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(Concept art of Alice Starr)
Alex Winter
3:15 pm, Sunday, July 9th, 2023
"You okay there, brah? Those scratches lookin' kinda' painful," Jesse asked. He was a typical young man with ginger hair wearing a red ball cap, a flannel shirt and ripped jeans that screamed hipster, skinny enough to be his own side show, and skin dark enough to put Batman to shame.
He was sitting beside Alex inside the Administration Building. The exterior was made of red bricks, concrete, and a glaze that outshined every building on campus. Not difficult to spot considering it was also taller than the rest. He bit his thumbnail, his eyes on the floor. Light scratches covered his face.
I was just kidding... Damn her! Did she really have to scratch me though? Alex thought, staring blankly at the papers in his hand. He hadn't filled out any information on the classes he wanted to take yet. Part of him was still convincing himself whether he should or not.
The ambience in the room was almost deafening. All that filled the silence was the constant typing of keyboards and... "Hello?" Jesse waved his hand in front of Alex's face.
He sighed. "I'm good. Did you need something?"
Jesse looked left and right before leaning in to whisper, "You're Alex Winter, right? The author?"
Adjusting his glasses, Alex replied, "Who wants to know? I don't sign autographs."
At this, Jesse chuckled. "No, no that's not why I'm talking to you. The name's Jesse. Part of a club-in-progress you could say. I'm lookin' to scout some new members. You'd be perfect for us with legendary writing skills of your caliber." He added extra emphasis on the word legendary, raising his eyebrows.
Alex rose to his feet. "Oh please. What exactly do you mean a club-in-progress? I'm not exactly enrolled here yet you know."
Jesse stood with him. "I figured, seeing as you're a new face at the Admin Building and all. You know what you're planning to take?"
Psychology, professional editing, escape artistry, fencing, MMA, anti-murder-ology... You know, the things that help your future and keep you from getting murdered by crazy blondes that break into your home. That kind of thing. Alex groaned, frowning. "Honestly, I don't know anymore. Still deciding."
"Well... even if you aren't in any classes here, you can still join the club! Not all of our members are from school here. Like Scarlett-"
"Scarlett? Scarlett, who? Leonhart? She goes to this school?" Alex asked, grabbing him by the scruff of this collar. "Where is she? Who-" He paused as others in the room began to stare. Letting Jesse go, he relaxed. "Sorry... she's an old friend."
Eyes around the room turned to him the moment he said that. Jesse coughed into his palm. "Scarlett had friends? Don't mean to sound like a dick bro, but seeing her for more than thirty minutes is rare for anybody these days, granted she's got a job," Jesse said, crossing his arms. He turned his ball cap, and gave the people around them a glance. "I can explain more outside. That is if you're interested? Kinda' awkward in here, not gonna' lie."
Taking a quick glance over his shoulder, Alex grit his teeth. A woman with black hair wrapped in a bun was looking at them from behind the counter. She turned back to her computer once she noticed he glanced in her direction. The other students sitting on the bench across from them did the same. Guess it wouldn't hurt to hear him out.
"Lead the way," Alex said, opening the front door for him.
Jesse nodded and walked outside. Following him, Alex gave the room a last glance. A familiar shadow was seen behind the woman, along the teal colored wall in the office. It was thin, just like the man with the bull's skull from the previous night. His heart dropped as for a fraction of a second, he watched the monster's head turn the corner. The door closed before Alex could get a good look. Is that man following me? Doesn't anyone else see him? What the hell is he?
"You good, man? You look like you've just seen a ghost," Jesse said, patting his shoulder.
Alex turned to him. "Just remembered I forgot to feed my cat. Ah well. Hurry up and tell me about this club."
"Alright, alright. Simmer down boss man! I'm sure you've noticed that this town isn't exactly normal," Jesse said, walking down the stone path. Alex's stunned face made him snicker. "What? You thought everyone was oblivious to it? This isn't a horror movie, dude. Everyone and their grandmother knows this town is bat shit weird. That's where this club comes in."
"It's called the Club of the Undead. We're researching the history behind Diaedem, trying to understand the connection between this town and the urban legend, you dig? To be honest that crap bores the hell out of me..."
Despite saying that, Alex noticed Jesse tremble a little talking about it. Clouds overhead grew darker, their path harder to see. "If it bores you, why are you in this club?" Alex asked, stopping to look around.
The campus was mostly empty apart from them. His eyes wandered as he kept looking for anything else suspicious. Part of him wanted to stop for fear of seeing more. Outside in the open, and yet he might as well have been in a box. A pressure surrounding him, making it difficult to breathe. "I went in for the hotties, bruh. If I'm going to get clapped, I might as well go out with a bang. Know what I'm sayin'?" Jesse said with a grin.
Alex chuckled. "I feel that. So... say I wasn't about to make like a tree and leave this town faster than a speeding bullet. How would I join this so called club-but-not-a-club-cause-its-not-official or some shit?"
