The rest of the day was spent under a cloud of anxiety. Theodore's loud commentary was absent at lunch, Maurice and Eleanor kept each other busy, and Simone seemed almost as apprehensive as you were. But after this morning, you were almost relieved Theodore wasn't there. How could you explain 'borrowing' the almanac? Hell... how could Theodore explain taking it from Roman's room?

"So, I hear the three musketeers have patrol tonight," Maurice said, a glint in his eyes.

"Four, counting Theo," Simone added.

"Ah but every group needs a d'Artagnan," Maurice grinned.

That was another thing. Sitting across from Maurice was only making you more anxious, because unless he had an identical twin, he wasn't Maurice, he was the boy from Jack O' Lantern's. The one who seemed to know more than any book about the supernatural secrets you were now keeping from your friends.

"Mind if I talk to you for a sec?" Simone said as you finished lunch and began making your way outside.

"Sure."

Together you waved goodbye to the others, watching Eleanor laugh at something Maurice said.

"So, you're going to patrol tonight, right?" She asked, not making eye contact.

"Yeah, might as well."

"Okay, me too."

The wind began to pick up as you slowly approached your dorm.

"I read the Creatures Almanac." She said in one breath.

"You- what?"

"I know, I'm horrible, I'm sorry, I was cleaning up and I just wanted to see what it was-"

"What did you think it was?"

"I don't know! I was curious, it looked out of place- I put it right back. I just know you know I touched it because I saw you hid it somewhere else and I had to say something."

"Well, I don't touch your stuff," you said.

"I know, and I know what I did was wrong," Simone sighed. "But now I know it's not worth keeping secrets from each other. I know you're always honest with me."

The sudden wave of nausea in your gut was enough to distract you from Simone invading your privacy. After all, if it really was Theodore's book, you were invading his.

"Okay, it's fine just don't touch my things without asking," you said wearily.

"I shouldn't have to begin with." She said.

You both made your way upstairs to what had been your home for the past month and change. You thought that since Simone had supposedly read it, that meant she had it. And that to you was better than losing it. But if she really put it back, where did it go? Nothing was adding up.

"Why were you keeping it under your mattress anyway?" Simone asked, whether out of curiosity or to fill the silence you couldn't tell. After giving her a look, she quickly apologized.

"Did you really read it?" You asked, dejected.

She nodded.

"Is it true?"

"What do you mean?" You asked as casually as possible.

Simone chuckled to herself, turning her back to you as she gazed out the window. Across the water was the night dorm. You knew exactly what she meant.

"Well, fairies, witches, mermaids, vampires, all that," she said quietly.

"It's nothing but fairy tales and fun reading," you lied. "There are tons of books just like it that are great for things like writing inspiration, you know."

Simone didn't say anything.

"Really I'm a bit surprised at you, I thought you were the most grounded, straight shooting person here," you said.

She shrugged before sitting on her bed.

"I guess it is kind of silly, but then again, people believe all sorts of things without any kind of evidence," she said blankly.

"I suppose."

Simone tucked a piece of jet black hair behind her ears.

"Personally, I need evidence to believe anything, and with all things considered, it's not that much of a stretch to at least consider the possibility of there being other things out there," she said.

"Don't be ridiculous," you said airily.

A faint smile graced her cheeks.

"You're right," she said. "It's all hypothetical anyway."

To avoid further conversation you busied yourself with rearranging your shelf.

"But that book was really well thought out," Simone said to herself.

"Mm hm..."

Your roommate frowned at the ceiling.

"I read more than I should have when I meant to just take a peak- sorry- but some of the stuff in there... when you think about it, explains a lot of things."

"Yeah?" You chuckled nervously. This was worse than Cadere talking to you the evening you ended up staying in the night dormitory.

"I've been forgetting a lot of things lately, have you noticed?" She asked. "Actually, it's come to a point where I'm just... frustrated. I don't know. I think I've been lashing out a bit because of it."

