My Mind is a Safe

Mr. Sandman Showing His Beam

     After Pete left the room Patrick let his eyes droop until he fell into what he hoped would be a peaceful sleep. This was true only for a few hours before the calm darkness began to shift and change beneath Patrick's eyelids. The scene switched to that of the back of the tour bus, the same room Patrick was currently sleeping in.
      "Patrick time to get up!" Pete shouted as he walked into the room, Patricks body moved to get up without the will of Patrick himself.
      "I will make you watch" he heard, only as low as a whisper but it was definitely the voice of Vaughn. Patrick immediately knew what this was, it was one of his episodes.
      "Benzedrine? Beenzedrine are you there?" He asked, followed by a moment of silence only taken up by the heavy breathing of Vaughn. His body moved to sit up just as Pete walked into the room.
      "Hey Patrick. You ok?" Pete asked looking at Vaughn with a face full of concern. He hadn't looked at the other man yet, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor below him.
      "I'm just fine." Vaughn said coldly only glancing up slightly. Patrick knew what would happen next, it always went down this way. Pete took a step closer to the man his face full of confusion at the mans cold response.
       "Are you sure? It sounds like you might be getting sick 'Trick." He said beginning to kneel down to be at eye height with the smaller man. Patrick knew his eyes had begun to water, he knew exactly what Vaughn would do next and his predictions were correct. Vaughn lunged locking his hands around Pete's throat and Vaughn made sure Patrick could see and feel it.
       "'T-Trick I-I can't b-breathe" he strained trying to pry the mans hands from his throat. Vaughn only gripped tighter, directing his gaze from his own hands up to Pete's eyes.
Patrick could see the reflection of through Pete's fear filled eyes. Patrick's iris' were yellow. That was new, that had never happened before. Pete's fearful gaze gained another emotion, confusion.
      "How are you doing that?" Patrick asked quietly, knowing all too well how this will end. Not having the energy or willpower to stop it.
      "It's a little trick I learned." Vaughn sneered as Pete made one last gargling effort to get free before his body went limp, his eyes locked in a fearful gaze. "Well that was fun." Vaughn stated simply.
      "Why do you do this?" Patrick asked, his eyes full of tears as he saw his best friends body sprawled on the floor.
       "They keep you grounded. I can't have that." He explained.
       "Benzedrine? Help, please." Patrick begged as the seen began to warp and change.
       "I'm trying Patrick really I am." Came the voice of Benzedrine. This time the two were standing in the living area. Joe sat on the couch, Andy was at the table with a practice kit in front of him, he was lightly hitting the drums to the beat of 'Save Rock and Roll'. Pete sat very much alive on the couch across from Joe, lightly strumming his bass to a new tune.
        "Hey 'Trick. What you up to?" He spoke when he noticed Vaughn in the centre of the room.
       "Oh nothing really." Vaughn said simply before making his way towards the front of the bus where the driver sat in his seat. Vaughn looked out the window at the cars flowing by.
      "Too small, too small, almost there." Patrick could hear Vaughn think. "Ah perfect." A large semi truck was coming towards them in the other lane. Vaughn waited for the perfect moment.
       "No Vaughn, please stop!" Patrick begged. He felt the comforting presence of Benzedrine as even he knew what was coming. He was trying hard to pull Vaughn out of the subconscious light.
      As the truck approached and was about 20 feet away Vaughn reached for the wheel to the protest of the driver and lurched it into the oncoming traffic lane. The guys had only a moment to react to being thrown from their chairs before a large crash rang out and the bus and semi crashed head on into each other.         Vaughn was immediately thrown back from the impact as the truck smashed through the front windshield. Patrick could feel the pain and saw his friends thrown about the bus. Joe died immediately his expression still, Andy was crushed up against a wall of the bus, alive but bloodied and unconscious. As for Pete he sat on the ground screaming in agony, he hadn't received the blessing of passing out or dying, instead he sat his legs pointing in odd directions as he clutched his stomach that has been sliced by a loose piece of metal. His face was bloody and battered and he looked at Patrick in disappointment and pain.
        "Why?" He asked only as high as a whisper. Patrick couldn't handle it anymore, he broke down.
      "Ready for another one?" Vaughn asked. Patrick rapidly shook his head.
      "No, Vaughn stop it." He begged desperately. "B-Benzedrine, help."
      "I'm trying Patrick" he responded comfortingly. "You just have to open your eyes." He explained.
      "I-I can't." Came Patrick's response, he had tried that, why would Benzedrine suggest something that simple. He began to hear muffled voices, he heard what sounded like his name being spoken.
        "Patrick listen to their voices." Benzedrine coaxed, Patrick nodded subconsciously. He calmed momentarily as he felt Vaughn back off from the spot light. He sat up abruptly, he felt as Vaughn finally completely backed off and he was back in the spot light. Patrick turned towards his friends who were all looking at him with concern and confusion.
      "Hey guys?" Patrick asked curiously.
     "What the hell was that?" Joe questioned.
     "What was what?" He asked rubbing his neck out of embarrassment. He didn't want them to see that.
      "You were begging for help from someone named... Vaughn I believe. You were asking Benzedrine for help." Pete explained, keeping his distance.
      "It was a nightmare." Patrick said simply not sure what else he could say. It wasn't a complete lie it was his worst nightmare but it was caused by Vaughn.
      "Benzedrine is a character in a song Patrick, he's not real." Andy explained, Benzedrine got angry at this, making Patrick laugh slightly.
       "I know, you know what else isn't real? Nightmares." He said dramatically adding a slight flare of the hands to emphasize his point. "Give me a minute to get changed guys, seriously I'm fine we can play Mario Kart or something." He explained trying to get them to back off. The group agreed and they all turned to leave closing the door behind them.
