I was staring at the toilet seat, wondering what possessed me to even come in here. I would literally rather pop a squat outside then in here…

I looked in the mirror, seeing my reflection and wondering what I was actually going to do this weekend. Get high with Lyle? Gossip with Kate? Or was Allison going to be in my future? Was she ever going to talk to me alone? And if she was… what was I going to say? Was I going to listen? Fall again? 

Then I felt the bathroom get cold, like ice cold, and I actually shivered. 

I whispered, “What the hell…?”

Did they turn the air up? I glanced back at the mirror and it was literally frosted over, I touched it with my finger tip and it was ice cold. I backed away from it, feeling the heat in my body leave. My heart beat was speeding up, and I was scared… something weird was going on.

Then the lights went out, the darkness engulfing me like an black abyss, I pressed my back against the wall.

I screamed, loud, and I felt a hand on my neck, pressing me harder against the wall, I choked. I tried to grab the invisible hand but I couldn’t, it was like nothing was there, like a ghost was choking me, and I started to get weak.

What the fuck was going on? Why  couldn’t I get this off of me?! 

I whimpered, “Please…. Help…” the air was leaving and I felt my head grow hot, oh God help me… 

Then as I was about to pass out, the lights came on, the pressure on my throat was gone…

And the mirror read, “Malum.”

I wanted to pass out, I had never been so terrified in my entire life! Malum? What was that? What did that even mean? 

Then the door bursts open, revealing Allison, “Um, what the hell were you screaming for?”

I had no words, my eyes left the mirror and were on Allison’s worried face, and I shook my head. I pulled my eyes back to the mirror, but the mirror was normal again, the writing gone, and the temperature was normal as well. What the actual fuck was going on here?

I shook my head, leaving the bathroom, “Nothing… I saw a mouse.”

Then I disappeared out of the store. 

I couldn’t get it out of my head, it was consuming my thoughts, I had felt as if I had almost died! I couldn’t understand it, it was so sudden, nothing like I’ve ever experienced in my life. The fear… it was  terrible, horrifying… 

And I was scared to tell anyone about it, to afraid that they would think I was crazy.

***

We were back in the car continuing on our way to the camp, but all I could do was think about what happened at the piece of shit gas station. Was it haunted? Did that happen to everyone that used the bathroom? Was the evil ghost spirit thing’s name Malum? Is that what the word meant? 

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t really believe in all that crap but after what happened back there…

I couldn’t shake the suspicion.  

Kate nudged me, “You ok? You’re quiet?”

I nodded, stammering, “Y-Yea I’m fine…”

She didn’t seem at all convinced, and I couldn’t blame her, it was a lame response, but it was the best I could do. I was shaken up, still, and it had been twenty minutes since. 

Malum… what did that mean? I mean, maybe it could pass for a name… but it almost sounded like… a different language maybe? I wasn’t sure… and the more I tried to push it out of my mind the more it kept coming back. 

Maybe it was just a weird occurrence, and I shouldn’t dwell on it. There was no use, I was long gone from the gas station and there was nothing I could do about it. Sure, it freaked me out but shit like that happened all the time to people. 

Right?

I glanced in the mirror again, something I caught myself doing quite often now, and I caught Allison’s gaze again. She smiled lightly, and I returned it, even though I was supposed to be “mad” at her. 

I remember the day Kate introduced us to each other, and there was an instant connection. 

~O~O~O~

“Brooklyn, this is Allison, Allison, Brooklyn.”

I looked at the petite girl in front of me, I stood a little taller then her, but not by much, maybe an inch or two. Her dark auburn hair in curls, the lining of freckles on the bridge of her nose, I smiled, “Hi.”

It was a simple introduction, but she was new, and cute, and I was nervous. Kate had  talked about Allison before, and I’m pretty sure this was Kate’s secret way of setting us up together. Allison smiled, “Hey.”

Kate’s phone rang, and I glanced at the caller ID before she walked away, it read NATHAN! I smiled, “Your booty call awaits.”

She punched me in the shoulder, “Shutup,” then she walked away, answering her phone. 

Allison was looking at me, studying me actually, and I felt my cheeks redden. She sighed, “Sorry…  I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

I smirked, “You didn’t.”

Her cheeks reddened this time, and I had a good feeling about this. There was something different about this girl, sure, she dint have the best rep, but she seemed cool enough, and she was obviously digging me. “ I never would’ve guessed you liked girls, you’re way to gorgeous.”

Oh God, she was hitting on me, but how did she know I was gay? Did Kate tell her? I wanted to be mad, but in a way… I just couldn’t. I really wanted to thank Kate… because Allison was smoking hot. I sighed, “Lemme guess, Kate?”

She smirked, “Duh,” she leaned in, coming close to me, and touching my arm slightly, “I don’t mind though. At all.”

This girl… she was something. Confident, sexy, cute, her light green eyes staring into mine, and her irises were dilated, making her eyes shine bright. I smiled, “Good thing then.”

Me and Allison, there was this automatic connection, you could feel it. I didn’t know if she was interested, but let me tell you, I had a really good feeling, and she wasn’t trying to hide it if she was. But I was interested to, and I wasn’t going to hide it either. 

I smiled, “Have you ever even been with a girl?”

She smirked, a little red showing on her cheeks, “Once, but we just pecked on the lips, nothing big. You?”

I laughed, “What do you think?”

She smirked bigger, “I’m guessing more then once.”

“Correct.”

She laughed aloud, and her laugh filled my ears, sending a sexy shiver through my spine. Her laugh was so sexy…

Then Kate walked up and spoke, “Ok you two, stop flirting, I’m back. Let’s go to the mall.”

I smiled at Kate, then let my eyes travel back to Allison, thinking that I only wanted to be alone with her so we could talk some more. 

But I would have to wait.

~O~O~O~

I was pulled back into reality when Kate slammed on her brakes and horned, “Dumbass!!!”

I looked forward, someone had cut her off, and I laughed, “Jeez Kate,” the white pickup truck in front of us sped off down the lane, obviously feeling a little intimidated by Kate. 

Her sunglasses were in my direction although I couldn’t see her eyes, she looked so serious. I’m not gonna lie, I had a pretty hot best friend, she looked like a super model, and in a small town where we lived, it was hard to stay on the low when you looked as good as Kate. 

She looked like she belonged in a Los Angeles celebrity magazine or something like that. 

Me, well I was pretty, a lot of people told me that, guys and girls, but I was the complete opposite of Kate. I was the all natural, athletic girl that everyone pretty much looked up to. Kate was the girlie girl, that wore makeup even though she really didn’t need it… complete opposites. 

She mumbled, “Why does it seem like I’m the only person on Earth that can drive like a normal person?”

I shrugged, not really knowing what to say, because in my opinion, Kate was a horrible driver. 

But I could never say that out loud. 

We were approaching a sign and I tried to read it, it seemed like it was a town, and I was grateful, finally, more people. 

I felt like we were isolated, and having that feeling after what happened to me at the gas station wasn’t good.