"Hahaha, I like you already man! I wouldn't blame you for blowing this creep fest, but if you're curious, the owner is still on campus. Wanna meet her?" Jesse said, clapping his hand on Alex's back.
Alex sighed. Looking at his phone, he saw the trains didn't leave for another two hours anyway. Might as well at this rate, he thought. "Fuck it. Lead on."
Jesse threw his fist in the air and whistled in approval. "Alright! But Alex. My man. There's a catch!" Jesse said, leaning to whisper in Alex's ear. "I'm not actually in the club..."
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Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Aye Alex, come on bruh!" Jesse cried, jogging behind him.
Alex stormed away through campus, looking for a way out. He scowled as he looked back. "Fuck off! How the fuck am I supposed to join a club you're not even a part of?"
Others watched as Jesse continued to follow him. "Relax, man! I got the plug! Alice just can't respect the bodacious energy of a cunn-"
Alex stopped, making Jesse almost crash into him. "Hey, why'd you-"
"Shut up. Alice? Alice who? You're not talking about Alice Starr, are you?"
At this, Jesse grinned. "The one and only, my brotha'.. The author of the Undead Love Syndrome in the flesh, here on campus."
A world renowned author, Alice Starr was known equally for her beauty and her writing. Her book was about a horror romance involving a resurrected person and a male main character. It never crossed Alex's mind that this tale might be connected to the very legend surrounding Diaedem. His thoughts turned to Scarlett, making him grimace.
Is it possible that she's Undead? ...I want to say it's impossible, but after last night anything's on the table. Then again, that'd be a little too obvious if it were true, Alex rubbed his chin, turning his back on Jesse. Either way, maybe meeting Alice can clear the air on some things... Or maybe she's an accomplice?
"You good, dawg?" Jesse asked, looking around his shoulder.
"Yeah. Look, I'll go with you, but any more secrets like that and we're through. You got it?" Alex said, narrowing his eyes.
Jesse nodded, leading him across campus.
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It took about half an hour for him to lead toward a large courtyard. A beautiful woman with short brown hair and tanned skin jotted down on a notepad, standing in front of the fountain at the center. She wore a red dress shirt open at the midriff along with a tight black skirt and high heels. She definitely lives up to her reputation... Alex thought. He adjusted his glasses, pushing away any nervousness he might have felt. This isn't the time for that.
Alex glanced at the bushes surrounding the courtyard. There were several places for someone to hide here. Feels like this entire town was created for secrecy. Or maybe I'm just being a paranoid fuck. Not like you can blame me.
The stone structures around them shined against the sunlight. Alex covered his eyes, the heat beating down on them. Alice's eyes turned to them and then back to her notes. "Can I help you, Jesse? Not trying to trick another poor soul into helping you in my little club now, are we?" Alice asked, writing without pause. "That's three times in a week. A new record for you."
He clapped his hands together, biting back a laugh. "Oh ho, you see Ms. Alice what happened was-"
"Don't play coy with me, Jesse. You know how tiresome it is- Alex Winter? Now this is a treat," she said, closing her notepad with a snap. Her stern gaze instantly softened. "What a surprise... you're much taller in person."
Alex nodded. He raised an eyebrow as she took a step toward him. Looking up and down, walking around as she sized him up. It felt like he was being tested on the spot. When she stood in front of him again, she smiled. "So I gather you're here to ask about the club."
"Were you expecting me?" he asked, tilting his head.
"Call it a hunch. I had heard you were in town, though I never would've imagined we'd meet like this. If it weren't for Jesse, I may have sought you out personally given the chance," Alice admitted, throwing her hair behind her shoulders. "That being said... Jesse. How long do you plan on trying to join?"
"Ho, you know Ms. Alice. 'Til you give in! You know you want me!" Jesse said, rubbing his hands together like he just won the lottery. She shook her head, face palming. "Ms. Alice, you gotta' give me some props now! This man is a legend in the making! Me, being your gawd with a capital G for three of them thangs, led you to meeting your little hero. Least you could do is let me in!"
"Three of them thangs? What does he mean by that?" Alex whispered to her.
She groaned. "That's his slang for years. It can also refer to several other meanings, but I'll leave that to your discretion."
"Noted."
Alice sighed and crossed her arms. "My little hero, huh? ...What's in it for you, Alex? I respect your skill, but it takes more than that to join. I want a real reason," she said, her gaze hardening. "What is your purpose? Do you even understand the reasoning behind our club?"
"I was given a rather vague description from your so-called gawd," Alex said, grinning at the thumbs up Jesse threw at him.
"Please don't encourage him."
"On a serious note, I never actually considered joining. Not yet, anyway. In all honesty, I'm not sure I even want to stay in this town," Alex said, walking past her to look at the fountain.
