The Phantom Crystal

Another Surprise

Shudders wrack my body as I slowly make my way through the dimly lit tunnel under Birch Hall. My uneven steps echo around the empty space. I shrug my shoulders to keep my messenger bag's strap from slipping and I nuzzle my nose into my scarf as I stifle a sniffle. Another harsh shiver hits me, causing me to stumble. My jaw clenches and I glare at the cement floor and exposed piping.

Halfway through my creative writing course, my shivers started to become almost consistent. It was getting to the point that even my professor was shooting me looks of concern. And to add insult to injury, my nose started to run like no tomorrow! I'm honestly over all of this shivering nonsense and never warming up is really starting to get on my nerves. I freaking love the cold! I was the kid in school where people would joke that I would move to Alaska during the winter because I love the season so much. But this is just ridiculous. At this rate, I might actually attract hypothermia just on my way to and from my classes!

"And I don't have time for that," I mutter into my scarf. I just started my semester! I don't need to end up in the hospital just because some crazed imp put this weird crystal inside my chest that now has me permanently cold. My eyebrows furrow as a small voice in the back of my head is telling me that I'm forgetting something. I wipe my nose on the back of my glove as I mentally visualize that night.

Even though I passed out, I still have a pretty clear picture of the events that happened on Saturday. So, what am I forgetting? I rub my nose roughly as a slight tickling sensation appears. Rae would say that someone is thinking about me.

"I don't think I want anyone thinking about me right now," I say, huffing as I rub my nose again as I round the final corner of the tunnel. Dread fills me as the stairs leading outside come into view.

It has to be negative 10 degrees outside, not including the windchill. I had a hard enough time going from Hagg-Sauer to Bridgeman in the one section where you have to walk outside for 10 steps. It was horrible. Now I'll have to walk for at least five minutes outside before I reach the tunnel underneath Tamarack and with how badly I'm shivering, I don't know if I can make it.

"Maybe I should have told Ian about what happened," I grumble staring the steep stairs down with my fiercest glare. "Maybe he would know what's going on."

Or he might think that I've gone absolutely nuts and having a being of the semester breakdown. I hug myself as the tickling sensation spikes inside my nose. Unable to stop myself, I turn my head and sneeze roughly and at the highest pitch that I have ever heard myself make. And I'm the type of guy who screams at horror movies.

"Oh gods," I groan as I pitch the bridge of my nose after the third sneeze, my eyes squeezing shut to ward off a small bout of dizziness. "Please tell me I'm not getting sick."

Breathing deeply through my mouth, I release it slowly through my nose, rubbing at the offending appendage as I open my eyes. I tense.

Part of the wall and the stairs are covered in a thick layer of ice and snow. As if someone forgot to close the door and spilled water only at the base. The only problem is, the ice and snow weren't there when I arrived. It only appeared after I...

"Sneezed," I say weakly.

My hands tremble as I stare down at them, my eyes flickering to the crook of my arm where I tried to cover my sneeze but failed. Snow and a thin layer of ice cover the material. Mind reeling, I stagger over to the opposite wall, unable to tear my eyes away from my jacket. I did that. How on Earth did I do that?

A wave of dizziness hits me as I clutch at my chest and I swear that the crystal inside me throbs. Bracing myself against the wall, I close my eyes and force myself to drag in a deep breath.

Okay. Just breathe, Jack. Don’t panic. Panicking will only make it worst.

I swallow thickly as I open my eyes and glance over at the snow and ice. I chuckle weakly.

“At least I know why I’ve been so cold.”

Shuddering, I glance back down the empty tunnel. My eyes flicker up to the small black bulb sticking out of the ceiling. My stomach drops.

Shit. I hope no one is currently watching the cameras. How am I supposed to explain this? I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. Would the government come and try to experiment on me? A sick pit forms in my stomach as another question rolls around in my head.

Would Mom and Dad let the government experiment on me? Or would Mom and Dad want to do that themselves? My eyes burn and I roughly scrub at my face.

I honestly don’t know how Mom and Dad would react if they found out and I don’t particularly want to find out. Groaning, I peek out from between my fingers, shooting the semi-dark tunnel another glance. I think my first move is to reach my dorm. If I’m lucky, Gavin will be at one of his teammate’s dorms for another few hours and I can try and figure this out myself. After a nice hot bath and some hot chocolate.

Shaking my head, I quickly ascend the stairs, doing my best to step over the small patch of ice that covers half the stairs. At least the ice and snow are visible, right? And by the time anyone uses these stairs tomorrow, everything should be melted.

My stomach rolls as I shove the door open and the sharp January wind hits me in the face. Tucking my chin into my scarf, I scurry away from Linden Hall and do my best not to slip on the ice and compacted snow covering the walkway.