"That's not good," you said. "I mean, have you always had memory problems? Maybe you're getting sick."

"Yeah, but for the past two years?" She said, looking away. "And it's not just me. I know you've been forgetting too."

"I have not."

"Yeah." Simone sat up more eagerly. "Remember when we first met and all went to the lair? Then you told us you wanted to stay a bit longer and you didn't remember... remember?"

"We were drinking, Simone." You said flatly, walking over to your bed.

"What about when you said you thought you saw me, when I got hurt the first week?" She asked. "And- and I can't even remember where I fell, really."

"Simone, you said it yourself, there are hundreds of students."

"Maybe, but that night when things got a little out of hand between us... well, you really made me think. And I'm sure there are more times that I'm just not thinking of right now," she said. Simone stood up and to your surprise, sat down next to you on your bed. "I didn't want to admit it at first, but it all seems to lead to one conclusion, don't you think?"

"Coincidence?"

"Coincidences are for those too afraid to confront the truth, remember?" She said, taking a long pause. "The night students, I think one or more of them are behind it."

If Simone knows, there's nothing you can do about it, nothing you can do to protect her. If you could find out, she could find out.

"How so?" You swallowed.

"Ugh, you'll think I'm crazy," she said with more enthusiasm than you'd seen since you moved in. "But the disappearances, memory problems, hallucinations... isn't it obvious?"

You shook your head, unable to speak.

"Someone in the night class is a kitsune." She said.

You blinked twice.

"What?"

Any other time your roommate might have rolled her eyes. But instead, she leaned forward uncomfortably close.

"A kitsune," Simone repeated. A spark had ignited in those glassy eyes. "You know, a fox spirit, demon, type... thing."

The word was familiar. Then you realized Simone had read it in the almanac, and you probably saw it somewhere there too. But it didn't make any more sense.

When Simone noticed you weren't saying anything, she continued, hastily brushing the hair out of her eyes once again.

"Of course, I'm speaking entirely hypothetically," she said. "But it makes sense. Kitsune can take the form of humans, they're tricksters... I read some can even possess people. That's not to mention all the hallucination memory stuff."

You found yourself chuckling. But if you didn't know the truth about the night students, you might have actually believed her.

"Simone, I don't know what to tell ya."

"It accounts for you thinking you saw me, and for any of the several times you, me, Eleanor and Theodore thought one thing when really it was another entirely," she said a bit flustered.

"I didn't know you had such a great imagination," you said.

"Here, if you look in the book it'll make more sense, I was very tired when I read it," she sighed.

"Actually..." you hesitated, "I'm not really sure where it is at the moment."

Your roommate raised a dark eyebrow.

"Did you take it somewhere?" She asked. "When's the last time you saw it?"

"Before the weekend," you replied.

Never before had the urge to spill everything been so prevalent. Simone knew more than she was even letting on, you thought. And it was only a matter of time before things really fell apart. You didn't want her to try anything stupid like you had.

Simone assured you that she hadn't touched it since she looked through it, and didn't notice it was even missing from where she put it until you came back from 'Delwood.'

Simone said there was something else about the almanac that she wanted to point out, but before she could, someone knocked sharply at the door.

"Coming," Simone called as she skittishly opened the door. "Oh, it's you. Eleanor tell you what room I'm in?"

Your friend moved to the side, inviting the guest in.

"Yeah," said Maurice. "I was a bit surprised you have the same room as last year."

"Yeah, well... no one else wanted it," She said so quietly you doubt even Maurice heard it.

"I'm not here to stay, just came to say that Sylabil was looking for you," he smiled. "Hi y/n."

"Hi," you greeted from your bed.

"Sylabil? She better not give me more assignments over the break," Simone whined. "Is she in her office?"

"When is she not?" Maurice countered.

"Alright, I'd better head over there now before patrol starts," she said, quickly wrapping a scarf around neck. "See ya y/n."

