No Longer Alone
NOTE: Again, it might not be the chapter you was expecting but at first I started this thinking it'd be shorter but more ideas pop in my head and I'd be annoyed if I didn't add them. I've got a great ending but you'll have to be patient.
5 times Chica saw this golden bear…5 times, at least that's what she told me. I was running this through my head…what Chica said and what the phone guy said on the answering machine, sure their were some words I couldn't make out but I defiantly heard "Golden"…it was a mere coincidence that Chica saw visions of this thing and that the phone guy mentioned it…they must've been linked, how? I wasn't sure…but what bothered me the most was…that I'd seen it too…not at the run down pizza place of course but in my dreams…
Chica explained this to me that you would only see this "Golden bear" thing when your depressed…and that he…takes what gives you your life, what makes you special…your soul. I can understand Chica getting these vision and I'd promised her it wouldn't come to this…thing…taking her away, my job wasn't only to look after decaying building but decided my new focus should be on Chica…such a beautiful creature I'd ever seen…but why the hell was I seeing this thing, I wasn't depressed or willing to take my own life…and why would the phone guy mention this? Was he depressed? I laughed this off…it was all starting to sound crazy… crazy? That's another way he can get you…you descend into madness…he gets you…
I asked Chica if this Golden thing spoke to her…and the only words that came out of her mouth were…"It's…me…" Again, it was crazy and didn't make sense…but, are my dreams connected what the phone guy and Chica see…it was becoming to weird and besides I'm happy…I really am…
…No…I'm not…
….
Mike's 3rd night had finished, after having a good yet strange talk with Chica, he promised her he'd be back. He locked up and went home. It didn't talk long for Mike to go home, it was only a 20 minute drive, no traffic and just a straight drive home. He found it odd that he'd start work at night when it was dark and quiet and yet, when he finished the sun was raising, indicating the day time and some people starting their day while his finished…he chuckled at the depressing faces he see's people leaving for work…but then…he thinks of Chica…it was only now he felt bad leaving her there on her own…hell, he could stay there all day but…he had his own life…a life he was starting to realise was…boring, dull…unhappy…it was true he had a girlfriend but she was…well, just…selfish…was the word Mike thought of, she only cared about herself…she was the cliché of a spoilt little brat…but Mike did wonder why he was going out with this girl, maybe it was her smile and she was kind hearted to begin with, the perfect girl…now after all these years and now living together it just seems…routine.
Mike parked in his spot, the drive home was easy as usual…he sighed and turned the engine off, he grabbed his jacket, got out of the car and walked up some metal stairs leading to his apartment…he rummaged through his pockets, then patting them.
MIKE: Oh God…
He went through his pockets again, then searched in the jacket pockets…every pocket he searched didn't contain his door keys…he tripled checked again.
MIKE: Shit…
Mike never kept his door key with his car keys on the same ring, in case he lost his car keys and then that's that…it wasn't normally common for him to lose things but the thought of waking HER up this early in the morning would be like walking in a lion's den wearing a meat dress… he must've realized that he left the keys at work…he sighed frustratingly as he couldn't be bothered to go back there just to pick the keys up…then again, it was a good excuse to see Chica…he decided to make that his last option and knocked on the door, softy at first…no response, he sighed again and knocked again but this time, loud enough for anyone to hear… he looked through the window but the curtains were closed. He was getting frustrated now as there was still no response…he then rang the doorbell once…and then kept pushing it, making an awful out of tune sound…still no response. Had she gone out? Doubt it; she hasn't got any money…except what Mike has…
Mike tilted his head down in slight anger and laughing a little, sarcastically.
MIKE: I'll go back for my keys then!
Mike turned around and started walking down the metal steps, just then he heard a click and the door opened, he turned and looked up…to see a woman with her hair hanging, a grogy expression but with anger and a sick looking pink dressing gown.
JESSICA: What the fuck are you doing, Mike? Why didn't you use your fucking keys?
MIKE: I…I left them at work, alright?
JESSICA: No, not really, I was sleeping and you woke me up with your constant banging and ringing!
MIKE: Well, sorry, how was I supposed to get in, break down the window?
JESSICA: Anything if it didn't wake me up! Shit, now I'm awake.
MIKE: I said I'm sorry.
JESSICA: Oh, whatever!
Jessica just stormed back in the apartment but leaving the door open for Mike who just walked slowly to the door.
Jessica went straight to the kitchen, making herself a coffee, Mike trundled in, putting his jacket on the coat rack and also heading towards the kitchen…he pulled himself a seat and sat at the counter, rubbing his eyes and face. He looked towards Jessica, who was steaming in anger, every movement, like putting scoops of coffee in a mug, were done quick in frustration. Mike rolled his eyes and bit his lip…she was angry…what was the big deal, it's not like it was the end of the world…though to Mike, it felt like it was.
MIKE: Can you make me one, please?
JESSICA: Do it, yourself.
Mike didn't answer back, he just looked away and shook his head in disbelieve, this was just an overreaction. He then started to take his boots off.
JESSICA: Have you finished with that night porters job, yet?
MIKE: (Hesitant at first and then decided to answer) Nope. Two more days yet…
JESSICA: (Laughs) Two more days…? Christ sake, Mike, what's the point? That's a shit job you've got! Five days working at that shithole…it's pointless!
MIKE: No other jobs going at the moment, okay? It's better than nothing-
JESSICA: It's shit!
MIKE: It's better than nothing and at least we'll get money! What have you been doing all day? Sitting on your ass doing nothing? You go find a job if it's that easy! It's not like your working or anything, is it?
JESSICA: I can't, Mike, you know that, you know how I get…headaches and besides, there are not many jobs going around, just like you said.
