The ride across the city seemed never ending. It was a miserable overcast day, and large gray clouds hung low in the sky as Adam stared out the window. Everything now seemed so much different. Before the city was the city…just a place he moved to escape and blended in between the walls. The rush and madness of it all seemed normal. Now after everything that had happened it all seemed different. Almost as if things were standing still.
The police had talked with him again before leaving. They wanted to see him in a couple of weeks down the station if he could make it. They also told him that they had gone through his apartment and found hardly anything…only his camera which was damaged…no prints on it.
They warned him that maybe in a month's time if he still felt unsafe to maybe think about moving. They handed him a doctor's card in which he could talk to, and a few programs for victims of crimes and kickboxing lessons. Somehow that made Adam smirk as he stuffed the papers in his gym bag. The doctors all said he seemed fine…his shoulder would be stiff and not nearly as strong as the other arm…and not to do any further heavy lifting until his next visit. They also said they had kept him that extra two weeks for the reason of his irregular heartbeat. Most likely brought on after what happened. They reviewed his medical history and told him that he would have to be placed on medication until further notice.
As shocking as it really was, none of his noisy neighbors poked their heads out as he walked down the dim lit hallway. There was hardly anyone who lived there anyways…also the excitement of it all had worn down. Taking his keys out he saw his front door and felt his stomach toss from the sight of police tape. Taking it down he tossed it to the side and opened the door.
Inside the smell of dampness filled his nose as he swung the door shut and looked around. His shades were all drawn open, letting in enough light. Digging his hands in his pockets he looked around and felt his chest tighten. He didn't feel right.
Slowly walking around, everything looked as if he had just left it. Passing the closet he remembered the figure jumping out from the closet and the flashing of his camera. Feeling a chill he poked his head into his dark room and saw the photographs of Larry all hanging around.
Feeling guilt slap him right across the face, he started almost in a range ripping all of the photos off the wall. One by one his torn them down and brought them in arms full over to his kitchen sink. After four or so trips every single photograph laid there in a huge pile. Grabbing a bottle of chemical from his counter that he used to develop the film, he poured the liquid across the photos and then dug deep into his pocket for his lighter. Looking down at the photographs one last time he sighed.
"I'm sorry Larry…"
And with that he tossed the flame down and watched the photos burn.
An hour later he paced around the house feeling scared. He kept thinking of the money he had stashed and now many he could check into a motel or something.
That's when he saw his phone book on his coffee table. Biting his lip he didn't even think twice before grabbing it. He just didn't want to be alone…he needed to forget.
A phone call later he found himself being thrown down against his bed by Gretchen, as she snapped open her vest, revealing her breasts. Gretchen was his ex. The same vegan punk girlfriend Larry had heard about. Both had only dated for a short period of time…it mostly being sexual before all her beep finally made her decide he was too angry for her. Now after just one phone call, her voice played a cheesy acting bit of sympathy as she raced on over…saying over and over again…
"My poor baby…"
Starting up at her pierced lips and eyebrows, her dyed red and purple hair hung in her face as she mounted his lap. Adam sighed as she rolled the condom on him and began slowly lowering herself, grabbing his wrists and pounding herself down on him. Being pressed into his sagging mattress, Adam tried to look at her as she began arching her back and pressing down on him as hard as she could.
Feeling the tightness in his chest, for a moment Adam could of sworn he was having a heart attack. A good half an hour went by as she kept screwing him over and over again, thrashing her head back like a wild animal and clawing her black painted nails across his chest, and closely towards his scar.
Finally once he had finished, he asked if she could lay beside him. He just wanted someone to hold and block the visions out. He was really scared to death.
Putting his arms around her, he began to shake…she stayed still for a bit before slowly trying to get him to roll on top of her. Around eight she told him she needed to get to work and to call her if he needed anything. Within seconds her clothes were back on and she was gone.
Laying there in the darkness he knew he couldn't stay there any longer…just wanting to leave the house for a bit he sat up and pulled on his jeans and a T-shirt before grabbing his keys and heading to the 24/hour coffee shop a few blocks down.
Feeling twice as scared as before, somehow every stranger he past on the street seemed to look like the man that left him in the room.
Walking faster he finally made it inside.
Two older men were having their pie and coffee at one of the window booths, while someone else sat at the counter while the waitress walked by with a coffee pot.
"Take a seat hon., I'll take your order in a second…"
Nodding, Adam took the stool a few feet away from the other customer and took a deep breath as he stared at his hands.
Taking a moment his eyes looked over and saw it was the same exact girl he met nearly two months ago the day that it had happened.
The girl with the rock star hair.
Speechless, he didn't think she would remember him. She sat by herself reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee…she was dressed in the same exact jacket.
Glaning over, she made eye contact she Adam knew how strange he must of looked just then. Feeling color swell into his cheeks he gave a half smile.
"Hey again…"
"Oh, hey…"
She smiled a little.
"Do you remember me?"
"Yeah…you took my photo."
Smiling, he felt a little better he at least met someone who sort of knew him. No longer feeling scared he offered his hand and smiled.
"Adam…"
Smiling she slowly shook it.
"Amanda…"