FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 16

"What was his name?"

Her frown deepened but she answered regardless. "His name was Carlin, why?"

"No reason in particular, it just didn't feel right not to know. Even if he is dead, he's still your brother and not knowing his name felt wrong to me," then she added. "Besides, I know what it's like, losing family. My mom, died from a disease back when I was thirteen years old, it was quick. None of us realised it until it was too late. Including my sister..."

"You're sister?"

"She's a doctor at the Memorial Hospital in this town. She had gone to a big fancy university in the city, cost a ton of money but in the end it didn't do shit. My Mom still died and my sister didn't do jack to help. It's why I can't stand doctors; they say they can help... like hell they can."

Charla was silent for a moment. "What did she have?"

"She had brain cancer; well the correct way of calling it is Glioblastoma." Alex stopped and looked back to Charla. "Have you heard of it before?"

"I have..." she said. "That type of cancer is horrible, though any form of cancer would be. It must have been hard."

"It was, and still is. But I'm sure you know all about that..."

"But why did you want to know my brother's name?"

Alex stopped walking when they reached a crosswalk and looked at Charla. "Because he's your family, not to mention family death seems to be something we both have in common. as morbid as that sounds it's partly true. Though even when we talk about this I can't help but think of one thing."

"What's that?"

Alex gave a slight sad smile. "If my Mom was here today I think she would really like you. It's just how my Mom was, she was very accepting of people, a quality I wish I had. Say, if your brother was here do you think he would like this place or even the people."

"Yeah... I think he would." Charla then changed the subject. "Alex, about what we talked about in my room, I know this might be a bit much to ask but I don't want you to tell anyone that... that I have this issue. I don't want others to know."

"I don't think any of my friends would have an issue with it."

"They would if they think that this other personality is a serial killer." Charla told her flatly. "Just because you're accepting doesn't mean others would be. I don't keep quiet about it just so I can freak people out, this is insanely personal."

"Hey look I get it, I know we haven't known each other that long but I'm not the type to spread rumors and crap, besides after what you've told me I really keep getting the feeling that this other personality might not be as bad as you say. I mean even you don't know right? For all we know the guy who's been doing all of that shit in the city is someone else. You're not the killing type Charla. That much I'm sure of. But if it makes you feel any better I won't tell a soul about any of what you told me unless you give the okay." Charla said nothing in response as Alex then moved quickly to the other side of the crosswalk and called out. "I'll text you later tonight, come by the gas station if you want to hang out okay?"

Charla waved in response but when she lowered her arm she looked at her hand and in a brief instance saw it covered in blood.

"You're not the killing type Charla..."

Her expression turned slightly grim when recalling Alex's words. "I'm not so sure about that. Given the situation, any person could kill, no matter what the reason would be."

The wind began to pick up as dark clouds began to crawl across the afternoon sky with the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. With a deep sigh Charla put her hands in her pockets and headed back home. She wished that what Alex said was true, but in her current mindset she wasn't sure.

At least not anymore...

But as Charla walked back to the house and was close by when the wind became stronger a sudden feeling of being watched crept up on her sending a chill down her spine. She froze, her body suddenly growing cold. She felt this before; she turned around expecting to see someone there, only there was no one at all.

Just an empty street, did she just imagen it? she recalled getting that feeling many times back in the city, only back then she brushed if off as nothing important since during that time it would make sense if someone or multiple people were watching, it was a city where thousands of people worked and lived in. but here in Sharlton, where the population was scares in comparison left Charla feeling concerned.

"Charla?" Nina's voice drew Charla's gaze away from the empty street. "It'll rain soon, if you don't get in you might get wet."

Charla did a quick glance back but still saw no one there, had she imagined it? Or maybe the reveal of her split personality to Alex caused her to be a bit more on edge than usual. Shaking her head she headed back to the house and offered Nina a smile.

"Want to try working on some of that homework now? Or wait till after dinner, your choice Nina."

Nina thought about it. "Let's do it now I want to try to get it done before we have dinner, or maybe even before Dad gets home."

"Is he coming home today?"

Nina nodded. "He sent me a text when I finished school he said he'd be home around dinner time, he'd even bring home something for us to eat so we don't have to worry about cooking ether."

"Oh okay, then why not get your math out and I'll see what I can do to help okay?" With a nod, Nina headed back into the house but Charla couldn't shake the feeling that someone was there even though there wasn't. Maybe after giving that big reveal to Alex her mind was still racing over that fact. She shook her head, what's done was done, there was no turning back from this, whatever would come next she'd just have to deal with it when it came.