Between Stripes

T H I R T Y T W O

Maureen didn't believe in newspapers or magazines; anything like that, well, she didn't believe in it. She believed that each and every one was biased. That they were also full of nonsense.

So, knowing this, neither she or I could see what was coming.

It was just like any other day, Maureen went out to do a bit of shopping, visit a friend, go to the bank, etc. But she hadn't returned by 5pm, that had me worried. Typically she was back by 3pm (along with her groceries and a selection of divine pastries). But, she hadn't returned so I was left pacing the pastel apartment.

"Come on Maureen, please don't have fallen over! Please come home!" I murmured while peering out the window. I remember from a time long ago, some woman I knew (maybe she was a relative, I couldn't remember) fell over during the winter and had injured herself. Along with a severely broken wrist, she'd found herself with pneumonia due to the fact she was stuck on the frosty floor for hours. A week later, in hospital, she died.

In the distance, far from our home, a massive mushroom of red smoke ascended the air. As it flew, it grew. Many cars veered and screeched as the drivers were distracted by the cloud. Screams became louder as the mushroom spread.

With a frown I headed to the small, ancient television and turned it on, changing the channel to a news broadcast which had only just gone live.

"I'm Jessica Lively, here in central Gotham, reporting live from a horrendous scene. In our city's most used, bank - Gotham City Bank - red smoke has burst from every opening. Windows to doors, the red smoke has escaped. And it sure is spreading fast! I recommend y'all to stay indoors at every cost, the smoke is completely new and unknown so there's potential for it to be dangerous!"

Behind the reporter the smoke creeped through the streets, like fog or mist but far faster. It soon reached Jessica Lively and as it made contact she doubled over. Groans escaped her mouth before she shot upwards; her eyes were fully black and her face turned ashen. Then the TV screen turned black as a loud crash was to be heard. Screams followed it. The news channel covered it with a standard sign describing the "technical difficulties" so I switched it off.

It was weird. The reporter had been affected by the smoke, negatively obviously. It'd driven her mad, literally. She seemed crazy, angry and undeniably powerful.

After realising where Maureen could possibly be, fear laced itself round my chest. It kept getting tighter every minute, every second. It felt almost impossible to breathe.

Maureen.

The red gas.

Maureen.

The bank.

Maureen.

Infection.

Maureen.

Not Maureen.

I couldn't lose her. Not like I'd lost everyone else; she'd been my ticket to sanity. I couldn't lose her this easily. I couldn't lose her to the red fog which hid everything in central Gotham.

But surely I was overreacting?

Yes that was it. I was simply overreacting, Maureen was probably in that little cafe which was on the outside of the city. She loved it there. Yes. She'd be there. She was fine. Surely.

However, either way I needed her to be back soon. I was due for my pills and she'd gone for refills. There was none in the apartment and I knew how it'd be if I didn't get some asap. The voices would come back ten times stronger, the bloodthirst would be almost irresistible. I wouldn't be able to control myself much.

The last resort was to take some sleeping pills. I'd be out cold for hours but I wasn't aware of the mental state I'd be in when I woke. Nobody knew the consequences. It'd never been a concern before but Maureen and I had spoken about it briefly. Precautions, ya know?

After realising everything would be fine soon I decided to take a bath. They were soothing and et my mind go to ease.

Taking my clothes off I sat in the tub and watched as the water spilled over my limbs. As the warm water reached my neck I switched the faucet off. I let my head lean against the edge of the tub. And for the first time in a while, I let my thoughts swarm my head. They came flying from allsorts of directions. Two dominant voices appeared, my old friends.

Guess who's back bitches!

I've had so much to say and you've been goddamn blocking me out!

Pretty rude if you ask me.

Too bad that nobody did.

Maybe it was just me but as the voices returned, a warm sensation filled my chest. Some form of nostalgia washed over me, except it wasn't exactly nostalgia. The voices brought me back to a time where I was in charge, and I was free. I liked it very much.

Yeah we missed you too.

So, back to the usual stuff. When's the next killing and or beating spree?

I vote for both.

Yep, I invest my vote in both as well.

 I had no way to get out the goddamn apartment, I was stuck till Maureen got back. That meant no rampages. No fun. Thinking about that just triggered the yearning inside me to beat someone to a bloody pulp. Fucksake.

Selfish old bat-

Maureen wasn't selfish, or an old bat. She was just old. Maybe a little plain-

The beautiful red blood would brighten her up a bit-

Nope. Maureen didn't need that; sometimes being plain was enough. It was simplistic and nice, well it was for Maureen. Anyway, she'd had enough blood and colour in her life. At that age you didn't need much more, heck you didn't deserve anymore. No. No more blood for Maureen.

But there was plenty more blood in store for me... I simply yearned for the blood.

A.N.

Wooooooo! Guess who's back? Yes me, but also Up and Down! I'll shut up and get back to writing, I've got stuff in mind for this.

Ciao!