And before you could protest being left alone with Maurice, that inky black hair whipped around the corner and disappeared out the door.

Maurice watched Simone leave with a smile on his face, before slowly turning his head to you. No matter how casually he leaned with his hands in his pockets, there was something disconcerting beneath the surface.

"Simone is really here and there, isn't she?" He said cooly.

"Yeah, she is," you said apathetically. "I should probably meet Eleanor and Theo for patrol soon too."

"I'll walk you," he beamed.

You didn't know what to say, or if you even had a reason to say no other than the fact that you didn't know what to say. Do you bring up the shop? Do you ask about him?

Maurice gestured to the hall and you went first.  You watched him close the door as he pushed up his dark frames and together you headed downstairs.

It was a lot like walking with Eleanor, you thought. Both boys were noticeably taller. Both boys had messy hair and crooked smiles. And both boys had an unreadable intensity surrounding them when they walked. Like they had something to prove to the world.

Only yours and theirs were worlds themselves apart.

Maurice made idle chit chat as you stepped outside into the night. He asked how school was going. He joked about his brother, and his time at school. He was charming, there wasn't a doubt about that.

Before you knew, you were sitting by the fountain in the plaza with him. It was a beautiful spot, somewhere you rarely spent any time except for passing through. And the fountain itself was a work of art, the biggest you'd ever seen. The stone was so warmly lit, and the depth of the water, impressive. People weren't supposed to throw coins in it, but you thought if people had one right it was to make wishes.

Flickers of Eleanor resided in the boy under the warmth of the fountain lights. There was no one around. Fall break.

"The others will want to meet me by the bridge soon," you said.

"Just relax," he said carelessly, reaching into his pocket. The older boy withdrew a bizarre looking lighter along with a cigarette. "You don't mind, do you?"

You shook your head, anxiously eyeing the path you'd have to take to get to the night class.

A shadow of light lit up Maurice's face. Then in a fraction of a second, it was gone. A couple ashes danced to the ground; one flick was all it took.

"So, I know what you've been thinking," he said, bringing the cigarette to his lips. Maurice stared straight ahead as a cloud of smoke joined the foggy night air. He tapped the cigarette, letting more ashes fall. "I know you have a lot of questions."

Never a truer statement, you thought, cautiously nodding.

"'And I probably can't answer all of them," he said, pushing up his glasses. "But you'll just have to bare with me."

"Okay," you swallowed.

Eleanor's brother blew a few clouds into the empty black sky, before reaching into his jingling pocket again and extracting a handful of change. This raised an eyebrow. It was almost comical how tediously he began poking through them.

Suddenly he hummed in approval, singling out a single penny. Or at least, it looked like a penny. You eyed him funnily as he shoved the rest of it into his disheveled jacket.

"Shame..." you heard him mutter as he put the smoke out on the fountain ledge you'd been sitting on. He still didn't meet your gaze, his mind evidently elsewhere.

"There's a time and a place y/n," Maurice said sombrely. "And this, is not the place."

Without warning, Maurice flicked the coin behind him. You turned your head to see it join the others with a tiny splash. You never had the chance to ask if he made a wish. Maurice's long forearm shot across your chest, pulling you back. Within seconds you felt your feet leave the ground-you were falling backwards into the fountain, the night sky being the last thing you saw before the water stifled your scream and the splash was immediately replaced by the peaceful jets of the plaza fountain.

And all was quiet.

~
Fan here. Happy New Year! It's January 1st, 2018. Exactly one year ago, I wrote and published the first chapter of Crimson at three in the morning. Never did I think anyone would really read it, and it was always more of a joke than anything. But it honestly changed my year, writing it. I met all of you, and together, in ways big and small, somehow this story connected us, and connected with us. I couldn't be more grateful and happy to have you here reading, laughing, crying, and cringing with me. Here's to another kickin year.

All the love as ever and always,
~ Your number one Fan <3