feels like he is being watched when he used the tunnels late at night and he lives in Oak. So, maybe these voices are of the spirits that are possibly watching him as he walked home from a late-night class?

I guess there is only one way to know for sure if it's an actual group of people or possible spirits. Shooting one last look over my shoulder, I reach out for the door and gently press down on the handle. The metal gives easily and I hear a faint click as the latch slides. My shoulders tense and I swear that I can see my breath as I push the door open.

Only to find Hugh, of all people, standing on the other side, eyes wide and hand outstretched. 

"Hugh!" I say, taking a step back as he catches the door. "What are you doing here?" I sneak a glance past my taller friend but the tunnel is empty behind him.

Hugh shrugs, sweeping black bangs from his face as he grins at me. "I was gonna pick up some milk now that my fridge is finally cold enough to hold some to make myself some cereal." Hugh frowns as he notices my gaze and shoots a look over his shoulder. "What are you lookin' at?"

I tear my eyes away from the empty tunnel and force a smile. "Nothing, just thought I saw something. And cereal? Really, Hugh? I thought you said that your News Year resolution was to start eating healthy."

"I am!" Hugh says, huffing as he walks past me. "It's a healthy cereal! That just happens to have marshmallows in it."

Chuckling, I shoot the tunnel one last look before the door closes once more and blocks the emptiness from view. I offer Hugh a skeptical gaze.

"'Marshmallows'?" I echo back. "Sounds really healthy to me."

Hugh waves me off as he starts toward the Convenient Store. I should probably tell him that it's closed. Or I can just leave him to figure it out. Smirking to myself, I follow after my friend. 

"It is healthy. Even my mom approved and she's a health nut!" Hugh exclaims when he stops right in front of the Convenient Store. "Oh, man. You have got to be kidding me. I thought they would be open closer to supper time. Guess not."

I pat my friend on the shoulders as he slumps, pouting at the cage blocking us from all the overpriced goodies that the little store carries.

"We could always walk over to the gas station near the grocery store," I suggest. "I'm sure they would have a better selection of milk anyways."

Hugh wrinkles his nose and looks down at me, his dark eyes squinting at me.

"Are you nuts? Have you seen what it's like outside? It's a freaking blizzard outside! If it wasn't for the tunnel system, I would be expecting an email at any time for a snow day tomorrow."

I, in fact, have not seen what it's like outside. No wonder Gavin was tired when he got back. I'm sure that was not fun to experience while riding the bus back from the airport.

I snort. 

"'Snow day'. Right. We didn't even get called when it was 70 below and the door literally took the skin off of my fingers when I grabbed it. We will never have a snow day."

"I know that," Hugh states, rolling his eyes as he readjusts the teal scarf around his neck. "But a guy can dream, can't he?"

Instead of answering, I merely pat his shoulder again until the taller male nudges me. I snicker as Hugh opens his mouth to say something when his eyes flicker up to my forehead.

"Did you bleach your hair?"

My hand quickly flies to my beanie, only to find that some pieces of my bangs have fallen out. A strange sense of panic spreads from my gut to my chest and I shove the strands back under the fabric.

"No," I grumble, frowning at the brick wall to my left. Hugh lifts his hands, eyebrows shooting toward his hairline. A pang of guilt mixes with my panic as I gnaw on my bottom lip.

"Whoa there, Jackie," Hugh says, confusion lacing his words. "I'm not saying it's bad, I was just surprised is all. You were always telling me and Olivia how much your folks would kill you if you dyed or bleached your hair."

A sigh escapes me and I lift my hand to my beanie.

"I-I didn't--" I pause.

Should I tell Hugh what happened? I didn't even what to tell Mom and Dad. I just feel so bad for getting all defensive about my hair with Hugh, who I know wouldn't make fun of me for my hair. But I also know he isn't the biggest believer in the supernatural. He doesn't NOT believe in it, he just thinks that most people out there are faking their experiences and until he experiences something to himself, Hugh is just going to be skeptical about everything. So, how would he react to me telling him that this weird alien-creature came out of my mom's invention, tackled me, then shoved a softball size crystal inside me, and now my hair is turning white because of it? He'd probably think I've gone nuts. 

Hugh's eyebrows furrow as I trail off, confusion and a small amount of concern mix on his features as he patiently waits for me to continue. I wet my lips.

"I didn't tell them," I say lamely, flinching at how unconvincing my words sound, even to my own ears. "They, uh, went to meet up with a family friend for a part for that machine that I told you my mom's been working on and they weren't coming home until later today, so they didn't see it. Rae and Casper helped me bleach it last night."

Hugh nods, his eyes scanning my face. He doesn't believe me, does he? Oh, who am I kidding? I wouldn't believe me! Four years of theatre in high school and not an ounce of acting stuck with me to make even that little lie sound plausible. I force a smile as Hugh rests a hand on his hip.

