Obsessive Reality

Chapter 9: Voices

“I cannot believe you killed the wrong girl! You stupid fool!” The man hollered. His voice was familiar.  That person from my other dream.

“I’m sorry sir! They looked alike! How was I supposed to know one from the other?” It was the other person from the dream and the closet.

“I put an assassin charm on you! Assassins don’t make mistakes! Now, that new girl is still a threat! If we don’t get rid of her, our plans will be ruined! I can’t have little kids getting in my way. This is not part of the plan! Now there will be questions about the one you killed, and people will have suspicions! This is all your fault!” The first man says.  Suddenly, he turns and flicks his wrist at the other man. And just like that, he’s gone!

Wiping his hands off, the first man turns and leaves. It’s then that I notice a knife against the wall. Engraved into the blade is a symbol. A square, with an eye in the middle. Around the square are vines that loop in and out...

I shake awake, gasping for air. Michelle! They had to be talking about Michelle. She was murdered, because she looked like another girl. Oh my Gosh! I have to find out who these people are! I jumped out of bed, I’m drenched in sweat. Slowly I make my way to the door, trying not to awaken Anna. The last thing I need is her suspicions.  Quietly I make my way down the hall and take a right. I knock on the door and it swings open. Triston’s sitting in his bed, wide awake and wild eyed. He stares at me.

“Hi.” I say, and close the door behind me.

“Bad dream?” He asked.

“You could say that...” I said and went to sit beside him.  Triston looked just as frazzled as I feel. “They killed Michelle, didn’t they?” I asked in a small voice. I felt the tears bubbling up. Oh not that again! I yell at myself.

“I think they did, but she wasn’t the right person. That means another girl’s in danger.” Triston said. I stared at him. He’s right! They did say that they killed the wrong person. How can you make a mistake that large!

“Yeah, didn’t they say that the ‘new girl’ was a threat or something?” If we can figure out who the girl these people want to kill is, then we can protect her... somehow.

“They did. But new girl? Do you think they mean here?” Triston asks.

I nod. “I think so. Michelle was here, and if they mistook her for someone else here...” It makes sense. But who at this school looks like Michelle? Could we know this other girl...?

“Those people said the ‘new girl’. And if we’re assuming it’s someone here... then I would think... they meant to kill you.” Triston choked at the end. My mouth fell open. What? No! How... how could I be a threat to anybody? I’m... I’m just me! I don’t have super powers or anything like that! I could be dead right now. I would be dead if it wasn’t for Michelle.

“Oh my God... You’re right! They meant to kill me! I’m supposed to be dead!" I was starting to hyper ventilate. Dead. Gone. Poof! Oh my God!

“Hey! Brook! Breathe! You are fine, you’re alive. You’re here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Triston reached out and wrapped his arms around me. I was beginning to feel better, when I realized just how terrible this was. I mean, he has a girlfriend! Hello! I may like him but, the feelings cannot be mutual. Besides, who would choose me over Anna? Nobody that’s who!

I pulled out of his embrace, looked Triston in the eye and said “How can someone confuse me with Michelle? We look nothing alike.”  I was trying to turn this conversation back to one I could somewhat understand. His face went through a mix of emotions at lightning speed: Hurt, sadness, confusion, and finally realization. He seemed to get the message. But something was off...