The World That Was Excerpt #1
Chapter 1
August.
University of Central Florida. A large campus tucked between Oviedo and Orlando. Having a mixture of modern suburban with city flair, the Greek and constellation inspired site would take on a world of its own once within its vicinity. Right off the main half-moon roundabout of Pegasus Drive rested the Health Professions and Sciences building. The large three story, red brick, tanned concrete façade was clean, boasted a semi-circle, and a bright white modern entrance. Across the double glass doors was a mini courtyard lined with black benches and trees. Across the red and gray path was a scenic retention pond, surrounded by trees and a bridge cutting across the hub towards the large Student Union building.
The second week into the new Fall Semester was abuzz. Many students, from all walks of life, had made their way to campus, moved in, and were already elbow deep into what classes had to offer.
One Friday evening, at the end of the month, students filed into their Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience course a little after 6:50 P.M. One by One they each waved and greeted the middle-aged woman at the front of the classroom.
She filled out the usual list of what they’d cover which, luckily for the students, was the first test of information they’d gone over the past week.
Some of the kids gave mock groans while a few looked ready to get the test over and done with. Who didn’t want to take a test and get out of class early on a Friday night?
The teacher smiled at each student entering and kept her eyes on the wall clock along the back of the room, “Good evening, Dominique.” She said calmly with a smile reaching her dark brown eyes.
The young girl paused, broke into a half-smile, and waved, “Hey Ms. Flanders.” She said in return.
Ms. Flanders wandered over to her desk and picked up the stack of tests. She lightly straightened them on the hardened surface and was willing to do anything to keep her hands busy, “What are your plans for the weekend?” she asked.
Dominique took her seat in the second row and pulled out a few sheets of paper from within her bag, “I heard there was going to be a large party at one of the houses. I may check it out.” She answered.
Ms. Flanders smiled briefly to herself as she lined a finger along the stray hairs by the side of her ear. She remembered what it was like to be younger and just starting in the world. A time where she was carefree about what life threw her way, before she was jaded and disappointed with what the world was becoming. Still, she held out hope because, every day, her students inspired her.
Dominique’s voice cut into her thoughts causing Ms. Flanders to glance up. She rubbed along the lobe of her ear before she tucked a bit of salt and pepper hair behind it, “I’m sorry, I zoned out again. What did you say?” She asked.
Dominique shook her head slightly as she tied up her blonde hair, “I was just asking what you planned to do this weekend.” She repeated.
With a bout of flusterment, Ms. Flanders’s thin fingers gently pressed against the center of her neck as she thought about the uneventful life that awaited her since the divorce. Cats, her recorded shows, and papers to grade. Sighing, she forced a reserved smile to Dominique and nodded to another student, “Good evening. I don’t have much planned but thank you for asking. Make sure you don’t drink too much so you can make it to class on Monday.” She answered.
Dominique laughed slightly rubbing against one shoulder, “I can say the same for you.” she replied cheerily.
Ms. Flanders chuckled to herself as the conversation between them died. She didn’t drink and was never one to let just anyone into her personal life.
Not anymore.
Checking the time once more, 7 P.M. rolled around and Ms. Flanders approached the door. She allowed the last student to enter before she leaned out and made sure there weren’t any stragglers. With the door shut and locked behind her, her gaze drifted over the faces of her students as she approached the front of her desk, “Good evening everyone, I’m going to keep this brief. Tonight, is our first test. This is how I work. Unlike the other teachers who find time to lecture afterwards, I will let you go about your night once you’re done. But, I warn you, my tests are harder than most. The only thing you’re allowed to have on your desks is the test, your notes, and pencils. All cell phones must be switched off and in your bags.” She stated sliding the tests from the surface of her desk and placing them faced down in front of each student.
One boy raised his hand and she called on him, “Yes, Kevin?” she questioned.
Kevin lowered his hand scratching against his eyebrow, “Yeah, uh my mom is in the hospital. She’s alright, but I’m expecting a phone call from my dad to let me know if I need to head over tonight.” He said.