"You don't like it, do you?"

"Uh, what?" I ask, unprepared for such a question. Why is he asking if I like it?

A ghost of a frown traces Hugh's lips as he shrugs.

"I mean, just by how you're acting and how you hid it when I pointed it, I take it that you don't like how it looks."

Oh. 

I blink at my friend in thought. I actually haven't even thought about whether or not I liked how it looks, I was more worried about WHY my hair is turning white rather than if I'm okay with how it looks. Turning, I stare at my reflection in the window to my right.

"I, uh, I don't know," I stammer out, just making out my confused reflection before turning back to Hugh. "Do you think it looks bad?"

Hugh's lips quirk just slightly at the corners. 

"I don't know. You hid it when I pointed it out." Hugh waves a hand toward my head. "But, if you take off the hat, I'll give you my opinion on it." He pauses. "But only if you want. Olivia and her girlfriend are more of the experts when it comes to this kind of stuff. You know how much Olivia loves dying her hair."

Oh, he has a point. I would have to take the beanie off. But nobody else has seen it other than me. What if it does look bad? What if it makes me look old? I don't want to look old! I only just turned 19 back in October!

Breathing in deeply, I slowly raise my hand and gently tug the beanie off my head. A shiver escapes me as the heat that my beanie was trapping almost instantly vanishes. Now I just regret taking it off because I'm so freaking cold!

Hugh hums and my eyes snap up to his face as he studies my hair. I resist the urge to look into the window, I might just start panicking if I see the white hair right now. My gaze refocuses on Hugh as he steps closer.

"Mind if I touch it?"

I shrug, beating down the feeling of self-consciousness as it tries to worm its way from my gut to the rest of my body. Absentmindedly, I scratch at my chest as Hugh gently pinches some white locks between his fingers. Hugh whistles.

"Whoa, I was thinking that with how white you got it that all of the hair would be stiff, but it's actually really soft," Hugh states, shifting to grab another group of hairs. "How did you guys manage this? My older sister bleached her hair and got this color but her hair was FRIED. It wouldn't even dry, let alone bend when she held it up like this." Hugh holds up my strands, the tips dipping without support. "Mom was PISSED."

I shuffle as Hugh finally steps back, my skull burning as he continues to stare at the contrast of the white and dark brown.

"Well?" I ask, wincing at a smidge of desperation cuts into my tone. "How does it look?"

Hugh lifts an eyebrow, shrugging as he puts his hands into his black hooded sweatshirt's pouch pocket.

"I mean, I don't know what to tell you, man. It looks good on you. I don't know why you were hiding it. And it's not like your folks are up here to see it right now, so why hide it? Your sister and her boyfriend did a great job if I'm gonna be honest." A smirk forms on Hugh's lips. "A WAAAAAY better job than my sister did all those years ago, that's for sure."

My shoulders sag a little. 

Okay. So, at least it doesn't look bad, so I don't need to wear a beanie ALL the time, just when Mom and Dad video chat with me until I can find a natural hair dye that I like. And, who knows, maybe the white isn't permanent and my pigment will come back. Smiling, I pull my beanie back on but only enough to cover my ears, letting some of my bangs peak out. Hugh returns my smile as I shove my hands into my pockets.

"Thanks, Hugh, I was kinda unsure how it was gonna look. Or what other people will think."

Hugh snorts. "Who cares what other people think? It looks good on you and, honestly, it's just hair, it'll grow out eventually, so why not have fun with it now?"

A nervous laugh escapes me. Yes, right. I'm really hoping that my hair will return to normal. I won't be able to hide it forever from Mom and Dad and I would love to not be grounded until I'm thirty like Mom always threatens to do when Rae would mention dying her hair.

I merely shrug in response. 

"True. Hey, wanna just order a pizza with me and Gavin? Neither of us has any groceries and I really don't want to dirty any dishes tonight."

"Eh, sure, why not," Hugh says, rolling his shoulders. "I'm allowed a cheat day. And pizza can be healthy. Just no pineapple."

I snort out a laugh. 

"No promises. Both Gavin and I love Hawaiian pizza."

Hugh wrinkles his nose. 

"You both disgust me, no matter how cool your hair looks. Weirdos."

I laugh, allowing Hugh to take the lead as I shoot one last look over my shoulder, unease starting to creep back in. The whispering is still there, but it's a lot quieter now that Hugh is with me. Maybe I'll come back and check it out later, but I think for right now, I've had my fill of the paranormal and supernatural in the last 42 hours. I think these voices can wait until next weekend. It is a three-day weekend after all.

Shaking my head, I quickly jog after Hugh as he starts to disappear into the tunnel. 

"Hurry up, Jack!"

"I'm coming!"

Later, I'll just deal with it later. It'll be fine. I breathe in deeply and release it slowly as I fall into step next to Hugh as he rants about what should and shouldn't be on a pizza. 

Everything will be just fine.