CHAPTER TWO
A word before we begin;
Before Duncan locks me out, I should warn you—this story isn’t just his.
No matter what he says, no matter how hard he tries to deny it, I’m real. I matter. And my story, my point of view, deserves to be heard too.
You don’t know me yet, but you will.
Here’s the thing though: I’m about to step into his story. When I do, you’ll hear less from me like this—direct, personal. But don’t forget me. Pay attention to what I say, even when Duncan ignores it. Because I matter.
And soon, so will you.
The hallway stretched dim and narrow, fluorescent lights flickering faintly overhead. Duncan walked with his hood still pulled up, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His footsteps were heavy, and the muffled bass of someone else’s music seeped through the thin dorm walls.
Reaching his door, he fumbled with the key, his mind replaying the encounter with the bully. His watch felt heavier on his wrist, almost like it was anchoring him. He shook the thought away, muttering under his breath, “I need some sleep.”
The door creaked open, revealing the chaos of his room.
A desk sat in the far corner, drowning in unopened books, empty energy drink cans, and crumpled pages of assignments he never finished. A single lamp flickered faintly beside it, its bulb on the verge of burnout. His bed was unmade, blankets tangled in a heap that looked more like a nest than a place to rest.
Pinned to the wall above the bed were photos and notes—fragments of a life he barely recognized. A younger Duncan, smiling with his family. A few scribbled quotes he used to find inspiring. Now, they were just paper.
The air was stale, tinged with the faint metallic scent of ink. Duncan noticed the mug on the windowsill was still half-full of coffee from two nights ago. He sighed, too tired to care.
This guy’s a mess!!!
Duncan stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He kicked off his shoes and tossed his hoodie onto the chair, which was already buried under layers of clothes. The room seemed darker than usual, as though the corners stretched farther than they should. His watch continued to tick steadily, its sound unusually loud.
The weight of the day was crashing over him, and he needed to calm himself down.
This is my favorite part...watch how he tries to ignore me.
"Oh, a bath? Really? Very original, Duncan. That’ll fix everything." "You could at least yell at me again. That was fun."
He doesn’t answer. He only grabbed his headphones, turned up the music to drown the sound out, as he filled the tub.
Rude!
Duncan kept muttering as if trying to pull himself back to reality.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
“Relax. Just need to relax.” The sound of the watch felt like it was following him, but he shook his head.
“It’s just a watch,” he said aloud, as if trying to convince himself.
As he walked to the bathroom mirror and caught his reflection, for a moment, it didn’t look right. It looked like his eyes lingered a second too long after he turned away to reach for his towel. He scowled and looked again, but everything was normal now.
Now hold on a second...I know what you’re thinking. “cliche horror movie stuff”...to which I say...how offensive of you to doubt my narration skills!! I’m not basic...just keep reading Judge Judy.
Need I describe the strip show? Perv! I don’t think so...
Settling into the tub, Duncan closed his eyes, the headphones drowning out all his thoughts. The heat enveloped him, and he let out a long breath, sinking deeper into the water. His muscles began to relax.
The music pulsed through his headphones, vibrating through his chest. He closes his eyes, letting himself drift. Until slowly, almost imperceptibly, the sensations started to change.
The water began to feel thicker, almost like velvet, wrapping around him. The pulsing of the music became uneven, like a heartbeat fading in and out.
He kept sinking deeper and deeper into the feeling, lulled by its strange comfort—until the song started to warp and fade, and an unsettling silence took over.
But the sensation didn’t stop.
It wasn’t just relaxation anymore—it felt like sinking. Slowly, gently, deeper, until the water seemed endless. Duncan’s brow furrowed, his fingers twitching slightly. He was falling, fading...something...and he couldn’t save himself.
Duncan opened his eyes.
The bathroom was gone.
Instead, he was lying on cool, black stone under a vast, starless sky. His breath hitched, and he scrambled to sit up, but the world around him was alien, unfamiliar.