His eyes slowly shut, warmth permeating throughout his body, sleep inviting him to spend a little more time . . . just a little more time. The lecture will still be there when you wake up . . . don’t worry. The voice was calm and soothing. The late nights that he had been pulling were definitely wearing on him. He slowly began listening to sleep’s siren song as he surrendered his eyelids shut.
“And that is how Napoleon continued his campaign across Europe -” Andrew suddenly experienced a moment of lucidity. He looked around, trying to figure out what had suddenly woken him from his pleasant dreaming. His friend, Charlie had thrown a wicked jab accompanied by a dirty look at Andrew.
Andrew shook his head apologetically. He had forgotten that Professor Carp was Charlie’s favorite teacher - not to mention that this was his favorite period of history to study. Charlie leaned over and whispered quietly, “Maybe get some sleep sometime soon, man.” He smiled.
Andrew nodded, slightly relieved. Having transferred from Arizona State over the summer, he hadn’t really made many friends yet. Charlie was great to hang out with, but for some reason, Andrew could never read him. “I think I’m going to go and walk around abit. Maybe do some pushups.” Andrew replied. He pushed his chair back from the desk, making a loud scraping noise. He winced. But Carp continued to drone on. Nothing could really throw off his flow of historical recitation. Andrew made his way to the classroom and pulled the door open and slid out into the long, fluorescently lit hallway. He started doing different exercises as he moved up and down the hallway. On the second trip back, he turned around and saw a large wolfhound at the other end of the hallway. He let out a short yelp and took a step back. “What in the world?”
The wolfhound was panting, his sides slathered with frothy drool and saliva. He began pacing slowly toward Andrew who continued to back up, but bumped into the wall as the hallway hung a sharp right hand turn. The wolfhound let out a low rumble that emanated from his chest. “Easy, boy.” Andrew lifted up both his hands, trying not to reveal his pounding heart and racing mind. But the beast was on to him. He raised his hackles, his ears pointing back flat. Andrew gulped and glanced down the turn, but that was the wrong move. The growing growl erupted into a howl as the wolfhound bounded forward. Andrew cursed and dashed down the hallway, but didn’t make it twenty yards before the wolfhound was upon him. He was knocked forward by a powerful punch from behind.
It was over before it began. The vicious hound knew exactly what he was doing as he found Andrew’s jugular and ripped it out.
Andrew jerked awake.
“And that is how Napoleon continued his campaign across Europe -” Carp droned on. Andrew looked to the side as Charlie threw a jagged jab - along with a dirty look - his way. Andrew looked down at his notebook, trying to grasp what he had just experienced. Was that just a dream? His hand drifted toward his throat, which seemed to be sore. It was not the kind of aching feeling that someone may have when they have a sore throat. No, this feeling was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Andrew shook his head, trying to rid himself of the feeling.
“Maybe get some sleep sometime soon, man.” Charlie smiled.
Andrew felt relief wash over him when he realized that Charlie was only kidding. He was so hard to read sometimes. “I think I’m going to go and walk around a bit. Maybe do some pushups.”
(To be continued...)
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