Our Perfect Insanity

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

I sat in my chair, taking a deep, soothing breath, and glancing around the familiar space that was my apartment.

I looked through the glass doors, leading to the balcony, and watched the wild wind howling outside. My mind was going over every word that Ariel has said to me, or...

That I thought she had said to me.

No! She did speak to me, I know it! I'm not crazy, I know what I'm doing, and I know Ariel spoke to me.

Suddenly, the phone rang, causing me to jump, letting out a shocked sound. I sighed once I realized what the sudden noise was, and after cursing myself for being so paranoid, I reached over and snatched up the receiver.

"Hello?" I questioned, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

"Jonathan? It’s Dr. Bell. How are you feeling?" Kathryn's voice questioned, masked by a bit of static.

"I'm fine, Kath. Just a little tired, I guess… like you said." I replied, and I heard Kathryn sigh on the other end of the line.

"Alright, Jonathan. Patient 127-"

I cut her off.

"Her name is Ariel Nex." I growled, before I could stop myself.

I must seem like a lunatic to Kathryn right now.

There was silence at the other end, before Kathryn spoke again.

"Fine, then… Ariel is gone." Kathryn said, and I froze in my chair, my heart beginning to pound in my chest.

"What?" I hissed, with the feeling of fear mounting inside my body and causing my hand to shake around the receiver slightly.

Kath sighed.

“She's gone. She just… disappeared. Vanished,” Kathryn paused, allowing me a second to swallow nervously, pushing my glassed up my nose with a shaking hand. “I was thinking she might come to your place. Have you seen her?”

"No… no, I haven't seen her." I said, trying to keep my voice from wavering.

Kathryn sighed on the other end.

"Alright, well, if you see her, obviously you know what to do. Call the police or me, okay?" Kath told me, and I sighed.

"Yeah…. yeah, I’ll… I’ll do that… alright, Kath." I agreed.

"Hope you're feeling better, Jonathan. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." I replied, before I hung up the phone.

I replaced the receiver back on its base before sighing heavily and leaning back in my seat, closing my eyes and relaxing.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I froze, before telling myself to relax, and opening my eyes slowly. I took a deep, shaking breath and pushed myself up and out of my chair, before walking quickly to the front door.

I peered through the peek hole and saw... no one?

"Hello?" I questioned, opening the door and sticking my head out, looking down the hall each way.

Did I imagine someone knocking, too? Am I going insane?

I closed the door, sighing quietly to myself. I had been terrified that it was Ariel, coming to see me after she escaped.

Normally, someone wouldn't be afraid of a little thing like her, but I had my reasons for believing that Ariel was nowhere near normal.

I sat back in my chair, taking another deep breath and closing my eyes again. I rested my head on the chair, and sighed uneasily.