Obscurity

Chapter 23: Malice

Alma

What is he doing here? Is he even coming here? There's nothing besides this psychiatric unit in this building. He has to be coming here. My mind races as I pace back and forth between the door and the table on the far side of my room.

I rub my hands up and down the tops of my pant legs as though there are wrinkles I need to smooth. There are no wrinkles. My palms are sweating profusely. I wipe them on my pants. How in the hell does he know where I am? There's no way he could know. My breathing quickens. I feel like I can't get enough oxygen.

I shake my hands out. Get a grip, Alma. I've got to calm down. I continue to pace, more rapidly than before. My mind is going one hundred times faster than my legs. He can't be here. I try to deny seeing him making his way for this building. When I realize my breathing is so quick, I stop pacing. I cross my arms and will myself to calm down.

I chew on my thumb nail. My eyes dart around the room while my brain tries to process the reality that he's coming here. I take big deep breaths for a few moments before I give up on calming myself entirely. My heart is racing too fast. I begin to pace again. What am I going to do? What the fuck am I going to do? Think, Alma. Think!

"Alma." Chris's voice booms from the doorway. I nearly jump out of my skin. I stop pacing and look at him. He's standing in the doorway to my room with his clipboard in his hand.

"Follow me. Let's go." He's stern and it scares me. He walks quickly and doesn't wait for me to catch up. His swift pace and the rigid way he's carrying himself breaks me out of my racing thoughts. I hurry to try to catch up to him.

He stops at his office door and flings it wide open before he walks inside. I glance over to the day room and see Nick sitting there watching. I shoot him a weak smile and shrug before going inside Chris's office.

"Close the door." He orders as I enter the room. I shut the door.

He slams his clipboard down hard on the desk. Yeah. He's pissed off about something.

"Alma. I would like to know if you think I look stupid?" He asks through gritted teeth.

I'm speechless. I can't even imagine where this conversation is going to go. I stand there, my mouth hanging open. I'm shocked he seems so angry. I can't manage to get a word out to respond to him. I stare at him, unsure of what to say.

"I'm dead serious. Do I look stupid to you?" He asks again. His tone low and aggressive.

I just shake my head. It seems he isn't going to move from this question until I answer it. I cross my arms and stand there. What is his problem?

"Are you aware I've taken most of what you've told me at face value?" His voice raises again.

"Okay. What are you talking about, Chris?" I ask in a small, but determined voice.

"I'm talking about the fact that you lied to me!" His voice booming again.

"I haven't lied to you!" I shout back, spreading my arms wide as I yell.

He scoffs and shakes his head. "Still at it, I see."

"Chris, what the fuck are you talking about?" I'm completely bewildered. What's his fucking problem?

"I saw the video of the other day." Confusion masks my face. "... of the night Sierra's nose was broken..." He elaborates.

It dawns on me now. I know what he's talking about. My shoulders deflate as if someone just pulled an enormous load off them. He sees my reaction and his eyes narrow.