I was a bit late leaving my apartment today.
"Felix! You're up late, did you stay up late? It's nice to see you!"
I could've sworn I heard someone. I wonder who? Man, what a shame, I was really wondering what she had to say.
"F-Felix?"
The closing door silences the voice I couldn't hear.
Darn. I really wanted to hear what Mary had to say!
***
I'm hanging out with my best buddies today! They wouldn't leave me to die in a fire!
The smell of cheap coffee fills my nostrils as I take my seat at the same diner we came to the other day. Man, this is so nice... just hanging out like normal!
They're talking about… something.
They're having a good time though! I'm having a good time.
I'm safe.
A feminine voice fills my ears.
"Um… is everything okay?"
Ada looks at me, worried.
I smile at her.
"Yeah, what's up?"
She doesn't look very convinced.
"…Are you sure?"
Ethan chimes in.
"Huh? What are you talking about? He looks fine to me…"
Ada sighs. "Whatever. It's probably my imagination."
HUH?! THE FAKE BLONDE IS WORRIED ABOUT ME?!
So, heartwarming… thank you! My… best friend! I'm fine though!
Ada shivers.
"Don't look at me like that, you weirdo…"
I wipe the tears from my eyes.
"Sorry, I'm just lovestruck…"
She stares at me, dumbfounded. "Don't even joke about that, idiot."
I'm being honest though! I appreciate your concern. It's nice...
Ethan slams his hand on the table. Is that a character tic of his? "I'M HERE TOO YOU KNOW!"
…
Ignoring Ethan's outburst, I turn my head to Ada. "So, how's practice going?"
"DON'T IGNORE ME, YOU BASTARDS!"
"It's going pretty well." She plays with her bangs absentmindedly. "Don't worry about it, I have time to practice later."
"What practice are you doing anyway… you're almost as busy as Felix…"
Ada stares at him like he's an idiot. Makes sense, considering I've seen her with a guitar case several times.
"Guitar. I practice playing the guitar."
Ethan's eyes shine. "SERIOUSLY?! THAT'S SO COOL!"
"Sure. What about you, Felix? What keeps you so busy?"
Getting murdered has been keeping me busy the last few days.
"Video games, I guess."
The pair look unimpressed with my answer.
Ethan's the first to speak up, he looks extremely unamused.
"So, every time you refused an invite from me, you went home to play video games?"
…That sounds really bad when you phrase it like that.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
!!!
Ada's… laughing???
Ethan stares at her bitterly.
"Don't laugh at that, asshole."
***
Ada's the first to get up.
"Well, it's been fun. I should get home, I'll see you two tomorrow."
Huh?
Ethan stretches his arms above his head.
"Yeah, we have been talking for a while…"
What are you saying?
Ethan smiles at me.
"Looks like you CAN talk to people. Huh, Felix? We should all hangout again sometime!"
Don't leave…
"H-hey! Why don't we go to the batting cages! I know a real cool place that stays open late!"
The two exchange looks, before looking towards me.
"Nah, I really do need to get home to practice. Let's just do it tomorrow."
Ethan smirks.
"Heh, that's the only good idea that's come out of your mouth all day."
Ada stares daggers at him.
They're leaving me alone.
I'm going to die.
And you're both joking around.
I'm going to die, and you're laughing!
"Hey! Felix! What's wrong?!"
!!!
That surprised me…
Ada? Why are you so loud?
"H-huh? Nothing… why are you freaking out?"
She slams the table.
So you two do have something in common…
"Don't give me that shit!"
You're making a scene…
I smile awkwardly.
"Anyway… it's been fun you two! I'll see you tomorrow!"
I leave the diner before things get any more uncomfortable.
***
Where do I go from here? I can't go back to my apartment…
…The farther, the better.
I'll just… go to the park, or something.
Yeah, that guy won't find me there…
***
8:00pm. It's been about an hour since I left the diner.
Time has been passing slowly.
The chilly air makes me wrap my arms around myself.
It's my only source of warmth, but…
It's safer here.
I can't stop my hand from shaking.
It's going to be okay…
That's what I tell myself.
***
Well…
It worked… I think.
My phone is dead… again.
It works as a clock, at least.
I hold the power button, and the only thing that's displayed is the time.
9:03pm.
It's better than nothing. I'll make it through the day at this rate.
I should've packed a jacket... I didn't think that far ahead...
"Haaah… At least I'm safe."
Still… I'm kind of bored…
Whatever. I'm okay, that's what matters.
A soft smile spreads across my face.
…
I miss my bed.
My comforter.
I wrap my arms around myself, and rub my exposed skin.
The friction causes temporary warmth to spread through my body.
Then, the cold returns.
…
I should look around, or something.
The streetlamp flickers as I pass.
The only thing I hear is the soft howling of the wind.
Nobody's here.
Nobody.
At a park.
In a city full of two hundred thousand people.
…
Why?
