Shadows Out of Time

In the lecture hall, Emily sat beside Sean’s empty seat. Professor Vaughan stood at the front of the hall, reading the students’ names off his attendance sheet. Emily glanced around nervously. Was Sean sitting somewhere else? Why would he do that?

Her mind was a thousand miles away when Professor Vaughan called her name. He had to say it twice before she replied. “Here.” He checked her name off, then moved on. Emily focused, listening for the name Sean Walsh, both anticipating it and dreading it as Vaughan moved through the alphabet.

“Prisha Vidyarthi.”

“Here.”

“Jacqueline Wright.”

“Here.”

Emily stiffened. He’d skipped right past Sean’s name. That wasn’t something he would do by mistake. Sean had disappeared yesterday, the same day he was supposed to meet with Vaughan, and today the professor had purposely omitted Sean’s name while taking attendance. He had to know where Sean was, or what had happened to him.

After class, Emily got stuck in the swell of students exiting the lecture hall. By the time she made it outside, Professor Vaughan was gone. She checked her watch. His office hours didn’t start for another hour, but this was too important to wait. She hurried through the student parking lot to Professor Vaughan’s office and was about to knock on the door when his raised voice came from inside, making her pause.

“But you don’t need another,” he said. “You have me, don’t you? You promised!”

A harsh, buzzing whisper came in reply, startling her. She took a step backward.

Professor Vaughan’s voice came again. “I’ve done everything you asked. Why do I have to wait?”

More buzzing came in reply, but it sounded different this time. Lower in tone and volume, like a conspiratorial whisper, or a warning. A moment passed, and then the office door opened slightly. Vaughan filled the gap in the doorway, a thin smile creasing his face. He didn’t look surprised to see her.

“Hello, Miss Bannerman.”

“Oh,” she said. Her hand was still lifted in anticipation of knocking, and she lowered it slowly. “How did you know I was—?”

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“It’s about Sean,” she said. “I can’t find him anywhere, and he won’t answer my texts. I know he had an appointment with you yesterday. Did he show up?”

“He did.” Professor Vaughan sounded colder than usual, annoyed by her interruption. But what had she interrupted? What was that strange buzzing she’d heard? “Unfortunately, Mr. Walsh had very disappointing news. He told me he was dropping out and returning home immediately. A family emergency.”

She blinked in confusion. That wasn’t possible. He would have told her. Besides, she’d been to his dorm room and all his belongings were still there. She looked up at Professor Vaughan, who blocked the entrance to his office like a bouncer who didn’t want her in the club, and realized he was lying. It wasn’t even a very good lie. It was easily disproved, the kind of lie that someone who didn’t have much practice at lying would tell.

Another realization struck her then, worse than the last one. Professor Vaughan was lying because he knew something. Because he’d done something. Panic made her chest go tight, but she couldn’t let on that she knew he was lying.

Despite her efforts, he must have seen it in her face because he opened the door wider and said, “Why don’t you come inside?”

“Um, no thanks, I really should get going…” She hated how shaky her voice was, how scared she sounded. She wished her feet would move.

“I insist.” Professor Vaughan took her by the arm and pulled her inside. He closed the door behind her, and she watched with a lump in her throat as he locked it.

“I was just wondering about Sean, that’s all,” she said, her voice rising with fear. “It’s — it’s not important, really.”

She felt tears well up in her eyes. He was going to kill her, she was sure of it. He’d killed Sean, and now it was her turn.

“I suppose we can move up the time frame,” Professor Vaughan said. “They certainly won’t mind a change in schedule.”

“What?” She’d half-expected him to strangle her, but he walked to his desk instead. “What schedule?”

He opened the desk drawer and pulled out a gun. Emily gasped and froze where she stood. Oh God, I was right, he’s going to kill me! Tears welled up again and spilled down her cheeks. She knew she should scream for help, it was the first thing they taught in every self-defense class, but the only sound she could squeeze out was a choked sob. Even if she could scream, who would hear her? They were all the way at the end of the parking lot. He could shoot her right here and no one would know.

“I’m sorry, Miss Bannerman,” he said, coming around the desk toward her. “This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen.”

She took a step back, her breath hitching in her throat, her hands raised defensively.