Partners

Chapter 25 : Crushed

Daniel Sanchez couldn't sleep.  He had been tossing and turning in his bed for the past three days, having the same nightmare.  

He saw a figure in the Scream mask, standing outside his bedroom window, holding a knife.  

He wasn't so sure whether it was a dream or not.  And he didn't like being haunted.  Daniel had told his friend, Austin, about this.  Funny that Austin had asked him to seek a psychic. 

Who believed in psychics anyway? 

On the fifth sleepless night, Daniel sat in his bed, glaring out the window and dozing off at the same time. 

*****

After the class, Daniel followed Austin to this psychic store his friend had been blabbering about. 

On the way there was LAPD headquarter.  Daniel slowed down his pace.  He saw two suited people heading toward the building. 

Without thinking, he walked over, "Detectives?" 

Austin sighed and trod behind him. 

"Yeah?" the black short hair one turned around. 

It was a female and she was tall. 

The other one had blonde hair and pretty face.  He was really good-looking, just like someone who walked out from Vogue. 

The female squinted her hazel eyes, "Who are you?" as the guy asked, "May I help you?" 

The guy looked at the female, half sighing, "Chase."  He then turned to Daniel and Austin, "I'm Detective Clarence.  This is my partner Detective Chase.  What can we help you with?" 

Daniel gesture his friend, "This is Austin.  I'm Daniel.  I...uh...there's something going on." 

"Like you got off school a little early today?" Chase raised her eyebrows. 

"Uh, no?  I mean, yes, I did skip the last period, but I'm not here for that." 

Clarence nodded, "We're listening." 

"I couldn't sleep." 

Chase interrupted him, "Tried hypnosis yet?" 

"Uh..." 

"Ignore her." Clarence shared the tip, "Keep going." 

So Daniel spoke again, "I saw a person stand outside my bedroom window.  He wore a mask, like that one in Scream movie, and also a knife in his hand.  It's been five nights and I'm going crazy!" 

Austin seemed embarrassed that his friend sounded crazy, "I suggested him go see a psychic." 

"Well, then you're as crazy as your friend!" Chase said, "There's no such thing as psychics!" 

Clarence glanced at her. 

"What?  You're a psychic now?" she fired back.  

"No." the male detective looked powerless. 

Chase' lips lifted up a little, turning her attention back to the kids, "Here I have three possible explanations that I just came up with.  Number one, maybe you're dreaming." 

Daniel refuted, "No.  No.  That wasn't a dream.  How could I possibly dream about the same thing five nights a roll." 

Chase shrugged, "Fine.  Then number two," paused, "You've probably gone mental.  You know, school work, college application, relationship...  Those might made you pretty stressful." 

Daniel shook his head again, "I...uh...don't have above problems.   What's the third explanation?" 

"Right, the third one.  Maybe it's for real that someone's messing with you, stalking you, or...just wanting to scare you." Chase said and Clarence nodded in impressed.