Project Bayo: Chapter One, The Screams In Your Sleep

At the front of a college classroom is a man missing half of his scalp. Dented in like a crater on the left side of his skull. He stands tall and slim, dressed proper in a blue button down along with a pair of thick reading glasses. Currently at work with his class, “And that is how Strontium Aluminate is involved in so many glow in the dark products today.” Says Professor Howard Bayo, displaying a video to his chemistry class.  “Any questions?” 

A student to the left of the class raises his hand, but the professor continues. “No? No questions? Alright then that brings us to a conclusion here today, enjoy the rest of-“ 

The student shouts “No! Professor. Bayo, right here! I have a question.”

Bayo takes an obvious pause and turns in the direction of the student. Observes the student up and down. Black jacket, dark jeans. Tall black kid with his lanky arm up. Bayo finally says “Ah yes, Billy! What are you wondering about in that head of yours?” 

The student continues with his question, “So like, what can’t be made with glow in the dark? And…my name’s Jakobi.” 

“Oh sorry sorry, I should know that.” Bayo responds with an embarrassed look, “But what I can tell you is anyone can use these chemicals to glow in the dark for most anything due to how well we’ve made the process safe. Of course this mixture with other specific chemicals may go wrong. Sometimes it's a matter of vulnerability to obscure worldly elements. So just be wary if you are ever to work with this stuff one day.”

Jakobi looked at his professor with a look of unfulfillment. “So in other words…you don’t know?” 

Bayo squints at the young man, “Would you like me to state the obvious? I could say to you that you should never try to make yourself glow in the dark. Don’t try it, you’ll fail miserably. Just all around a bad idea” At this moment Bayo is just a foot away from his student’s desk. “Other than that…Jacob! You’ll have to look that one up.”

The school bell rings, interrupting the moment. The students grab their things and head to their next class. A short white guy wearing a band shirt and cargo shorts runs to catch up with Jakobi down the hall. “Ya know, he’s been getting our names flipped for months now, when’s he gonna freakin’ get it?”

Jakobi keeps moving forward with an accepting thought, “I don’t think he will, Billy. He hasn’t been the same since that car accident last summer. Remember that, right in the school parking lot?” 

Billy’s face starts to light up, “Oh yeaaahhh, that’s got me thinkin’ wanna get donuts right now?”

Professor Bayo slowly walks back to his desk, looking down towards the floor. He mutters despite the room being now empty. “You all have a very nice day…” reflecting on his deteriorating performance of what once was a great professor. “At least I’m done for the day. I can go home now” Or at least that is what he thought until his computer made a dinging sound. He had received an email.

“Howard,

I would like to see you in my office at building A, 4pm

• Chancellor Victor O’Doole”

Within the hour, Bayo heads down the hall to the front office. Just as he opens the door, without looking, Connie the receptionist points to the Chancellor’s door. He takes a nervous pause, almost baffled by the lack of humanity in what he observes as minimal communication. He steadily opens into the large office with a massive window as big as the wall. Showing the view that is the great park of Motor Tide University. 

“You wanted to see me, Mr. O’Doole?” Bayo continues and sits down in front of the thick desk separating him from the Chancellor. 

“We’ve been through this, Howard.” Mr. O’Doole says as he turns toward the educator, “Please, you can call me Vic.”

Bayo fails to make eye contact and nods his head. “Right…so what am I doing in your office today, Vic?” as he stares at his super sized easy button to the right. 

Vic explains, “As you know, we at MTU have been at the top of the charts for in-state science education for many years now, going on fifteen to be exact. I wish to keep it that way as long as I’m running the show.”

 Professor Bayo isn’t lost but he wishes Vic would elaborate. “What are you implying, sounds like good news to me.” 

The chancellor gets up from his chair and walks towards the large window, admiring the view as a king would admire his kingdom. 