Ms. Flanders quickly nodded clearing her throat, “That’s no problem, Kevin. You can bring your test up to me, show me the screen, and stand right outside of the door. Then you can come back in and finish.” She replied.
Kevin leaned against the chair and scratched against the back of his head, “Cool, thanks teach.” He stated.
Once finished with the last student, she returned to her desk and glanced down at her watch, “Take your time. I will not leave until the last student does. Begin.” She stated.
As she turned her back to the student to sit down, all she heard was a flurry of papers flipping over followed by silence. Looking over them a short time, she then turned her attention to her laptop and mindlessly checked her emails.
Over the next two hours, one after another, the students finished their tests and turned them in to her. Each one she wished a good weekend and that she’d see them the following Monday. Luckily for Kevin, he’d just finished the last question before his father called. She wished him good luck with his mother before glancing over at the dwindling class size. Before long her last student rested his paper on her desk just after 9:30 P.M.
Already having gotten a head start on grading, she crossed one leg over the other and began on the next. Her students knew nine times out of ten, she’d have grades posted by early Saturday morning because of her diligence to make sure they gained the best of her.
Time ticked on and, halfway through her papers, her eyes grew weary. She pulled the glasses from her face and rubbed against her eyes with a long, drawn out sigh. Glancing at the bottom edge of her laptop, she saw it was well after eleven and decided she’d stayed long enough. She gathered her items in a large satchel, before she logged out of her laptop and tucked it away. Inhaling a deep breath, she glanced over the seats that once held her students solemnly and reflected to herself on how she ended up where she was.
What choices did she make to deserve this sort of empty fear?
Without another thought, she shook her head, clicked the desk lamp off, and crossed the room for the door. With keys in hand and bag on her shoulder, she pushed through and locked the door behind her.
Leaving through the back entrance of the building, she was met with the warm, summer heat and orange glow from the lampposts. She glanced up at some of the illuminated rooms of the Communication Science building and shook her head. Rounding the large building, she headed to the parking lot shrouded in the shadows. She kept her head down as she stepped from the sidewalk to the lot.
Past the handicapped parking and shuttle station, thoughts of what to heat for dinner crossed her mind as she clicked the unlock button on her car keys. Glancing up, her heart dropped as panic rose from her stomach, through her chest, and to her neck.
A man she hadn’t seen in months stood between her and her vehicle. He stared into her silently with a menacing aura. Dressed in a dark black suit, tailored to sit against his body, he had thick gray hair, expensive rings adorning his fingers, and shoes shined to perfection.
Ms. Flanders clenched her jaw swallowing. The grip on the strap of her bag was taut, “H-Hello?” she called out to him.
The man readjusted his shoulders while rubbing his pointer finger and thumb along the line of his beard. His nostrils flared as he blinked once, “Did you think over the offer? We met well over three months ago and you still have yet to answer us. Did you have a change of heart, even after all we’ve shown you? I don’t like to be kept waiting, Doctor Flanders. I specifically remember telling you not to do that, do you remember?” His voice was cold, calculating, and fed up with whatever she tried to pull over on him.
He took her silence and ignorance personally.
Remembering his voice well, Ms. Flanders wet her lips as she blinked back tears. She glanced around for any of the security cars driving the perimeter, but the moment she needed them, they weren’t there. Inhaling a deep breath, the deep seeded pit of fear she’d buried away for three months flourished to fruition. She clenched her jaw staring at his chilled, impatient stare, “I-I know I have been slow on the uptake, sir, but there was a lot for me to mull over. This, this is a very big decision that I didn’t think I was fully comfortable to make on a whim with—”
“—WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?” His voice boomed through the night sky.
The keys dropped from her hand as she visibly jumped where she stood. Knowing that this was not going to remedy itself with her negligence again, she shut her eyes and rolled her lips in. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes and rolled down the sides of her cheeks. The only thought in her mind were the smiling faces of her students. The next generation she wanted to help more than ever because of people like him. They may not have been close, but they were all she had since her husband left.
They were the reason she lived.
She clenched the bag in her grip, stared down at the concrete, and slightly shook her head, “No. No, I’m not interested. I morally cannot accept your offer.” She whispered turning to look at him.