His eyes gazed at the reflection in the water. A shadow could be seen watching them from the structure behind them. Despite the chills he felt, he ignored it for now. "I came here to pay respects to my grandfather. He lived here for years. I never got a chance to say goodbye when he passed. He left me his house here, but it-"His face whitened as he remembered the previous night. He covered his mouth, his stomach churning. "-it just doesn't feel the same without him."
She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I understand. You don't need to go into it if it makes you uncomfortable," she said, taking a step back. "So, are you interested?"
"I don't know if I'm going to stay here, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear how. Just in case."
Smiling, Alice turned to a wooden sign along the path. A map of the town could be seen, detailing the roads, locations, and even the forest on the outskirts. "I want you to write me a paper. The topic: what is your value in life? Do you believe all lives are equal? This isn't an official club, so the conditions for entering are entirely up to me," she said. "If I like it, you'll be one of us. This is your mission, should you choose to accept it."
"Mission Impossible references, huh? You're original. Where do I find you once it's done?"
She pulled out her phone and tapped it a few times. His phone buzzed, making him pull it out. It was easy to forget certain smartphones could use bluetooth to send their contact info, saving time and effort of putting it in manually. "You can contact me with my information there, or you can find me at the Whitman Hotel by the coast," Alice said, pointing toward the beach on the map. "It's the tallest structure by the ocean, apart from the lighthouse. You'd have to be blind to miss it-" She swerved toward him and pushed his glasses back up. "-oh, wait. Oops, my mistake."
She strutted away with a smirk, her hips ticking like a clock with every step. Seriously? Alex thought as he snickered.
Jesse followed her closely behind. "Ms. Alice, aren't you forgetting somebody?"
Alice groaned. "If his work impresses me, I'll let you in. But you better not make me regret it, Jesse. I'm going to need a hard drink every day of the week to deal with your nonsense..."
Clapping his hands together, Jesse whooped and did a little hop back towards Alex. "Oh hell yeah! You hear that brotha'? I'm in!" Jesse shouted, grinning ear to ear.
Alex's smirk faded as he gave Jesse a dead serious poker face. "Who said I agreed to write that essay? You're the one who wants to join." On that note, Alex walked away suppressing a laugh as Jesse followed up with his usual, "Aye, come on bruh!"
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A hawk soared through the sky. It cawed loudly as it circled over the town. The searing headache that followed from its consistent squawking earned it a glare from Alex. Just when I thought peace and quiet were in the palm of my hand! Who invented birds anyway? What good are they? Walking off campus, he watched it. The sun sank along the horizon, hanging over the ocean by a thread. He stood alone on the path leading to the streets.
Jesse had been following him until a flock of girls caught his eye. He hightailed it after them, screaming some crap about enjoying his youth to its fullest. He might be an idiot, but he's not bad company either. If I end up being stuck in this town, I could use a laugh or two... before I die. It was a dark thought. A thought that made him cold to the bone as his hands tightened into fists.
Rinoa had sent her address to his phone so he'd know where to go whenever he'd finished while she ran errands. He was still debating on whether he would or not. Being indebted to anyone wasn't something he was fond of, even if it was a peculiarly pretty woman. The idea of putting her in danger didn't sit well with him either.
Alex continued walking down the path when his eyes wandered to a crowd of students by the grassy field next to him. A lot of distressed whispering, flashes of light from cameras. Screams erupted from one of them, making him step closer. Just what is this? He could hear officers shouting for them to stay back, to go about their business. As some departed, he caught a glimpse of what lay crumbled on the grass.
The remains of a young man drowning in a pool of blood. It looked like a caved in pumpkin replaced where his face was supposed to be. Alex swallowed back the desire to puke, his eyes accidentally lowering to the innards poking out of the corpse's stomach. He took a step back when he felt something squishy underneath his boot. His vision grew blurry as he saw red stains, lifting his foot. He'd stepped on an eyeball.
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Thirty minutes later, Alex ran up the steps of the Diaedem Police Department. This can't wait anymore. I need to find out what I'm dealing with. He brushed past an officer, too shaken to notice. His hand was on the door when he heard a familiar voice call, "Well... if it isn't my dear sweet Alex. Isn't this a surprise?"
He froze. No, please tell me I misheard-
"Aren't you going to say hello? It's rude to ignore me, you know?"
Alex turned to Scarlett staring up at him underneath her officer's cap. Her misty silver eyes stared at him with a wild smile on her face, cornering him. He reached for his pistol when she gently grasped his arm. "Ah ah ah, that wouldn't be very wise now would it? Come, Alex. Take a ride with me. I swear you won't regret it." She turned her back on him, practically skipping down the steps to her car waiting on the street.
He trembled as he saw the bull headed man sitting in the back seat, staring at him. She stopped at the bottom, looking back. "I hope you know I'm not a very patient woman. Come along now.~"
Calming his nerves, he took a deep breath. "Fine."