Tariq jerked awake, his head hitting the wall behind him. He quickly rolled onto his back and sat up, his hands shooting to his neck.

  “Holy shit…” he mumbled. After confirming his head was still attached, he took a deep breath.

  What was that…?

  The dream felt real—the rage, the pain, something piercing his chest. Tariq shook his head and took a breath. He’d have time to worry about that later.

  He got to his feet and inspected his body. Once he confirmed nothing was out of the ordinary, he paused. The drumming was back—but this time it was… muffled. Focusing, Tariq could make out voices mixed with it, and… screaming. Shaking his head, he realized one set of drums was louder and closer than the rest.

  He turned toward Zora, snoring on the floor a few feet away, and knelt beside her.

  “No way…” he breathed.

  These weren’t drums. They were heartbeats!

  Tariq cleared his throat, the amazement could wait. Reaching out he nudged her shoulder. “Hey Z, wake up.”

  She didn’t respond.

  Tariq sighed. Zora had always been hard to wake up—and even harder to get out of bed.

  “Z!” he shouted.

  Still nothing. There was only one thing that never failed.

  He grabbed her shirt, lifted her slightly, and thumped her forehead like he normally did. Her head snapped back violently.

  “Oh shit!” Tariq dropped her as she stirred.

  Oh, she’s alive, thank god.

  “Owwwww…” Zora groaned, rubbing her forehead. “I’m up, I’m up…”

  Tariq stared at his hands. What the hell’s happening to me?

  “Uh… Tariq?” Zora said.

  He looked up to see her pointing at his legs. Looking down, his eyes widened—his shirt and pants were dissolving.

  “Oh… OH!” he yelped, ripping them off and tossing them aside.

  “I don’t think it’s the clothes, Tariq,” Zora said with a chuckle.

  He looked again. His underwear and shoes were dissolving too. Panic surged. He spun toward the sink and twisted the handle—it snapped off in his hand, water gushing out.

  "Shit!" He tossed the handle aside, cupped water, and dumped it over himself. It fizzled into nothing.

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  His dignity had only seconds left.

  Zora’s laughter echoed behind him.

  “Zora! Help!” he begged.

  She wiped tears from her eyes and shrugged, her gaze drifting downward. Tariq quickly covered himself.

  Boy, stop panicking, a voice boomed.

  Tariq whipped around. “Bro—WHAT!?”

  “Relax,” Zora said. “They’re just clothes.”

  Before Tariq could respond, the ashes his clothes had become began to swirl around him, forming a small pair of pants and a t-shirt. His mouth dropped open as he stared at the dark gray… clothing? As his shoes finished dissolving, more ash rose and attached itself, completing the outfit.

  Zora stared, her mouth hanging open.

  “Wh… huh…” She tilted her head. “How did you do that?”

  “I—I didn’t,” Tariq said.

  Zora raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to respond—but a knock at the door startled them both.

  “Tariq? Zora? Are you in there?” Abemi’s voice called.

  They exchanged a look.

  “Yeah… Abemi? Is that you?” Zora asked.

  Something felt wrong.

  The door jerked as Abemi tried the handle. “What are you two doing in there? It’s been hours—you need to come out!”

  “We can figure this out later,” Zora said, stepping toward the door.

  Tariq grabbed her shirt. “Wait.”

  She turned to protest, but stopped as he raised a finger to his lips.

  The heartbeats were fading—one by one—until only a few remained. Zora’s… and his.

  There was no heartbeat on the other side of the door.

  “That’s not Abemi,” Tariq whispered.

  The door shook violently.

  “Tariq, you’re being ridiculous,” Zora said, brushing his hand away. “Who else would—”

  “OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!” the voice shrieked, slamming against it.

  Zora backed away behind Tariq as the lights flickered.

  “If you won’t come out,” it snarled, “I’ll come in!”

  The pounding stopped. Silence followed—broken only by Zora’s panicked breathing. For a moment, Tariq thought it was over.

  Then came a screech.

  The center of the metal door buckled inward as black tendrils punched through before retracting, leaving a warped hole.

  Tariq tapped Zora’s hip and pointed at a stall.

  “Stall. Now.”

  The tendrils surged back through the hole, flooding the room.

  “I’ve been looking for you two!” Abemi’s voice laughed. “The university’s power couple! I want your bodies, give them to me!”

  Tariq shoved Zora backward as the tentacles rushed forward. The wall behind them crumbled as she crashed through it. Turning, he saw she’d made a hole—and beyond it was the university courtyard.

  Oh thank god!

  Tariq jumped through after her. His stomach dropped as he realized how far they were falling. He shut his eyes and landed hard, the ground cracking beneath his feet.

  Opening his eyes, he saw Zora staring upward. He followed her gaze just in time to see the tentacles spilling out of the hole above them.

  A loud howl tore through the air.

  Tariq turned—and froze.

  Across the courtyard stood a massive white werewolf, a limp body hanging from its jaws.

  “Damn it,” Tariq heard Abemi mutter. “It’s found me.”

  The creature dropped the body and snarled, blood dripping from its mouth as its red eyes locked onto him.

  I can’t fight two at once…

  Tentacles behind them. A werewolf in front.

  What do I do? What do I do!?

  The werewolf crept closer.

  “T…” Zora said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of Abemi”

  “Z, you can't—”

  She shook her head. “I think I can.” She smiled, patting his shoulder. “Go. I’ve got your back.”

  She stepped past him.

  Tariq took a breath. Right—Zora could always handle herself.

  He cracked his neck as she called back, “So, who’s gonna win faster?”

  Tariq smirked.

  “Me.”