“You know what I’m saying though, right? Like that boy was flawless. He’s got that saucy look in those blue eyes...” Sarah droned on and on at our college parking deck, lost in her own imagination as she passed me the cigarette. I lifted my eyes to smile at her, then resumed inhaling the sinful sedative. I kept my eyes on the ground as Sarah continued to talk about her crush, lost in her words. I, too, was lost in my own mind, thinking about how I could word my essay, and what I could do to get higher. I needed my nicotine… right?

“It’s just crazy because--” I cut Sarah off before she could continue.

“Listen Sarah, I would love to keep chatting, but I gotta go. It’s getting pretty late and I’m trying to be back before sunset.” Passing her back the cigarette, I sifted through my left pocket. Grabbing my lotion, I rubbed a decent amount into my palms.

“Huh? Are you afraid of vampires or some shit for the month of Halloween, Christine? Is that what you’re tryna tell me right now?” Ignoring her persistence, I waved her off.

“I’m tired. I’ll give you boy advice tomorrow. Night, kid.” I left the parking deck in a hurry, grabbing at my nap sack as I rushed down the stairs. It didn’t take long for me to enter the trail in the forest, and it didn’t take long for chills to rack my body.

“What the shit?” I muttered under my breath, a little dazed, but still aware of what was going on around me. The nighttime hit the forest quicker than it did our residence halls, and even though it looked lighter from the walk at the parking deck, it was almost pitch black there.

Pulling my coat tighter around my body, I hurriedly rushed to a small patch of light not too far from the entrance. I made sure I could see the path back, and that there were people walking past the entrance at all times. It wasn’t safe where I was, no, but I stayed anyway. I needed to get higher. I needed to be calm. My head was pounding... I needed to smoke a cigarette. When I opened my bag, I was able to find my pack and lighter quickly. After putting the rest of my things away, I sparked the stick. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. It was a constant, repetitive motion, and I grew bored of the process the longer I did it. But I liked my thoughts as I wandered here. I liked my thoughts that I was thinking… I needed to write my essay.

Hit it twice and then put it away, I told myself. I felt a buzz.

My phone. My phone had buzzed, so I grabbed it out of my back pocket.

It was a direct message on Twitter, and I was fast to open it. “There are clowns at your college..” Kat had sent a video attachment. It wasn’t posted long ago, and I gulped audibly. Shit. I reminded myself that I could see the path.

But there were no people there.

I sparked the boge. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale…

I watched the video. I let myself sit through the immediate realization that they were near a path by the woods. I let myself sit through the immediate realization that these students had filmed this only five minutes from where I stood. I let myself realize that I could be hurt…

“Shit.” I said aloud this time, thinking rationally that these clowns were stunts, and couldn’t hurt me. But in that video, they had weapons...

I thought that maybe I was just reacting like this because I was caught up in my nicotine buzz. I was so… I was so scared! Pulling my bag off of my back, I opened the top. I began to put the pack and lighter away, but then I heard a crunch. I didn’t move.

It was dumb of me.

“Shit is right.” A throaty voice murmured, too close to my ear. Too close to my face…

As I turned, I saw nightmares rush before me. In an instant, I was met with a white painted face. There were lines smeared over his eyes, and red coating his lips. It was horrifying. I had thought clowns were meant to cheer people up!

His head tilted, his lips thinned. Originally, a smile coated the clown's face, his yellow cracking teeth on full display. But in the next moment, he was frowning. His brows creased, his head dipped. His arm raised... I turned to run.

As soon as I twisted my body, I immediately was met by a sharp prick. Shit.

I felt my shoulder blade crack, at least that’s what it felt like, and I fell forward.

There were footsteps then, and I cried out for someone, anyone to help me.

“Shit!” The clown seethed.

“Help!”

I cried and cried. I tilted my head to the side as I crawled frantically towards the entrance of the trail. I saw someone running, and I realized they were coming towards me. They were coming!

“Shit!” The guy screamed at me, fear etched across his face. “Get him!” He pointed from where he came, and a mob of people started rushing past me. The guy had picked me up, and carried me to the side of the forest gently to get out of the runners way. I forced myself to turn over, and watched as a grimy clown ran from the mob. There was a steak knife a few feet in front of me, covered with what I presumed was my blood, and maybe others... I groaned inwardly.

“Am I going to die?” I cried to the boy, and he shook his head. My vision was blurring, and I felt the only way I would stay conscious was if I clutched onto the guy's arms. He was a scrawny boy. Blonde moppy curls, a thin V-shaped face. Glasses that looked a little too big on him. I admired the boy then in that moment, for staying with me. For holding onto my weight.

“I am going to die.” I said aloud. I was coughing. I was gagging, spitting up blood. The guy just held me, and stared into my creasing eyes.

“I have someone on the phone with the police right now.” He reassured me. “Shit.” He looked away.

“What’s wrong?” I coughed again. His features softened as he gazed back down at me. His fingers reached towards my face, and gently brushed against my cheek. I noted the dirt beneath his nails, but wasn’t bothered by it.

“Nothing, nothing.” His voice wandered off, and I began to drift... “Hey,” He stopped speaking and brushed my cheek again. He brought his face closer to mine and smiled. “I’m helping save your life from a psychotic clown that's been making social media headlines.” I smiled with him, even if it pained me to do so.

“And you’re wearing a Led Zeppelin shirt. You’re definitely a keeper.” The boy added.

“Can I sleep now?” I murmured to him, my eye lids softly pressing against one another.

“They’re almost here.” He urged me, shuffling his feet slightly and squeezing my hip.

“I need to sleep.”

“They’re here.”