Chasing White [Draft 1]

Chapter 16: Hallucinations Are Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Downtown Belmont. July 12, 2020.

Something blares in my ear and I groan, rolling over in bed. It can't be time for work already. Jason groans next to me and something moves.

"Addie, Rachel that I'm going to kill her." Jason mumbles into his pillow.

I lift my head out from underneath the pillow and glare at my phone, my eyes burning from my lack of sleep. I pick up the phone and the bright light make me flinch. Whatever song Rachel programed into my phone thumps against the heel of my palm. I blink a few times to moisten my eyes and it works for a few seconds but I'm only able to see Devil.

I grunt. Must be Meredith. Rachel changed her name when I first got her contact information. I slide my finger across the screen and put the phone my ear.

"Hello?" I croak, closing my eyes.

"It's Tori. She's freaking out again. You have to come help or else she might hurt someone."

I thrust a hand through my hair and push myself up. "When did it start?"

"A few hours ago. We thought that she would calm down but-"

"Okay." I yawn. "I'm coming."

Someone yells in the background. I ignore it and hang up the phone.

"Who was that?"

"It's nothing. Go back to sleep." I throw the covers off and swing my legs out of bed. Jason grunts and shoves his head into the pillow.

"Is it Rachel?"

"Mmm, yeah." I snatch my leggings off the floor and pull them on. Thrusting my hand through my hair to get it out of my face, I grab my off brand Ugg boots and pull them on. I lean across the bed and kiss Jason's scratchy cheek.

"I love you."

"Love you too." Jason smiles, his eyes still closed. My lip twitches as I pull away from him. I walk out of my bedroom and stumble down the stairs. Hulk and Sadie perk up when my hip slams into a table by the couch.

I whisper an apology to the dogs, pushing a piece of my hair behind my ear. Without disturbing the dogs more than I already have, I grab my jacket off the couch and the keys off the dining room table before walking out of the house.

I slide my jacket on and get into the car. Where I'm going finally hits me. Something's wrong with Tori. She snapped again.

I slam my hands on the steering wheel.

"Dammit!"

With a scowl, I pull away from my house and start the short drive to the hospital.

What could she be doing to herself? One time it was slamming her head into the wall repeatedly. Another time it was attacking anyone who came in. Last time... I don't even know what last time was. Last time she was back there. Mentally.

I sigh and set my elbow on the window's border. This is too complicated. I wish Rachel didn't freak out every time I mentioned Tori and would actually come to help me. I wish Jason could listen to me and understand what I'm trying to do.

I wish that none of this ever happened.

The past few weeks have been complete hell, getting up in the middle of the night to help Tori then going to work with maybe two hours of sleep. Jason thinks I'm helping Rachel with her night terrors. Is it really that far off? He just has the person wrong.

I grunt and put both hands on the steering wheel.

I'm a terrible person.

I pull into the nearly empty parking lot, parking next to Meredith's Toyota. When I get out of the car, I glance down at my outfit, realizing that I'm still wearing Jason's shirt. Whatever.