Lover's Splat

“Good evening pledges, you all know why you’re here. If you want to join the Alpha Avrio you have to pass the trials. Tonight, we have a special pledge, a Legacy from the founding sister, ten generations down. Azzurra Isgrigg,” Ophelia said gesturing to the blond pledge kneeling on the stone tiles.

“Please, call me Zura—”

“Did anyone tell you to speak, pledge?” she snapped, sneering. “We have a very special challenge for tonight, Azzurra. Have you heard of Gemma Harlow?”

Looking up under her black lashes, her mouth slowly opened and clamped shut again.

“Good dog, Azzurra, you may speak,” she said. Her cynical laughter echoed off the walls.

“Everyone has heard of her; she was the fourth year that pushed her cheating boyfriend out a window.”

“Not as dumb as you look, that’s right. Legend says that if you go into the boy's dormitory at midnight, reset your password on your phone, and repeat ‘Gemma won’t find out’ three times, her ghost comes to get you. So, if you choose to accept, your challenge is to sneak into the boy's dormitories and summon the ghost of Gemma Harlow.” Crossing her arms, she awaited her answer.

“President, are you sure? That seems really extreme… like major hard” Tabby whispered to the woman beside her.

“You’re welcome to complete the task for her, Tabby, if you want to vouch for Pledge Azzurra.” Ophelia barked not sparing Tabby a glance. The girl shrank into herself stepping back, she clasped her hands together and awaited the answer.

“Sounds easy enough, sneak in at midnight,” Zura said putting up her best front, the quiver in her voice betraying her fear.

“Third story, dining room, midnight.” Turning on her heels Ophelia marched out of the room, flanked by five other women. Tabby glanced back wordlessly mouthing the word “Sorry,” as she hurried off behind the crowd.

“Ugh, what about us?” a woman kneeling on the floor asked looking at the four other pledges. “Are we in if you complete your task?”

“I doubt it, Ophelia is just a bitch.” Standing up Zura dusted her knees off. “I bet she’s waiting for you to ask so she can yell again. My mother was President, she said her mother was the same way. When I complete this challenge I’ll ask her, no one else gets the special treatment right?” Laughing, she pulled her pink phone from her pocket. The clock read 23:45. “I guess I’d better hurry if I’m going to make it across campus in fifteen minutes.”

“Zura, you don’t have to do it, you know; they could vote for something else. I’m Nikita Townsend, by the way. No legacy just pledge,” she said extending a hand in greeting.

Shaking her hand Zura’s expression became one of determination. “Nah, that’s okay she’s just a bully, I’ll show her I’m not backing down. And when I’m Pres everyone will say how much cooler I am than the grouch with a bad dye job.” Running down the hall, she tried to control her breathing. Why did we have to meet in the basement she thought I’m so thankful mom made me stick with cross-country.

Jogging across the campus the streetlamps lit up the path, casting an eerie shadow off the perfectly trimmed shrubs. Even though it was early by college standards the benches already had a drunk passerby or two resting their eyes sprawled across them. Pledge week was hell on its best night but getting into the Sorority would open doors for life. One night of alcohol poisoning would be more than worth it. Crouching behind the bush, Zura looked up the steps. Men were leaning on either side of the guardrails drinking. Red solo cups littered the lawn underneath them. Groaning, Zura checked her phone again, 23:55. Getting across no man’s land would be easier than sneaking in there. Ophelia didn’t say no one could see me technically. She thought, shrugging to herself as she strolled up to the door.

“Hey little darling, are you from Beta Oneiric?” He said staggering down the stairs.

“Uck, as if. I’m a pledge for Alpha Aviro, I…ugh… have someone I gotta meet here.”

“Right on, lucky dude.”

“Eww,” she said. Dodging his hand, she bolted up the stairs, skipping every other one. I might not have the lung capacity to speak by the time I get up three flights of stairs. I should have skipped breakfast, I’m so bloated. She thought berating herself as she sped up the stairs. Thankfully all the drunks seemed to be on the ground floor, the third floor was deserted. All the dormitories were set up the same, so navigating to the dining room was a breeze. Pausing briefly at the door she tore the caution tape off the French doors. That was something she wasn’t expecting. The “Lover’s Splat” as the students had facetiously dubbed it happened ten years ago.

Glancing at her phone the clock read 23:59 “Ha! I made it take that, now reset your password… let me go with 082322 the day I’ll get into Alpha Aviro.” She said squealing with delight. Squaring her shoulders Zura cleared her throat. Prancing over to the bay window, she clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut. “Gemma won’t find out, Gemma won’t find out—” gasping she jumped her eyes flew open as a chair in the back of the dining hall scooted across the floor. “Gemma won’t find out.” breath stilled, she waited. “Just as I thought it was bull crap.” Turning to leave a scream caught in her throat. A woman dressed in the school uniform was standing in front of her. Blood ran down her forehead into her blouse, the splash of the blood dripping into the floor was deafening.

“You thought I wouldn’t find out if you reset your password? I’m not stupid Noah!” she yelled taking a step forward.

Zura stumbled backward, falling onto her butt, and she screamed. Back peddling as fast as possible, her pink Nike’s slipping in the puddle of yellow pooling around her dark wash jeans. Her palms found the windowsill and she pulled herself up. Fear froze on her face as bile rose in her throat.

Screaming, the Ghost rushed forward. Its hands slammed into her chest, forcing the air out of her lungs. Her thighs smacked the ledge before she fell over the side. Her arms swung wildly in front of her trying to grab onto anything to break her fall. With a dense thud, she hit the brick path below. The streetlamp flickered plunging the gruesome scene into darkness, only to return casting a light upon the crimson river seeping into the mortar.

“Oh my god!” the woman shrieked looking out the window. Ophelia grabbed her arm pulling her away.

“What if someone sees you? We have to go! We can’t tell anyone about this, it’s an Alpha Aviro secret now. Promise me, until death.”

The trio of women held out their pinkie fingers, interlocking them in turn, and they kissed their left hand and then the right one. “Until death.” They chanted in unison.

“Why was the window open? She’s dead, holy shit.” Sobbing, Phoebe wiped her eyes, smearing the fake blood over her hands. She squealed when she saw it and backed up, bumping into Tabby.

“I was smoking before, I guess I forgot to close it.” Ophelia shrugged dragging the two girls by the arm to the exit. “I guess she will never be Pres.” She smirked and pulled the French doors closed behind them.