The Gargoyle in the College, page 1
The Gargoyle in the College
Alina Riley
Copyright © 2024 by Alina Riley
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Contents
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
27. Epilogue
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Chapter 1
Laura
So... I take a breath as I shield my face against the rain and wind that splashes at me.
I must be the unluckiest person ever.
I have to make it to the check-in counter for my dorm before it closes or I’ll be sleeping on the street for the night, except my car broke, one of the wheels of my luggage fell off, and it is pouring...
A bolt of lightning strikes through the sky, and the thunder that follows shakes the ground.
This college campus is such a stupid place... This place is so proud of its history that the gate and the wall are all old-fashioned with a dumb-looking gargoyle sitting in the center of the road, making the road itself fork for him.
I roll my eyes at the stone statue. It is a big one. The gargoyle’s wings spread to the side. He hunches over with his arms between his legs, grabbing onto the edge of the stage he stands on as if he’s examining people walking by, waiting to strike and bite them. Such a dumb statue.
There is ugly green moss on it, looking as if no one has taken care of him for years. Pretty much what I expected from the photos of this place.
I hurry past the statue. The primitive road is soaked. I can only hope the mud won’t make it too hard on my luggage.
The gargoyle looks to be muscular and pretty strong, but that’s just a statue and won’t help me.
I check my watch again. I really need to get going.
There are trees around. The scent of wet mud and leaves may as well suffocate me. Maybe it will be pleasant when the weather is good. For now, that’s definitely not a good time to even take an extra second here.
It doesn’t take minutes before I’m drenched. I trudge through the road, hoping the weather will get better.
Except... Knowing my luck, that’s not happening.
A shadow flashes by my side. I jump to dodge from whatever that is, only tripping over the luggage and...
Fuck... Wet mud sticks to my ass and pain spreads through my poor butt.
“Fuck this stupid place!” I shout into the heavy rain. No one is around, no one will hear me, no one will care.
I stare at the luggage, which sits on the ground, not going to pull its own weight.
I push against the ground, picking myself up. If I don’t make it to the counter in time, it’s going to be worse.
Why isn’t this place designed for cars too? There has to be a better plan than this, even though I know that this place was built before cars were even invented. But it doesn’t mean...
I turn around by the gargoyle. If that thing wasn’t sitting in the middle of the path, or someone actually moved its ass out of the way, the road would be wide enough, and cars could get through the gate. Then I wouldn’t have to be a dumbass on the road. It’s all his fault.
It must be dumb to blame a statue for how miserable I am, but I don’t want to care.
I grab the handle of the luggage, getting it back up and ready to go. This fucking rain...
When I arrive at the dorm, I’m a total mess. I push the door open, hoping no one except the receptionist will be there.
The lady stares at me. “Um... Are you here to register?”
I nod. “Yeah.” I drag the luggage with me into the lobby. Everything inside is clean and tidy, except me...
The lady puts up a smile and pretends to overlook my mess. My cheeks burn so hot when I pull my purse to get my student card. I wish I could turn invisible.
As soon as I arrive at the door to my dorm room, I put the key in and turn, but it won’t move. I pull the key, turn it upside down, and try again, but the lock still won’t budge.
Fuck my luck...
I stare at my luggage, not wanting to haul it to the lobby again. But knowing my luck... It may be lost somehow if I don’t bring it with me. I check my watch again. I better hurry before the counter will close.
The lady at the counter apologizes and swaps my key. Apparently, she mixed it up.
I’m too tired to even be mad at her. I turn to leave the counter. “Please tell me the hot water and everything is fine.”
She checks the notice board behind her. “It looks like the case.” She pulls a slip of paper from the side and gives it to me. “If something breaks, just call this number.”
I resist the urge to glare at her. The paper doesn’t seem to be good luck. But at the same time, if I don’t take it now, maybe I will end up needing it later.
It must be the gargoyle statue’s fault. It watched me when I walked through the gate. I don’t even want to care why I thought about it again, but it is what it is.
The ride in the lift feels like a lifetime. It will be great if I could teleport myself all the way to the bed, fresh and clean, that’s for sure.
Please... No one is there. Nothing can be worse than...
The door opens to a group of people...
They look at me and their chatter dies. My cheeks glow red even though there’s no need to be. I live here, just like them. There’s no reason for me to feel out of place.
I pull my luggage with me, hoping the mud from the road that may still be on my ass won’t be too obvious.