****
    "I swear Pete if you throw that-" Patrick was cut off by Pete releasing the blue shell dropping Patrick from his first place position to fourth.
    "Have a better lead next time." Pete says laughing, he was still keeping his distance from Patrick but had forgotten about the entire situation momentarily.
    The group decided to play one last round, closing off their competition with the classic rainbow road. They were about to cross over the border into Windsor  on their way to Toronto to their next show.
     The round resulted in many screams of defeat and a triumphant Pete in first landing Patrick in a low twelfth. Although that was mainly due to the distracting voice of Benzedrine trying to convince him to tell the others of their existance.
     "It would make things so much easier Patrick" he said beginning to get frustrated.
      "I know I can't tell them all at once though. That would bw way to overwhelming." He explained, knowing Benzedrine would understand.
     "Fine, tell Pete then. It's a start." He said after a moment of silence, Patrick nodded lightly in response. "And Patrick."
     "Yes?" he responded curiously.
      "Do it tonight, or I will." This was a surprise for Patrick to hear and he knew he was being serious.
      "Okay" came his short simple response. The guys had finally arrived at the border and got out of the bus to show their passports and claim their items. They were recognized by someone who wanted a picture for their daughter to which they gladly agreed. They all made their way back onto the tour bus.
      "I think I am going to go lay down." Patrick announced resting his hand on his head, closing his eyes. It was then that his friends truly noticed how pale their friemd had become. His eyes were sunken and surrounded by deep dark circles accented by the shimmering white of his sweat soaked skin.
      "You okay 'Trick?" Pete asked glancing at his friend with concern. Patrick just nodded before turning to walk to thw back of the tour bus, his foot steps fading as he got further away. The three were left in a state of worry before Andy and Joe glanced at Pete, expecting him to go after their friend. Pete sighs and begins to follow Patrick.
       Patrick plops down onto his bunk with a groan, gripping his head roughly, hoping to calm the dreadful pounding. The rest he had had earlier didn't help with the sickness he was feeling and Benzedrine was becoming concerned. Moments later Patrick heard a light knock on the door and the sound of Pete clearing his throat.
      "'Trick you good?" Pete asked, Patrick just groaned in response before pushing himself from his laying position.
     "This is the perfect opportunity for you to tell him Patrick." Benzedrine said as Patrick propped himself into a sitting position. He responded with a sigh of defeat.
      "'Trick?" Patrick was snapped out of his own head by Pete's voice.
      "Sorry, just thinking. To answer your question I am not quite sure." Patrick explained honestly.
      "What do you mean?" Pete asked, leaning against the wall.
       "Look Pete there is something I have to tell you. But, you have to swear you won't look at me any differently." Patrick explained quickly.
       "I promise, 'Trick is everything ok?" Patrick shook his head lightly.
       "Look Pete when I was a ki-" he stopped abruptly, his head falling slightly.
       "Patrick?" Pete stood from his spot on the wall stepping towards his friend. Pete reached out to place a hand on his shoulder when Patrick whipped his head upwards, launching himself at Pete. The two crashed to the ground, causing Joe and Andy to come running. Patrick locked his hands onto Pete's throat glaring at him intensely. That is when Pete noticed the eyes, the unforgettable yellow eyes that bore into his whiskey ones. The yellow replaced the usual bright blue that suited Patrick perfectly.
        "Patrick? What are you doing!?" Joe shouted having entered the room with Andy. His grip tightened around Pete's throat and he focused his glare on the other two before reverting it back to Pete. Pete felt like his lungs were on fire, his vision was beginning to blur and his head throbbed from lack of oxygen. Andy and Joe stepped forward about to grab their friend to pull him off but they stopped when Patrick let go himself.
       "Vaughn stop!" He shouted, his eyes changed back to the glorious blue they once were. He threw himself across the room, pushing up against the far wall as much as he could. He lifted his legs to his chest and started to break down. Pete sat up gasping for air, gripping his now purple neck.
        "What the fuck Patrick!?" Joe yelled, Andy looked on in shock. Patrick shook his head wildly tears streaming down his face
         "Patrick are you ok?" He suddenly said, seemingly asking himself. He violently shook his head, the tears returning. The guys looked at him confused.
          "I'm sorry, oh my gosh. I-I am so s-so-orry." He kept repeating over and over. "It wa-wasn't m-me. I-I sw-wear." He said between sobs.
          "Patrick do you need me to explain?" He said, his sobs stopping momentarily before he reverted back to his sobbing state.
         Pete had recovered to an extent, he was standing now using the wall as support, they all watched with confusion and fear as Patrick seemingly had a conversation with himself. Patrock shook his head lightly.
        "'Trick, what was that?" Pete asked, his voice hoarse and shaky.
        "I-I was tr-trying t-to te-ell you." He explained between sobs.
        "Sorry Patrick, you're taking too long." The tears had stopped and Patrick sat up straight before lifting himself off the ground. The three friends backed up slightly. "No need to be afraid, I am not Vaughn." He said. "My name is Benzedrine, it's nice to finally meet you."

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Ah, I don't know how I feel about that one. I was excited about it but not so sure now. Please let me know what you think.
 
Anyway, I apologize for the wait. I kinda had the chapter done a while ago but I for some reason have been getting sick recently. I had to leave work because I apparently haven't been eating enough and got dizzy and couldn't keep myself up. As of now I have had a headache and neck pain for 2 days straight. Hopefully I get over this soon.

Anyway please please leave feedback and I am looking forward to your submissions for my cover contest! Have a great day everyone!