Ghosts of The Past

Chapter Eight: Heaven or Hell

His mind went over their talk, looking for clues as to what was happening. He would map out their conversation and then remap it but still come up with nothing. It had been a day and a half but Alex was still clueless.
"Listen, I'm sorry if I was weird the other night." Alex says as Dylan hands him his bag.
"It's alright. I just...I overreacted. We all grieve differently." Dylan says with a sad smile. Alex nods and pulls him in for a hug.
"Thank you for staying. I know Katie had a great time. Maybe you can...come up for Christmas?" Emma asks with hope.
"Yeah. If you'll be so kind as to have me." he says. She hugs him tightly, rubbing his back.
"Of course. You're family." she says. Kate runs up and hugs Alex tightly.
"Bye papa." she says, stepping back.
"Bye grandma." she adds.
"Bye Katie bug." she whispers.
Alex looks over at Norma with worry but Norma just shakes her head with a smile. Emma picks up Kate while Dylan looks at Alex with worry.
"I'll show myself out." Alex says, walking out of the house to his car. Rebecca had called Alex fourteen times throughout Alex's stay at Emma and Dylan's house. He had been ignoring her, wishing she would disappear. Did she not understand from their fight that he didn't want her around?
Alex pulls into the station on his way home to check on his paperwork. When he walks inside, the receptionist smiles at him.
"Sheriff, you have a visitor." she says.
"Where?" he asks.
"In your office."
"You let them into my office?" he asks with surprise.
"Well...I.." she stammers, her cheeks going red with embarrassment.
"It's fine." he mumbles, walking down the hall to where his office is located. He opens the door and steps in to see Rebecca sitting at his desk.
"Alex what the hell?" she asks, standing up.
"What're you doing here?" he asks.
"What am I...I have been worried sick about you." she says.
"Why? I told you to go to hell." he says setting his stuff down.
"So why are you here?" he asks angrily.
"Well excuse me for worrying when you don't answer your phone. Especially after your...suicide attempt." she whispers.
"I have been waiting here for you for hours." she says angrily.
"I don't want you here. Don't you get that? Don't you understand?" he asks.
"What?" she asks with an eyebrows raised.
"I didn't invite you here. You can go." he says, motioning to the door.
"Alex...what happened to you?" she asks.
"What?"
"It's just...you're being a dick again."
"Again?" he asks with surprise.
"Yes. Again. The last time you treated me this way was when you married that woman. And now she is out of the picture. I finally have you to myself so why are you treating me like this?" she asks.
"Let's get one thing straight. Norma Louise Bates is never out of the picture. Leave." he says, opening the door.
"Are you breaking up with me?" she asks.
"I broke up with you a week ago!" he shouts at her.
"It was a fight, babe. We can get through it and-"
"I don't want to get through it. Because you're not worth the effort." he tells her.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes before grabbing her purse and walking out of the office. He shuts the door behind her and sits at his desk, rubbing his forehead. He replays the conversation he just had, laughing at how oblivious she was. But then, something she said had caught his attention.
I have been waiting here for you for hours.
I have been waiting here for you.
Here for you.
His eyes open as he repeats these words as if hearing them for the first time. He looks up at Norma who is staring for at him from the seat across from him.
He stands up and walks out of the office and down the hall. He can hear her heels click against the floor as she follows him without being asked. They go outside into the dark, cold air of September. He walks to the edge of the woods and stops when he is sure that no one will be able to see them. He turns to her, staring at her waiting eyes.
"Heaven or hell?" he asks.
"Yes." she says.
"You're here for me." he says.
"Yes." she says with a nod.
"No. You're not here for me." he says with understanding.
"You're here for me. You're here for me." he whispers. She smiles through her tears, staring at him lovingly.
"I loved you so much." she whispers.
"I loved you so much that when I got to come back for you, I thought...you were my heaven. But maybe...maybe I'm your hell." she says. He looks at her with sad realization.
"I'm sick." he whispers.
"I'm sick, aren't I?" he asks. She opens her mouth but doesn't say anything.
"And instead of telling me...instead of telling me to save my life...you...you're selfish." he says through his tears.
"I didn't know that there was a chance." she whispers sadly.
"I can go now..." she says, making him look up.
"I can go because you know. But it's your choice. You get to choose." she says.
"But, Alex, if I go...I don't know...I don't know if I can come back. If I go..." she trails off, looking at him sadly.
"Don't make me leave." she whispers.
"I'm dying." he says. She nods sadly.
"I'll go. Just tell me to leave and I will go." she says.
"I was dying and you knew. You didn't tell me-"
"Tell me to leave, Alex! What're you waiting for?" she shouts at him. He looks at her with tear filled eyes. She is the love of his life. Without her, he is nothing.
"This." he whispers, grabbing her face and pulling her to him. His lips crash against hers with a force unlike either of them had ever known. It was a kiss of pure passion and need. He pulls away, his lips already feeling numb and bruised from the kiss.
"I'm dying." he whispers. She nods, wiping the lipstick from his lips.
"What do I do?" he whispers.
"First...you tell Dylan and Emma."