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CHAPTER 9

The young man lay on the floor, he was slowly regaining consciousness. Charles Miller blinked his eyes a few times, trying to get his bearings. He shuddered as he thought about the previous night, hoping that it had been some kind of nightmare. Charles tried to sit up, gradually realizing that he was bound and gagged. Shutting his eyes closed tight, a tremor of fear coursed through his body. He had to get out of, had to escape before she came back.

Charles saw something that gave him some hope. A few feet away from him there was a rusted nail sticking out of the wood flooring. He began to slowly inch his way towards the nail, he was hoping to use it to cut through the ropes that bound his wrists together.

Frank led the way to cafeteria, Alice held onto Frank's arm and she gazed adoringly up at him. Joe walked beside Joanna; he studied Alice's behavior towards his brother.

Joanna was also watching Alice, she could tell that Joe thought something was wrong. Despite what she had seen in Alice's room, Joanna held on to a small inkling of hope that her suspicions were wrong. She tapped Joe lightly on his shoulder.

"How long have Frank and Alice been dating?"

"What?!" Joe spurted.

Joanna did her best to hide disappointment as she saw the puzzled expression on Joe's face.

Frank thought the conversation he was having with Alice was surreal. Why was she telling everyone about their "dinner date"? What dinner date! Glancing over at Joe, Frank could tell that he thought the conversation was a little bizarre as well. He wasn't sure what Joanne Walker was thinking. Trying not to make it obvious, Frank kept checking the time. He almost heaved a huge sigh of relief when it was time for him to leave for his class.

"I really hate to end this, but I have to get going or I'll be late. It was nice meeting you Joanna."

Joe got up from his chair along with Frank; he smiled at Joanna and Alice.

"I should be leaving too, I promised to pick up some more milk for Mom. Nice to meet you Alice, Joanna."

Alice started to push her chair back; Joanna reached out and placed her hand over Alice's.

"Don't leave yet, sweetie. I want to visit with you a little longer."

Frank and Joe hastily waved goodbye, they walked briskly out of the cafeteria. Once outside, Joe turned to Frank.

"What was that all about? You were home in your room studying all night. Weren't you?"

"Yeah, my heads still spinning from having to memorize those Calculus figures."

"Well then, either you've been cloned without my knowledge or that girl is seriously wacked!"

Alice watched Frank leave, she then turned and glared at her sister.

"You didn't miss, you just came over here to check up on me! Didn't you!"

"Alice, I really did miss you. But I'm also worried about you."

"I told you that I'm fine. I'm doing everything you told me to do. I'm seeing the psychiatrist, I'm taking my medication."

"No you're not," Joanna interrupted. "I saw the bottles Alice and they're all full."

"What do you mean you saw the bottles?" Alice asked, her voice cold with anger.

As she listened to Joanna explain why she had an extra key to her room, the voices began to speak. Softly at first but getting louder every second.

'She doesn't love you…..She wants to hurt you…..She wants to kill you….She wants to kill you so she can have Frank…..She wants Frank!'

*endofchapter*endofchapter*

Poster's Message: My goodness, just when you think she can't get anymore crazy and she proves you wrong. Hope you enjoyed this latest romp through the mind of Alice. T