Psychotic Maniac

Chapter 48

Blinding white light. Phenyl. The beep of the machine. The drip at the side. Edward's senses flooded open.

He squinted his eyes, readjusting, and scanned the vicinity. His pulse quickened up a notch. Looking at himself, he was wrapped under the white sheet on the hospital bed, alone.

A nurse carrying a tray entered the room shortly after.

His head felt heavy as he remembered the series of events that led him here. He bolted up, and the wire of the drip put a strain on his hand. He glanced at his side to find the transparent bag of liquid glucose being dripped into him. He sighed.

"You're up," the nurse said.

Time was passing too slowly as Edward dreaded anyone's presence. He wanted his clothes and phone back. His head, despite being painless, somehow crushed his will to get up and fetch the photograph that couldn't be seen by anyone.

The nurse unclipped the needle, revealing a syringe in her hand.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Relax," she said, pumping the liquid in the syringe. "It's an intramuscular injection with propofol. It will slow your irregular heartbeat and help you recover while you sleep."

She pushed the plunger, bringing the liquid to the tip. "You had a serious head injury," she said and Edward grazed his fingers in his hair finding a couple of stitches.

"Stop," Edward said when he saw the needle coming close to him. "I'm fine so you can leave now."

The nurse blinked. "But the doctor—"

He snatched the needle from her, glaring down at her. "I said leave," he shouted and the nurse flinched. She hesitatingly took the steps back, before picking up pace and leaving him alone.

Time was a luxury and something he barely had.

The door swung open and Nora, carrying a bunch of red roses walked in. "Hey, Edward. How are you? The nurse said—"

"I'm fine, Nora. Thanks," he said but she was nowhere convinced. "I've had too much sleep," he told her, calmly. "Have you seen my phone?"

She reached out in the pocket of her jeans. "I have it with me."

Handing him over the phone, Nora dashed over to the table next to him and began setting the flowers.
Edward had only unlocked the phone when he couldn't help and stare intensely, the soft petals of red roses playing tricks with his mind. He recalled the woman behind the glass, choking on them.

"....and you scared us all. What were you thinking?" Nora was saying something but all he could was focus on the crimson torture, turning his mind inside out.

A pang of pain shot through so quick and deep, that he clutched his heart, wishing he had taken the injection earlier.

When Nora had finished putting them in a vase next to him, she gasped and hurried to her brother, noticing him struggling.

"Edward," she panicked, reaching for his shoulder.

Edward forced himself to breathe evenly. "I'm fine." He told her despite what he was feeling.

"No, you're not." her eyes began tearing.

"I'm," he said, reaching for her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it twice. "Have you seen Estella?"

"She was here yesterday," she told him. "Nobody has seen her since."

Edward didn't know what to think. Edward pulled the IV stuck in his hand and a streak of blood started sweeping from under the bandage.

Nora, taken aback rushed to grab his brother's hand but Edward merely readjusted the bandages and grabbed another to roll it over, stopping the bleeding.

"What is wrong with you?" Nora was saying, unable to calm her nerves.

Behind Nora, his father had emerged from the door, his hands in his pocket and a dense look in his eyes. "Wait for me outside, will you?" Edward told Nora who wanted to argue but upon seeing their father, she signed and stalked out of the room.

Mr. Blake brushed it off as he ambled in, dragging a metallic chair, and settling on it, next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"As you can see," he answered curtly, unable to resist looking at the roses. His mind wanted to tell him something and the more he looked the more symbolism throbbed his head.

"How did all of this happen, Edward?" He was drying to know.

"Jasper and I had a fight," he said. "What else do you think?"

"And where is Jasper?" he inquired.

"Who knows?" He said in a clipped tone.

"Benji has disappeared too," his voice went a little higher. "His father is pushing my buttons claiming you have something to do with it."

Edward couldn't help but smile. "I wonder what he could possibly have over you to risk his neck pushing your button."

His eyes gleamed with fury now. "Why did Jasper fight at all?" he said. "That's so unlike you," he stated. "I thought I taught you better than that."

"I made an exception," he cocked his head.

"That girl."Mr. Blake smiled in response. "I had a chat with her last night," he said and Edward's heart jumped. "It seems like she has warmed up to you."

"You stay away from her," he said through a clenched jaw. "We had a deal."

He ignored Edward. "Maybe I should let her a piece of information on her mother," he said and then lowered his voice to a mocking whisper. "And her well-being."

"Edward sneered at him. "If anything happens—"

"Oh, A lot had already happened, Edward," mr. Blake cut in. "And as soon as you recover, you'll pack your bags and leave for the Philippines."

"What?" He gaped.

"You'll oversee our production there," he informed her. "For as long as you're told."

"That's preposterous," he fumed.

"I hardly think so," Mr. Blake took a long breath before resting his gaze back on Edward. I was ready to choose my own blood over you but as pathetic as you've become, you've disappointed me, Edward." he said. "I'm glad you dropped my name a long time ago and stuck with your conniving chiseler whore mother."

Edward's blood boiled. No words in any language could pierce him the way his father's did. All he could see was the man standing in front of him as the rest started fading. The man he once worshiped and now the one he loathes stood up, fixing his coat, hiding his hideous self in his expensive and creaseless clothes.

Mr. Blake spun on his heels, wanting to leave Edward to dwell alone with regret. But Edward had other plans. Grabbing the injection by his side, he swung from his bed, taking long strides.

Hearing the hustle, Mr. Blake turned around, finding Edward only a few steps away. Before his father could utter another word, Edward jammed the injection in his throat, pumping the dose in.

Mr. Blake's eyes bulged wide in shock as he lunged for Edward's hand holding his throat only to realize it was too late to do anything. He collapsed on the floor, attempting several times to get up, and minutes later, he fell back, his senses knocked out.

Not wasting any time, he locked the room and texted Carlos.