Chapter Three: It's A Childhood Fear

I don't remember getting to the hospital at all. I must've dozed off, because I didn't even feel as the medics placed me from the gurney to a separate bed. The only thing I could think of and remember at that time where my nightmares. And yes, I do believe I had actually fallen asleep. This nap of mine was not peaceful, like I had wished all of them to be after visiting the site and I knew they weren't going to be calm for a while. Not until this case was solved would I be rid of this torturous headache. Not until the case was solved, or I died. Who knew, maybe in death would my fears still haunt me too.

I hoped I would live long enough to see Terry once more. Make sure that she was safe and away from danger. I don't think I've ever cared this much for someone ever. I don't know why I was attracted to her; maybe it was her striking beauty and personality. Or maybe because we were on the same case together and it was fate. Yea, sure that's it, fate. Damn, reasonable fate. Screw fate! It's got me nowhere in this world, so why should I thank it now?

Ever since I took this case I haven't dated much. But then again, I never had much of a relationship before I became a detective. I was the quiet guy in my school, always staying to himself. Never had many friends, but there were a few people I could Call my pals. I was always interested in the police business. I would watch movies where actors carried around guns, catching the bad guys, and I thought to myself, 'I want to do that.' So here I was, risking my life, going out on an adventure, meeting the woman of my dreams, and I have to thank fate.

Damn these images. They keep tormenting me, even in my dreams. I thought I was never afraid of anything, but I was wrong. My father was a real jerk. A complete waste of human space. He'd drink and constantly bicker that my mother and I were no good. So he'd beat us to try to make us learn our lesson. A childhood fear, coming back at me with a vengeance. Jeannie was screwing with me, trying to distract me.

'How can I help you if I'm like this?' I yell within my own realm.

Jeannie grabs a frightened Terry and digs a knife into her chest. Blood drips down her white shirt. Everything in my own mind was tinted black and white, but Terry's blood shown a bright crimson red. 'Do you like to watch?' Jeannie says as Terry falls to the floor, blood coming out of her mouth.

'You can hurt me all you want Jeannie. Just don't hurt her!'

I run to Terry's body, but my surroundings change and Terry is no longer there, only Jeannie. She has her back to me. 'Dammit! Do you hear me?'

I grab hard on her shoulder and whirl her around. Jeannie's face had become disfigured. It was no longer young and beautiful, but ugly and mangled. 'Jesus!' I yell and back up.

She starts walking after me. 'Do you want to hurt me?'

'I already told you. No!'

Jeannie disappears suddenly and my father runs through her dissolving body. He has a baseball bat in his hand. My father's prized baseball bat, which he loved more than his family. I stand erect and wait for the blow, as my father comes after me.

A phone rings and I am woken by it. "Hello?" I hear that same gorgeous voice. It's Terry! I wanted to get up to greet her, but something held me back. Some strange un-seeable force. "God damn you. What do you want?"

Someone on the other line was pestering her. Pain shot through my body, jolting my nerves, forcing me still. 'Jeannie!' I yell at her from within my head.

"Where are you?" Terry I'm here for you. Be strong. "Leave me alone! Where are you?"

Her voice began to trail off, just as my body was set free. I sit up, getting ready to go after her, but some strong force hits the back of my head. Like a baseball bat finding the ball. Stars surround my vision and a high ringing entered my ear lobes. I could taste blood in my mouth and felt my body fall into the bed.

I yet again had fallen into slumber-ness, but when I woke, I could not remember any dreams I had had. Thank god! I touched my mouth, clean. An attendant must've cleaned the blood. Have to find Terry. Have to make sure she's okay. I thought of a way out, looking at the window. I got out of the bed, taking the I.V. out of my arm and opening the window. I kick the bars out, which blocked away any intruders, hoping not to make a lot of sound and hoisted myself out. I looked below me and a trash bin had been placed under my room.

Should I dare it? I can't believe I even asked myself a stupid question like that. I was only a couple stories up, and the fall wouldn't kill me, maybe harm me, but I was already damaged enough. I tore off my stickers that had been placed on my chest for the heart monitor, threw them next to the bed, and let go. I fell feet first on the bin and tripped over my own feet. I slid on my back and landed headfirst on the ground. "Fuck!" I cursed at my stupidity, clutching my head.

"No time to stop, need to go," I scolded myself, cautiously getting up.

I run away from the hospital, knowing I'm going sideways, not caring, but my vision is blurred. Someone would think I was a drunk, if they saw me. I really fucked up my head this night. I reach a subway, buy my ticket and figure out where the hell I am and ride the tram till I get to Denise's block. Why am I going back there? Well, I do need my gun. Good thing I had another one in the car. Damn it! I say, fidgeting for my keys. The medics must've taken them out of my pocket, while I was being taken care of. Fuck! They took my wallet too.

I mumble under my breath and cover my hand with my jacket. I smash my window and the alarm goes off. Such an irritating sound the car makes, I cringe. Gladly, no one in New York really ever pays attention to these things. I unlock my car door, hop inside, and grab my gun from the secret compartment under my seat and step outside. I take a few steps, but here a shuffling sound. I turn to my left and am face-to-face with my father. He punches me in the face and I land hard against my car.