Psycho #OpenNovellaContest

Chapter 15

"So?" Alya says. "What did you think of Raymundo?" She's sitting on the couch in the living room of her house. Next to her is Carmela, who's already made herself another milkshake after chugging the one she bought at the coffee shop, chalking it up to "nerves." Alya knows that's a lie.

Carmela shivers. "I don't like him. He just seems so shady."

"I agree. But what else was I supposed to do? He would have published the article anyway, and at least now I got to say what really happened."

Carmela stares right through Alya. "But that's not what really happened, is it? No one screams because they're sick-"

Alya knows exactly what Carmela is thinking. She knows that Carmela doesn't trust her anymore, at least not as much as she did. She knows Carmela thinks she's getting a little too obsessed with the murder cases. But I have to be, Alya thinks. More of my friends are going to die if I don't figure out who the murderer is. Panic rises up in her throat, but she forces it down. I cannot freak out right now.

"Well, maybe I do. I didn't want to explain everything." Alya sighs. "He must already think I'm crazy."

"I guess it's good you didn't tell him too much. After all, he could be the murderer, right?"

"Yeah, I thought so at first. But now... I'm not so sure." She glances at her hands. "He just seems so..." She shakes her head. "I don't know. He doesn't act like I would expect a murderer to act."

Carmela squints. "What do you mean?"

Sweat beads at Alya's temples. "I guess he just doesn't act like he's a murderer. I mean, what would he gain from it? It's not like he knew any of the women who were murdered. Or maybe he did, I don't know. But there's just something... off about this whole situation. I don't even know what to think anymore."

Alya thinks back to two hours ago, when she had received the mysterious warning. Has a whole two hours really gone by already? It sure doesn't feel like it... Of course, there was the car crash. Someone must have died, but was it intentional? Was the warning even about the murders? Alya had assumed so, but it had been very vague. She could have even hallucinated the whole thing...

Alya's stomach turns. What if she had hallucinated the whole thing? What if she put Carmela and herself into danger for nothing?

Carmela is looking a little pale herself. "Do you mind if I use your bathroom? I'm not feeling well all of a sudden."

Alya nods. "Down the hall and first door to the right."

Alya sinks further into the couch cushion as Carmela stands up and disappears into the darkness of the hallway.

Once Alya's sure she's gone, she digs into her purse and grabs the empty coffee cup. She sets it in front of her and punches the number into her phone. After two rings, the line connects.

"Hello?" a muffled voice says.

Alya sighs in relief. "Mark. We need to talk."

A brief pause, and then, "Yeah, we do."

"Send me your address and I'll meet you at your house in-" She glances at the time. "Two hours."

Another pause. "Okay." His voice almost sounds constricted, like he's holding his breath.

Alya hears the rush of water running through her plumbing system. She quickly turns her phone off and sets it face down on the coffee table next to Carmela's milkshake. The pitter-patter of water striking the windowpane echoes throughout the room.

The rain has returned.