A/N: I can't blame the wrist injury some year ago for not posting anything for the last five year. Socialising online is hard work.
Fourth sat on the chair at the desk, hands visibly shaking, as he stared at them trying to regain some control over his nerves. While Gemini sat on the bed staring intently at the man before him.
He was exactly as Gemini remembered. Cute and awkward. Gemini shook his head, not cute, what was he thinking.
Fourth murmured 'ghost' under his breath and Gemini rolled his eyes.
"If anyones the ghost, it's you." Gemini told him.
Fourth's head shots up. "Me, the ghost. No. This is my room. How can I be the ghost."
"Your room." Gemini asked. "No. This is my room and I'd like to know how you got in?"
Confused, Fourth stared at Gemini, and murmured, 'Your room."
Gemini watched as the man in front of him slowly began to examine his room.
Fourth glanced at the cupboard doors and noticed the same stickers as his, the chair he sat on was the same as his, as was the desk, lamp and bed but that was were the similarities ended. The accessories in the bedroom were different. Different bed coverings, different plushes scattered over the bed, different pictures on the wall. It was then Fourth realised it was his room but it wasn't. At a glance at the books on the desk beside him, Fourth noticed the year dated on the book. It was the previous years study books. Without thought, Fourth picked up the study book and said, "Why is this dated last year?"
Confused by what was said, Gemini stood and snatched the study book out of the strangers hand. "What do you mean last year, this is this years book. Are you stupid or something?"
Startled by the reaction, Fourth didn't care any further with what was happening as he pushed the stranger aside and fled the bedroom.
Gemini, taken by surprised rushed forward to stop the man from leaving. However, upon entering the corridor, Gemini once more found it empty. Frustration this time took over Gemini, as he vigorously rubbed his hair.
"What is going on?" Gemini asked himself returning to his room. He picked up the study book again and stared at the date. What had the stranger meant 'last years study book'. Without any idea what had truly happened, Gemini sat back down at his desk but try as he might, he could not forget the image of the man's face.
Fourth wasn't going to wait for the elevator as he pushed open the exit door and rushed down the three flights of stairs and out of the dormitory. Once outside, Fourth buckled over, hands on knees, to catch his breath. A quick glance back at the dormitory sent a shiver down his back and he shook all over. With no idea what had happened, there was no way Fourth was going back to his room alone. Taking his bag off his shoulder, he dug around for his phone and called Paul.
When Paul came out of the dormitory, he found Fourth across the street, waving him to join him.
"What's the matter. You look awful." Paul said jokingly but Fourth grabbed his arm and squeezed it tight.
"Ghost." Fourth told him through broken breaths.
"What happened again." Paul asked unsure what Fourth was talking about.
"There was someone in my room. No, wait, I was in his room. No that can't be right. It was my room but at the same time it wasn't. Paul, I'm confused and scared." Fourth clung to Paul and when Paul realised Fourth was shaking he took hold of Fourth's arms.
"Are you okay? Calm down and tell me what's going on."
Fourth left out a deep breath and tried to steady himself but under Paul's hands, he could tell Fourth was still shaking.
"It's okay. I'm here. Tell me what happened." Paul's concern in his voice reached Fourth, who stared at Paul as his breath began to steady.
"You won't believe me." Fourth told him.
"It doesn't matter if I believe you or not. Tell me what happened."
Fourth breathed in deep before letting out an even deeper breath, and proceeded to tell Paul what he'd experience with his room.
They now stood at Fourth bedroom door, as Fourth clutched Paul's arm, terrified to open his door.
"Give me the key. I'll check first and make sure it's okay." Paul held out his hand and Fourth gave him the key.
When Paul charged into the room, Fourth panicked and followed, attempting to stop him. As they entered the room, Fourth realised it was his room. His bed coverings, his plushes scattered on the bed, his pictures on the wall.
"I didn't imagine it." Fourth said, looking around the room once more.
"Did you want to sleep in my room with me tonight." Paul asked.
Everything was as it should be and yet Fourth couldn't explain what had happened.
"No. I don't know what happened but it's fine." Fourth said with some reluctance.
"Are you sure. We can swap rooms if that makes you feel better."
Fourth shook his head.
"I'm not sure what might be happening here, but I think it's important that you find out." Paul told Fourth.
Fourth nodded. "You're right."
"Be brave." Paul said but Fourth wasn't feeling brave in the slightest but nodded in response regardless.
"Okay then. Call me immediately if or when it happens again." Paul insisted.
"You believe me, right!" Fourth stared pleadingly at Paul.
If not for the fear he'd witnessed from his friend, Paul might have laughed off the situation.
