“So the apartment used to belong to that tall dark guy? But everyone said he was a Satanist and a conjurer and such. I didn’t believe any of it, they were just jealous because he had that shiny car, weren’t they?” Danyana said. Iasmin had just told her what Aerek found out.
“That’s what I thought, too,” Iasmin agreed in a low voice.
“Still, I suppose it does fit. He just moved out about a year ago and nobody heard of him after that. He left nearly all of his things in there. I cannot believe we didn’t realize what apartment it was.” Danyana added, disappointed. “Do you think he made it?”
“I do not know,” Iasmin responded.
Danyana continued, “Maybe he created it but was frightened by it and left. Or maybe someone asked him to stay there to guard it. Either way, something must have scared him off. People don’t just leave like that.” Suddenly she stood up, “I’m going to call Aerek.”
“He’s already coming, and no, he doesn’t know any more than what I told you.” Iasmin informed her.
“I’m going to get a cappuccino then; do you want one, too?” Danyana asked to change the subject. She needed something to help her pass the time until Aerek came.
“Just a double espresso, I don’t like the stuff with the milk, remember?” Iasmin reminded her.
“I was only being polite and offering something fit for human consumption, Ias. I do not understand how you drink that black stuff. Last time I had any, and mind you, it was the only thing available, I had to pinch my nose, shut my eyes, and take it in big gulps just to get it down,” she joked. They had known each other for far too long and sometimes felt the need to torment one another about their more peculiar habits. Danyana reached for some jeans on the less organized side of the closet, though it was probably one of the cleanest places on campus, nevertheless. She found a wadded up five-dollar bill and spun to the door. The promise of a hot, sugary coffee always cheered her up.
However, she soon came back through the door, closely followed by Aerek. She ran into him on the stairs and decided that coffee could wait. She had many questions for him.
Unfortunately, for her, he honestly did not know anything that he had not already told Iasmin, and she to Danyana. She mentioned her theory that the guy from the apartment had either created the window or guarded it, but they could not anywhere without further information.
“From all this talk about a Satanist, I get the feeling the Window is nothing good; more like a pathway to hell than anything. We should leave it alone.”
“Leave it alone?” the girls asked incredulously.
“We shouldn’t mess with it. It won’t lead to anything good.” Aerek repeated.
“But we may be the only ones who know!” Danyana whined.
“I mean it! I have the feeling that it is dangerous to mess with it,” he retorted. “But when have we listened to things like that?” he added mischievously. “I want to know what that Window is about as much as you two.”
“Now the only question is who can tell us?” Iasmin stated.
“The landlord of the building.” Danyana slowly said. “He would know something of who had rented the apartment last year, wouldn’t he?”
“Let’s go see him, then!” Aerek exclaimed. “It’s not like we have anything other than homework to do all day.”
~.~.~.~.~
They found the building again easily enough, as well as a door on the ground floor labeled “Administration” on a piece of yellowed paper, written on what must have been a typewriter. They knocked on the door. An old man opened it a crack and asked them who they were and what they wanted.
“We’re Aerek,” he motioned to himself, “Iasmin,” he pointed, “And Danyana. We just wanted to ask you something about an apartment on the 11th floor. The one facing west.”
When he heard this, he suddenly looked really tired and old. Instead of answering, he motioned for them to come inside.