Diary of a Madman

Part Two

" The Sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older. Shorter of breath and one day closer to death,"

~ Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Time

Part Two:

I woke to the sounds of sirens outside. I disregarded them at first, then remembered that I was in hiding. I grabbed the pistol off my nightstand and stared at the ceiling, listening as they neared the inn. I held the gun to my chest, my finger on the trigger ready to shoot whoever entered the door.

The blaring sound got nearer and my heart pounded rythmically in my chest, beating the sound of suspense.

The loud noise passed and I breathed a sigh of relief. I listened as they faded to the distance and I knew I was safe. Hidden.

I set the gun down and closed my eyes, but found I couldn't sleep.

I stared up at th ceiling and watched the shadows dance and twist against the white surface.

Outside, I heard a women's scream. I jumped up, startled. I grabbed my gun and pulled my pants and shoes on quickly and ran outside.

Two people lay on the dirt in the road. A man and a woman. The woman was struggling agaist the man as he tried to rip her clothes off.

She looked up at me. "Please help!" she cried to me, tears running down her cheeks.

"Get off of her," I yelled.

"What's going to make me?" he sneered, holding his knife up. A large, butchers knife.

"I'm glad you asked," I said. I held my pistol up and aimed it at him.

"You won't do it. You don't have the guts," he said.

I pulled the trigger and he fell off the woman, limp and unbreathing.

The woman scrambled to her feet and I put the gun down into my belt. "Thank you, sir," she said.

"You're welcome," I said.

A few people were now sticking their heads out the door. I had to go before anyone recognized me as the killer of Mr. Williams and the police men.

"However may I repay you?" she said.

"No, it's okay," I said.

"No, I insist. You saved my life, Mr..."

"Williams," I said, then scowled as I realized what I had said.

"You saved my life, Mr. Williams. I must repay you," she said.

"No, it's fine, trust me,"I said. I grabbed my stomach as it let out a groan, and I realized I hadn't eaten in a day.

She grabbed my arm. "Come, I will feed you," she said.

~

The woman, who's name was Faith, fed me a hardy meal. I was full by the time the sun bega to rise.

"Is there anything else I can do before you leave?" she said as I stood up.

"Can you hide me?" I said.

"Hide you?" she said. "Hide you from what?"

I hesitantly explained. She looked surprisingly calm.

"I'll hide you. On one condition. If they find you, you say you never told me you killed them," she said.

"Quite understandable," I said.

"Follow me," she said.

She oved a bookshelf and I saw a door. She opened it and we walked downstairs to the basement. She pulled a lamp string and a dim light flickered on. I examined it. It had a couch in the center, with a bed pushed in the corner, a radio atop the table with the lamp, and a bookshelf packed with several books. It had a comfortable feel to it.

"My ex husband killed a man once. It ws purely self defense, but his wife sued. He knew he had to dissappear, so he made this. He ran away after two years, though. He commited suicide in the woods because the cops were on our trail ad he didn't want me to get in trouble," she said softly.

"I'm truely sorry," I said.

"Don't be. The past is the past. It's best not to dwell on it. That brings only sadness and regret," she said.

"Thats true," I said.

And so I stayed there, in the dimly lit basement, day after day, hidden from the cruel, judgmental eye of society.

End of Part Two