MIKE: Oh bullshit…you've just copied what I said…
JESSICA: Don't you dare swear in front of me, Mike Schmidt!
MIKE: Ok, then…what did you do while I was out? What did you do when I left really early?
JESSICA: (Hesitant) Well…I get lonely sometimes…
MIKE: Oh, Christ…here we go…
JESSICA: The place feels empty without you…
MIKE: (Whispers to himself) The cute, I'm all alone act…
JESSICA: So…I invited a friend…
MIKE: A friend?
JESSICA: Yes, a friend…
MIKE: Who?
JESSICA: Can I not invite friends now?
MIKE: Oh of course you can, I just didn't know you had…friends here…do I know him?
JESSICA: Maybe…
MIKE: Who, then…?
JESSICA: Ben…
MIKE: Ben?
JESSICA: Yes…
MIKE: The…uh, new guy who's moved in underneath us…?
JESSICA: Yes, yes…
MIKE: The fuck was he doing here?
JESSICA: I told you…I was alone…
Jessica finished making her coffee and proceeded to the living room, Mike just stared at the floor, slightly gobsmacked, he shooked his head and followed her to the living room, wanting more answers. Jessica sat down and turned the telly on with the remote.
MIKE: And?
JESSICA: And what?
MIKE: Well, what did you do?
JESSICA: Oh, you know, nothing….
MIKE: Nothing…? Really…?
JESSICA: Oh for fuck's sake, we watched a film, ok, no big fucking deal!
MIKE: (Smiling, trying to catch her out) What was the film?
JESSICA: Oh I don't know…something shit…something with Tom Cruise in it…I think.
MIKE: And was that it?
JESSICA: And we…talked…that was all?
MIKE: (Laughs awkwardly) Right.
JESSICA: What are you saying?
MIKE: Nothing…nothing at all, it's fine…
JESSICA: You've been acting really fucking strange since you started that shit job of yours…I think you should quit!
MIKE: Of course I'm not gonna quit…might as well do the remaining two days…
JESSICA: Pointless, if you ask me…how am I supposed to spend time with the girls if we haven't got a proper income in?
Mike stared angrily at Jessica, each word coming out of her mouth was just giving him rage…but just then the room was going fuzzy, Jessica turned and looked at him but…she was talking…Mike couldn't work it out…was he over exhausting himself, did he over work his built up anger…just then Jessica was flashing…a figure flashing in front of her…yellow? No, Mike rubbed his eyes…this seemed to make his vision worse…Jessica was flashing into another figure again…it was quick but still a good glimpse…Gold…she was turning into a…gold figure…Mike gasps…she flashed again, changing shape…a figure of a bear, flash again…a golden bear. Mike gasped even more but then the vision stopped and Jessica was looking at Mike with a confused look on her face, frowning at him with her mouth slightly open, he couldn't make out why Mike was acting weird…Mike breathed heavily.
JESSICA: What is wrong with you, dickhead? Having those stupid visions again?
MIKE: I'm…I-I'm just gonna lie down…for a bit…
JESSICA: Weirdo.
Mike heard this but didn't have the energy to argue back, he just went straight to the bedroom…his vision was fine but he was sweating…that Golden Bear thing was in front of him…this was real…not in his dreams…was this what the phone guy meant…? But then, how would the phone guy know…he had these golden bear dreams ever since he was a boy…a man in a golden suit…taking children…
Mike pushed the door open and sat on the bed, he wiped his sweating brow and calmed himself down. He breathed easily…a man in a golden suit…maybe this wasn't a dream…maybe…this was a memory…all this talk about the golden bear was seriously confusing him…he then pulled the covers up, ready to lie down but then he saw something…a blue thing, he pushed his mind aside to see what this thing was…a balloon…no, a condom…filled. Mike stepped back…golden bear dreams, visions that looked real in front of him and now this…had Jessica cheated on him…Mike's mind went blank…and then this popped into his head…
CHICA:She must think she's really lucky…to have a guy like you…
CHICA:She must think she's really lucky…to have a guy like you…
CHICA:She must think she's really lucky…to have a guy like you…
CHICA:She must think she's really lucky…to have a guy like you…
CHICA:She must think she's really lucky…to have a guy like you…
Chica's compliment played back in his mind over and over again…
CHICA:SHE MUST THINK SHE'S REALLY LUCKY…TO HAVE A GUY LIKE YOU…
Mike picked up the used condom, not caring where it had been…he stared at it, frowned and gritted his teeth…squeezing the rubber latex in his hand and chucking it across the room.
MIKE: No Chica…she doesn't realize how lucky she was…
It was about twenty minutes later and Jessica was still watching the telly and nearly finishing her coffee, she began to flip through the channels…nothing good was on.
JESSICA: (Sigh) Boring daytime TV…(Shouts) Hey Mike, when your finished been a crazy chicken shit…could you make me some breakfast?
At weird timing, Mike entered the room, with a sly smile on his face.
JESSICA: Oh you're here…do me a breakfast and don't burn the fucking bacon this time.
Mike then chucked something heavy in front of Jessica, landing with a loud whomp. This startled her and looked at it…it was a packed suitcase. She whimpered a little and looked at Mike, who still had his sly grin and yet almost emotionless.
JESSICA: W-What's this…?
MIKE: It's a suitcase, Jessica…you and the suitcase are pissing off! I don't love you anymore, so with that in effect I want you gone; out of MY home…you had this coming!
Jessica was about to respond but Mike didn't give her the time or day to hear what she had to say and left the room, after making his quick yet simple point. He could hear Jessica was shouting at him but he didn't actually listen to what she was saying…it was all a blur to him…an annoying blur…instead…all he could think about was…Chica's beautiful smile.
