Charlotte Branson dreaded the day graduation came. All the students at college celebrated it except her. Everyone seemed to already have a plan, a future; she had nothing. She was worried about just putting food on the table at home. But when she sees the ad in the classifieds for a job at her local university, her fortune turns. She got her dream job and even the varsity football star as her boyfriend. Just when everything seemed almost perfect, she discovered that her boss was not who he seemed. The eccentric Anthropology professor, Dean Brinkley, showed her a side of reality she never dreamt of. Elated, she felt special with her new-found talents. Obsessed with her new life, her new self, Charlotte took everything for granted and even thought nothing of it when girls began to disappear around campus . . . until it was too late. Because of her foolishness, the most precious thing might now be ripped from her forever.

Wicce

A novelBy K.Y. Fong

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 K.Y. Fong
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-8421-0

Chapter One

She was sitting on the edge of a flowerbed, basking under the early summer sun, the fragrance of tulips in her nostrils. The morning had started with a chill but she could feel herself starting to perspire a little now under her spring coat. It was one of those weird moments when you looked around and you felt out of place. The whole front yard of the Upper State College was buzzing with students who had just been dismissed. They were all holding their final scores and chatting enthusiastically about their summer vacation, their plans for the coming fall, the year after, the rest of their lives. Take for example the prom queen and her friends standing a few meters away on the right with their professionally manicured nails and designer couture. The prom queen was screaming periodically with hysteria as she boasted to her friends about the round-the-world cruise her daddy was taking her and the cute rich guys she would meet on the boat. There, on the left stood the school's famous lovebirds, whispering about their wedding plans and where they were going on their honeymoon. Even the KZs, the skateboard gang idling in front of her with their long hair and baggy jeans, were talking about some "really dope" idea they thought up and that they were destined to make it big, whatever that meant.

"Hey, Charlotte. Any plans for the summer?" A skinny girl with blond hair and smiling blue eyes plopped down beside her. Charlotte returned a weak smile and did not know what to say. The truth was she did not have any plans, not for the summer, not for the year after, not for ... the rest of her life even. She really did not understand why everyone was so hyped about leaving college. It was the best four years of her life. Today was the day she dreaded most.

"I don't know, Caitlin."

"Come on! We are finally free! We should celebrate!" Caitlin positively beamed at her. Caitlin was a special one. She's gorgeous; half of the guys in school had had a crush on her or perhaps still do. She came from a mid-upper class family. Her father Daniel Ford was a well-known forensic accountant. He had even appeared on TV a couple of times. Caitlin had it all: looks, grades, popularity, and the most amazing thing of all, a great personality. She was one of the few who chose to hang around ordinary folks; mediocre people like Charlotte, instead of the popular crowd. Over the years, they had become best friends. Sometimes, Charlotte had to admit somewhat with guilt that she was sometimes jealous of her. Her best friend even had a cool name. Caitlin Ford. Modern. Feminine. Chic. Charlotte secretly shook herself inside. Her friend was now peering at her with those watery blue eyes, sincerely concerned.

"I ... ar ... I might just take a few days off, you know to relax ... then ... then maybe start looking for a job?" Charlotte almost felt ashamed saying that. Caitlin had been accepted into a nursing school in Washington, but for Charlotte, she wasn't even sure if she would end up on the streets in the next month or two if she did not get a job soon. Her mother had put most of their savings toward her college education. Charlotte was half regretting she took the conversation down this direction. She had taken a double major at college, Anthropology and Archaeology, not because they were her favorite but they were the only programs with the lowest tuitions. Now she was worried it would be tough to find a decent job with those credentials.

"Come on, Charlotte. Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Have you got a dress for tomorrow?" Honestly Charlotte still hadn't decided what she's wearing to their graduation ceremony tomorrow. Caitlin gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "Come on. Let's go shopping then."

Chapter Two

The sun was setting outside and the lingering sunshine filtered through the window shutters, spilling onto the kitchen table. Charlotte flipped through her organizer, disheartened. Four months had already passed and she had only gotten less than five interviews, no offers. She was feeling desperate. She flipped to the back cover and pulled out a photograph tucked halfway inside. It was a picture of Caitlin and her on the day of their graduation. Charlotte was wearing the strapless purple dress she found with Caitlin at the mall that afternoon before graduation day. She thought the color was too bright for her taste but it turned out great. She looked like a different person. With Caitlin looking her usual best in a sea-foam chiffon dress, the two of them beaming at the camera, they looked like almost like models out of a fashion magazine. That felt like years ago. She hadn't heard from Caitlin for over two months now and Charlotte admitted that she felt quite deserted.

She tucked the photograph back into the sleeve and turned half-heartedly back to the classifieds. She looked through the whole page again with a red pen in hand but couldn't find anything to circle. She heard keys turning in the lock. Her mother came through the front door a second later, returning from work and carrying one plastic bag in each hand.

"Hi, honey. What would you like for dinner tonight? I have –", her mother said as she set the bags on the kitchen counter, "roast beef and split peas or ... chicken and mushroom." When she did not get an answer, Mrs. Branson turned around to look at her daughter. Her weathered face looked concerned as Charlotte was sitting very still poring over the classifieds. "What's wrong?" She asked as she smoothed her hands over her pink uniform.

"Nothing. I'm not hungry." Charlotte lied, putting down the newspaper. She was starving but she had grown sick of the food her mother had been bringing home. Her mother worked as a caretaker at a senior home and for the past two months she had been bringing home leftovers from the home's kitchen. The food was bland and tasted like paper but Charlotte felt ashamed to complain. If she had landed a job by now, they would be buying fresh fruits and vegetables from the grocery store, or even going out to the corner diner for a treat once in a while.

"I'm going out for a walk." Charlotte felt like escaping. She grabbed her coat from the coat stand at the front door and headed out.

Charlotte pulled the grey windbreaker tight around her as she headed to the community park. The park was anything but a serene place for a quick getaway. It was in the middle of a jungle of low-rise condominiums and run-down townhouses like the one Charlotte and her mother lived in. Almost everyone in the community passed through the park every single day, a busy shortcut through the mishmash of bricks and cement. The sun had set now and the last few pedestrians were rushing to head home, dying for a nice warm meal. A strong breeze picked up as Charlotte sat down on one of the graffiti-covered benches behind an overgrown bush. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to clear her head and calm her emotions. What choices do I have now? She could take up more tutoring jobs. She had been tutoring kids in the neighborhood since she was in high school. But there were less and less families in Lower State that could afford a tutor now and the long commute to Upper State or even the Metrocity meant she wouldn't be able to take as many tutoring jobs as she would like to make it worthwhile. May be she should consider taking several part-time jobs, serving tables or cleaning toilets or whatever. At least that could help pay the bills for...