The Nightmare Effect

Chapter Ten

        You know what a good mystery story does right? You don't have an idea where the hell it's going. I just now realized that's how this little look back is becoming. Maybe they'll make a movie out of this, if they ever find it. Movies, ironically, tend to be the only things nowadays that get people to read. You mean Fight Club was based off a book, you say? Why yes, yes it was little Timmy, it was indeed. Every generation says they had it best, when in reality, they're all the same. My generation gets to deal with the rise of internet usage and the creation of smart phones. People paying hundreds of dollars for just a little fruit logo on their laptop, or phone. Because that's the world we live in now, right? Pay for things with money you don't have and feel entitled to everything else.

        Getting back to the juicy stuff, things remained quiet, but I had a little bit of paranoia developing. Suspecting the commissioner of being a serial killer tends to include that paranoia. Amy would come by every now and then to make sure I was still alive and didn't fall and break my neck. I kept waiting for Carter to call and tell me about what they found at the victims' homes. I needed him to find those badges, or else our whole theory gets blown out of the water like a dynamite fisherman. Amy noticed one of my many glances at the phone.

        "What're you waiting for?" she asked in a annoyed tone.

        "For Carter to call about something relating to the case," I told her.

        "What would that something be?"

        "It's about these badges that a group gave out."

        "Badges? What'd they look like?"

        I walk over to my jacket and take the badge. I give it to her and she grunts in an annoyed way. "What?"

        "You actually joined those idiots?" she asked me.

        "Whoa, whoa, what do you know about them?"

        She shook her head. "I... used to be in the group. It was just a weird time in my life and I was pissed off at the world, okay?"

        Well, anyone else's head get a twirl on that one? "You mean to tell me that you were in the Anarchist group?"

        "Yeah."

        "You ever hear of a guy called 'Shakespeare'?"

        "Course I did, never saw him, tho. Said something about how he was the last of the six that didn't get "corrupted"."

        The idea of the pills popped into my head. "Did you ever see them making, or giving out any pills?"

        "Yeah, they made pills in the basement and loaded them in packages. Where do you think I got the black ones from?"

        "What color were the pills in the packages?"

        "They were white. The black ones were locked up..., until I got into them," she gave me a wink and a smile.

        "Did you ever see people popping the pills?" I asked her.

        "Not really, they said they weren't meant for us," she got up and walked over to me, "Edgar, are you scared of them?"

        I didn't have a clear answer. "Not really sure. I'm more scared of what those pills can do to people." She hugged me and I held onto her.

        This was a moment I can remember clearly. I have no idea why this moment sticks out to me, but I like it. For once, no dark humor, assholish attitudes, or apathy... just peacefulness. I didn't wanna let go of that moment, but I got work to do. The phone rang and pulled me back into reality. I answered it. It was Carter calling.