Isn't that strange?
Where is everyone?
My steps quicken.
The scraping of dirt against my shoe.
A quick stride.
A jog.
Then a sprint.
My chest is hammering.
My breathing heavy.
Nobody's here.
Just me.
I need help.
I don't want to be alone.
Please?
Please.
Someone...
Anyone!
!!!
That's…
A sigh of relief escapes my lips… a smile spreading across my face.
"HEY! OVER HERE!"
The man turns his head.
The… hooded man.
He's here.
Alone with me.
How did he know I was here?
HOW?!
"Hah… hah… hah… haha… hahaha… hahahaah!"
I'm going to die.
Again.
Again.
No.
NO!
I ran away!
I got away.
I hear him.
He's getting closer.
That static coming from his head. As if he's drugged.
That damned static fills my brain again.
I run.
He comes.
I run again.
He's there.
How does he know?
Can he sense me too? That's impossible!
"Hah… hah…"
My hands are on my knees.
The back of my throat tastes raw.
Hair sticks to my forehead.
Piercing needles prick my back.
He's coming.
Closer still.
I can hear it.
I just need to get out of this park. That's all.
I need to get to the police station. Then I'll be okay.
I should've just started with that!
Who cares if I don't have evidence?!
I feel my chest squeeze as I run, but I can't stop. I won't stop.
More people.
More static.
They're covering the entrance.
I hear them.
The entrances.
Across the edges of the park.
I'll be spotted regardless of where I am.
Why is it only the one guy following me, if they're all working together?
Why are they all in the same trance?
Tsssch beep beep
"He's in the bushes. 3 o'clock."
!!!
"Hah!"
They look towards me and just… stand there.
Their insect-like eyes pierce right through me.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
I break out into another run.
"FUCK YOU! FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!"
HOW DID HE KNOW?!
WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!
No matter where I go, someone is there.
I grab onto the nearest bench handle to catch my breath.
"Hah… hah…"
My tight chest is hammering…
I can barely breathe…
I'm not used to this shit!
Again.
That damn static.
That damn static penetrates my brain.
I'd rather you just be normal.
At least then, I could hear you properly.
He walks to me. Whispering under his breath.
"Die… die…"
Shut up!
"Die… die…"
Shut the fuck up!
"Die… die…"
Knife in hand, he slowly walks.
I'm tired of this.
I'm tired of that static. I'm tired of your damn mantra. My teeth grind against each other.
Since you won't shut up, I'll stop that pointless noise.
My eyes frantically shoot across the lit area. The park light flickering. A brown bottle reflecting the light, it rests just below a bench.
My hands shake as I pick it up.
He didn't even run to stop me.
He's just maintains his stride.
"Die… die…"
…
If you're going to try to kill me.
I'll just kill you first.
I'll worry about what comes next after you're dead. After you're quiet.
I slam the bottle into bench handle. Broken shards of glass clatter to the ground.
See?
I have a knife too.
My hands don't cooperate with me. They shake needlessly, my teeth clatter together.
"Hah… hah… just die."
He's barely alive as is. I can take him!
"Die… die…"
He barely even looks at me, even when he's trying to kill me.
The look on his face hasn't changed.
His eyes are blank.
Even now that I have a weapon.
He doesn't even register me as a threat.
He's not nervous, he's not excited.
He's looking at me, blank. Like a moron. Like I'm a ghost. Like I'm not even there.
I slowly step forward, my legs shake. We meet together in the middle.
He slashes at me. It's sluggish. His whole body moves with the slash.
Still, I barely manage to stay out of its range. My reflexes shoot me to the side, but I trip over my own feet, the bottle rolling out of my hand.
I tackle over to the bottle, clutching the rim, and scramble to get up.
He just walking towards me. As if it never happened.
Anyone else would've killed me there! Dammit... why is this so hard?
"Hah… hah…"
His mouth croaks.
"Die… die…"
I bite down on my teeth.
"SHUT UP!"
I dash forward.
I thrust into his neck.
He was too slow.
A sick squelch sounds from the wound.
Red.
Red.
Red syrup flows from the wound.
I pull back with a loose grip, and the bottle clangs against the ground.
He collapses almost immediately.
The liquid flows into a puddle.
"ah… ah…"
What did I do?
"ah… no… no…."
What did I just do?!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
I didn't do it!
It's not my fault!
He was going to kill me!
It's not my fault!
I didn't mean to!
Static.
SHUT UP!
More Static.
SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!
I clutch my hands to my ears as I run.
It's not my fault!
Why is this happening to me?!
I clutch a tree to my side, catching my breath.
"Hah... hah..."
What did I do to deserve this?!
I doubt over. "Grh… grh…"
My throat constricts.
A copious amount of saliva spreads through my mouth.
Braaaaaaaaahh…
I grab onto a tree for support, as I release my dinner onto the floor.
My shoe isn't spared from the bile.