Red Insanity

Chapter 3: The Moron and the Psycho

(Heylo there readers of Red Insanity! Pleasure to make your acquaintance! Just going through the exposition here. But don't worry the horror will come. I promise! Happy readings!)

"I'm an old and tired soul Marshall. If I'm going to die I want someone to know my story. And as it stands you are the ONLY person who's talked to me for god knows how long."

I was puzzled. Wouldn't going out WITHOUT an explanation be more mysterious and interesting. Plus, telling it to an amateur writer? Ah nevermind I shouldn't be concerned with that. He could die how he wanted. But......then depending on what he did. Did he truly deserve that? He was so......complicated.

"Ahh but my story has a condition as well."

He added that detail quite suspiciously.

"Conditions, conditions, conditions. What is it Jack?"

"We must be in the same room in order for ME to tell MY story to YOU."

No. No way. Was he INSANE!!!

Stupid question! He IS insane. HE'S IN A FRIGGIN ASYLUM FOR GOODNESS SAKES!
I sighed. I need to calm down. He was only riling me up. It's hard to think clearly in a situation when you're undeniably pissed and frusterated. So I did the only thing I could do. I did something dumb, REALLY dumb.

"(Inaudible speech of Jack because Marshall is thinking)"

"You know what?! Fine."

Oh god! What. Did. I. Just. Say!?

"Reeeeally?"

Was his response, a bit more satisfied than surprised. If I could see him now his eyebrow would probably be arched. I had a feeling he would hold me to my word. I needed to think of something.

"But why not here? You can speak to me from where you are, right?"

"Well, yes, but you're only hearing my voice. You don't actually know what I'm doing JUST to talk to you."

I guess that sorta made sense?

"What exactly DO you have to do?"

"Eh(shrugs). I made a long string of straws from my meals and thrust it into the "no human can fit through" hole up in my cell."

"I think that's one of the most predictable ideas I've ever heard."

"I still can't escape though."

"Thought YOU said you DIDN'T want to?"

"I did."

True.......either he didn't get my attempt at downplaying him or avoided it for the purpose of making him seem smarter. Probably the latter.

"Anyway, if you've been doing it all this time without difficulty then why not any more?"

"I said I was a tired old soul didn't I? I'd rather be comfortable when I spill my guts. Got it?"

Grrrrr.....he once again had a valid point. I was driving myself into a rut by countering him. So far I had come up with a few other phrases or words to describe him. A master of words and a psychopath. An extremely manipulative one. I crossed my arms. You could say I was pouting...

"Well, I still think it's better if we talk like this."

"Tsk tsk breaking promises. I thought you were better than that Marshall?"

'A promise? What promise?'

"Don't you remember?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"I believe so."

(Remember when Marshall was "thinking"
and Jack's speech was inaudible? Well......
This was what he said: "Do we have a deal? No? I'm going to assume you said yes. So do you promise on your word you will?" Then Marshall was a moron and here we are!)

"I-I was thinking...."

I huffed. I really am the biggest moron ever. It's unfortunate that my word is sacred to me. I'm an honest guy. Very stupid but honest. I didn't think honesty would be considered this much of a flaw until now. But here I was, digging myself deeper and deeper into a hole.

I just couldn't stop.