Chapter 11

Chimes

*Silas*

By the time I got home this morning I was already late for work. Somehow I was able to sneak my way past Epiphany and into the locker room. Lucky for me it was a slow day, which is rare for this hospital. Every minute that swept by was automatically overtaken by thoughts of Sam and last night's encore worthy events. Before I know it its quitting time.

I arrive back home around 11 o'clock at night desperately needing a shower and a beer. The fridge door makes a creaking sound when I open it. I grab an ice cold beer out and close the door. I usually can't stand cold beer but at this point I just need something to drink that doesn't taste like it came from the sink. The beer has a zingy taste to it, but I can only take so much before I decide to let it sit out while I take a nice hot shower. I leave it on the counter and go into the bathroom.

I turn on the shower to a hot temperature then undress myself. Hesitantly I walk in gradually adjusting to the steam and water raining down on me. After a long day the heat loosens up my muscles and relaxes me, desperately wanting to just stay here forever. 20 minutes later I decide it's probably time to get out since my finger were starting to look like raisins. I dry my body with a towel then slide a pair of pants on along with a belt. I open a window allowing the steam to dissipate into the clear night sky.

The stars remind me once again about Sam and all her beauty. I make my way out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen holding a light blue shirt in my hands. I'm craving that beer more and more by the second. I grasp the bottle in my hand and take a large sip. Satisfied by its taste I walk out to the patio to look out on the harbor. I watch ship after ship go by for almost an hour. The mixture of alcohol and fresh air soothes me, allowing me to relax.

I'm hoping to take the chance to plan another date. Maybe somewhere upstate where we can get away for a while. I want to do something before the weather decides to do a 180. It's getting late and I can feel body starting to shut down, so I make my way back into my house. I place my almost empty beer bottle by the sink before walking down the hallway to my bedroom.

Half way there I start to feel weird. My whole body is tingling and I'm beginning to feel light headed. I use the walls to hold me up still attempting to make it to my bed. The logical explanation is the combination of exhaustion and stress, so I'm expecting the dizziness to fade. I reach the doorframe of my room just as the clock strikes 1 AM. The sound of the chimes echo in my head sending pain filled shivers down my spine. I'm barely supporting myself. The whole room is spinning and I can tell something's definitely not right. These symptoms aren't adding up.

I grab the edge of one of the shelves to my right but can't support myself any longer. I quickly fall to the floor knocking down some books along with a ceramic figure. The figure shatters next to me as the whole world slowly turns to black.