“That’s the whole thing, Howard.” Vic continues, “Thanks to your hiring years ago, we’ve had this reputation. But this year we’re really treading the line. Ya see, we both know you aren’t the same anymore. You’re three chapters behind in your course compared to where you should be. You don’t grade student work on time, and when you finally get to it the numbers have zero relation to how they are actually doing academically.” Vic is turned back, now walking behind Bayo. Bending down to say “I mean…you’re giving Billy an A for the course.”

“Billy is a good student.’ Bayo interrupts.

 “No, no he’s not. Billy sucks.” Vic answers with an empowered grin on his face which quickly turns to disgust. “Don’t know how that damn kid sleuthed his way into this school.” 

“What’s your point!” Bayo shouts in anger. “Why should I spend another second sitting here on a roast!” Vic stops his pace and puts his hands on his hips. “Howard, we have to let you go. What you’ve done here has been excellent and we are forever grateful for your work. We will stay afloat using your teaching methods with whoever we bring in for the next long term teacher.”  

Howard is disappointed in the man he now stands in front of, “You can’t do that! I’m under contract, I’m too prolific to be let go!” 

Vic smirks and simply responds, “Oh we can, and we definitely will. See at your age it’s completely normal to slow down, go enjoy being out of this madhouse.”  Vic walks back around his desk, “I’m doing you a favor, man.” 

Professor Bayo takes a commanding rebuttal, “No really, you cannot do that! I’ve been here for FIFTEEN YEARS! Unless I’ve done something wrong, like a scandalous-level type of wrong, you can’t do shit, O’Doole!”

Vic expresses a fake presence of sympathy trying to hide a devilish smile. He then pulls out his laptop, “Howard good god, relax. Now if I were you, I’d be appreciating me a little bit more, I’m really letting you off easy. You say you’ve done nothing wrong but that’s the thing, you only think you haven’t.”

Howard’s confidence has been slightly pulled back, knowing he surely has never done anything terrible. But with the curveball life has thrown at him he has become doubtful. “What could I possibly have done? I’ve been minding my own like a frail old man since my accident. I come to class, I teach, then I leave.” He added.

“See that’s your issue Howard,” Vic implied. “This little brain injury of yours has made you dangerous, oblivious to your own actions.” Vic now turns around his laptop once he’s found what he needed to share. Vic now shows Howard a black and white security cam video. Howard can easily see it’s in the campus library building. He observes what appears to be himself, printing copies of various dollar bills. “Counterfeiting money, Howard? Really?” Vic whispers over the playing videotape. This leaves Howard speechless, his face confused with a cold white pigment.

“And that’s not all, this next part I could barely watch.” Vic adds while he switches over on the laptop to a very graphic video of what appears to be Bayo and the receptionist, Connie lying on her desk, legs up and over Bayo’s shoulders, displaying what could be described as very uncomforting rhythmic bodily motions. “Oh God!” Howard scoffs loudly, repulsed and embarrassed. “Howard, aren't you a married man? How unprofessional.” 

Vic proceeds magnanimously, “Now Howard, I don’t want you to go out like this but this is very solid evidence of what you would call a ‘scandalous level’ of trouble. It appears to be obvious you don’t remember these things because of your injury. I haven’t shown this to anyone but you. I respect you man, even though I shouldn’t in this situation. But I’m saving your ass by needing you to just pack your shit and go.”

Howard Bayo does not know what to believe. Had he really lost it? Despite what was true Bayo’s heart fell deep into his stomach. Sweating cold drops slowly down his papery white face. 

Visibly shaking, Bayo desperately wants to comply with his chancellor but is conflicted with the wants of keeping his job. “No no no no, there has to be another way, I’ll do anything, I’ll take a paycut ANYTHING!” 

Vic explained to him slowly, “Howard, I think we both know I can’t allow your stay. Honestly my hands should be tied more than they are right now. You should be in deep trouble right now, I’m talking hard time. The best I can do is get you to leave and never look back, we will never speak of this again.” 

Howard Bayo looks out the window, avoiding eye contact once more. “I’m only thirty-eight. I’m not even close to retirement.” he says, lips quivering.