"Sure. I believe you. Let's talk more about it tomorrow and see if we can't get to the bottom of it. Maybe this has happened before. We should ask who the previous occupant of the room is, maybe they might know something." Paul suggested.
Fourth nodded. "That's a good idea. Let's do that tomorrow. I think I'll go to bed now. I'm tired."
Paul said good night before leaving. In the corridor, he stared at Fourth's door and wondered what it was that had spooked his friend to the point he would think his room was haunted.
Paul headed back to his room but as he reached his door, he glanced down the corridor towards Ken's room. It wasn't that he didn't believe Fourth, as he'd been genuinely terrified of whatever it was that had happened. Paul hesitated before heading towards Ken's room. When Ken opened the door, the concern Paul had for Fourth vanished as he stared at Ken.
"Are you okay?" Paul asked.
Ken looked exhausted, as though he's barely had any sleep. Ken stepped back and invited Paul in. It was his first time in Ken's room and it looked clean with very little possessions expect books scattered over every surface. Paul stared at the ones on the desk, some too scientific looking for him to understand.
Ken straighten out his bedding and offered Paul to sit with him on the bed. Paul did so as he became highly aware of their close proximity.
Paul once more asked, "Are you okay. You look tired."
Ken gave a soft smile, one in which melted Paul's heart, and he lowered his eyes and his cheeks turned a pale pink.
"Thank you for being concerned. I'm fine. And how about you, are you okay?"
Paul regained his composure and said, "I'm okay but I'm worried about Fourth."
"Fourth." Ken asked as he sat up, more attentive to the conversation. "Is there something wrong with your friend?"
Paul found Ken's concern heartwarming and placing his hand on Ken's arm he reassured him, "He's fine but... some strange things have been happening to him."
Ken stared at Paul and then asked, "Is that why you're here?"
Paul nodded. "It's not that I don't believe him but he was so terrified earlier. It's hard not to believe what he says is true."
"Can you tell me. Everything he's told you. I promise I won't judge either of you."
Paul nodded, and retold Ken what Fourth had to him. When Paul had finished, he asked, "What do you think I should do?"
Ken let out a deep breath and taking Paul's hand in his, replied, "Don't do anything yet. Let's wait and see if it continues and then we can decide how best to deal with it."
"You believe me, right. Fourth isn't going crazy?" Paul squeezed Ken's hand.
"I believe you. Something like this seems too real to not be believed. If you need my help in anyway, ask. Please." Ken asked.
Paul nodded, relieved Ken not only believed them and was also willing to help.
"So you're saying, you saw that man again." Ken asked Gemini as they sat for lunch during classes, Tuesday afternoon.
"Yes. He unlocked my bedroom door and entered. He even insisted the room was his. How does that make any sense?" Gemini asked.
"I have no idea. And it wasn't a ghost?" Ken asked.
"No. He felt real enough." Gemini told him.
"You touched him?" Ken enquired.
"He fell and I caught him. Can you catch ghosts?" Gemini asked.
Ken shook his head. "No idea. Did you find out his name?"
"No. It was weird enough, we weren't considering pleasantries."
"You're not going crazy are you? I know everything going on with your grandfather and family is stressful but if they find out your seeing things that might not exist, it might cause more issues for you." Ken questioned.
"I'm not crazy. I know what I saw and heard. I only... don't have an explanation. Not yet, anyway."
Gemini was sure it wasn't a ghost as the statement about his study book continued to bother him. It was then a thought suddenly occurred to him, could the door to his room be a portal to another time. That made some sort of sense and yet Gemini didn't dare say it out loud. It would definitely make him appear crazy.
After his last class on Friday, Gemini's oldest cousin, Jan, paid him a visit at the dorms. Dressed in a business jacket and skirt, she'd come straight from the office. Gemini loved his two older cousins dearly. Jan had always looked after him and her younger sister, Jamie. When Jamie had followed Jan into working for grandfathers business, both had promised Gemini he could follow his own dream of becoming a doctor.
"You should have told me you were coming, we could have met up somewhere." Gemini told her as they stood beside her car.
"It was a last minute decision to come. Sorry." Jan told him.
"That's okay. Are you here because of the situation with grandfather." Gemini asked.
"I don't mean to get involved. Mother asked Jamie and I to not get involved but it's so frustrating. Why would grandfather leave everything to you and not include myself and Jamie."
Gemini couldn't argue with her complaint, it didn't seem fair.
Realising what she's said, Jan immediately apologised. "Sorry Gemini, I don't mean to look down on you. But Jamie and I worked hard for the business and have many achievements that's benefited the business. I simply don't understand why grandfather would do something like this."
