Playing God

            Elizabeth raced up the cracked steps in front of her brick dorm building. Frantically, she pulled her swipe card out of her crinkled leather bag with speed she has previously thought impossible. As the door clicked open she dashed through the lobby and into the dingy back staircase.

            Taking a moment to pant against the slick, white wall on the second landing, Elizabeth’s fierce blue eyes fixated on the door ahead. Keep a head on your shoulders, try not to panic. This proved to be easier said that done as Elizabeth approached the door apprehensively. Her sweat drenched palm weakly pulled open the door and Elizabeth slinked into the dimly lit hallway.

            Fluorescent lights buzzed in the ceiling as she came closer and closer to her room. She knew there was not enough time to contact the police. She needed to get her roommate, Alison out of their room before Donna showed up. Placing her hand on the outside of her door, Elizabeth gave a gentle push to find Alison sitting serenely on her bed with her laptop.

            “Alison, please do not ask any questions yet but grab your wallet now. We need to get out of here,” Elizabeth said urgently. With a startled look on her face, Alison jumped out of her bed.

            “Lizzy, what do you mean? What is going on,” Alison’s brown eyes widened in nervousness.

            “I cannot explain right now but please we need to leave. Now.” Elizabeth spoke through gritted teeth as she grabbed Alison’s wallet for her.

            As the pair turned toward the door a familiar face was planted in their path. Donna pushed the door shut behind herself as Elizabeth backed up dragging Alison with her as far towards the window of their room as possible. A warm breeze floated through the room and contrasted sharply with the short, panting breaths Elizabeth could not help but have.

            “Donna, What is going on,” Alison asked, laughing nervously.

            “Your roommate knows exactly what is going on, Alison,” Donna stated in a monotone voice as she slowly inched toward them.  “Your roommate is trying to frame me for something that I absolutely did not and would not do. She is trying to get me fired and I won’t have it.”

            Elizabeth was panic stricken. She wasn’t going to argue with a crazy woman and her mind had gone oddly numb as she began to shake while still holding Alison in a death grip with her left hand. As she began to release her sweaty palm Donna reached a hand into her baggy jean pocket. Elizabeth barely heard the bang as she instantly crumbled to the floor in a heap. Alison’s screams were the last thing she heard and her room to a muddy haze and finally to complete blackness.