The silence between us made me uneasy but I had no real desire to say anything. How could you start a conversation with someone you worked with on a daily basis but didn't really know? I kept walking with my eyes roaming each face that walked by; my hands curled into fists in my pockets of my sweater. It seemed as though the bus stop was miles away, even though the sign wasn't that far; people crowding around waiting for it. The murmur of voices and the jingle of cell phone text messages clashed together in an odd harmonious way. It reminded me that life still went on regardless of what happened, it was frustrating but it was also...soothing.

"Aerin." Karen's voice was hollow and low. My breath caught in my throat and I felt the blood drain away from my face. 'Don't use that tone! Leave me alone!' My brain screamed at me to run, hide to do something other than stand and stare at Karen with a false smile on my face. My body was numb but it automatically followed Karen's movements.

"Yeah, Karen? What's the matter?" Her hair had somehow slide forward to hide her face but her hands were curled tightly into fists by her side. She mumbled a sentence but it was hard to hear her over the crowd so I had to lean in close to her to catch anything. "...Disappear..." Was all I manage to catch before she spun around happily; her bright smile beaming at me. She said nothing but pulled me onto the bus that just arrived.

I felt dazed, as if everything around me faded into being just a hazy background. Nothing to remember, nothing to notice. I blinked once and I found myself standing in front of the college building I had enrolled in earlier this year. Other students strolled past me; some with a smile and others with panicked frowns. Someone brushed against my shoulder which brought everything into focus again, sharp colors pierced my eyes as the murmur of people sounded more like the roar of a good concert; deafening me. I blinked a few more times and shook my head; running one of my hands through my dark brown hair. 'It's happening again... Faster this time, less control than before...' I licked my lips and rubbed the back of my neck. 'Nothing to do but move on with my day. Hopefully I can get ahold of Colin. If he's still in range of that blasted ancient cell he uses. Gah, I never understood why he doesn't want to upgrade.' Briskly I followed the flow of students. The college itself wasn't something people would think was normal. It was originally a cathedral but when people stopped coming for church services, the priests had decided to open it's doors to those with no money for actual school fees. The building was made of dark bricks, with a steep roof and small delicate looking spires on either side of the front door. The entry was spacious as it was small and usually held long tables on either side with pristine white table clothes to preserve the beautiful oak beneath. One side held food for the students as well as the homeless who walked in, it is a church after all; the priests would never turn those in need away. The other side held school supplies for those that could not afford any, in return for these supplies it was required that the student who borrowed would help the priests on Sunday for regular church services. The books needed for each class were always counted and a priest had a notepad and pen to write down the names of each student and the book that was borrowed. All in all, the place was really well run and even managed to attract the attention of retired college teachers to manage the classes they taught when they were employed.

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"Ah, Miss Volker just the lady I wished to see." A soft but firm voice murmured behind me. As I waited for the Nun managing the books to write my name and the book I picked up on the thick notepad; I looked behind me to see the Head Priest smiling at me. His grey eyes seemed gentle and held laughter at private jokes. He leaned heavily on a oddly crafted staff and he walked with a slight limp. I blinked in confusion, 'What could the Head Priest want with me?' I felt a slight bump on my elbow and looked down to see the Nun trying to shove the book I needed in my hands; a poorly concealed look of anger crossing her face. 'How rude are you?' I stiffly took the book while moving away from her and toward the Priest still standing in the middle of the semi-crowded hall.

"You need to see me.. Ah.." I blanked on his name as this was the first time I had actually met the man. I had been told he personally dealt with school enrollments but he had been away on business when I enrolled. The man only smiled, making the wrinkles on his face more prominent as he led the way to his office. The large office was pristine and had a large mahogany desk with a matching chair in the middle of the room. Off to one side was a floor to ceiling wall-wide bookcase; the books neatly arranged in librarian fashion. There was one other chair in the room that didn't match with the desk and looked as though it was heavily used. I shuffled into the room but didn't bother sitting down as I knew my class was about to start. Anything the Head Priest has to say shouldn't be that long.

"Miss Volker, please; make yourself comfortable." The Priest said with a soft sigh, as if he had to always tell any visitor to sit; his arm gesturing to the chair while he made himself comfortable behind the desk.

I shook my head and apologetically replied; "Thank you but I won't sit. I'm much better off where I am." at least I thought I was apologetic but the Priest's face said that my tone missed the mark.