They part way at the door for me to walk past, then they get into the lift and I hurry my way through the corridor, hoping none of those people will remember me. More than likely, they are all in different classes from mine and with a different major, so...
I take a breath. It should be fine...
This time, the key works smoothly. My room smells great, even though this is the first time I’m there.
I put everything to the side, pulling out my clothes to get to the shower. I need to get out of these stinky clothes that seem to be dripping water.
This can’t be further from what I hoped for my time in college, but knowing my luck, this may be about right.
The hot water is working, thankfully. The warm wash brings the sucky day away. I wet my hair, only to remember that...
I forgot to bring in the bottle of shampoo and body wash...
This fucking life...
Chapter 2
Laura
The weather is a lot better today. It feels like I can finally breathe and there’s no risk of rain in sight.
I make sure I bring my umbrella regardless, just in case. When I have my umbrella with me, it’s almost guaranteed that it won’t rain.
The first lesson of the year went smoothly. I yawn as I get out of the lecture hall, making sure the foldable umbrella is inside my backpack.
For my first week, I think I should walk around the school area to get familiar with places. I take a breath of the fresh scent of trees and plants. This place is famous for its historical aura and greenery, which is pretty obvious when I’m here.
This is what I enjoy and part of the reason why I choose to study here. It feels like I’m studying in a museum.
Across the road leads to the gate and the gargoyle statue, which is still sitting there, watching the streets with those sharp, intense eyes.
If it was a living thing, it’d be scary.
There are a few tourist-looking people taking photos with the statue. Technically, the statue and what’s behind it is private land, but usually, the guards will let people take photos.
There is green moss on the statue, which... kind of look sad.
A statue doesn’t have feelings and surely can’t be upset about what’s growing on it. It probably has been standing there for decades. What’s there to stare at anyway?
Someone taps my shoulder, and I jump at that, spinning around to see...
I clear my throat. “Sorry, I don’t mean to stand in your way.”
I take a step back from the group of other students. I hate this... College should be a time for me to start fresh, but I still don’t want to make myself to get to know new people, even though I probably should.
One of the guys says, “You’re in the same class as us, right? In cultural studies.”
I nod. “Yeah, I think so.” I think those of us are the only ones around the lecture hall at this time of the day.
He asks, “We’re trying to arrange for a dinner for everyone in the class. Will you join?”
No, thank you, I’d rather be on my own and spend my evenings reading in
Fuck my life... Why do I feel the need to agree to that stupidity? I’m going to be the odd one and it just won’t work...
He grins. “That’s great. We’ll meet at the restaurant at the school at six. Look forward to seeing you!”
He leaves with the group, looking like they already know each other.
How did that even happen?
I don’t understand people with a lot of friends, maybe I’m too introverted for my own good.
Now that I’ve agreed to go, maybe I should take my time and enjoy solitude while I still have it.
Chapter 3
Gisett
Well... I stare at the other side of the road like I’ve been doing for more days than I can remember.
But peace is better than...
Fuck... Is this the time of the year again?
A group of students, drunk ones, come from across the streets.
I am the guardian, the gargoyle of the college!
But they soon arrive, not even caring about the history of the campus and what I’ve done for this place. They spray cream on my face as if that’s funny or something...
These silly humans...
I hate them. But I’m supposed to remain in my place, which is boring already, yet...
They laugh, and a few kick me. I don’t know what’s going on in their heads. They can’t hurt me with their silly kicks. All they can hurt is their own feet.
One of the women, the one with golden hair who tried to move into the dorm yesterday, stands to the side, clearly not joining in with the rest of the group.
I remember her. She was the one with broken luggage who fell on her ass.
She seems nice. At least she doesn’t seem to enjoy making me look silly.
I can growl and scare away all these humans, but I’m not allowed to. It’s my job to protect humans, even when they don’t care to leave me alone.
I resist the urge to wince when a few of them climb onto me. I’m going to be the shame of my kind, geez...
The cute woman remains by the side of the group, staring at me with concern. No one has ever cared about a statue and looked at me like that.
Maybe I should have helped her with her luggage. That small box of stuff is easy to handle. She can’t weigh a ton either.
But she would be scared and... Maybe it would be far-fetched to hope that she’d stop the rest of the students.
I don’t remember who started this “climb the gargoyle” or this “let’s spray cream on the gargoyle so the ants will haunt him” thing. But... Messing with me has become a tradition for students new to the college.
Another person climbs onto my shoulder. The ones on the ground take photos and laugh. I suppose they are enjoying their time, but I’d be happier if it didn’t involve me.
