The Demoness of Chengdu

 The repetitive thump-thump-THUD of a soccer ball striking the cinderblock wall vibrated through Sam’s desk. He flinched, snapping his mechanical pencil lead against the dense organic chemistry formula on his notebook. Dark smudges stained the page where his finger had dragged across it in frustration. Outside the window, adjacent to his university's apartment-style dormitories facing the field, laughter erupted. Sam rubbed his temples. He’d chosen this room specifically – close to the library, away from the louder frat rows. He hadn’t accounted for the adjacent soccer field used obsessively by the college team, or his specific sensitivity to rhythmic bass-like pounding.  Who plans something like this anyway? The dorm security made excuses for them, not a bit of support for him. Oh you should stay out later? Why are you in the room so early? Didn't they realise how demanding this subject was? What's that? A darn college is made for sports not for studying? Of course! My log...

 “Don’t run off. We only have three days.” Alex said as he chaperoned the group forward. He hadn’t had a moment's peace since they arrived. He was the junior teacher though, and so he was basically thrown to the wolves. Hormonal, badly dressed, wolves. Surely school uniforms would have been professional. He buttoned up his own blazer and took a headcount. “Anybody seen Cassie?” He asked. Everybody laughed. She was an exchange student from America, pretty and actually fairly benevolent girl. Not a troublemaker. At least in his mind. He had prayed she would just turn up somewhere. But an hour at the British museum passed. He was sweating, had he lost a bloody student? He had one of her friends call her, but no response. “Sir, do you think Cassie is getting her organs stole?” The students laughed. “Don’t joke about that. She probably… got some stupid idea in her head like going to see a visiting girl pop band. She’ll turn up.” Would she though? How was she going to find her way throug...

  Jack opened the door to the toilet just in time. The distress in his eyes would be visible to anyone who saw him on the way there. He pulled up his t-shirt to see his stomach rippling. Ulcerous pains struck all over his guts. “Just.. a few more seconds.. I was studying you b-“ Oh I’m sorry nerd, were you gonna call me a bitch?” Andrea spoke up, with her clear Italian American Brooklyn accent coming out of his mouth. He felt a purposefully crushing pain in his testicles followed by a smoky sexy laugh. He groaned. “I don’t give a fuck about your study and social calendar.” “I didn’t even recover from the last time.” He screamed while his voice was getting higher. The poorly healed wounds he had were burning from the extra adrenaline and his skin tearing and ripping. His ashy blonde hair   grew softer, shampooing all the dirt out of it. His eyesight began to improve as he dropped his thick rimmed glasses and shook out his lengthening raven black hair. His blue eyes lo...