When Avery got to the staircase where all of the students’ baggage had been left by the porters, Avery frowned at the giant suitcase their mom had filled, then at the staircase. It was going to be hard…
Avery sighed and got to work, having to lift the overfilled suitcase one step at a time. When they had finally conquered the dozen steps their arms were sore and lungs hurting as they panted..
Avery dragged their suitcase through the door of their assigned bedroom, only for it to get stuck.“Mom, why did you pack so much?” Avery sighed and flipped the suitcase sideways to get it through the door.
“Do you require assistance?” their roommate asked, a black kid sitting cross legged on their bed with really long braids that pooled around them on the bed.
“I’m just about there,” Avery said finally getting it all in, “But thanks!” Avery sighed and sat down on the other bed, already tired. “I’m Avery.”
“Caleb.”
“Nice to meet you,” Avery said. They wanted to pass out but their mom’s voice nagging at the back of their head to follow social protocols, and after resting a moment Avery stepped forward offering a handshake.
Caleb shook their hand, only for Avery to be drawn into their mind, Caleb’s mind was like nothing Avery had seen before; a vast expanse of darkness, echoing with a strange humming, and there was not one but two voices echoing in it; one spoke English, the other a language Avery had never heard before.
Avery broke off the contact, blinking. “What language was that?” they mumbled out loud.
Caleb’s head cocked to the side, strange eyes with black sclera and one white and one silver iris open wide and a little blank, “hmm?”
“Sorry,” Avery recoiled a bit, explaining often made people mad, “I did it again… your thoughts, I can hear them but I’ve never heard that language.”
Caleb’s brow furrowed and eir voice grew… deeper and darker, taking on an inhuman cavernous tone, “you read my thoughts.”
“Accidentally?” Avery winced, “I can’t really turn it off.”
“Caleb” continued to glare, shadows spreading out from under them, creeping threateningly towards Avery. Inside them, Avery could feel the two voices arguing, the human voice arguing for mercy .
Avery stepped back, clearly afraid of what they would do..
Caleb stiffened, then sighed, “fine, it is forgiven.” But Caleb’s mind was still angry. Or was it Caleb’s? When touching em, Avery had heard a name; Enozi…
Avery slowly went back to their bed, still trembling from the display of power.
Caleb closed eir eyes again and returned to meditation, Avery feeling the thing’s attention moving away from them.
Avery didn’t dare move for a minute until they were certain Caleb’s anger dissipated.
After a minute they sighed, removing their shoes, then socks. Using a wet napkin, Avery cleaned their feet. “Freedom,” they muttered, finally rid of one of their least favorite sensory experiences.
Caleb meanwhile was still meditating, the two minds interacting but at a distance Avery could not hear what they said, only feel their presence.
Avery ignored their roommate as much as they could, trying to feel at home in the dorm. They’d never shared a room with anyone and it was going to be a challenge… especially with whatever was happening with Caleb…
Avery picked up their phone and turned off airplane mode Immediately it buzzed with a bombardment of texts from their mother, and missed call notifications.
> Did you land safely?
> Avery are you okay?
> Please answer baby
> I’m worried
> Pick up ASAP!
“Relax mom, I’m fine…” They mumbled, with everything happening they’d completely forgotten to report in like they were supposed to. Avery rolled their eyes, sent a quick text to tell their mom they were fine and safe at Ravenhold, and put their phone down.
Avery felt Enozi’s gaze on them again, and saw ey were staring at them.
“Yes?”
Caleb immediately closed eir eyes again.
Avery sighed, and unpacked what they needed for the night. Their mom even had a checklist and routine steps prepared, which they followed; Pajamas, fresh underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, loofah, skin cream, and slippers
Caleb climbed off the bed with a sigh, grabbed a small bag of toiletries, and left the room. Behind em, eir shadow was strange; too large, too dark and almost pulsating
Avery lied down not wanting to follow immediately after, “Why do I get the weird roommate with the creepy eyes…”
Avery’s heart was beating fast, still tense after the confrontation. When Caleb came back, the second, more human, voice in their mind had faded. They could feel a presence but like it had gone to sleep.
Avery picked up their kit and left the room, heading for the showers, dragging on in there as long as they could. Normally their showers were quick, but that night Avery preferred dysphoria over facing their roommate…
Avery came back, walking lightly to avoid disturbing Caleb who was meditating once again. They gave xem a look, only for Caleb to open eir eyes and match Avery’s gaze.
Avery flinched and looked away, muttering a sorry.
Caleb sighed, “I will not hurt you. In fact, I cannot.”
Avery looked at Enozi, “That’s not comforting at all.”
Ey tilted eir head to the side and stared unblinking, sending shivers down Avery’s spine “why not?”
“it just isn’t!”
Caleb’s brow furrowed and they stood up, moving for the door, Avery sensing deep confusion and annoyance.
Damn it, Avery swore internally, Caleb probably wasn’t purposefully being weird and creepy…
“Wait,” Avery said, “Sorry… It’s just… you make me on edge…”
Enozi turned back to them and pursed eir lips, “I see that, I shall go downstairs so that you may sleep peacefully.”
Avery sighed, feeling like they were too harsh. “Sorry…”
Avery went to bed, the bed was soft and comfortable, but it wasn’t theirs. They spent the night tossing and turning, hardly finding any sleep, fifteen minds buzzing in their sleep nearby… Ravenhold was going to be harder than they’d hoped…
Ravenhold Academy 