Struggle For Control
The Truth Comes Out
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Author’s Note:
end. Thank you ALL for the reviews, the
e-mails, the instant messages, it really motivated me to write as quickly as I
could. This is the next to the last
chapter – and here is a treat for you, my faithful readers.
two chapters at the same time. Each an
ending, each different, and your choice.
Some of you figured out Alex’s ending and tho it
it
a little predictable, well, it really wasn’t meant as a huge surprise, I mean,
if your not careful, babies happen – I’m just glad that, all in all, you liked
the idea of these two having one of their own.
Let’s see, what else…Oh, I’m using another song in
this chapter. Actually, after I started
to take this story seriously, I was listening to it and this entire scene
played itself out in my mind. The song
is called “Let it Go” and it is by the band “Destrophy.”
O.K., I’m done blabbing. Oh, I think that I managed a decent twist in this chapter.
soon as I get one of the endings done (one’s already written), I’ll upload them
***
Alex and Julia had gone out with Karen, leaving Mort
with some time to himself. The sun
streamed in through the picture window in his office; one of the rays striking
the diamond ring that sat on his desk.
The heart shaped stone sent small flecks of color onto the ceiling, as
well as the open velvet box it resided in.
Mort and Alex had been going to their joint therapy
sessions for two months and Alex, in Mort’s eyes, had been nothing short of
amazing. She thought of questions to
ask that Mort hadn’t and offered insight that only could have come from someone
so close to him. The new medication was
working wonders as well. No Shooter.
into Mort’s mind. The threat seemed to
be gone.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, Mort’s writing was
flourishing again. He had started a new
novel that he gladly based on his life, the idea of which never sat so well
with him before (especially since “Secret Window” was written and
revised). The story of love, deceit,
betrayal, and starting a life over again was given a few twists, but was
destined for a happy ending – again, something that Mort’s stories rarely
included. More than anything, this
story was therapeutic for Mort.
School was out for the summer, which gave Alex and
Mort more time together. Hergnangnancy
was showing, quite obviously, on her small frame now, and Mort found that he
had a hard time keeping his hands away from her stomach.
more than ready to be a husband again.
Mort had the evening all planned out.
foods that, at this stage, made Alex a bit queasy – then a trip to the overlook
of the city, where Alex loved to go. A
traditional “get down on one knee and profess your love” proposal – that’s what
he wanted. He already knew her answer,
they had already discussed marriage…he simply wanted to go about things the
“right” way.
It don’ matter none, Mr. Rainey.
Mort froze, his eyes fixated on the engagement
ring. that I just heard that,” he insisted to himself.
Shooter laughed dryly. Don’ know how long it’s gonna take to convince you that I ain’
leavin’. I’m here ‘cause you need
me. No medicine, no woman will
make me go away for too long.
Fed up, Mort rose from his chair and walked to the
bookshelves. In an attempt to drown out
Shooter’s voice, he turned on the stereo system on the middle shelf and turned
the volume knob up almost the entire way.
Ironically, the song that came blaring out of the speakers was far more
than fitting.
All I
want is everything
And everyone listens when I say
All I want is everyone
To understand everything I’ve done
So why am I numb
And how can it be that it hurts so much
Who am I? I’m what you are
Whenever you strip off your makeup
You can’t drown me out, Mr. Rainey.
we should know. She’s gotten in the way
of our business.
“We don’t have any business!” Mort screamed.
Fine.
Shooter materialized in front of Mort.
“Out enough for you, Mr. Rainey?”
“Jesus, no…”
Mort backed up, terrified.
Have I
said too much?
How can I stop when I’ve nothing to trust
So I’ve become numb
From probing the inside of me
“You took my life away from me years ago, Mr.
Rainey. It was such a good story, such
a good life and you went and hit that blasted ‘delete’ key and took it all away.
burned what was left of me! You burned
my life, why do you think I’m so keen on havin’ yours?”
And all
I want
Is to be like you
It never ends
And will be always
And all I need
Is to see this through
Then you and me
We will be always
“This…this isn’t real. “I was happy with my life – until you destroyed it. Mort was more confused than he’d ever been. “Wh-what are “You bought my hat, Mr. Rainey. Do you remember that?” “No…no this isn’t real. “You put on my hat, Mr. Rainey, and I entered your mind – “What the fuck are you?” Wake up Wake up Shooter smiled again. “You…you made me bring that gun?” Shooter nodded. Mort wasn’t going to let this…thing, whatever it truly “You’re not meant to be a social creature, you lock
>
>
You’re nothing!” Mort’s
voice was desperate. “I am the only one
who can live my life!”
died then took it away from me!”
you…” He grabbed the sides of his head
and gritted his teeth. “What’s going
on?”
Shooter smiled. “O’ course you
do. You were with Amy…I ne’er liked
her. Made killin’ her far more fun for
me.”
You are not real!”
I’ve been there ever since. You didn’t
create me. You weren’t writin’ no story
about me, you were writin’ my life.
Everything I did. I told you everything
to put into that damned computer o’ yours.
It was too much for you though, you couldn’t accept what I’d done, so
you std wrd writin’. You killed me
again, Mr. Rainey.” Mort shook his
head, trying to push out all of what he was being told.
chance at life, and I’m doin’ it by takin’ yours. I stayed away long enough to make you think that you were ‘fine’
– and I s’pose you are. I s’pose
you always have been, since I’m the one who’s been doin’ all the killin’.”
Mort knew he didn’t have to ask.
He never believed in such things, but he couldn’t help but feel
relief. He wasn’t sick.
dead psychopath.
I’ll never be like you
Slither and suffer in me always
I’ll never be like you
Slither and suffer in me always
“Now, I know that brain o’ yours has put everythin’ together, Mr.
Rainey. You remember when I told you
that you stole my story? I wasn’t
lyin’. I killed my wife,” he laughed,
“killed lots o’ people, actually, and buried her in her own damn garden.
for it.” Mort couldn’t respond.
time, Mr. Rainey, I couldn’t get through to you after you destroyed the story
of my life…but then your life fellrt. rt. You found out about your
wife’s affair and in I stepped. I
thought that gun was loaded, my mistake, but I made up for it later, yes
indeed.”
“And I’ve helped you, Mr. Rainey.
Took care of that cheatin’ wife o’ yours, as well as the man who took
your place in her bed. It was so much
easier to get you to let me out then.
You were weak. That’s why you
need to be alone.”
was, take over his body, his life.
“That’s precisely why I refuse to be alone!”
yourself up to write…”
anymore! Not with her!
Angry tears streamed down Mort’s face.
The song played on.
Denial
“I’ll be getting rid of them too.
shoulders roughly. “They’ll all
die!” Shooter’s voice calmed.
remember? She has some spunk.”
A liar
Mort screamed and pushed Shooter away – he went to his
desk and began to search through the drawers.
“You are not me!” he yelled.
“You will not harm my family or take over my life!”
crashing into his brain at full speed.
Chico, Tom, Ken, Amy, Ted…the garden, the corn.
do this time. “You made me do…”
“You squirmed somethin’ fierce, but I won out in the end,
Mr. Rainey, and I’m gonna do it again.”
Mort wiped his eyes.
“Only me? I’m the only one you
can do this too?”
Shooter looked puzzled for a moment.
story. I s’pose that’s why I can’t find
someone more willin’ to let me in.”
“I won’t.” Still
on his knees, Mort found what he had been searching for.
It’s
time to let it go
It’s
time to let it go
It’s time to let it go
It’s time to let it go
And it’s
all I want
And I need it so
And it’s
all I want
And I need it so