"No. I understand. I'm as confused as everyone else. I've always made it clear I have no interest in the business and everyone excepted that decision. So why grandfather has done what he did makes no sense. Let me talk to him again, maybe I can get an answer from him as to why he's done this."
"Can you. It's causing a lot of issues for our mothers too. If we could at least understand what grandfathers future plans are, maybe we might have something to work with."
"Okay. I'll let you know when I've spoken to him again." Gemini replied.
"Thank you. I have something for you too." Jan told Gemini.
Opening the passenger door to her car, she retrieved a brown paper bag and handed it to Gemini.
"Your favourite cookies. The kitchen staff baked them for grandfather and made extras for you."
Gemini took the paper bag, the little post it note stuck to it with his name on it.
"Thank you. I didn't get to eat the last one, so I look forward to these."
After Jan bid farewell and Gemini returned to his room eager to enjoy his favourite cookies.
Fourth paced in front of his dorm room as Paul and Ken watched on.
They had bumped into Ken in the foyer on their way home from classes Friday afternoon and after an awkward conversation, Paul told Fourth, he'd spoken to Ken about his situation. Clearly distressed, given it was a Friday again, relief washed over Fourth when Ken reassured him he believed him and would help him to work out why it was happening. With his two friends now beside him, Fourth worked up the courage to enter his room.
After several minutes, Paul rolled his eyes and took the key from Fourth's hand.
"Hey!" Fourth protested but not enough to be convincing.
Paul unlocked the door and entered the room, Fourth cautiously following behind as Ken entered last.
Paul stood in front of the bedside table, while Fourth stood in the middle of the room. Ken came in and checked the bathroom. He then moved around the room, looking over the desk, checking the cupboard and glancing over Fourth's bed. "Does everything look okay. It's your room, right?" Ken asked, returning to the entrance of the room.
Fourth glanced around again and nodded.
"Then, I'll get going. Call me if you need me." Ken said.
"Thank you for believing me." Fourth said, unsure if Ken did believe him.
Ken gave a nod. "If there's anything out of the ordinary or shouldn't be here. Call me. Okay."
Fourth nodded as he walked Ken to the door. As an afterthought, Ken turned and placing a hand on Fourth's shoulder, said, "Best we keep this between us. It's not that I don't believe you but people who don't know you might make a big deal over this."
Fourth gave another nod and watched Ken leave. As Fourth closed the door and returned to the room, he found Paul sitting on the edge of his bed examining a brown paper bag.
"These smell great, can I have one." Paul asked.
Fourth stared at Paul and the brown paper bag in his hand, as Paul pulled out a cookie and ate it. No sooner had he eaten and swallowed half, he pulled a face, and put the remaining cookie back in the bag. "Yuck. What kind of cookies are these, they taste bitter."
"They're not mine." Fourth said, staring at the bag. "I don't know where they came from."
"They were one the bedside cabinet. I didn't see them until I sat down." Paul held up the bag and suddenly his eyes widened and he slowly looked up at Fourth, and said, "I think I know the name of your roommate."
Slowly, Paul pulled off the post-it note he'd found on the paper bag and handed it to Fourth.
Fourth stared at Paul, and then at the post-it note in his hand. Slowly, he reached out and taking the note, read, 'For Gemini'. Fourth stared at Paul again, with no doubt now something unexplainable was going on.
"Do you want to stay in my room?" Paul asked.
Fourth shook his head. He was confident nothing would happen while he was in his room. All he needed to do from here on in was make sure it was always his room he was entering.
When Paul left, Fourth insisted he take the cookies with him and throw them away. Fourth sat on the edge of his bed unsure what to make of the situation but no matter how much he tried to understand it, there was no understanding to be had.
Fourth ran a hand through his hair in frustration before grabbing his towel from the cupboard door, heading to the bathroom.
The bathroom door opened and a thin vale of steam filtered into the bedroom. Gemini came out wrapped in his towel as he made to the cupboard to get dressed. Once dress, he picked up his towel and went to place it over the back of his chair, when he found a towel already there. Confused, Gemini stared at the towel in his hand and the towel over the chair. Immediately glancing around the room, he noticed the brown paper bag missing from his bedside table. Gemini glanced around the room, growing more confused. Then he paused and slowly turned to look at the door to his room. If he thought back carefully, it was possible he'd not entered his room after coming back from speaking to Jan. The realisation for the first time sent a shiver down his back.
Exhaling deeply, Gemini hung the extra towel over his cupboard door, determined to find the answers to the mystery.