Midnight Misery

Chapter Five:

   "No Steve please don't lock me in there again! I'll be better!" I screamed as a tall vague figure shoved me into a small closet. The door slammed shut the instant I was inside. I could hear him locking the door from the outside, three clicks. Click, click, click. I rushed to my feet and peeked through the crack between the old brown door and its frame. I watched as the vague figure disappeared into the distance. Slowly I stepped back and plopped down on the cold wooden floor. I held my knees to my chest, trying to stop myself from shaking. "Why does he always do this?" I mumbled to myself. "Why does mom always let him do this?"

   My eyes open. The darkness surrounding me is thick, disorienting. I stand, my legs jelly I wobble from side to side for a moment finding my way back to reality. These aren't ordinary dreams. They can't be dreams. I have to find out who Steve is and how he knows my mother. Suddenly I am very aware of my surroundings. I look around the cell and spot someone sitting on the bed I was just sleeping on. I take a step back as he stands up. The light from the barred window hits his face and I instantly recognized him. No! I step back even farther until my back is pressed up against the cold brick wall.

"Didn't I tell you not to go to the police? Tch, you're lucky that I came here to get you." He said with disgust. He briskly walked over to the barred door. The door creaked open. He turned back towards me, "Come on." he said in a demanding tone.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I said as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Because of you I have to move up our little Kerry Simone visit. We're leaving right now!" He walked up to me, grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out of that holding cell. When he reached the car he opened the passenger seat and shoved me inside. "Now I hope you're done with all of this disobeying me stuff. If you're not I can kill you at any given moment. Keep that in mind next time you want to do something I won't like." He smirked, as if he's enjoying this. He's a sick bastard. He's evil. He walked around the car casually and sat down in the drivers seat. Then we were off into the dead of night. As I sat there next to him my entire body was tense from the horror I was experiencing.

I gulped down on my spit, "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you destroying my life?" I asked carefully.

He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. There was a hint of confusion on his normally expressionless face. "Isn't it obvious? I have no other choice. I have to frame you so I don't go to prison for the rest of my life."

"But why me?"

"Because you were there. You were an easy target." He gave a sly grin and returned his attention to the road.

"What leverage does Kerry have against you exactly?"

"She has my victim book. Which would incriminate me. She already gave the police my name. It wouldn't be long before they would find proof that I'm the Midnight Murderer."

   So he's going to kill her? Because she happens to have some victim book. What kind of dumbass would even keep a victim book? He repulses me more and more every second I'm near him.

   Soon, we park on the side of a busy city street. He grabs a little black bag and gets out of the car. I follow. We stop next to a large apartment complex. He reaches inside of his bag and pulls out two normal looking hoodies. One is a deep royal blue and the other is a rich blood red. He passes the red one over to me. "Put this on. Leave the hood up and keep your head down. We don't need any witnesses or security cameras seeing you." I put the hoodie on as instructed.

   We headed for the apartment complexes entrance. I found it hard to keep up with his fast speed and keep my head down at the same time. I decided it would be best if I were to hold onto his sleeve. Hesitantly, I reached my hand out and grabbed onto his sleeve. We crept up the stairs silently and eventually reached Kerry's door. He grabbed a key from his bag and opened the door.

"Down that hall go to the first door to your left. Inside there will be a mirror hanging from the wall. Behind that mirror there will be a black book. Get that book and meet me right here. Okay?"

"Okay." Is he actually going to kill her? My thoughts started to wander as I approached the room. When I stepped inside there was a woman with long jet black hair, blue eyes, and a petite stature.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked furiously. I stood there like a deer in the headlights, dumbfounded. Footsteps came up behind me. Her face softened then confusion spread. "Kai? what are you doing here?" Her face suddenly grew grim. I looked over to my side to see why. Standing before me was none other than the Midnight Murderer. Kai had a dagger clenched tightly in his fist, so tightly that his knuckles started to turn white. He looked empty as he stepped closer to Kerry. Her face turned stark white.

   I started to back up. He pressed the dagger's blade against her neck. Slowly the blade cut into her skin. Blood started gushing from the wound. He slid the blade across her neck. Then plunged the dagger into her chest. She fell to the floor. Unable to look away I stood there shocked. Kai turned to the mirror and grabbed his black book of victims. His face blank and cold he stared into the mirror for a second. Then he walks up to me, grips my arm and leads me back to the car.

   The sun started to rise as he drove me home. Sitting there I stared out at the clear blue sky, tears streaming down my face. When I got home I could do nothing but curl up into a ball and cry into my pillow. Knock, Knock. "Honey are you going to school? Or are you sick?" My mom asked through the door. "I'm sick." I managed to spit out in a brittle tone.

   Later, I managed to stop crying long enough to fall asleep. For the next three days I stayed in my room, not going to school, not eating. Just sleeping. Until mom barged in, she made me shower, eat, and go to school.

   During every class all I could do was sleep. I couldn't focus on anything when I was awake except for the look on Kerry's face as she was murdered. When science class rolled around Damon sat next to me just like he did the other day. I'm surprised he didn't just give up on being my friend by now. I would've given up by now if I were him.

"Hey Lux, where have you been?" Damon asked.

"I've been sick." I said blankly.

"What's up with you?"

"Nothing."

"So do you wanna run home today like we did the other day? That might make you feel a little better."

"Okay."

   After school Damon and I ran home. As I ran all of the emotions I'd been holding in came rushing to the surface. I could feel my eyes starting to water. I held back the tears. Struggling to regain my composure I stopped in my tracks. Damn it Lux! Not when there are people around. Control yourself. I shut my eyes and concentrated on keeping calm. Damon noticed that I was no longer running. He turned around and came back to me.

"Lux, are you okay?" He asked with a genuinely concerned expression.

   I couldn't respond, I looked down at the pavement beneath my feet. Pain growing by the second, I stared at the ground willing the pain away. He pulled me in for a hug. And I finally began to cry. I felt safe for the first time in what felt like forever. After we talked for a bit we finished walking home.

   When I went inside I decided I would go to Aunt Janes house so I could find out who Steve is and how he's connected to mom without stressing mom out more than she needs to be. Aunt Jane only lives a few blocks away. So I rode there on my bike. When I arrived I rang the doorbell. She opened the door with a wide happy smile and a hug. "Lux! It's so nice to see you! Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"

"Sure that sounds nice." Aunt Jane headed for the kitchen. I sat down on the sofa and waited for her return.

"Careful it's hot." She said as she handed me the cup of warm tea. The sweet smell of the tea filled my nostrils which made me feel a bit more at ease.

"So I have a question. Do you know of someone named Steve?" I asked calmly. Her eyes grew wide. "Steve? You don't remember him? He was your mothers husband when you were about seven."

"Really? Why did they divorce?" Could it be that they really aren't ordinary dreams? Could they be memories? My mind started racing with all of the possibilities there could be.

"Well because of you darling. He hurt you and that was the last straw for your mother."

He hurt me? Why don't I remember that?