Monster of Blue

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

     Silence fills my bedroom, my form shivering in shock. Hesitantly I trace the budding seed on my wrist, the nerves under the black tattoo shooting waves of pleasure to my sleepy mind at the touch.

      It’s not a hallucination.

      Tears prickle the rim of my eyes and I grab a discarded pillow to clench to my chest. Soft sobs stutter from my throat, breathing coming in going with short gulps and coughs. Sleep soon takes pity on me and washes over my mind. Chasing my fears to the back of my thoughts and kissing my forehead good night. As my eyelids fall I lay onto the mattress, becoming lost in the world of my dreams.

      It isn’t until the suns rays peek through my window blinds that I wake again into the conscious world. With a weak sigh I bring my wrist up to see the same tattooed image as last night. My groggy mind clanks and gears back to life, thoughts of the possibilities for my current predicament buzzing in my mind like a hive full of worker bees. One thought in particular playing over and over.

      That old woman from the hospital…she knows something. Her reaction to me, and constant exclamation of getting away from a ‘him’ is just too…unnatural. I might just be over thinking things but talking to her is the best shot I have of figuring this nightmare out right now.

      If…what I’m seeing is even real at all…

      Climbing out of bed I change into my work clothes. The hospital will have the information I need on her. Getting it will require some deception but as long as I keep a straight face I should be fine. I don’t even bother with makeup or brushing my hair and teeth before grabbing my purse and heading out my bedroom door. My sudden exit startling Mitchell from his slouched position on the railing. His sleepy eyes blink in recollection and with a yawn he asks, “What are you doing?”

      Mitchell’s gaze falls on my purse and attire; his sleepy face turning alert. “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he says walking over to me, “Do you not remember what the Doc said yesterday? You’re not supposed to go to work for a couple days.”

       “That ‘Doc’ is nuts,” I snap, descending down the stairs, “Besides, I have to go today. It’s important.” Mitchell grabs my shirt’s collar before I can take another step.

       “The doctor is not ‘nuts’, Shae,” he says snatching my purse from my hands, “You even saw his PhD hanging on the wall.”

      With a huff I smack his hand away and charge back up at him. “Mitchell, this is serious!” I exclaim, “I have to go to work today, so give me my purse!”

      With a shake of his head my roommate holds the purse over his head, well out of my reach. Mitchell slowly edges away to his room and before I can stop him he slams the door on my face. “No can do Shae,” comes his muffled reply, “You are staying home and resting today.”

      Irritation bubbles in my chest as I hear objects and papers being shuffled within his domain. With a weary smile Mitchell reemerges with his work paint clothes in hand—my purse nowhere in sight. “Now, I’m going to get a shower real quick,” he explains, closing his bedroom door, “I’ve locked my bedroom so don’t even try to get in. I’ll be back during my lunch to check up on you, alright?”

      I don’t reply and instead cross my arms, giving him the meanest glare I can muster. The tit-a-tat of running water soon reaches my ears and I give a small smile before walking back to my bedroom. Rummaging through my jewelry box I grab the spare car key and quickly descend down the stairs out of the house. With a near silent click I shut the red apartment door behind me and head off to work.