Paranoia #2
“These, for starters.” I showed the thirteen bat silhouettes traveling up my right arm, then the intricate skull that adorned my left forearm.
“And this.” I lifted my hair to show where ‘Mon Chéri’ was written across the back of my neck in delicate cursive.
“This one’s my favorite,” I said, gesturing to the angel wings on my lower back.
“And this was my very first.” I unbuttoned my pants and rolled them down slightly, low enough to expose the word ‘Vixen’ across my hip bone with a lipstick print beside it.
I patted it affectionately before redoing my jeans. I wouldn’t choose this one nowadays—I’d gotten it at eighteen in a flurry of excitement. It was my least favorite, but at least it wasn’t terrible. It could be worse.
“Nice. Why so much vixen?”
“It’s my middle name. And my old stage name.
I think I want it right here.” I slapped a hand to my lower left side, almost on my other hip bone.
“Not today, though. My cousin’s waiting for me.
But I’ll come back sometime.” The guy nodded as I walked out.
“Or maybe here would be better,” I thought out loud, placing a hand over my right ribcage.
My thoughts strayed to the night before as I passed a gothic store, and I briefly wondered if that was where Dennis and Mateo had gotten their fangs.
“Vixen,” a familiar voice mused, followed by a shrill laugh.
I whirled to see Dennis. He smiled as I stepped back and right into something. I turned to see what it was—a thick light pole—and when I looked back he was gone.
“Emy?”
“Huh?” I was frozen in place.
“Emery,” Ari’s voice sang, “where are you?”
I regained my senses and hurried into the lingerie store, where she was waiting at the register. “Sorry. I got distracted.” I gave my card to the lady, who’d already rung up my four lingerie sets and the three bras Ari had chosen.
“Thanks again.” Ari smiled for a second before it turned to a frown. “Are you okay?” She leaned to the side to look me in the eye. “Did you have another hallucination?”
I nodded.
“Here you are. Have a nice day.” The woman handed me both bags. I quietly thanked her and gave one to Ari.
“Do you wanna go home now?” Ari asked, leading the way outside. Once again, I nodded. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“When we get home.” I looked around as we headed for the car.
I had no idea if this was all in my head or if it was actually happening.
Even worse, I didn’t know which I would prefer: more proof of my own insanity or some guy stalking me.
By the time we were almost home I couldn’t hold it any longer.
“I wanna talk about it,” I blurted. “I was talking to this guy in a tattoo parlor, you’re gonna help me pick out my next one, by the way, and I said something about how my middle name is Vixen.
Then when I left I heard someone say ‘Vixen’ behind me and then a laugh—his laugh—you know how it’s like a giggle?
It’s so creepy that it’s kinda sexy. Very sexy, actually.
I can’t lie. It’s so creepy but in a really sexy way.
Like so unnerving it’s arousing, you know? It’s—”
“Emy. Focus.”
“Right. Sorry. Dennis was there, I saw him. But then I hit a pole and looked away for like a second, and when I looked back he was gone.”
“I don’t think you’re seeing things. I think this guy is really following you.”
“But he can’t be. How would he know where we were all day? I’ve been seeing him all day. Well, evening. Since we left the house.”
“He knew almost everything about you last night. What makes you think he won’t know where you’re at?” She stole a glance as we paused at a stop sign.
“I don’t like this.”
“Me neither.”
We were silent the rest of the way home. When we arrived, I peered at every inch of the driveway before getting out.
“I doubt he’s bold enough to follow you here.” Ari confidently walked past me.
“True.” I followed closely behind. “If he does follow us, I’m sure Uncle Tom will kick his ass. I think he’s home by now.”
“I’m pretty sure he is, and he definitely would.”
We went inside and I promptly dead-bolted the door. “I’m gonna go take a shot and call Dr. Kelsey. Or her nurse. Whoever answers. I might need an appointment.”
“Are you serious? You’re not even supposed to drink anymore and you’re gonna take a shot before you call the person who told you not to drink?”
I paused near the stairs to think about it. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, I am.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Ari shook her head as I made my way upstairs.
I reached my room and went straight to the nightstand where I kept my flask. I took a generous swig of whiskey before kicking my boots off and flopping backward onto the bed. I dialed Dr. Kelsey’s number and closed my eyes, waiting for her to pick up.
One ring… two rings… three rings…
I ran my nails through my hair, growing impatient. “Screw it. I’m bored.” I hung up.