A long, painful moment of silence passed between them, but she could practically see the way he seethed. Then, his entire mood dropped from disappointment to a lack of interest for the woman in front of him, “This was not how I saw your life ending.” He sighed.
Ms. Flanders’s vision blurred as the world around her darkened. Shaken to her core, her lips parted as she stumbled back, “W-what?” she asked. Unable to hold herself together, the last thing she did was wet herself in fear.
Before she could scream, he pulled out a gun, shut one eye, and shot. Blood and brain matter sprayed from the back of her head. Her body twisted to the left and fell onto the asphalt with a sickening thud.
Silently, the headlights of a black car flicked on behind him and pulled out of the space beside her car.
The man lowered the gun, leaned his head back, and cracked his neck to one side. Feeling a rush of adrenaline course through his body, he waited expectantly until the car stopped beside him.
The back door opened and a young, beautiful woman, dressed impeccably like him, stepped out with a dark purple cloth in her hand. Holding the gun out to his side, she quickly took it into her grasp and began to rub down the handle.
He glanced over the parking lot camera resting on the lampposts and sighed, “Acquire the footage and scrub it.” he ordered.
The woman calmly continued to run the cloth along the butt of the gun before she casually glanced over to the blood pooling around Ms. Flanders’s awkwardly placed body, “We’re already on it. Do you want us to clean up this…mess sir?” she asked.
A smirk tugged on the end of his lips before he turned his head; pleased by the mere sight of her, “There’s no need…” His gaze then returned to the building across the parking lot, “…let this be a message to the others who don’t fall in line.” He said.
The woman nodded, “Understood.” She whispered stepping back on her stilettos.
He turned his back to Ms. Flanders for the last time and ducked into the backseat, “Make sure we figure out when the funeral is. I would like to attend.” He stated.
The woman stared down at her for a moment and she turned to him, “Leave it to me.” She whispered shutting the door behind him.
Rounding the vehicle, she set the safety on the gun and joined him on the other side. Slowly, the car pulled away and started down the quiet road towards its next destination; leaving the body of a beloved professor behind.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VZX8Q9L
August.
University of Central Florida. A large campus tucked between Oviedo and Orlando. Having a mixture of modern suburban with city flair, the Greek and constellation inspired site would take on a world of its own once within its vicinity. Right off the main half-moon roundabout of Pegasus Drive rested the Health Professions and Sciences building. The large three story, red brick, tanned concrete façade was clean, boasted a semi-circle, and a bright white modern entrance. Across the double glass doors was a mini courtyard lined with black benches and trees. Across the red and gray path was a scenic retention pond, surrounded by trees and a bridge cutting across the hub towards the large Student Union building.
The second week into the new Fall Semester was abuzz. Many students, from all walks of life, had made their way to campus, moved in, and were already elbow deep into what classes had to offer.
One Friday evening, at the end of the month, students filed into their Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience course a little after 6:50 P.M. One by One they each waved and greeted the middle-aged woman at the front of the classroom.
She filled out the usual list of what they’d cover which, luckily for the students, was the first test of information they’d gone over the past week.
Some of the kids gave mock groans while a few looked ready to get the test over and done with. Who didn’t want to take a test and get out of class early on a Friday night?
The teacher smiled at each student entering and kept her eyes on the wall clock along the back of the room, “Good evening, Dominique.” She said calmly with a smile reaching her dark brown eyes.
The young girl paused, broke into a half-smile, and waved, “Hey Ms. Flanders.” She said in return.
Ms. Flanders wandered over to her desk and picked up the stack of tests. She lightly straightened them on the hardened surface and was willing to do anything to keep her hands busy, “What are your plans for the weekend?” she asked.
Dominique took her seat in the second row and pulled out a few sheets of paper from within her bag, “I heard there was going to be a large party at one of the houses. I may check it out.” She answered.
Ms. Flanders smiled briefly to herself as she lined a finger along the stray hairs by the side of her ear. She remembered what it was like to be younger and just starting in the world. A time where she was carefree about what life threw her way, before she was jaded and disappointed with what the world was becoming. Still, she held out hope because, every day, her students inspired her.
