Oedipus Complex

Chapter 10: Sirens

"Norman, stop it. Let me go! Norman, please"

They hadn't even reached the top of the stair case when he pinned her against the wall, his grip on her tiny arms leaving a print that would later form into a bruise. She had to get to her room. She had to protect herself in order to get him protection and a life he deserved. She had to call someone.

Norman walked up one more stair so he could become eye level with his mother. He gave her the coldest stare he could possibly give. "Mother, I don't trust you. What else am I supposed to think? You're going to lock me up. Throw away the key and never visit me. You're going to lock me up for reasons we both know aren't my fault. We both know it wasn't me."

She tried to run free from him, but he was stronger. If this had happened two years ago, she could have easily broken away from her son, but he has gained a certain strength that would prevent her from escaping from his captivity.

"Norman, I can't help you. You have to trust me. Those people, they can help us. Please Norman. I love you"

"Us?" He scoffed. "They can't help us anymore. There is no more us. You've given up on us." He briefly let go of her hand and she took it as a chance to run to her room. She locked her door and spotted her phone on the other side of her bed. From all the adrenaline and fear, her legs struggled to allow her to rush to her phone and she tripped. Sniffling, she dialed Alex's number and waited for him to answer.

"MOTHER? Open the door! Open it or I will knock it down."

Her hands were shaking and the knocking grew louder. It felt like she was in a horror movie.

She dialed Alex's number and it reached his voicemail. "Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me?" She dialed his phone and again and prayed to God he would answer the phone. At the fourth ring, Alex finally answered and huffed, "Norma, I'm in a meeting. Can it wait?"

"NO, it can't wait." She screamed. Norma heated the knocking come to a sudden halt and the sound of footsteps becoming faint. She began to whisper. "Alex, I'm worried about Norman. I—I think if there's anything you can do tonight...he should be admitted...like, right now." She sniffled.

Alex looked around at the other deputies awkwardly and excused himself. He faltered when he said the next few words, but he had no choice. Word gets out quickly and his coworkers needed to know this was real so he wouldn't get caught. He had to make his "relationship" with the nutty motel owner seek real. "Norma, honey, I'll—I'll be right there.
"I gotta go. We can reschedule." She grabbed his coat and left his meeting. She ran his life. He would do anything and everything for her in a heartbeat.
"Hon–? What are y— I don't care. Just come, quickly."

"Norma? Norma? Goddamnit." He rounded the corner of the building and opened his car door. He left the premises and speeded to the Bates Motel. He couldn't breathe. What if something had happened to her. The thought of that made him speed faster.

Norma slowly opened the door of her bedroom and slowly stalked down the stairs. She didn't know why, but she whispered out Norman's name. He was nowhere to be found, so she went to the place he mostly spent his time: the basement. Before she did, she grabbed a pair of large scissors and headed down. She didn't know why, but she did.

"I was waiting for you, mother. How did it feel? Being locked up in your room? Because that's exactly how I will feel being locked up in a ward filled with drooling, crazy old people."

"Norman? You have to understand, I'm doing this for your own good. Please? Just try."

He finally turned around and had a gun pointed at her.

"What's behind you? What are you holding?"

"Nothing. Norman put the gun down."

"Mother, this place is not for us. I'm not the on doing crazy things and I am not going to be the one who is going to get locked up."

"Norman you have to trust me."

" but I don't, mother, and I cant"

"It is a nice place, and I know they can help you. You just have to sign commitment papers."

"And leave you out here to run amok" he raised his gun higher.

" Norman, don't do this."

"Mother, we just don't belong in this world. We're broken, we've tried, but the world won't allow us to be happy. We can take ourselves out of the equation. We can be together forever."

"Norman, we can be happy. You just have to trust me."

A sudden crash came from upstairs. They both looked up.

"NORMA, where are you. NORMA, I need you to answer me!"

"I'm so sorry. I had to do it." Tears streaming down her cheeks, her shoulders were failing to stand.

She slowly grabbed the gun and looked at her son. His eyes were filled with tears. He felt betrayed.

Alex finally came, attatched handcuffs to Normans hands, took him to his car and walked over to Norma.

"Norma, what happened. I asked you if you were scared of him... you said no."

"I know. I couldn't . And I don't have the papers he needs to sign."

"Well, that's okay. If you have reason to be afraid of him, you say it and I will keep him overnight and we can take care of this in the morning. Just tell me"

She looked at him and cried. He regretted asking. He should have known the answer. Why else would she have called him? In fact, she only ever seemed to call him when she needed help.

He turned around and halted at his door. He grabbed the handle and paid her a comforting smile before entering.

Norma looked at her son. He was cold and still in handcuffs.

"I love you, Norman"

The sirens were making its way down the streets and slowly faded. Norma stood there. Her hands at her sides, her tears hot and heavy. This was the hardest thing she ever had to do. She took what felt like days to walk up those damn stairs. She made her way up to her bedroom and forced herself to sleep. It was the only way to temporarily forget the pain she was currently going through.