Treck

It isn't true. I refuse to believe that it's true.

Tyler isn't dead.

I didn't go to work ever since I heard the news. He can't be dead.

I sat in the corner of my room, arms wrapped tightly around my legs. Tears refused to flow from my eyes. I've been crying and staying in my room for god knows how long. I guess I've run out of tears. I feel so empty. I feel so numb.

I shouldn't be this devastated. Tyler was just someone I worked with in Warm Mugs. He was just someone I met and would soon forget over the years.

I kept telling myself that but I know I'm lying. Even if I've only known him for a short amount of time, those moments were the best moments of my life. I've never felt so happy before. It was like I could forget my problems and just let go. I felt free when I was with him. I felt like I could get past all the crap that surrounded me.

He was...my light. He provided an escape route for me. Even if he was shy and timid, when he's in the room with me, he was the only thing I could see. Tyler was my escape from reality. He motivated me to go through in life. I smoked less now. I smiled more now. I wake up in the morning just to see him later in the day, smiling and making my day better. Even if he didn't know what I was going through, he somehow understood me. He made me feel like I was on top of the world, as cheesy as that sounds. Tyler...completed me.

But now he's gone. I feel empty and incomplete and lost. I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know where to go. I refuse to get up and leave this room, only to see the empty counter when I walk through those cafe doors. He won't be there anymore. He won't be there to bring light to my life and make me smile. My days are dark again.

I feel numb.

Treck, just forget about him. You said it yourself, you don't like him, right? Why are so hung up on him?

...What..? You expect me to just forget about him? He meant so much to me! He...he..completed me! You're telling me just to forget about someone who made me feel...happy?

Yeesh! Alright alright. Look, I know you're sad but we have to carry out our plan. You didn't forget, did you?

The stupid plan to kill my father?

Yes...! Now get up, we have to execute it soon, don't we?

You expect me to just get up and kill my father? After everything that's happened?

....yeah pretty much.

A growl emitted from the back of my throat. "No," I stated out loud.

No???

No. I'm not going to kill my father, Chloey. He may be an ass but he's still my father. I've already lost someone. I can't lose another person, especially if it's by my own hand. I don't want blood on my hands.

But your sister! You're just going to give her up??

No. I'll think of a way and killing my father is not one of them.

You're giving up? After all I've done for you!?

I stood up abruptly. My head spun but I paid no mind to it.

"You haven't done crap. All you've done is boss me around, given me bad advice and called me the name that I hate. You have done nothing for me. I want you gone. You aren't my subconscious. My subconscious wouldn't do this." That put a thought in my mind.

"...Who are you..?"

She giggled and my head throbbed. I fell to the floor clutching my head. I felt something get ripped away from me and I screamed, the pain unbearable. The moment I looked up. I was met with a pale face with very gray eyes. It's the girl that choked me.

I gasped. "Y-you."

"Yes, Treck. I am Chloey. Remember me?"

"Y-you tried to kill me!"

"Correct! Well, now that I'm here, I can tell you why I decided to get into that pretty little head of yours.

"You're the grandchild of one of the people that tortured me! Shocked me, cut me, syringed me, everything really. Just to find a stupid little cure. They thought I was crazy so they didn't care if I was hurt. I'm a nobody. A crazy nobody. But I wanted revenge! So I met you! I got my revenge on them so now I'll continue my line of revenge. Little miss goody-two-shoes has fallen into my hole so now you're left! But I guess you're kind of...immune to me now? Hm, I'll just let Rachelle finish you off, like everyone else in that big white building! Buh-bye now!"

I could only stare shocked at her. I processed all the information that came out of her mouth and my eyes widened. "Rachelle...did she...kill Tyler?"

She giggled and smirked. That seems like yes to me. She giggled one last time and faded away.

And I let her.

And then I checked the clock in my room. School's about to start.

And then I ran.

---

When I was on the way to school, I passed by the alley where I used to smoke. And Rachelle was there.

With Betty.

And Rachelle was strangling her.

Betty looked at me with tears in her eyes, fear written all over her pained face. Rachelle followed her gaze and it landed on me.

Oh god.

---

Rachelle

"Rachelle! Don't do this!" I stared at Treck blankly. He looked mad.

"Stop it, Rachelle! This isn't you! Chloey's controlling you! Don't listen to her!"

Rachelle. Don't listen to him. What you're doing is good! You're getting rid of everyone bad!

"Rachelle, don't listen to her! I know you're scared. You feel trapped and it feels like she's helping you but she isn't! She's ruining you, Rachelle!"

No! I'm helping you! Tear your eyes away from him!

I listened to Chloey and looked away from Treck, steering my attention towards Betty who was losing air.

"RACHELLE! LOOK AT ME!" Treck shouted. I turned to him and saw the enraged expression on his features. My hold on Betty's neck faltered.

RACHELLE! LOOK AWAY!

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I looked at Betty and felt anger course through and I tightened my grip on her neck.

I heard footsteps getting closer and a hard grip on my shoulders.

"Rachelle. She's using you. She wants to ruin your life, Rachelle. Please, don't take any more lives. You've already done it once, don't do it again." His voice got softer towards the end. I gasped and dropped Betty. She wheezed, inhaling as much air as she possibly could. I stared at my hands in disbelief, my eyes wide.

I was going to kill someone. Again.

Chloey went quiet and no longer spoke.

I stared at Treck then back at Betty, who was a mess on the ground.

"I'm so sorry," I muttered.

Then I ran away.

---

I stared at myself in my bathroom mirror, the water in my bathtub overflowing. I touched my reflection.

Who am I?

What have I done?

Tears flowed from my eyes and I made no attempt to wipe them away. They just flowed down my cheeks as I stared at my reflection with a blank expression.

I'm not myself. I'm not me anymore. I'm not Rachelle Umber.

I turned to look at my hands. The hands that I used to kill someone. The hands that I used to choke my once best friend. The hands that I was going to use to kill even more people. I held my head in my hands.

I can't show my face anymore. I can't bear to look at myself anymore.

I'm a monster.

And I have to be punished.

I released my head from my hands an slowly made my way to the tub. I stepped in, causing some water to spill out of the tub.

I immersed my whole body in the water, not caring if my clothes were soaked.

I closed my eyes and went under, the water enveloping me.

I inhaled, filling my lungs to the brim.

I didn't hold my breath.

I didn't lift my head up to get air.

I stayed in the tub, clogging up my lungs with water until I blacked out and never rose again.

Chloey was giggling the whole time.

---

11/30/17