Dominique’s voice cut into her thoughts causing Ms. Flanders to glance up. She rubbed along the lobe of her ear before she tucked a bit of salt and pepper hair behind it, “I’m sorry, I zoned out again. What did you say?” She asked.
Dominique shook her head slightly as she tied up her blonde hair, “I was just asking what you planned to do this weekend.” She repeated.
With a bout of flusterment, Ms. Flanders’s thin fingers gently pressed against the center of her neck as she thought about the uneventful life that awaited her since the divorce. Cats, her recorded shows, and papers to grade. Sighing, she forced a reserved smile to Dominique and nodded to another student, “Good evening. I don’t have much planned but thank you for asking. Make sure you don’t drink too much so you can make it to class on Monday.” She answered.
Dominique laughed slightly rubbing against one shoulder, “I can say the same for you.” she replied cheerily.
Ms. Flanders chuckled to herself as the conversation between them died. She didn’t drink and was never one to let just anyone into her personal life.
Not anymore.
Checking the time once more, 7 P.M. rolled around and Ms. Flanders approached the door. She allowed the last student to enter before she leaned out and made sure there weren’t any stragglers. With the door shut and locked behind her, her gaze drifted over the faces of her students as she approached the front of her desk, “Good evening everyone, I’m going to keep this brief. Tonight, is our first test. This is how I work. Unlike the other teachers who find time to lecture afterwards, I will let you go about your night once you’re done. But, I warn you, my tests are harder than most. The only thing you’re allowed to have on your desks is the test, your notes, and pencils. All cell phones must be switched off and in your bags.” She stated sliding the tests from the surface of her desk and placing them faced down in front of each student.
One boy raised his hand and she called on him, “Yes, Kevin?” she questioned.
Kevin lowered his hand scratching against his eyebrow, “Yeah, uh my mom is in the hospital. She’s alright, but I’m expecting a phone call from my dad to let me know if I need to head over tonight.” He said.
Ms. Flanders quickly nodded clearing her throat, “That’s no problem, Kevin. You can bring your test up to me, show me the screen, and stand right outside of the door. Then you can come back in and finish.” She replied.
Kevin leaned against the chair and scratched against the back of his head, “Cool, thanks teach.” He stated.
Once finished with the last student, she returned to her desk and glanced down at her watch, “Take your time. I will not leave until the last student does. Begin.” She stated.
As she turned her back to the student to sit down, all she heard was a flurry of papers flipping over followed by silence. Looking over them a short time, she then turned her attention to her laptop and mindlessly checked her emails.
Over the next two hours, one after another, the students finished their tests and turned them in to her. Each one she wished a good weekend and that she’d see them the following Monday. Luckily for Kevin, he’d just finished the last question before his father called. She wished him good luck with his mother before glancing over at the dwindling class size. Before long her last student rested his paper on her desk just after 9:30 P.M.
Already having gotten a head start on grading, she crossed one leg over the other and began on the next. Her students knew nine times out of ten, she’d have grades posted by early Saturday morning because of her diligence to make sure they gained the best of her.
Time ticked on and, halfway through her papers, her eyes grew weary. She pulled the glasses from her face and rubbed against her eyes with a long, drawn out sigh. Glancing at the bottom edge of her laptop, she saw it was well after eleven and decided she’d stayed long enough. She gathered her items in a large satchel, before she logged out of her laptop and tucked it away. Inhaling a deep breath, she glanced over the seats that once held her students solemnly and reflected to herself on how she ended up where she was.
What choices did she make to deserve this sort of empty fear?
Without another thought, she shook her head, clicked the desk lamp off, and crossed the room for the door. With keys in hand and bag on her shoulder, she pushed through and locked the door behind her.
Leaving through the back entrance of the building, she was met with the warm, summer heat and orange glow from the lampposts. She glanced up at some of the illuminated rooms of the Communication Science building and shook her head. Rounding the large building, she headed to the parking lot shrouded in the shadows. She kept her head down as she stepped from the sidewalk to the lot.
