I managed to warm myself up with blankets, mug of hot chocolate and with Oreo snuggling up close to me so that her warm fur took away the numbing sensation.
I turned on the TV as I cautiously sipped the steamy hot drink. The lingering taste of chocolate filled my inner checks and slightly burnt the tip of my tongue but it was now tolerable.
There doesn't seem to be any new news. I'm guessing Gladiolus hasn't found a victim yet and it doesn't seem like he will anytime soon. Not unless he sends another code. But what if he gave up on me figuring it out and stop sending the codes?
The news outlets seem to only talk about him these days. I grab my phone and the first thing I see is a notification on my lock screen in big bold letters.
"IM COMING FOR YOU."
It's her. Yasmin. More threats.
I completely forgot to plot the chapter. I still have tell tomorrow but I haven't even thought of anything. Not a sub plot not a red herrings. Nothing.
"DON'T I'LL SEND IT TONIGHT I PROMISE."
I tapped on my phone as fast as I could and she immediately started typing.
"I'll give you a chance then."
I sigh in relief. I stretch out my arms and then got up to got upstairs.
It's going to be a long night.
I need to write at least two thousand words before dawn.
I tossed and turned in my bed as I racked by brain for any ideas. I imagined myself walking around in my room and opening doors of random ideas. Then if I liked the idea, I'd walk in then the room would turn into a labyrinth. Every branch of thought would have it's on labyrinth and sometimes they accidentally connect. Can I use this filler chapter for something greater in the future plot? That was the question that rung in my head.
Found it. I opened the door.
After some time the idea was in my head.
My hands danced on my keyboard. I subconsciously ket sneaking a lot at the word count. I'm tired and I want to sleep before I get a suddenly burst of creativity and find myself not sleeping a wink for days. It happened before and I almost wrote half a book in three days. I almost went to the hospital from exhaustion.
"And done." I smiled then cracked my fingers as I rolled my shoulders. I pressed the send button in the most dramatic way I could as if I was a conductor in an orchestra.
The whoosh sound of the mail felt so satisfactory to hear. I immediately close my laptop and put on a huge jacket. I want to breathe in some fresh air and besides Oreo didn't get to finish his walk from before.
I walked and walked mindlessly. The lake the wildflowers, the whole backdrop gradually changed until it was the city. I just allowed Oreo to lead the way as she sniffed around and turned randomly.
"Cameron!" A women called out. She jogged towards me. I narrow my eyes so as to focus the image but I don't recognize her.
Blue framed glasses which popped in colour, shoulder length brown hair and a minimalistic appeal with a plane black and white suit. She puts her hands on her knees as she tries to catch her breath.
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She flashes me a bright toothy smile with sharp canines. Her eerily serene grey eyes smiled as well. She seemed familiar but I can put my hand on it.
"Hey, Who are you?" I tilted my head as I racked my head for who this might be.
She blinks twice at me. "What are you talking about it's me Hannah!" she exclaimed.
Hannah? As in my best friend from the orphanage Hannah? That's why she seemed so familiar but after fifteen years I almost couldn't recognize her.
I returned her smile, "Oh hey! Hannah! It's been decades, how are you doing?"
She looks down at Oreo. "Not really it hasn't been that long. I'm doing fine and you?"
"Fine as well."
She neels down on her knees and pets Oreo. "Who's this?" She neazela her nose into Oreos forehead and Oreo started wagging her tail I circles. Leon should be here to see this I told him Oreo is friendly even with strangers.
"Her name is Oreo." I loosened my grip on her leash.
"So cute!" she patted her one last time before she stood up again and patted the dirt off her knees. "I read all your books. I didn't know you had such a talent for writing."
"I mean we were little kids back then and I was the youngest of our group. What about you? Did you become a doctor like you always dreamt?"
She used to try to listen to our heart beats using makeshift items from cut up paper cups to earphones. I don't know why she wanted to become a doctor but I knew she'd be an amazing one if she does become on in the future. She'd always disinfect our injures back then even tho she was only ten years old or so.
"Yes, I'm a psychiatrist now." She rubbed the back of her neck with an awkward smile.
"Congratulations! I always knew you would make it."
"Thank you." She cleared her throat. "So what's going on with the murder cases? "
"How do you know about that?" My old friends know I'm a writer but hey don't know the titles of my books and when they aired my book online they blurred out my name.
"The whole country knows Cameron. Don't you follow any news accounts?"
"Oh, yes I forgot that people can find stuff easily online nowadays. Also explains the increased book sales and demand."
"Are you still a suspect?"
I paused for a second. I don't really want to talk about this with my old friends. "Yes. I've been investigating on my own as well because the police just want to pin it on me. We still haven't found a proper suspect. The one we have was all based on speculative evidence."
"We?" She asked.
"Yes I'm working with my friend, Leon, who happens to be a junior detective so he's help a lot."
She nods. "Oh. This gladiolus guy is probably closer than you think. I think he has the same mindset as you and that's why it's harder to find him. You need to think outside the box. He's copying everything from you to your characters. We don't know how to read people who act exactly like us because we either read in too much that it spirals out of control or we just don't read enough."
I nod. It's true. The majority of crimes committed aren't random. Most are usually committed by family members, friends or an arch nemesis. If someone is trying to frame me.
"Leon said my biggest fan has the same exact personality as me but I think he's just copying it. Maybe he watched my interviews or stalked me."
"Try searching his house or something. Most psychopaths like to keep a memento of their crimes with them." She suggested.
"That's a good idea but I can't just ask him to let me search." I sputtered.
"You don't have to. Isn't he your biggest fan? If you surprise him he'll probably invite you in himself."
That's true. Why haven't I thought of that? Everything has just been so hectic I haven't been able to think straight.
"That's smart. I'll try it." I tugged on my ear lobe.
I don't know if this is appropriate but I finally have a doctor in front of me so I must take the opportunity.
"So,Hannah, I've been feeling this really intense muscle soreness almost every other day when I wake up in the morning. I don't workout and I haven't done anything new. What do you think is wrong with me?"
Her eyes started to travel. From my eye bags to my fingers. "I can't just diagnose you on the spot. Besides I'm a psychiatrist so I specialize in treating mental disorders even though I can diagnoses and treat other diseases. I'll need to examine you before i can figure out what's wrong." She reiterated what every other doctor says before they start the tests. I knew I was asking for something unreasonable but maybe she can recommend me a doctor at least.
I adjusted my sleeve with a small pout on my lips.
She hands me a little card. "Here this is my contact information and where the clinic is. When you have time visit my doors are always open."