A/N: The stakes have been raised, Vermouth is at large, and Shinichi is having second thoughts. I think daily posts are in order. :)
Dilemmas are scary things. There's a reason for the saying "on the horns of a bull". Honestly, that's what you feel like, as if you're being torn to little bits piece by piece, until all that's left of you is a bloody pulp for the stage hands to clean up. I tried to think of an excuse not to leave the kitchen, but when I finally got a plate of eggs in front of me I realized that I felt absolutely horrible. My stomach burned, I ached all over, and I could feel a black eye coming on. My view travelled the world in front of me, not really seeing it. Wall. The paper was coming off, I'd been meaning to redo it for some time. Door. Slightly crooked, it made a scnnff noise when you opened it. Eggs. I stared at the eggs for a good five minutes, as if they were the most interesting thing I'd ever seen. Sighing, I put them in the microwave and left sullenly to confront the stairs on my way out. The thought of falling down them crossed my mind. It would just break an arm or something, and I'd go to the hospital, and Ran would know I was alright (sort of), and Kid would be gone by the time I got back.
Ran. There was another thing. More than an excuse to delay the inevitable, I pulled out my phone and dialed the number. If I made it back tonight, then there would be no reason to fear anymore, and if I didn't...
I pressed the green button before I could finish the thought, and she picked up after the third ring.
"Ran Mouri," she announced faintly, and I remembered that I was borrowing someone else's phone, and she wouldn't know who I was until I spoke. I almost just hung up again, not sure if I was doing the right thing.
Almost.
"Hey, Ran... I need to tell you something."