The sun had barely set when Aschan Pete shuffled onto the Miskatonic Quad of The University. Sunsets on the quad never felt warm, but left a chill, deep in the bones. Most students went indoors around this time, turning to their dorm dens of debauchery early. The only sound on campus was Duke's panting as he came loping up behind Pete. Duke was agitated; he hadn't wanted to come onto the campus at all, but Pete promised Professor Armitage. And so here they were.
It wasn't just the silence that had Duke unsettled though. Pete could feel something else was watching them. Something... Duke was gone. Pete was back in the jungle. "No, no, not again!" Pete ran and ran.
And tripped.
He was back down the hole.
With her.
There was a giggle. "Asssshhhcan! Ashshcan!" A grin appeared in the corner of the darkness. The teeth moved closer. Bark appeared around it. Something insectile moved under the wood and out of between the grinning teeth. Pete found himself grabbing it and shoving it, wriggling and squirming, down his throat. He choked and spat on the squirming thing and-
There was something wet and warm and smothering covering his face. Hot breath panted in his nose and the soft whine roused him to his feet. Duke continued nuzzling him, licking Pete's hand. Pete sighed and rubbed Duke's muzzle reassuringly.
The air in Pete's lungs came out his mouth in hot clouds. Duke growled, getting between Pete and the... thing... that had appeared. it was floating. Four eyes. That little girl's voice came out of it. Duke was making ready to lunge, a deep growl erupting from between clenched jaws. Pete grabbed Duke by the collar and somehow managed to yank his snarling friend away. They broke into a run. The Thing did not follow, but floated the other way.
Pete didn't stop running and dragging until they were in front of the campus library. Duke was still bristling and growling. Pete wanted to stop and take a minute, but Duke was so worked up... he was going to charge whatever it was the instant Pete let him go. So Pete grabbed the handkerchief that Professor Armitage had given him earlier that day. Professor Rice apparently had a bit of a penchant for handkerchiefs and Duke had a very keen sense of smell, not to mention a dear love of tracking. So Pete, rubbing behind his friend's ears and whispering sweet nothings, put the cloth to Duke's nose. Duke couldn't help himself. He stopped growling, and sniffed.
Duke was off.
They stopped in front of the Humanities Building. The sun had sunk behind the horizon, burying the campus in a frosty dusk that made Pete's fingertips tingle. Like the frost the frost that had been in his throat when-
"Hey Mister, you okay?" Duke whined in unison with the freshman, who was wearing a coat. It was July. She picked up Pete, with Duke licking her face in thanks. Giggling, she began petting Duke, who very happily kept licking her gloved hands. Pete was a bit red in the face with embarrassment, but the girl was so sweet that Pete couldn't help but smile back at her. "Who're you looking for, at this hour?" she asked, her smile warming the g loom.
"Professor Rice, Miss. I was told he'd be on campus at this hour."
"Oh, I'm Georgia" she said, extending her hand. Pete shook it. She was still warm, despite the gathering cold. "I'm one of Professor Rice's pupils. he's still in the Administration Building. But it's locked now. Jazz, one of the janitors, had just finished locking up."
"I need to see Professor Rice, right away. He's in danger."
"Well we'll need to find Jazz." Georgia pointed behind them. "He's probably at the library by now. If we hurry we may be able to catch up."
That feeling. Of being watched. It was back. Pete had no idea what... he couldn't...
Georgia grabbed his hands. "Hey! What do you think you're doing???"
There was blood and skin under Pete's fingernails; deep trench marks were in his arm. Pete shook his head, wincing in pain, wiping his hands on his dingy pants. "Um, I'm sorry... I didn't..." Georgia gave him an incredulous glance. "Something ain't right with this campus. Jazz can help us uncover it." As they began walking back towards the library Pete saw a fire axe in a glass box, on the side of the Administration Building. He walked over to it and broke it open. Georgia gasped, but Pete didn't flinch. "We're going to need this."
"You gonna put that axe back? Or do things need to get unpleasant?" An elderly gentleman in overalls came around the corner.
"You Jazz?"
"Who wants to know?"
Pete chuckled. He set down the axe. "I need to see Professor Rice, who's supposedly in the Administration Building. I know things look crazy... I look a bit crazy." Pete laughed, hoping Jazz wouldn't notice all the blood. He did. "Look, Professor Rice needs my help and I've gotten more than a bit roughed up trying to find him, but I promise Professor Rice will look worse 'less I can get there. Come with us." Pete held out the axe, arm still tripping. "If you don't like it you can whack my head off."
Jazz looked down at Duke. "The dog likes you. I hope that's good enough." He took the axe.
Screams were heard from the quad. A student was running down from the quad, screeching about some strange animal coming from the Science Building. Jazz made to run in that direction, but Pete stopped him. "It's after Professor Rice. We need to get to him first."
Jazz nodded. "You sure seem to know a lot about what's going on."
"Not really, I just know enough."
"I need to go. I need to make sure." Georgia waited a moment, but nobody said anything that changed her mind.
Jazz handed her the axe. "Just in case."
Georgia nodded. And then she was gone.
Pete, Duke, and Jazz ran to the Administration Building. Darkness had fully claimed the campus. Jazz unlocked the faded wooden doors with an old brass key.
A tentacle grabbed Duke and pulled him into the darkness beyond, yipping and howling. Pete kicked in the door, screaming. The room beyond was a scene of carnage and terror. Just next to the door was a fire axe, lying in an open hand. Pete vacated that hand.
There was a crash and a snapping sound, like a twig. Jazz's eyes would never close again.
Pete charged.
Duke stumbled to his feet and jumped.
The floating thing was sundered a half a dozen ways before it blinked.
Pete and Duke fell down, heavily. And took a minute to breathe. Well, Pete did. Duke licked Pete.
There was a rustling in a nearby closet. Professor Rice tumbled out of it, cutting his hand on the edge of a chair.
"Professor Rice... I presume" panted Pete. "Professor Armitage sent me.... said you might be in trouble."
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