“Oh, you came in here at a young 23, that’s right!” Responds Vic as he walks toward his office door, “Well, I’ll have you know that I’ve been a leader since I was four years old as a brother and I’m not getting compensated for that anytime soon. Look, you’ll figure something out, smart guy.” 

Vic still stands by the exit. “Now am I going to hold this door open forever, Doctor Slowpoke?” He asks facetiously. As Professor Bayo walks by and starts to leave, Chancellor Victor O’Doole informs Bayo with a parting request. “Oh, and Bayo! Let’s have that classroom empty by Monday…or not. I'm sure whatever is in there could be useful for future educators, I don’t care.”

Victor O’Doole stands tall at the receptionist's desk, lurking to watch Bayo make a full exit. Connie sits in her chair, also watching him leave. “So…ya think he bought it?” Connie asks.

“C’mon Connie, it’s sold…” O’Doole replies, “He’s a fucking idiot.”

Bayo is sloppy on his feet, angry yet terrified walking to his green station wagon. Throws his jacket to the other side landing in the passenger, along with his staff badge after breaking it off his neck. As Bayo starts his car he takes a second glance at his badge, knowing he doesn’t look at it nearly as often as he wears it. On it is a picture of him from when he was new to the school.

“Look, look what they did to ya, Howard. So happy, so eager. Until they squeeze however much they need out of you!” Bayo once again throws the badge and breathes aggressively face down into his hands whispering, “All just to let you go, and label you obsolete…OHHH who the hell am I kidding, I’M A MONSTER!” Finding lasting strength to pull himself together, he takes multiple deep breaths to hold him until he makes it home. Slowly pulling out, and punching the gas to get out of there as fast as he could.

Across the parking lot is a black pickup with two figures in the window. “Wao! Gid you thee dah.” Said Billy speaking through a face full of pink donuts.

 Jakobi looks up from his phone, “What the hell did you just say?” A little annoyed that his friend is eating so messily in his truck. Jakobi had gotten his brother’s ‘72 Chevy C10 running again just a year ago as a hand-me-down, but Jakobi would more often describe it as a memento. The truck was a performance vehicle for drift races. It sat real low with the wheels stanced wide. A grand competitor until one day it would take his brother’s life in a racing accident. After a lot of convincing, Jakobi was allowed to adopt what was left of the car. The days of winning trophies were far in the past. After a lot of rebuilding Jakobi was only glad he could be here, taking it to school everyday.

Billy takes a sweaty swallow and points to the station wagon leaving., “I said ‘did you see that!’ Looks like Professor Bayo was real pissed off about something, it was totally you, bro! You’re dead meat for being a smart ass in class.”  

“Billy do me a favor and shut the hell up, that was like hours ago.” Jakobi rebuttals as the station wagon takes a rubber burning sharp left out of the lot, “ Yeah, there’s no way I’m behind that. It’s gotta be something else, where did he exit the building from?” 

Billy reacted as if his friend’s question was odd and unrelated. “The main entrance? What about it?” 

“Well, there’s the science wing all the way over there, way left of the parking lot.” Jakobi explains. “He should typically exit out that way, I’m willing to guess his issues are on a more professional or personal level amongst other teachers or something. But hey, I think it’s time for me to drop you off.” Jakobi starts up his truck while flicking donut crumbs at Billy. Insinuating he should clean up the seat.

 “Damn dude I’m not trying to make a mess, you’re the weirdo who had the donuts delivered to the parking lot” 

“Billy I’ve already told you why we do this, I stay busy after class so my dad thinks I’m at basketball practice.” explained Jakobi.

Billy is still confused, “But like, why does your dad need to think that? You’re not even signed up for ball, he’ll find out eventually when the season starts and you ain’t at the games.”

“Cool of you to think he would even show up,” Jakobi responds, eyes glued to the road. “I think he just wants the pride of his son being in something, I don’t even like sports anymore. That’s how it’s been since Logan passed. We all saw it happen, ya know? S’why Dad doesn’t go to stuff like that, and Mom can’t even look at the truck when I drive it home.” 

