Chapter 2

A troupe of young woman walked onto the stage. A few wore traditional cute socks/pleated skirt/white blouse outfits like the little sluts they probably were. Some got more creative. The girl in the sports bra and spandex shorts with “Freshman Female” on the butt brought some applause. So did the one with the damp white “Spring Break Forever” tank top and bikini bottoms.

The last girl on stage was ignored as her predecessors strutted and posed. She was a slender little thing in skinny jeans, a polo shirt with the logo of the local university, and a baseball cap with a wavy dark ponytail sticking from it. The only thing naughty about this schoolgirl was the way her shirt displayed her perky little breasts. She looked embarrassed. I’ve seen it before – sorority hazing or a stupid dare. She wasn’t in costume, unless she borrowed the shirt from her big sister. Master might be happy enough with this one to get careless.

My first clear look at her came before the voting, when the girls were sent through the crowd to collect money for a local charity. Some allowed the patrons to stuff dollar bills in their bras or panties. When the girl in jeans got to me, she looked at me closely.

“That isn’t make-up, is it?”

Her cute breasts were almost in my face, bare under her thin, knit shirt. “No. I don’t have to wear any tonight.” I put a twenty-dollar bill in her hand. “Keep the change.”

She grinned at me, a penetrating, genuine smile, and walked away. Master would be thrilled, but even I wouldn’t stoop that low. There had to be another virgin in here tonight. Maybe I could find one like failure number five. She passed out when she got a good look at me. No chloroform, no roofies, no blackjack, nothing. It was like she was already dead from the shock of seeing me.

After another over-priced tomato juice, I walked to the campus. There must be virgins at Halloween parties.

Near the freshman dorms, I saw her – the innocent-looking girl from the club.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, trotting from the shadows to stand on the sidewalk in front of me, hands on her slender hips. “Are you following me?”

“No, just going for a walk.”

“Not without explaining yourself. Why were you in that club?”

“Me? What about you? You looked pretty uncomfortable up there on stage. Why were you there?”

“I’m not really sure. Someone told me I should go.”

“You shouldn’t listen to that person. You belong inside. It’s not safe out here for a nice girl like you.”

“I can take care of myself.” She walked toward me until she was a foot from my chest and studied me. “What the hell? Oh! OH!” She winced for a second and then looked disgusted. “Really? That’s what you do? Who is this guy?” she asked, glaring up at me.

“Huh?”

“Don’t play innocent with me, Igor!”

“Do I know you, miss?”

“I could eliminate you right now, you know.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I can read minds. Your name is Igor ‘cuz your mom liked Russian music. You’re a kidnapper hunting for virgins. When you take them home, they don’t live long. You’re sick. I’m for real, and I can make your life worse than your so-called Master can.”

“Who are you?”

“Sadie Hawkins. You can explain what I saw, or I can call the cops.”

“Calling the cops is a bad idea.”

“Are you threatening me?”

What an attitude! I could easily overpower her. If she ran, I could use the dart-gun in my backpack.

“I will tear you arm off if you go for your backpack, Igor. Someone I’m getting to know showed me how to rip a piano apart with my hands, so I could do it.”

“Sadie, I don’t know what you think you are, but,...” I was on my back on the ground, as paralyzed as Frieda, this strange young woman hovering in the air over my chest.

“You’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on. I may be able to stop your Master from hurting anyone else.” She floated away and resumed her belligerent posture on the sidewalk.

I struggled to my feet. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know after you tell me how you did that.”

“Fair enough. Apparently, I’m the reincarnation of an ancient sorceress, or her spirit works through me or something. My driver’s license looks real, but the address doesn’t exist. I checked. The first memory I have is waking up in a freshman dorm with a closet full of nerdy clothes, a pile of books on the desk, a class schedule, a debit card on a bottomless account, and a car key. Supposedly, I’ll be nineteen Christmas day. My classes are easy but the kids aren’t my type. That’s all I’ve figured out. I think I used to be someone else, but now that this witch is in me, I don’t know.”

“My Master is very strong. He has powers. He says he’ll put me in the furnace, and I believe him.”

“Who is the blind girl?”

“Can I buy you a coffee, Sadie? We need to talk.”

Huddled against a concrete retaining wall below the Student Union, I told her everything. When I tried to omit some horrible deed, she stopped me. She read me easily enough that I finally said, “Why do you keep asking questions? Let me stand here in peace. You’ll pick up on most of it.”

“Because you haven’t said it yet. You’re blocking the thought right now. You’re a victim, too, Igor. The only reason you’re out here is to stay alive for your girls.”

I couldn’t listen to any more. “It’s been nice chatting with you, Sadie, but I need to find an unspoiled girl who will hopefully die quickly.”