Artificial Tears

Chapter 16

I finish my breakfast and say goodbye to Jonathan as I leave.

As I get outside the apartment building I notice that it has been snowing and it isn't just wet snow.

With each step I take I can hear the crunching of snow underneath my feet and think about how I won't be able to enjoy the sensation anymore when I get back. We have machines that will clean it out of every corner of this city after all.

Sometimes only the fake snow is being left alone, but recently they're more often just holograms, so getting rid of them is quick and easy. Honestly I think hologram's are better than the fake stuff anyway. I hope they never get rid of the real thing though.

I type in the address of the place I'm going to into my phone and see what train I need to pick and how I need to walk.

The route isn't very long, but I do notice that it isn't somewhere too close to the train station.

The time spent walking will probably even take longer than sitting inside the train.

It makes me a bit anxious, but as long as the sun is up I should be safe... right?

I hurry to the station and catch my train in the nick of time.

Inside I drop myself onto one of the benches, luckily there aren't that many people traveling right now... or is it unlucky?

Inside the moving train I try to remain as vigilant as possible trying to remember each face and each voice I come across.

Anyone in this vehicle could be the person from my nightmares... No, anyone in this city could be that horrible killer after all.

Only thinking about them gives me chills, turning me colder than the weather outside can do.

[ROSEMARY STATION, ROSEMARY STATION]

Ah, finally, this is my stop.

With a sigh of relief I get out and leave the station, it does feel a little weird. I usually travel during rush hour, but right now there aren't that many people.

No groups of people I can hide in between if I happen to get followed again.

Crap! I better get to my destination quickly.

As fast as I can I power walk towards the psychologists office.

The only words in my mind are: Quick, quick! Or someone might see you and come to get you.

The beating of my heart sounds louder than the crunching snow beneath my shoes.

"You have arrived at your destination." My phone suddenly says, in its usual digital voice.

Did I not turn off the sound earlier?

I take out my phone and press the button to see how loud it is.

It's off.

I never changed it.

Suddenly a charge of electricity enters my body, leaving me unable to move.

I fall to the ground, trying to kick, hit and scream, but nothing seems to work.

"So here you are." Halfway the voice turns from the one of my phone to that of the one I know all to well.

It's them...

Is this how they do it? The thoughts enter my mind like a blade: so does that mean that the other was a fake? Who was the one who hit me before?

Is there more than one killer? Or perhaps  a copycat?

A shadow towers over me and the snow around me is like a grey blanket.

The attacker sits down: "Don't worry, I won't kill you. Not like the others anyway."

Why can't I do anything?!

Leave me alone!

Let me stay here!

Then the masked killer places his hands under me and picks me up from the ground.

I look for help at the place I should have been, but everything seems deserted.

And even all of this is happening in broad daylight!

My vision starts to get darker and darker, plunging me again in the darkness of my subconsciousness...