CHAPTER 3 - GUILT
ROSABEL
With the windows rolled down, I ride through the empty desert roads of Nevada. Thoughts scattered in my mind like thousands of tiny pieces of paper placed in front of a fan. Keeping the wheel straight with my telekinesis, I lean back in my seat, trying to concentrate on just driving. But, with a mind like mine, I can never stop going through schematics for different things. Unwillingly, I am looking at the different components for this car. I see the common front engine, rear-wheel drive. 6.2 liter V8 engine, very nice, you can feel the difference in this and a regular 3.5 liter when you drive. The also pretty common 5 speed transmission, but it's a lot better than a manual. Max RPM's are about 6,500… as soon as I realize how deep I'm going into the makings of this car, I shake off the thoughts, and again, try to concentrate on driving.
It's my ability. It's killing me… teasing me. I can't even control it anymore… not when the hunger is this high, this tempting. God, the hunger… blood. That was the only thought in my mind at this very moment now. I picture a pool of blood, and I feel myself craving it so much. Like a drug addict, craving his heroin. Like an alcoholic, craving his scotch. I was a serial killer. And so, I craved blood.
JETT
It is so beautiful. No, she is so beautiful. The golden rings around her body shine almost as brightly as her smile. But as bright as they are, they are fading. Faster each day, but still so slowly do I see her life slipping away. I want to hold her, comfort her. Lie to her. Tell her that she'll live forever. Really, she deserves to. Her beauty should never leave this earth; it's too precious and valuable. She will never know her worth. To me, I would choose her over a thousand riches or perhaps my own life if that were the case. If I could give my life to her, just so she could live a mere couple of years in this depressing world, I would.
Or maybe she deserves to leave. I imagine that heaven would sing in the joyfulness of her arrival, while the rest left behind would weep in her departure. Earth is not a suitable throne for such a princess she should be. It is selfish of me to wish immortality upon her soul. And yet, I do. I can't help it, not when she pierces me with those flushed gray eyes. They almost beg for forgiveness, a second chance. But what could she have possibly done wrong? Or, who would do her wrong? Not her. Not such a majestic being to whom I give my love to. All of it.
Just as my thoughts seem to increase in speed, my cell door opens slowly, a soft creaking sound slipping away through the atmosphere. This oppressive atmosphere. It is a woman. Soft brown eyes, and such a… wonderful body. But I don't stare. In fact, I don't give her a glance. I watch her actions out of the corner of my eye, while focusing in on the corner of my cell. The empty corner that holds so many memories… so many visions. The faux images that keep me from believing this is not a dream. Oh, but I forget sometimes. I am crazy.
"Are you okay, Jett? Do you need anything for the hallucinations?" Her voice is so rhythmic, almost all her words in iambic pentameter.
"What hallucinations?" I ask hopelessly, my voice harsh from not speaking in a while. Deep inside, I know what she is talking about. But I don't want to believe her. She looks slightly taken back, but her face softens, almost in pity. She feels pity from me. Maybe I'm making her feel pity for me.
A few seconds pass in silence, and I count them in my head. Once I reach twenty-four, I turn to face her, expressionless. She seems out of words, and yet, so do I. At least, at the moment. I finally give her a grimacing look and turn back to the corner, this time, no images there to occupy it. Taking a deep breath, and clearing my throat, I speak again, not looking away from the corner as I wait for some kind of hallucination to appear, one that will let me escape from this oppressive world.
"We must save the children, ma'am. I dare not let them die in my sights." I would not like to see the children die. But, I know it will happen. She tilts her head and sighs, looking down at the concrete beneath her feet. "I do severely hope you agree with me, miss." Nodding, I look back to her, and she looks up to me. As our eyes meet for a split second, I feel a rush of despair float over me, and again, I look away, this time, down to my own hands.
"Jett… there are no children." I raise an eyebrow at her words and point towards the corner of my cell.
"There are. Take a look." She furrows her brows and looks over to the corner to which I am pointing and then looks back at me.
"There's nothing there."
"Not now. But, earlier, there were three young children standing there in the corner. They asked me to help them." I look up to her, my words almost dripping out of my mouth. "Surely they aren't to be in any harm, am I correct?" She frowns, and then shakes her head softly.
"Of course not. The children are safe, Jett. You know where they are." I narrow my eyes, looking up at her, a face of a predator forming slowly.
"And where might that be?"
"They're dead, Jett." I hit my fist against the metal table beside me, standing up in fury.
"They are not dead!" I yell as I step closer towards her, clenching my fists. She takes a step backwards, almost running into the door.
"Yes, they are." Her voice is soft, and calm. The heat rises to my head, and I step forward, slapping her across the face hard. She looks away, holding her cheek, and then she turns, leaving quickly and slamming the cell door shut behind her. I stand there, confused and shocked. Dare she say those beautiful children are dead? I shake my head, sitting back down on the bed, and look back at the corner, as blurry images come into focus, and I am once again taken in by the beautiful world. As fake as it may be, it will always seem so real to me. So, I watch. And I listen. And I cry.