Past the handicapped parking and shuttle station, thoughts of what to heat for dinner crossed her mind as she clicked the unlock button on her car keys. Glancing up, her heart dropped as panic rose from her stomach, through her chest, and to her neck.
A man she hadn’t seen in months stood between her and her vehicle. He stared into her silently with a menacing aura. Dressed in a dark black suit, tailored to sit against his body, he had thick gray hair, expensive rings adorning his fingers, and shoes shined to perfection.
Ms. Flanders clenched her jaw swallowing. The grip on the strap of her bag was taut, “H-Hello?” she called out to him.
The man readjusted his shoulders while rubbing his pointer finger and thumb along the line of his beard. His nostrils flared as he blinked once, “Did you think over the offer? We met well over three months ago and you still have yet to answer us. Did you have a change of heart, even after all we’ve shown you? I don’t like to be kept waiting, Doctor Flanders. I specifically remember telling you not to do that, do you remember?” His voice was cold, calculating, and fed up with whatever she tried to pull over on him.
He took her silence and ignorance personally.
Remembering his voice well, Ms. Flanders wet her lips as she blinked back tears. She glanced around for any of the security cars driving the perimeter, but the moment she needed them, they weren’t there. Inhaling a deep breath, the deep seeded pit of fear she’d buried away for three months flourished to fruition. She clenched her jaw staring at his chilled, impatient stare, “I-I know I have been slow on the uptake, sir, but there was a lot for me to mull over. This, this is a very big decision that I didn’t think I was fully comfortable to make on a whim with—”
“—WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?” His voice boomed through the night sky.
The keys dropped from her hand as she visibly jumped where she stood. Knowing that this was not going to remedy itself with her negligence again, she shut her eyes and rolled her lips in. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes and rolled down the sides of her cheeks. The only thought in her mind were the smiling faces of her students. The next generation she wanted to help more than ever because of people like him. They may not have been close, but they were all she had since her husband left.
They were the reason she lived.
She clenched the bag in her grip, stared down at the concrete, and slightly shook her head, “No. No, I’m not interested. I morally cannot accept your offer.” She whispered turning to look at him.
A long, painful moment of silence passed between them, but she could practically see the way he seethed. Then, his entire mood dropped from disappointment to a lack of interest for the woman in front of him, “This was not how I saw your life ending.” He sighed.
Ms. Flanders’s vision blurred as the world around her darkened. Shaken to her core, her lips parted as she stumbled back, “W-what?” she asked. Unable to hold herself together, the last thing she did was wet herself in fear.
Before she could scream, he pulled out a gun, shut one eye, and shot. Blood and brain matter sprayed from the back of her head. Her body twisted to the left and fell onto the asphalt with a sickening thud.
Silently, the headlights of a black car flicked on behind him and pulled out of the space beside her car.
The man lowered the gun, leaned his head back, and cracked his neck to one side. Feeling a rush of adrenaline course through his body, he waited expectantly until the car stopped beside him.
The back door opened and a young, beautiful woman, dressed impeccably like him, stepped out with a dark purple cloth in her hand. Holding the gun out to his side, she quickly took it into her grasp and began to rub down the handle.
He glanced over the parking lot camera resting on the lampposts and sighed, “Acquire the footage and scrub it.” he ordered.
The woman calmly continued to run the cloth along the butt of the gun before she casually glanced over to the blood pooling around Ms. Flanders’s awkwardly placed body, “We’re already on it. Do you want us to clean up this…mess sir?” she asked.
A smirk tugged on the end of his lips before he turned his head; pleased by the mere sight of her, “There’s no need…” His gaze then returned to the building across the parking lot, “…let this be a message to the others who don’t fall in line.” He said.
The woman nodded, “Understood.” She whispered stepping back on her stilettos.
He turned his back to Ms. Flanders for the last time and ducked into the backseat, “Make sure we figure out when the funeral is. I would like to attend.” He stated.
The woman stared down at her for a moment and she turned to him, “Leave it to me.” She whispered shutting the door behind him.
Rounding the vehicle, she set the safety on the gun and joined him on the other side. Slowly, the car pulled away and started down the quiet road towards its next destination; leaving the body of a beloved professor behind.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VZX8Q9L
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