-𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭-

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐

 Twist, turn, breath.

Twist, turn, breath.

My first night home from the hospital consists of tossing and turning. My nose was numbed by painkillers, but I still feel the stinging pain every time I accidentally breathe through my nose.

"Egh," groaning out into the dark, I wasn't going to sleep like this. My eyes focused on my closed bedroom door.

 I had kept it open before I went to sleep. I slowly tried to justify it being closed. An open window? Did I sleepwalk? No, I don't keep my windows open at night. That messes up my allergies. and I don't recall ever being told I was a sleepwalker. 

Slowly, I got up from my bed, and the covers that kept me warm no longer held any comforting warmth. Something wasn't right. Slipping over to my closet, I quickly opened it to reveal a metal bat that sat perfectly in the corner. When it was in my hand, I practiced hitting an invisible body to cool my nerves and head towards my door. I would then place my ear to door.

It was completely silent, at first. I moved away from the door and went to grab my phone. I quickly unlocked it before punching in 911 on the keypad. I soon returned to my door just to hear a loud crashing sound just outside.

I slang my door open to see my living room lamp on and on the floor. My eyes immediately landed on my neighbor and co-worker, Carrie. Her long, dirty blond hair was wet and all over her face. She wore a skintight bodysuit that was also dripping with water.

Carrie works with me in the office, sometimes. She is one of those people who call into work often. I wouldn't say we are close. She helped out by bringing my meds from a nearby pharmacy in return for the Christmas 2021 secret Santa gift that was regifted from her. She seemed to get over the fact that I didn't drink the heavy liquor really quickly after she got her fair share of it. 

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" I nearly yelled at the top of my lungs. Sleep was still my voice as I almost tripped to get over to her.

"Way-y to we-lcome yo-your guest," she slurred all her words. She sat on my couch with a huff and looked up at me with a smug smile.

"How did you get in here, Carrie?" I asked coldly, staring down at her. I placed my bat down on my coffee table right front of her to remind her what could have happened to her.

"Did you ever find that spare key of yours?" she slyly smiled while patting her chest, presuming where the key is.

I nearly kicked myself for not thinking she took it the other night. She was the one to help me get back into things after the accident. I sighed out the frustration before gathering my thoughts. When I focused back on Carrie, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked to be out of it. I quickly recognized an almost distinct smell.

My nose flared as the smell entered. I moved away from Carrie as soon as I felt the need to vomit deep in my throat, "Carrie, where have you been? You smell like shit."

Her eyes followed me as she moved to resituate herself on my couch, "I went to a club, with a few friends I met at this bar down the street."

"Was this club in a barn?" I crossed my arms with distaste.

"No," she chuckled, "It was secret club. They have all these cool drinks and- and maybe drugs."

I stared at he like she was crazy, I then slowly blinked, "Wait, you took drugs from some randoms? Do you even know what you took?"

"Hey, hey, it's cool. The City Comptroller gave them to me," Carrie stood up and stumbled her way over me, "He said they would make me super chill and take the edge off."

"That's what latterly most drugs do Carrie, where is this club at?"

"It's- its somewhere out there," She pointed towards a wall before she continued, "It's really fun, like even the mayor was there. Come next time, I mean you should come next time."

"I don't think so," I watched as she knocked over a used mug on my coffee table. It fell to the floor, and it split in two, "I think you should leave."

"Come on (Name) don't be like that, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean to." She paused to stare at me before speaking, "Hey, what happened to your nose?" Carrie pointed to my bandaged nose.

I was quickly turned off by her. She may be drunk or high, but it wasn't my problem, I'm too mentally tired to deal with her. Plus, I don't even know her like she thinks I do. What makes me have to handle her? She has a boyfriend for a reason.

 I grabbed her by her shoulders and started to move towards the door. She didn't refuse as I opened the door, pushed her out, but she soon protested as I started to close my door.

"Hey, wait!" The door was already closed by the time she could process what was happening. 

I sat up against the door, I shouldn't have kicked her out. Even though I don't care too much for her. She still managed to come to my apartment in the state she was in, I should have heard her out. She still broke into my house, knocked over my stuff, and stoked my couch. It justifies me kicking her out, right. She was drugged by some dude who probably claimed to be the mayor just to get into her pants. I should apologize, and shit, I didn't get my key back.

I stood from my spot on the floor and went to open it. My drossiness was long gone now, and I might as well help out Carrie. I need to know how she got home and who else knows where her home is. Pulling my door open, I came face to face with Carrie. 

Carrie stood firmly in front of my door, so close that I'm sure her nose was touching and pressed up against it. She continued to smell of sewage, its reeking stench would stay on her for weeks. Carrie seemed to stay perched at my door even after I shut her out. Her hand clutched at my door frame so hard her knuckles started to turn white. Her drunken smile was gone, replaced with a blank stare.

"Carrie?" I put the door between me and her while hesitantly waiting for her response. Carrie's response was to slam all her weight into my door. Stretching her arms out to grab me by the crown of my hair.

I gasped out in pain, immediately pushing her away with my elbow. At this point, I let go of my door to push Carrie back out into the hallway. She caught me mid shove and used the hand she gripped onto my hair to smash my head in the door frame with full force. She pulled my head back to repeat the action, but I grabbed on to the frame to stop her from hurting me.

 I kicked my leg out and struck her harshly in the stomach. She repels backward out into the hallway, kneeling over in pain before quickly looking up at me with full hatred. I watched as the pupils of her eyes became hugely dilated. She shook volatility, trying to catch her breath.

"What the fuck?" I took her weakness into my advantage by kicking her in her jaw with the top of my foot. 

With angry tears clouding my vison, Carrie slumped to the floor but that didn't stop me. I continued stomping on her with my bare foot until the moment she stopped moving. I retreated from the limp body in front of me after my foot started ached unbearably. I struggled to catch my breath while stumbling back into my apartment. I beard one last look at Carrie before staggering towards my phone. My thumbs hastily dialed in 911, before bringing the phone to my ear. How would I explain this?