We took what we could. All of it hidden and contained. I’ve been pawning what I could, ignoring everyone who might feel differently. Every item was notably of worth or valuable, and for that same reason there shouldn’t have been an issue.

“Fucking finally!” I exclaim in bouts of ecstasy, legal tender within my grasp.

The next day I awake to a call.

“Hello?” I half mumble.

“You really fucked up….”

CLICK

A click distinct and synonymous in it’s loudness disrupted my peaceful fog; still disoriented I found clarity.

‘I’m not sure who that was.’ I thought.

“I’m not safe.” I thought aloud.

My paranoia still leading me as I grew to believe that if he figured out my number it was only a smooth drop to figuring out where I was.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed.

In any event I wished to avoid injury or death. Repeatedly reminding myself in paranoia to find somewhere safe. I quickly made a call to a few friends.

I answer to a response of, “On my way!”

I respond hurriedly, “Thank you.”

I have to get to the meeting spot.

“Hurry!” I remind myself.

I conceal my face quickly. I grab my bag and my backpack and began to work my way down the road. I was jumped by three faces pale and ghost like.

“Did you wish to die?”, asked the first.

“Do you wish to die currently?”, followed the second.

“Do you wish to die later?”, finished the third.

I had no idea who they were, what they were, or what they were asking me.

“Me? What?”

I looked bewildered. Their faces translucent and reflective. I could see my own in each of them. I chuckled anxiously, hoping they wouldn’t get offended.

“Haha… what?..”

No, if you were wondering luckily they didn’t.

“You will die later. We all do.” Two faces responded.

I stared on ignorantly. I smiled at the two of them, tears strewn in their eyes. The two repeated themselves, the third spoke indiscernibly, mumbling, and grumbling. It was like… studying something.

“We speak (8 wounded 3 dead) as a collective. (Robbery) We are together. (She stole him) Do not fret, (We won’t be left like you) for you stand before us (Irreparable) attempting to find safety. (We will watch you die) What is your (Arson) focus on? (Dead, they’re all dead) What do you hear between these words? (You never checked on them) What do you hear?”

“Nothing… wha- Nothing…. What are you? Why are you… talking… to me?”

At times I could hear my name, at others I could hear my past and hobbies, my history with criminals and criminal acts. I believe at times it would even speak of those I’d helped further and where they were now.

The faces began to illuminate.

I waited for a response.

‘Blinded.’

I couldn’t see.

‘Blind.’

I couldn’t run.

“No. No. No. Fuck off.”

So I told them to fuck off.

They started screeching. A siren sounded.

Their faces turned inhuman, menacing, scary.

The faces began to illuminate like bright white lights.

This is what is known as schizophrenia, at the moment I’m doing my best not to a) fight them b) Ask anything c) Run from them d) Answer them.

The faces placed me in handcuffs. I awoke in a mental hospital handcuffed to a bed. Where a quick conversation transpired,

“Now that I’ve told you everything, officer, am I free to go?”

“Their process is almost complete. We’ll carry on and continue ours when we bring you to the station.”

After this I was given medication. I was told to take the medication daily. Yes, I miss some here and there. I was taken back to the police station. I was then handcuffed to a table and here we are.

“Now that I’ve told you everything, officer, where am I to go? Yes, I’m the one who called you.”