Strings

IV

An uneasy feeling was birthed in my neck, then traveled down my right arm. I managed to give a command. "Get away from the window." Jane peeked at me, and reluctantly began to back away. As my vision followed her, I thought I felt something strange between the muscles in my right arm- like dozens of tiny snakes had begun to slither along my tendons, and dig through the marrow of my bones.

"What do we do?" The girl across the room hushed her shout. Then, abruptly, it was as if those snakes had begun to constrict all at once. My arm stiffened, and stretched out toward the window without my consent. I wrangled with my nerves to impose dominance, but my fingers still extended trying to drag the rest of my body with them. Was it reaching for Jane?

No. It was reaching for George.

That was it- what connected the drunk, the assistant, and my detective. Something was wrong with their hands. I lassoed my upper right arm with my left hand and struggled to hold myself back while I told Jane about my discovery. "He's not the one you should be afraid of." She couldn't see what was going on, her attention was narrowed on the murderer outside, and she protested without glancing my way.

"What? He killed that kid!"

I could feel my joints being lengthened beyond their normal capacity and I let out a groan. "And now I'm about to kill him."

I observed her grimace as she gestured toward the window. "Nick, what are you talking about? I know he's acting insane, but we have to take him in." I was seconds away from losing my footing and being pulled across the room.

"Look at my hand." I insisted.

Finally, she spun back. Instinctively, upon seeing my losing battle, she retreated a step from my person. "Why are you doing that?"

"I'm not." I prayed my words were more earnest than harsh. "It's moving on its own, like they all did. Something wants me to kill him, and once that happens, I'm next." A tremble corrupted the lovely woman, and terror ran down her face as I continued. "And, Jane, you'll be the one after that. You'll lose control of your body, and murder me in turn."

A fire roared in her eyes. "No! I could never do that!"

"I don't think there's much any of us can do." I set my jaw, clenching my teeth so tight I thought they might shatter, and forced myself not to move an inch farther. I shook my head, trying to knock out the pain, and begged. "Jane, please, just run. Go out the back door, it's right through the kitchen."

Jane planted her feet, steadfast. "No. Nick, no. That's ridiculous. We'll figure this out, I'm not going anywhere."

My lungs started to wheeze, I couldn't hold this much longer. I launched my desperate appeal. "Can't you see the risk you're taking staying here? Don't you know how much life is ahead of you?" Saying that almost hurt as much as my resistance. I couldn't keep my eyes open for my next phrase. "I've been living like a dead man for years. You've got a chance."

I was amazed to hear Jane's light footsteps come closer. Then I was astonished as she grabbed my chin, demanding I look at her. My lids parted, she secured my focus, and proclaimed: "So do you!" But I couldn't be rescued, and I wouldn't let her throw herself away.

"Go." I demanded.

Her nose flared and her mouth straightened into a taut line. "No."

I never wanted to play this card, but she left me no choice. I banished sentiment from my mind and growled. "Deputy Quinn. Leave here, now. That's an order." She halted, let go of my face, clenched her fists, and screamed.