Cynaps

It’s autumn 2014. Cold’s slowly creeping in, leaves turning brown. College freshmen getting ready to start their new, hopefully exciting lives. Here I am, a sophomore, all alone in my apartment off-campus. Hungover, barely able to make out anything around me. Glasses, half-eaten pizza, beer cans, clothes I don’t even think are mine. Tried to get up off the floor and then as if my sense of smell suddenly returned, I was overwhelmed by this strong cocktail of smells, odors, a stench I couldn’t fathom. Then I stepped in vomit…guess I threw up all over the place. That must’ve been one hell of a night we had last night. What’s funny though, is that I can’t exactly account for what happened last night My brain was literally soaking in a cocktail of chemicals, drugs and alcohol. What the hell happened last night? I definitely didn’t come home alone but if not, then with whom? All I remember was this party I was supposed to go to with Kate, Josh and Trent. Didn’t know who was hosting it though, was supposed to be a friend of Trent’s…where are they? Wait…where’s my phone? This place is a mess. I thought as I walked through all the filth. Was headed to my bedroom when I heard my phone ring. Seemed like the sound came from the kitchen. I hurried towards the sound of the ‘Star Wars’ theme song I had downloaded in the summer, which I thought was ninety-nine cents well spent. The kitchen was an even bigger mess than the other parts of the apartment I had walked through at the moment. There it was. My phone. Right there on the counter, next to a bowl of punch to the left, a half-empty vodka bottle to the right and used disposable plastic cups everywhere. Just before I could reach for my phone to answer the call, it went mute. Missed call- another one of sixteen other missed calls. All from an unknown number. Who could this be? And why were they calling? Guess I’ll just have to wait since I could call them back. Decided to call My roommate, Josh. Went straight to voicemail. Then, I tried calling Trent. Wasn’t any different. What’s going on? Both their phones can’t be turned off. This seemed quite unusual. Kate was the only one left to call. Hopefully, she can provide some answers. Searching through my call history, found her number. It was ringing…finally! Just when I thought I’d get some answers, my call got sent to voicemail. Tried over and over again. No luck. I just stood rooted to the spot, staring into the kitchen sink filled with filthy dishes, thinking hard on what to do next. Just then I heard a knock on the door. That could be Josh or Trent or Kate. I rushed towards the door and opened…