Paranoia

By, Sid

This is an original story that I wrote in high school but it’s been edited since then. Feel free to give me some feedback or comments as to what you thought :) I hope you guys enjoy the story and thanks for reading!

The hair on the back of my neck rose. His stone-like eyes pierced the setting around him. He held a knife in his hand and the puddle of blood streamed onto the floor from the dead body lying below him. He knew that I hid there. I knew it. He killed the man and now he was looking for me. Okay, so maybe the blood that pooled onto the floor did kind of look like ketchup. And the knife he was holding did kind of look like plastic. And maybe they were in the school auditorium and there was a play tonight but that doesn't mean it was all an act. I'm not paranoid. So don't think I'm paranoid because I know what I'm talking about because I'm not. Paranoid that is.

I sat crouched between the seats, hidden beneath the dim lighting towards the back of the auditorium. It was empty save be giving that there was a good 3 or 4 hours until the play. He knew he had to be here early to stop this farce from happening however, thus, he had stayed behind after classes and hid to get the necessary evidence to reveal the scheme.

A hand touched my shoulder suddenly and I jumped, screeching in terror and swinging my arms when… "Robby! What's wrong with you?!"

There she stood, Allie, the love of my life staring in wide eyed terror. I saw that worried look she gave me and the way her eyes flickered over to the door. "Robby?"

"Shhh!" I shushed her, my eyes trailing back to the stage. "He'll hear you." I whispered. She looked at me again as if wondering whether to get the nurse or not then asked slowly, "Who?"

I gritted my teeth. "The murderer, that's who!"

I watched as she stood, silently, "...Robby. Stay here, I'll go get help."

A smile formed then as I watched her go. I should have known that she, the woman I had vowed to devote my life to would believe me.

"Be careful not to let him catch you!" I called after here being careful not to raise my voice too much, but she was already gone.

Warily, I glanced back at the victim's body, then, towards the murderer, who now knelt on the floor, a malicious grin spread on his face. I turned my eyes in disgust and what I saw, or moreover who, shocked me to no end. A teacher stood backstage gesturing the killer to hurry. My eyes rounded when I saw who it was that stood slightly hidden behind the deep crimson curtains. It was Mr. Forter, My English teacher and mentor, the man I looked up to most in the world. Anger surged through every part of my being as I sat crouched behind the chair of the auditorium. It was obvious to me now, I couldn't see how I hadn't realized it before; Mr. Forter was an accomplice. The play was obviously a cover up. They wouls pass the crime off as a play, discard the body and no one would be the wiser, or so they hoped, he thought.

Bitterly, I tried to recall the clues, and they were there, before my eyes, the flyers for the upcoming play was obviously just cover-up. The horror books, on my teacher's desk, Jake's, who I had identified as the murderer, silent meeting with the teacher after classes finished. Mr. Forter's favoritism towards Jake in class. They all summed up to the harsh truth that the people before me, the people I grew up with could not be trusted. Their facades had subdued any possible exposure of their vile acts, but I promised myself that I would make them pay for it.

But then, fear overwhelmed me suddenly. I didn't know how many of these people were deceitful and how many were honest. I didn't know who to turn to. The whole school could be accomplices. They could all be waiting and bidding their time before they decide that I would be their next victim. I laughed. No. That wouldn't happen. I was smarter then the pitiful man who lay on the floor dead. I knew what was coming and I wouldn't let them get me. Voices started behind me and I turned, startled to find, my lovely Allie standing there next to, whom shall I see, but the school nurse.

"Robby, you remember Mrs. Robertson don't you? The school nurse? She's going to give you something to calm you down." Allie said slowly. And as I stared at the needle the nurse held in her hand, as I watched Mr. Forter walk up behind her, shock, pain, despair filled me. But it wasn't Mr. Forter's presence that shocked me. No. It was the presence of Jake Masters, ketchup-y blood and all.

And realization hit suddenly, with the most painful blow, which damaged me more than any physical blow could have. How could I have been so wrong? I looked up, a hurt expression clouding over my eyes, as I looked at Allie. There would be no liaison between the beautiful Allie Parker and me because she was a part of it. They were all conspiring, even Jake Masters, to get rid of me! Paranoid? No, I'm not paranoid. I only know what the truth is.