Free Dance Of Desire by Sweet and Special Books Page B

the apartment complex had been built over an old graveyard or a burial site, like in horror flicks. Absurd, she thought as she shook her head.
    Then it occurred to her that some of those films were supposedly based on true events. Stranger things have happened to real people living real lives day by day.
    Cassie's hope of a temporary reprieve from her turmoil proved short-lived since her thoughts of a possible haunting wouldn’t let up. Her growing paranoia was starting to seep into her day-to-day. She was skittish, easily startled by sudden loud sounds, and she cowered at shadows. Her body was having a visceral reaction towards her residence.
    “You lost a few pounds since the weekend, Cassie?”
    Cassie was startled by Lauren’s comment. It was her second class of the day. While it barely registered that Lauren was addressing her, just the sound of her voice was enough to make her jump. Clearly, Lauren had gotten over her hangover and she looked impeccable as always.
    Cassie admonished herself for acting like a nervous Nellie.
    “Um, I don’t know. Haven’t really been checking. Maybe,” she mumbled.
    Naturally, losing a few pounds would’ve been a compliment. But under the circumstances Cassie felt far from celebrating dropping a dress size. Eating food had taken the backseat lately. Her head hurt, not just from the overall soreness, but she suspected from all the dehydration since all her bodily fluids may have very been on her bed back at the apartment. She shivered, as if she were jolted by an unexpected electrical shock.
    “What’s the matter, Cassie?”
    “N-Nothing,” she stammered. “Must be all the caffeine in my system.”
    “Right.” Lauren peered at her. “So, you’ve been seeing that hottie from the club?”
    “No!” Cassie exclaimed. Lauren looked at her harder, suspicion in her eyes. She didn’t believe Cassie’s answer, making her even more nervous. Luckily, Lauren soon gave up and left her alone.
    Unfortunately, just like the day before, Cassie had started to see “things.” Ghastly faces, demons, sinister unexplained creatures plagued her all day. Other people were oblivious to these hideous beings. Everywhere she looked, there they were. She saw them in the soup and in the grass. The cloud of smoke of a nearby smoker held menacing specters that took her breath away.
    There were times, too, that she felt as if she was being followed. At one point she thought a man in a hoodie was stalking her.
    Then again, when she had a flash of rational thought she’d laughed at her ridiculousness and say— “But this is a freaking university! Every student has a hoodie! You’re being silly, Cassie!” —to herself, her laughter hollow, unconvinced.
    She shook her head and wrung her hands in a feeble attempt to rid herself of her own paranoia.

CHAPTER TWO
    IT WAS GETTING late.
    The crowds of students on campus were thinning out as everyone went home, to work, or somewhere else. Cassie was desperate to some place to go to other than her haunted apartment. A few night classes were starting but Cassie wasn’t enrolled in one.
    Instead, she sought comfort and headed to a dorm apartment just off campus. She had to grin at the closed door before she knocked. On it were posters and clippings of hot men. Seemed a little high school girl-ish but she thought it was fun.
    She shifted her backpack of books and rapped on the door. Someone threw the door open and yelled at her.
    “Well, look who’s finally crawled out of her cave and graced us with her presence! Get in here!” Anne commanded as she stepped back to let Cassie into the apartment. Anne shared the place with Lauren and she bounded towards the couch. “Krystal didn’t come with you? That girl is such a chicken. She said she might come over after classes. Which means…”
    Cassie, Anne, and Lauren all looked at each other.
    “Not happening!” they said in unison.
    “You looking for a free meal, Cassie?”
    “N-No. Um. Do you have the