The proper thing would be to leave a message for one of her nurses to call back, but I didn’t have the patience for that. I could always email her for an appointment later. Maybe I didn’t even need one.
I tossed the phone aside before glancing at the door and letting out an earsplitting scream.
I hopped up and felt around for the butcher knife I kept on my nightstand.
My fingers closed around the handle and I threw it full force.
My aim was spot on but he was gone before it could connect—the blade slammed into the wall and stuck, vibrating from the impact.
“Niecy?” Uncle Tom was in the doorway the second it hit the wall. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” My eyes scanned the otherwise empty room. I didn’t need another emergency therapy session or anyone trying to cart me off to the crazy house again. “I saw a really big spider.”
He let out a boisterous laugh and pulled the knife from the wall. “Again?” He carefully set it down beside me. “Why can’t you use a shoe like a normal person? It’s so dangerous to keep a knife for spiders. That’s psychotic.”
“Like me,” I muttered. He didn’t seem to hear.
“No more hacking my walls apart,” he said sternly.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine, niecy.” He laughed again, patting me roughly on the back. “I know they freak you out. If you see it again call me and I’ll take care of it.” He kissed my forehead before leaving the room.
“These hallucinations need to stop.” I groaned and sat on the bed, thinking back through the day.
I had taken my meds, I hadn’t drunk any liquor until a few minutes ago, I hadn’t stayed up too late any given day since moving here.
Nothing should be causing hallucinations. I’d been so careful lately.
“Why would you think I’m a hallucination?”
I shrieked and toppled off the bed. I hit the floor but barely felt it—I was too busy staring wide eyed at the man across the room. “What do you want?” I asked, reaching for my butcher knife again.
“I don’t wanna be stabbed, that’s for sure.” Dennis was on my bed in an instant. He plucked the knife from my hand and placed it on a pillow.
“Emy? Are you okay?” Pounding footsteps sounded up the stairs. I broke from my paralyzed state to see Ari freeze in the doorway. Then she spotted me on the floor and her demeanor changed from terrified to protective. “Get away from her!”
“Close the door,” Dennis said. She shook her head, eyes still on me. “Close the door or I’ll kill her.” His fingers twitched toward the knife. She rushed inside and slammed the door. “So tell me,” he turned back to me, “why would you think I’m a hallucination?”
“What do you want from me?” I managed to regain my courage and stood, backing up so I was beside Ari.
“How did you get in here?” She took a tight grip on my hand. I squeezed as we exchanged a panicked look.
“Answer mine and I’ll answer yours.” Dennis smiled, never taking his eyes off me. His fingers ran along the knife’s smooth blade.
“I have bipolar disorder, asshole. Sometimes I see and hear things that aren’t there.” My fear was fading and slowly being replaced by anger.
“Oh.” His smile dropped.
“Don’t act like I’m dying. I can deal with it fine.” I was going through options in my head, trying to think of other weapons I could get to. He had my spider killing knife. My aunt had confiscated every other dangerous thing I owned before I moved. There were no other weapons in the room.
“We need to get him out,” Ari whispered, backing away and towing me with her.
“I can hear you.” Dennis dropped the knife and stood. “And I don’t think you should be taking what’s mine.”
“What are you talking about?” I tried to step toward him but Ari wrenched me back.
“Our deal.” He chuckled at my confusion. “We made a deal, remember? And you gave me your blood. We’re blood bound now and there’s nothing you can do about it. Unless I say otherwise, but I’m not planning to anytime soon.”
“What’s blood bound?” Ari asked.
“No,” I cut in before he could respond, “first I wanna know why you’ve been stalking me all day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why have you been stalking me all day?” I spoke loudly and deliberately.
“I heard you,” he took a step closer, “I just don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” I stood my ground as he approached despite Ari’s attempts to get me away. My eyes flickered to the fangs that were still there.
“Really.” He placed a hand on the wall beside my head.
“It’s not like I saw you messing with those earlier,” his eyes dropped to my chest before raising back to mine, “or shopping for lingerie. Or how would I know…” his cold hand slid down my side and brushed my hip, “that you have a lipstick print,” it trailed along the hemline of my jeans, “right there?” He stopped at the covered tattoo.
“Why would you think I was stalking you?”
I ducked beneath his arm, yanking Ari along in a mad dash for the door. He was there before we could reach it, casually leaning against the frame.
“What the fuck do you want?” I nearly screamed.