Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 212

212 Drowning 

[Music: Wasteland By Royal & The Serpent] 

1 

I read the headline. It has taken over the internet by storm; further details were unknown. 

Elias King Hospitalized. 

“Hey…” Tori came into view. “Sorry I took so long.” 

“Hey…” I replied. 

“Had dinner yet?” 

“Not yet.” 

“Sorry, I’m gonna have to leave you early, I have a late night shift, and I don’t wanna oversleep and miss it. My boss will surely fire me if I keep up my unwanted behavior, as he describes it. Seriously, one of these days I’m gonna flip him a bird and damn it up.” 

“I think I should really rebel. Throw in all my life savings to buy a place, the best chance I get is somewhere abandoned, but oh well. If there’s one thing about Midnight City, it’s the quickest when it comes to development. Might be a pile of scrap, but then, voila!” 

There was a pause before I heard her footsteps. 

“Cat?” 

I finally looked away from the screen. 

“You good? What happened to the mirror? I just checked, and it’s all over the place.” 

“Sorry about that, it was an accident.” I looked back at the screen, scrolling through the 

rest of the article. 

Tori came close and sat on the bed. “Cat?” 

“Hmm…?” 

She pressed the screen halfway closed. “Are you sure you’re okay?” 

I smiled on cue. “Yeah, why?” 

“That meeting of yours, with um Lena Carter, how did it go? She was your mom’s 

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partner, right?” 

“Yeah.” 

“And?” 

“Good.” 

“O…Kay?” 

“You should um get going… It’s getting late.” 

Tori nodded slowly, observing me closely. She sensed nothing, except the fact that I looked really tired and in need of sleep. 

“I’ll call to check on you, okay? And eat something, there’s dinner in the fridge. Just heat it up.” 

My smile grew wide, staying fixed until she left the house. I shut my laptop, and got 

dressed. 

I took a cab to the Midnight General. When I stepped through the glass doors, it was quiet, just a few people passing by. With a stern expression, I walked the hallway, taking the elevator to the top floor. 

It was dark with no light, but somehow I could find my way to his room. 

The beeping machine drowned my ears, and abhorrence filled my body as I gazed down on Elias. 

I raised my hand, my grip tightening against the knife. When he opened his eyes, it was too late. I stabbed him repeatedly, shrieking while I did it. 

Blood splattered everywhere, on my face, in my mouth, in my eyes. When I finally stopped, drawing sharply in my breath, my heart stopped. 

The knife slipped out of my grip, and I moved away, screaming in agony. 

I didn’t stab Elias, but Ares. 

I gasped awake, sitting up, looking around frantically, but I wasn’t in the hospital. My laptop was still on the bed, and the screen still showed the article I read about Elias King. 

I buried my face in my hands, sobbing. My head ached so badly, and my eyes stung. I pulled my knees to my chest, rocking myself slowly. 

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It hurts, everywhere does, but my chest was boiling so intensely I thought my heart might stop beating. I cried again, more silently this time, as the tears drenched my pants. 

My blurry eyes caught the screen. Elias picture. 

My sobs transformed into harsh intake of breath, the burn intensifying until I could feel the heat taking over. 

However, before I could combust, I grabbed the laptop and tossed it across the room. It came apart as it collided with the floor. 

I closed my eyes, as water slipped beneath my lashes, I collapsed back on the bed, curling into a ball as I clenched the sheets tightly. 

I just want the pain to stop. 

~~ 

Tori: Hey, girl! I have to work this morning too. How are you? I kept calling, but you weren’t picking up. Are you okay? Please pick up. 

I eyed the text before setting my phone down. I dipped my spoon into the bowl of cereal repeatedly, having no appetite to eat anything. 

I heard the doorbell, so I got off the stool and slowly walked to it. I unlocked without bothering to check who it was, and found Reed. 

“Hey…” 

I blinked. 

His face turned to worry. “Tori called me, said she couldn’t reach you. I came to check 

up on you.” 

“I’m not a child…” I said faintly, my throat was too sore, 

“She’s worried about you,” 

“What are you doing here, Reed?” 

“I’m worried about you.” His eyes scanned me. “You don’t look okay.” 

“I’m fine.” 

“I’m tired of hearing you say that.” 

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sniffed using the back of my hand to wipe my nose. “Actually, I don’t feel so well.” 

“Are you sick?” 

“Yeah, I think so.” 

“Then we should be in the hospital or something” 

“It’s a fever; it will pass.” 

“Catherine…” He neared, but I pushed the door half closed to stop him. 

“I need to rest my head. It’s hard enough just to stand.” 

“Then let me help-” 

“Reed…” I said sternly, finally meeting his eyes. “I’m no longer your boss’s wife. You can 

leave me alone.” 

“Catherine. I told you I’m here as a friend. Look, if it’s about that day I didn’t get in trouble, I just told Mr. King you needed someone to drive you, that’s all. You don’t have to worry.” 

My nails clawed into the wood. 

“Catherine? Catherine…” 

My grip loosened as I snapped out of it. 

“Goodbye, Reed.” I slammed the door shut. 

~4~ 

I watched families having a fun time in the park, their laughter and giggles drowning my ears. Snowballs were thrown into the air, and the children were running around. 

Tomorrow was Christmas, which meant everybody would head to the city center at midnight, to see the biggest Christmas tree light up. 

A little girl ran toward her dad, and he scooped her up easily. Her mom leaned in and kissed her cheek, tenderly. 

For a moment, they weren’t strangers anymore. I saw my family. 

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