Monique

Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine:

Enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA-A), resulting in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties.

Long-term use is controversial due to concerns about adverse psychological and physical effects, increased questioning of effectiveness and because benzodiazepines are prone to cause tolerance, physical dependence, and, upon cessation of use after long-term use, a withdrawal syndrome

Monique glances at the Blood Red beside her and then, the laptop screen. For a moment, she wishes she wasn't so naive. She wishes she never met Ro-Caroline.

The pieces still don't add up. Monique still doesn't know who Man was. She doesn't know what the children were doing in her basement.

Monique reads through all her notes. Caroline Doll was charged with abduction and murder. She escaped from jail, changed her identity and became Rosalie. Sweet Rosalie who ran the chocolate shop.

Monique's skin crawls as she studies the Blood Red between her fingers. She was Rosalie's next victim.

But why wasn't she kidnapped. Why were her parents' in Rosalie's shop at the time of her death?

Things don't add up at all.

Monique closes her laptop and places it beside her. She flicks on the television and almost spits out the juice in her mouth as her picture flashes on the screen.

Monique Samuels, aged seventeen, disappeared earlier this morning. It is advised that if you see her, call the police. She is dangerous and mentally unstable. I repeat -she's dangerous and mentally unstable—

Monique turns off the television. Lies. It's all a bunch of lies. She isn't unstable. She isn't dangerous either.

She takes an over sized jumper and pulls it over her head. She opens the door and heads out into the cold. She doesn't wince as the air numbs her face. She holds her head high and keeps on walking. Monique marks her trail by making markings on tree trunks. She kicks small red stones as she makes her way up a hill. She's about collapsing to the floor when she sees the flannel shirt. She moves closer to the figure in the distance. Her heart races when she sees the short blonde curls and the dirty jean trousers.

"John?" She says as she moves closer towards him. She touches his shoulder and instantly removes her hand as pain slithers through her veins.

John turns around. His hair is on fire. The long sleeve shirt he wears slowly erodes away. John screams her name. Monique doesn't know what to do. She stands there watching as he tells her to go back home. The answer lies in the basement. Everything will make sense once she's in the basement. With a sickening crack and dying breath, John falls to the ground, dead.