Ouch... One of the dumbasses stomps on my knee... Someone should teach them to treat me with kindness.
They keep laughing and shoving one another. Students are bad, drunk ones are worse.
The cream on my face tickles. I’m not a piece of cake. Why do they feel the need to do that?
Except the students shout for each other to take turns on me... I just want peace.
“Laura, It’s your turn.” One of the boys, who may be the leader of this group, waves to the cute woman to the side.
Her eyes widen. “Me?”
“Yes, take a photo with us.” He points at me.
Is she going to climb the gargoyle?
She goes to the base of the statue and puts her hand on my thigh. “Like this?”
“Do something more!”
She stares at me. My heart beat races as I wait for what she has in store for me. I hope it won’t be too bad. There were others going hard on my wings, as if they wanted to tear them off me.
She climbs onto the base where I stand, grabs my wing, and pokes my cheek. “Better?”
Maybe not all students are that creative when it comes to messing with the gargoyle.
The crowd boos at her. She rolls her eyes. “Fine...” She watches me again and mouths a sorry.
I get that. It won’t be easy to do nothing when everyone wants some “fun.”
She mouths a sorry as she puts her arm behind my back and grabs both of my wings. Her small hands don’t hurt compared to those who try to tear at my wings.
One would think she’s silly for feeling sorry over poking fun at a statue anyway.
But I like her.
The crowd cheers and takes a few photos before it’s another person’s round.
It’s such torture when most of their touches tickle, but I have to remain still. I silently chant my spell, putting most of my body back into pieces of stone, shutting down my senses.
It will be easier to remain still when I lock up my ability to move.
One year, some guys decided that tickling me was their game, so... It was better than tearing my wings, yet... Humans aren’t supposed to know that I live. It would be hilariously bad for me if I laughed.
The woman, Laura, heads back to the sideline as she watches me trying to survive another year of craziness.
This is such a night...
Chapter 4
Laura
Maybe it is silly to feel sorry for a statue, but I do.
I stared as it... survived through the torture.
It was a tradition for every freshman to pose and take a photo with the gargoyle statue, but... Putting cream on its face is a bit mean. Not to mention, what if they break the statue? It may have stood for decades, but... It feels wrong to do that to a historical thing.
I get out of bed and head to the window. From my window, I can barely see the statue. It is far away, but not too far.
No one is around the statue. It is already late. I have lessons tomorrow, so I should be sleeping, but I keep thinking about the statue. The cream and the gross moss are still on it, which no one cares about.
Maybe it has to wait until the rain is here again for the cream to be gone. Before that, ants may be there chewing on it.
In the tradition of messing with the statue, there’s no session of picking up the mess. The statue is just expected to survive it.
I rub my temple. It’s just dumb. A statue won’t feel anything. Why do I have to care about it?
Gargoyle is ugly anyway.
Well... It has wings and pointy ears like a bat, then... those eyes are scary. It is set there because people believe that it can fend out evil stuff. For me, it may as well scare me away from the campus.
My cheek warms up when I remember the cringe-worthy photo I took with the statue. Why did I think that’s a good idea?
But the poor statue...
It keeps lingering in my mind, refusing to let go of me as if it has something to tell me.
But that’s impossible. It’s a statue, dammit.
The streetlight near the statue flickers. It must be bored standing there on its own.
The sky is clear, and it seems like it won’t rain. Maybe I can clean the gargoyle.
Well... Who on earth comes up with such a dumb idea? It’s still hot this time of the year, I could be sleeping.
But there seems to be an echo in my chest. It may as well be the gargoyle asking for help. But it’s more likely just my thoughts, not a whisper from a statue, which is essentially a big carved stone.
I check the time, it’s getting late. I should know the better thing to do compared to running outside trying to clean a statue.
My lesson the next day is early, making it even easier to make up my mind.
I leave the window, closing the blind. I should sleep. The party and the people tired me out, even though all I did was sit in the corner and try not to make eye contact with anyone. I should have just refused to join the party, but I didn’t want to make myself look like a bigger nerd than I already am.
I should stop at my bed to get back onto it. Instead, I head to the door, opening it to check the corridors.
It is dim out there, which is fitting when it is late in the night. Only a few lights are still on. There’s no rule saying that I can’t be outside. I just have to make sure I bring my student card and keys with me.
The statue isn’t too far away. I can go with a bucket of water and clean the gargoyle within half an hour. There’s no rule saying that I can’t clean the statue anyway. I’ll just use water, it won’t be bad for the gargoyle.