Billy now feels stiff, not really sure how to respond to his best friend opening up. He thinks carefully about how to deal with the subject of Logan. Being almost two years removed from his passing, Jakobi brings it up less often nowadays but it will always sting. “Man, I still regret barely getting to know the guy. The way you talk about your family anymore it’s like…it’s like he was the only one that really knew you.” 

Jakobi slams on the brakes and Billy quickly grabs the dash, saving his face. “Thanks Billy, now get out.” Jakobi softly says, looking at the tall building that hosts dorm room after dorm room.

“See you tomorrow I guess.” Billy says as he awkwardly exits the truck. Billy looks up once he shuts the truck door, “Uhh Jakobi, this isn’t my d-” but Jakobi takes his own squealing exit, quickly down the block.

After a late night of self pity and adult root beers, Howard Bayo makes it home. Still angry and still heartbroken but a little better after some time.  He makes way toward his bed as quietly as he could for the sake of his wife. Creeping under the blankets, he wakes her up and is startled by his shadow.

“Oh my god, Howard where have you been? I waited all night for you.” She said in a sweating wake. 

Howard replied with little effort to avoid sounding spiteful, “Valerie I’m not even close to the desire of speaking to anyone right now, I’ll see you in the morning.” Dropping his head on the pillow. 

The sun once again rises, Howard Bayo reluctantly gets ready for the day. He goes straight to Motor Tide campus to grab the last of his things. There is a stack of thick binders and files on his desk. The top layer is labeled in tape, ‘Methodical Teachings’. He grabs the stack but it refuses to move off of his desk as if it were superglued there. 

He tries many times to take his work off the desk, veins popping out of his neck. His hands suddenly give, he falls backward and thuds to the cold hard ground. Something loud is coming from outside. It sounds like a large engine, volume growing by the second. Bayo looks out the window expecting a passing by speedster but no, this driver had other plans. A red muscle car with the most ridiculous sized engine he’s ever seen comes into the main parking lot. 

With the parking lot just about empty on a weekend, the young driver is encouraged to start performing multiple donuts. Around and around, making a hideous tire squealing ordeal. Bayo spots another man exiting the side doors. The man is heading toward a parked motorcycle. He appears to be in his own element, occupied with a pair of earbuds. But that isn’t stopping the spinning charade that is now wooing with excitement. Observing the red muscle car getting closer and closer, Bayo runs as fast as he can to the side exit the man came from. 

Bayo attempts to shove the doors open but they don’t move, seemingly locked. But that shouldn’t be possible since the man just exited through them. “HEY! GET OUT OF THERE!” Bayo shouts as loud as he could, “JUST LOOK UP!!”. but the man is completely lost in whatever he was listening to. Getting ready to ride off on his bike, this rider is a complete sitting duck. A strong force shoves Bayo through the doors, he is now outside and runs toward the stranger. The man looks up, and he looks like…he looks exactly like Howard Bayo. A doppelgänger? A clone? It didn’t make sense but it happened all too quickly. Bayo is frozen at his feet, the man looks him in the eyes, through his soul, “You can’t run from it.” The man said with an eerie stare, he then dropped his mouth open to make the unhuman sound of a deafening siren. That being the only thing Bayo hears when he experiences the incomparable horror of what proceeds. 

The man seemed to know what he was doing. Seemed to know the car was coming. But he didn’t care, his mouth held open but his eyes remained emotionless. The sirens stopped, introducing the total silence that occurred the very second before the moment of impact. It was like he had hit a mute button on the world for that brief moment. The sounds of bones being crushed are that much louder preceded by silence. Bayo was now, almost in slow motion, watching this man become no more, flattened like a pancake, his head popped like a zit. Showered in red, Bayo falls to his knees with uncontrollable guttural moans. He hears nothing, absolute silence remains. He couldn’t even hear his own screams.

He looks up…immediately met by the car coming around again. With a tail light being the last thing Howard Bayo sees, his eyes are knocked into the black void of death.

“Honey, you’ve been screaming in your sleep again…”