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Mark walked down the alley that led to the off-campus housing.

The college was surrounded by street after street of houses that had been cut up into cheap apartments for students.

Exams would start after everyone got back from the long holiday weekend, and he was ready to get this graduation business over.

He had an internship waiting for him at one of the biggest airplane manufacturing companies in the world.

His engineering degree was only the beginning of a great career in aerodynamics and design.

Or at least he hoped. He’d gone straight through to a doctorate degree and now needed some serious work experience on his résumé.

He couldn’t exactly list all his job skills.

Mark emerged from the alley next to his favorite local burger and bar place that many students frequented. Cheap food and cheap beer. There was also other stuff available behind the bar, but only a few people were aware of the other substances for purchase.

Mark entered the scrappy-looking place and was greeted by his friend Roman, the bartender. “Burger with the works and loaded fries, yeah?”

“Already on the grill.” He winked at Mark in secret code. “Need some special sauce with that burger?”

Mark grinned. “You know it, brother. S’been a long week.”

The bartender smirked. “I hear ya. I got a new recipe this week. I think you’re gonna like it.”

“Hit me up.”

The food arrived a few minutes later in a white bag with grease stains showing through the sides.

Mark paid and took the bag to a scarred table that had been in this place longer than he’d been alive.

Another guy sat nearby, busily scarfing down his own food.

From the hoodie, shorts, and longboard, he was another student, probably in the graduate program by the looks of him.

Mark gave him a nod and a peace sign before digging into his bag.

He unwrapped the foil-covered burger and took a huge bite. Half the toppings slipped out the other side and plopped onto a napkin. Mark scooped it up and popped the mass into his mouth. The fries swam in a puddle of oil that gathered at the bottom of the cardboard container.

Roman double-boxed it, but not just for the grease runoff.

There was something else between them that Mark was interested in: a small, thin baggie that contained a tiny paper.

Mark discreetly looked around at the other patrons before pulling out the paper and placing it under his tongue.

The sweet flavor surprised him. Normally, acid tasted bitter, but the bartender said it was a new recipe.

He fished the paper around with his tongue until it dissolved.

The high started immediately, the room swimming out of focus.

Damn, that was fast, Mark thought as the effects picked up.

Purple clouds floated in the air, and the music over the speakers blurred into a cacophony of sound.

His left arm tingled as it lost sensation.

He looked down at his hand, which had fallen into his lap unresponsive.

There was no movement when he commanded it.

Soon the right one followed the same pattern.

He never considered himself a drug user, as he only partook when he needed to relax, like before exams. His tolerance wasn’t particularly high, so the effects were usually intense, but this onslaught was on a whole other level. Too much. Too soon. Too hard.

Something’s wrong. That thought came just before the pain hit.

His lungs stopped working, and his heart cramped.

His arms remained frozen. Fuck me! He tried to stand, but his legs gave out and he fell to the sticky floor.

Air! I need air! He tried to call out, but his voice was nothing more than a squeak.

The bartender heard the crash and came over to investigate. “Shit, man, you okay?”

Mark only gasped as his throat closed and the blackness took over.

* * *

The man in the hoodie tucked his longboard under his arm and left quickly as the other patrons gathered around the choking student.

No one noticed or stopped him as he went out to the sidewalk, dropped the flat piece of wood onto the ground, and mounted its surface.

Three pumps of his long leg had him sailing down the smooth concrete away from the college spot.

The people out and about on campus paid no mind at all to the common sight of a student on a skateboard between classes.

He arrived at the main student center and popped the board up with his toes before entering the building. Two girls were on their way out, and he held the door open for them, giving them a big smile and a nod.

One of the girls giggled. “Thanks. I haven’t seen you around before.”

He shrugged. “It’s a big campus.”

“There’s a party over in the C dorms tonight. Wanna come?”

He smiled at her and fingered the scar by his left ear. “I have plans tonight, but maybe next time.”