My Heart, Their Secret

ing. My whole body was being rattled back and fo

eard the

limbs flailing. But she wasn't having a nightmare. Her eyes were wide open, staring at the

screamed, her voice c

painful. Her back arched, and she clawed at her o

ling for the light switch. The room

up!" Jessica yelled, rushing to he

k that sent her tumbling out of the bed. She hit the floor with

r, completely still, a thin line o

eathed, her hands flyin

against my ribs. We both knelt beside her.

curity. They loaded Karen onto a stretcher. As they carried her out, she started

ediately retur

shrink away, even on the stre

a stern-looking woman, turne

he just started screaming. We w

n my presence in the room. "You're no

ly. "Her roommates transferred without

k before turning her attention back

rofessor Thompson. He was a kind, middle-aged man with a perpetually w

a bandage on her forehead and refused to look in my direction. Her parents

Karen's mother said sharply. "I don't know what's go

need to understand what's been happening. First, your three roommates from Room 304, Emily White, Ashley Green, and Megan Brown, all file for emergency transfers on the same day, citing 'personal safety concerns.' They refused t

re terrified of you. Karen was shaking when she talked to me this morning. She said she's afraid to e

ly don't know. I haven't done anything. I got back from a trip and they

forward. "Her friends abandoned her without a word. S

Jessica's defensive posture to my confused and miserable face,

y. "But this is an unprecedented situation. I've never seen any

nd bewilderment. "Sarah, there has t

d to be, and now this new, inexplicable fear followed me wherever I went.