Psychosis

Chapter 3

I've never really thought about death till now, with a stranger behind my seat. I feel like death is standing right behind me with a knife, ready to end it.

My eyes glance over to Brent slowly, he seems happy making small talk with the man. This man smells weird to me, like gasoline. When the small talk stops awkward silence hangs thick in the air. I gulp turning on the radio pausing to listen to a radio station in panic.

"California State prison is in a stage of panic, convicted murder John Fredrickson has managed to escape through the prison walls. Two officers were killed, burned alive in the process of trying to stop Fredrickson. State police officers are now searching for-"

"Could you please turn that off...? I have a headache and it fills my mind with worry."

My eyes spells drift back to the man in the back "yeah sorry..."

Brent sighs awkward "why does that worry you?" He asked curious

The man shook his head rubbing his jaw looking at me. I can see him in the mirror behind me staring.

"I left my wife and two daughters back in that city... Our house is in the neighborhood closest to the prison." The black haired man spoke. He rubbed his jaw in a sore way, a large bruise showing under his stubble.

"Your jaw looks like it hurt... What happened?" I ask turning in my seat to face him.

He had big blue eyes that were dark like the ocean during a storm. He was handsome, strong, looked nice from the clothes he was wearing. He looked to be in his early thirties, and what I had caught from small talk he ran his own company.

"I slipped and fell in the mud trying to push my car out off he road. I hit my jaw on the bumper..." He spoke looking back out the window.

I frown and point ahead "Brent pull over at the gas station, we can get him some ice and there will be service there to call your wife... You know to make sure their ok."

"No..." He said in a deep voice "keep driving, my wife is fine" he seemed to growl like an upset wolf.

I bit my lip looking back to Brent "I also have to use the bathroom...." I say slowly

Brent sighs slowing down to pull into the gas station before a booming voice scared the hell out of me.

"I said keep driving!" He yelled slamming his fists on the back of my seat.

I Yelp slapping a hand over my moth and look at Brent scared. Brent just stares forward emotionless and keeps driving "fine... We won't stop"

It's quiet now, for at least twenty minutes before I hear the stranger speak up. I was far from conformable now, at this point I was ready to get out of the car and take a taxi home.

"I'm sorry I yelled... My name is James by the way." He spoke in a calmed voice

"It's fine man, I wish I understood... Why didn't you want to stop?" Brent asked

James looked at the mirror meeting my eyes again "what if the killer was there? I can't die and leave my family alone... My wife is a stay at home Mom and my two daughters are two and five."

"Wow... I wouldn't be able to live in a house full of women. How do you do it?" Brent laughed along with James who seemed to find the comment especially funny.

"Happy wife happy life. Give my wife money and she stays out of the way with the kids. I'm not home most of the time. I leave after breakfast and I'm home just in time for dinner... But right now I need to get to the airport."

Brent glanced over his shoulder taking his eyes off the road "where you heading?"

"Business trip in Russia." James answered tapping his hands on his lap "it's very important for the company."

I still feel awkward, looking out the window I rest my head on the window closing my eyes and start to fall asleep.

———————

When I wake up we are still driving, it's pouring and the windshield wipers are going a steady pace. I pull my sweatshirt hood back over my head whining "Brent I have to pee..."

Slowly opening my eyes I straight down the barrel of a gun in between my eyes. I scream pushing myself back against the window seeing James is now driving. He pulls over putting the gun down and grabbed my throat.

Gasping I start to feel the breath slip from my lungs as he uses his free hand to tie my wrists. The ropes so tight I feel like it could slice my skin. James shoved me into the back seat where I land on top of Brent.

"Brent..." I sniffle starting to cry staring at him , his eyes were bruised and swelled shut. Brent groans his hands tied together like mine, practically beaten to death.

"No talking bitch. We are going to Mexico." James growls from the front seat.