Mind Games

Chapter 63 - Paranoia

It was dark. No moon. No stars. Just darkness.

The headlights cut through the void as he drove on the freeway.

Everything was a daze from the moment he ran away from that house on the beach.

He functioned on auto pilot through the cab ride to the airport, the flight and now his car. Driving back to his apartment.

There was no conscious thought. Just the overpowering need to get away.

He would go back to his apartment and shut himself in. Yes, he would be safe there. No one would be able to trace him to Crystal. And Amy didn't exist anymore. It would all be okay.

The dark night stretched on.

Except that there was something. Something nagging at the periphery of his senses.

He shook his head, trying to clear it.

He was tired. That's all. And stressed. He wasn't planning on killing Crystal. He'd liked her really. After this whole disaster with Amy was over he had been planning to ask her out.

But then she had to be all principled. She didn't care about him. Or his career or all that he had worked for all his life. He needed a partner who would support him. Not sink him.

No, she had to go. She would become a liability. Just like Amanda.

He would forget her in time. Just like he'd forgotten Amanda.

Well, he hadn't really forgotten Amanda now, did he?

He'd brought her back. Through that goddamn app. Was it guilt? Was it love?

The car veered to his left and he snapped back to attention. This wasn't the time to space out. He would let his thoughts drift later. When he was safe in his apartment.

He shook his head again.

What was that annoying sound?

It was a low hissing. Almost unnoticeable.

He turned his attention back to the road.

Ten minutes. He would hit the city in ten minutes and then this darkness would dissipate.

He was so exhausted, he felt like he would doze off at the wheel.

Hiss... Hiss... Hisss... die... die... die...

He rubbed at his ear frantically.

He was imagining it. There were no words. It was just white noise. Of the engine.

Die.... die....

He abruptly turned to the exit. He couldn't continue driving. He would stay at a hotel tonight. There was one just up ahead.

Die... die.. die...

He rubbed at his ear frantically.

It was almost a relief to get out of the car.

The night's dead silence welcomed him.

Behind him, with the engine off, whispers from the car's stereo fell silent.

The hotel was a bit too swanky for a night's stop. But fuck that. He'd earned enough money to afford a little luxury.

He turned the shower to hot and let it hit him.

His mind felt fuzzy.

Thoughts drifted through his mind as the water hit him with full force.

Through the hiss of the shower he heard it again.