Alex Part 3

I left work, a feeling of discomfort radiating through my stomach in knots.  I guess I maybe had a two or three hours before Danny came home from school.  That was more than enough time to go find some shoes, something better than the ratted out sneakers I always wore.

I got onto my bike and headed out.  The closest place to grab new sneakers was the mega mall.  It wasn’t that far away from my work.  The lot was full when I rolled in to park.  Freakin’ people, it was a Tuesday and people were rushing in there mad to buy useless shit they didn’t need.  Much like myself if you think about it.

Hell, this was my first time here in about a year.  I wanted to get in and get out, no lollygagging or hemming and hawing.  The sooner I was out of there, the happier I would be.  Because I succeed every check mark of a Night Watch officer: I hate people, and I hate people.

I entered the mall, side stepping two overweight men on segways.  I stopped in front of a directory.  Glancing up and down I found myself on the map and the closest place that would sell sneakers.  It wasn’t that far off, which was perfect.  I weaved in through the crowd, making as much haste as I could.

Within a few minutes I was inside the store and peering at all of the different shoes.  A minute or so later I found a pair that would fit and stuffed my feet inside.  I took my old pair of sneakers and threw them out and ripped off the tag from my new pair.  I paid at the counter and left.

I got back with the crowd, but unfortunately for me the current was too strong for me to try and push back the way I came.  In order to get back to the exit, I would have to loop around and come at it from another angle.

In my weaving and side stepping I saw a woman in a toy store.  She wore low-slung jeans and a light jacket with the sleeves rolled up.  Her hair was long and red that spilled to her mid-back.  She held up a stuffed Dalmatian and a stuffed bunny, as if weighing the options in her mind.

I stopped when I saw her.  Passersby moved around me like I was a rock in the stream.  Slowly, hesitantly, I made my way to her.

“Cassy?”  I whispered.

I reached out with my hand and hesitated before touching her.  Her perfume assaulted my senses in a wave of coconut and mango.  I inhaled deeply.  My knees buckled a bit.

“Is that you?”

I touched her elbow gently.  Even through the jacket I could feel her.  She was cold to the touch, but she sent my nerves afire.  She stiffened as I touched her.

“Cassy?  You dyed your hair red, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

I wrapped my arms around her like I used to.  She even felt the same.  Her small frame meshed with mine so perfectly.  Tears started to fall from my eyes.

“Oh god I’ve missed you so much.”

“Get off of me!”

“Cassy, I love you.”

“I said get off!”

She shrugged me off.  Taken aback, I step backwards.  She spun around.  The questions forming in my mind faded away.  It was her, it was Cassy.  Then her hand whipped out of left field and slapped me hard in the face.  My head flew back; half because of the power of her blow and half because it was so unexpected.

“I said get off!”

“Cassy?”

Two pairs of hands grabbed me as I went forward to hold her again.

“She said get off, sir.”

I glanced sideways and saw the two portly mall cops.  I focused my attention on her as she left the store and lost herself into the mall’s crowd.

“Sir, if you could come with us.”

I ignored them.  The tears no longer fell but a deep pit of reality and pain knotted itself in my chest.  I took in a deep breath to steady myself.

“Sir, I said—”

“Oh just give it a rest.”  I jerked away from them.  I turned and looked at the two of them.  “I get it.  Sorry.”

Before they could respond or question me further I went into the crowd.  I didn’t move as fast now or hurried like I should’ve.  My heart and mind was too busy sorting through thoughts and memories like a frantic librarian.  By the time I made it back to my bike I had steadied myself.  Two truths stood out to me and my frazzled mind.

Cassy was dead.

My nightmares had come to life.