The Man In The Midnight Blue Suit

Chapter Four

We talk. I ask him questions, and he answers with delusional truth. It's not real. Intellectual abilities, brain magic, or whatever, is not real. It can't be real. Before I learn anything else, I need to make his story make some sort of sense. Face one challenge at a time. That's how I'll get through this. One thing at a time.

The book, which told him what he and I supposedly are.
"Can I see it? The book? Does it even have a name?"
"I haven't seen that book since the day I found myself here. I assume that he, the man, keeps it somewhere – in his study, maybe. I only know that I haven't been in there since. I haven't had a chance to see it again. Don't despair, Casey. You will see it one day. Until then, you'll just have to trust me."
Trust seems to be something I've lost in the past hour.

"Well, who is he then? The man?"
Jonathan doesn't waver. "He's an Elite. He's going to train us to reach our full potential. Both of us – together."

He's so hopeful, so intent on being together in this training. He never doubts his own words.

"Then who are the 'Elites'?"
"They're people like us. An Elite race. Casey, I know you're scared, but you don't have to doubt me. I'm your brother. I would never hurt you. You'll see –"
"When? When will I see?"
He smiles and laughs, unconcerned by questions. "Now. Let me show you where we are – this mansion. It's funny, I've come to think of it as mine. Here, let me help you up –"
I jump back from his reach. He looks at me, hurt. Pain glints in the eyes of a brother I once knew.
"I – I need – I can't. I need a shower, first. I feel dirty, I feel –" I sigh. My head struggles with my words. "I need to wash it away, and then I'll be ready. Then I'll see it."
"Yeah, yeah, of course," Jonathan replies, brushing hair out of his eyes. "I didn't even think. Through there. I'll wait for you." He points to a door I hadn't noticed before. I get up, on the other side of the bed from him. My feel my body open the door, and shut it behind me. Once it's shut, I can think again. There's no lock. A pristine bathroom, covered in white tiles with a pattern of green vines crawling across the floor. Vanity, toilet, shower and claw-foot tub. Normal bathroom things – shining like they've never been used. I pull off clothes I've never seen before and force myself into the shower. The water blasts into my skin, as hot as it can get. I needed to be away from Jonathan's suffocating presence to think. To take all this in.

I sink to the floor, rest my head against the glass. Let the water stream over my eyes, my face. I give myself a moment to try and think. Nothing makes sense.

I've got to get away from him. I need to be alone to find a truth that isn't delusional.

I finish quickly and pull on clothes I find folded beside the vanity. Grey shirt, black pants. I step back into the room, where Jonathan sits, waiting.

"Great," he says, "You're feeling better? Let's go. I can't wait to show you this place."
"Jonathan, I'm not feeling well. I think I need some time, to take what you've said in –"
"Don't you want to see everything? Don't you want to spend time with me?"
"I do, I really do, I just –"
It's like a switch has been flipped. He's not soft-spoken anymore. He raises his voice, he yells at me with a pain I've never seen before.
"Why aren't you happy to see me? I've been waiting for you! I don't know if I'd have lasted this long if I didn't know you were coming. And you don't even care, Casey. You don't care about the opportunity we've been given!" He says it with venom, like the opportunity is less of a chance and more of forced labour. "You don't realise how important this is." He sits on the edge of the bed, head in his hands. He's like a child, small and vulnerable.
"I'll go, Jonathan. I was wrong. I do want to see everything with you. I mean it. Please. We can go now." He looks up at me, and the switch seems to have been flipped back.
"Ok," He says, "Ok. You'll love it, Casey, you will!" He smiles and grabs my hand, leading me out of the green-walled room. Blood pounds through my body. I don't know what I'll find on the other side of that door.