Insane

Chapter 1

"Charlotte, time for breakfast, honey!" The sweet voice of my mother calls up the stairs to me. I sigh, tossing the covers to the side of my bed and stand up.

"C'mon, Char, I think I smell bacon." Johnny says over his shoulder, peeking out the door.

"Johnny, how'd you get in here? I didn't let you in." I ask, rubbing my eyes sleepily.

"Your, uh, window was open." Johnny says, disappearing from the doorway. I yawn, pulling my robe from my closet and slipping it on. I tie it tightly around my waist before heading down the stairs.

Johnny was right, bacon and pancakes are set on the table, and three plates are set in front of each spot. I pull one of the chairs out, sitting down on the white coushin. Johnny smiles at me from the oven, standing tall and chewing on a piece of bacon.

"Mom, Pop, that's Johnny. You guys haven't met him yet, have you?" I ask, mouth full of pancake, glancing over to my mother and father sat in front of me. I fill my plate with food and wait for their reply.

My dad loudly folds up the newspaper that he had in his hands, sighing. "Charlotte, sweetheart, what are you on about?" His gruff voice speaks, and I put down my fork.

My mother looks at me, piercing green eyes staring into my own dull brown ones. "I'm talking about Johnny. He's right there," I nod my head towards the oven, "you haven't gone blind on me, have you?" I laugh.

My parents look over to the oven, but turn back looking confused, eyebrows pull tight together. "Charlotte, nobody is by the oven." My mom says, voice full of concern.

"Oh, mama, don't play any tricks on me. I ain't no blind lady. I see Johnny right there." I sigh, eyes meeting Johnny's, annoyed. His brown eyes flick away quickly, though, and I frown.

"Pop, you see him, don't you?" I ask, and my father avoids my eyes. My lips quiver, and my hands shake between my knees. "I'm not crazy." I whisper shakily.

"No, honey, of course not. You're our baby girl." My mom's eyes are filled with fear, but she's smiling. A big, fake smile. "Doug, don't you think we should all go for some ice cream?" She looks at my dad for a moment, standing and then looking back to me. "You'd like that, wouldn't you, baby?" A shaky hand is reaching towards me, slowly.

Suddenly, Johnny is right next to my ear. "They're lying." He whispered. "They're gonna take you to the doctor. Lock you up."

My eyes are wide, my breathing is uneven and ragged. "No, they wouldn't. They love me." I say to him, shaking my head and holding my hands over my ears.

"They don't love you. You can't trust them like you trust me. They will betray you." Johnnys voice seeps through my fingers clearly.

"NO!" I shout, arm thrown to the side in an attempt to hit Johnny, but it flies back and hits nothing.

"Charlotte, let's go get some ice cream, yeah?" My mother's voice is shaking and her eyes are watery. My father is stood slightly in front of her, as if protecting her.

"You need to get rid of them." Johnny whispers. "I'll get rid of them."

"NO! DON'T, JOHNNY!" I scream, tears trailing down my cheeks. Johnny is standing behind my terrified parents, and he holds the axe tightly in his hands, brown eyes staring into mine, and he mouths 'I'm sorry' before I shut my eyes.