Who goes to see a film on their own?" Steven asked, incredulously. He was close to cracking up.
"I'll tell you who does that Steven. Sad,lonely people, who don't have any friends." Jessica replied.
"Be quiet! Both of you. I just want some time by myself. Some time to escape. I can do that in the cinema."
"I thought you had given up trying to escape from us?"
Andrew looked straight into her eyes. "You two are in my head every day and night. I can't give up trying to get away from you."
"We've already told you this a million times. Frankly we're getting sick of it. Escaping from us is impossible."
****
The lights were starting to dim. Andrew was sitting comfortably in the middle of the room. He had a good view of the screen. He had received some strange and sympathetic looks, when he had sat down, but he ignored them. He no longer cared about what people thought about him.
"You stopped caring about what people thought of you, when you killed me. I was worried about you, but you didn't care."
"Let that go, Steven. I was in a bad mood then." Some people behind Andrew told him to be quiet. He shot a glance at his second victim and shifted his attention back to the screen. The advert being played was a warning not to record this film.
"Are you watching this advert, Andrew? It says not to record or illegally download this film. It's warning you not break the law. If only there were a warning not to kill somebody." Jessica mocked. Andrew clenched his hands, but then relaxed. He was not going to let his ghosts aggravate him. He was here to unwind.
****
Finally the adverts and trailers had finished and now the film would start. It would be a psychological thriller.
"It's interesting that you're watching this. I suppose not many people can relate to films like these. You should be proud to be a part of the select few." Jessica commented.
Andrew started breathing heavily. "Be quiet! You're disturbing the customers." Jessica rolled her eyes. Andrew turned back to the show, where the credits were dripping onto the screen like blood. He could already see what the tone of film was going to be like.
****
Fifteen minutes later, the person Andrew presumed to be the killer had already started stalking his first victim. It was a black night and the foolish girl had split away from her friends to walk home alone. She would be the first to die.
"At least you didn't kill us in such obvious ways," Jessica remarked, "I think I know why you're watchin' this. It's not to relax or unwind or any of that rubbish. I bet you're looking for new, inventive ways to kill."
"Shut up Jessica. Leave me alone, right now. Go crawl into the dark." Andrew snarled, through clenched teeth.
An usher wielding a torch rushed up the stairs. "Sir, this is your only warning. If you disturb our customers again you will be removed from this cinema." Andrew simply glared at him and turned back to the movie.
****
Twenty minutes later, after a torturous ordeal just as Andrew expected, the girl had been killed.
Steven flinched at the horror. "Ooh, that is grotesque. I'm thankful you didn't kill us as painfully as that."
"If I knew at the time I would've." Andrew replied. There was a sudden flicker of light coming up the stairs. The killer groaned and turned to his two victims.
"Look at what you've done," he stood up and rushed down the stairs, "I'm going. No need to throw me out." He said to the approaching user.
"You know Jessica, that's the first he's spoken to a real person tonight." Steven commented. Andrew shook his head and pushed open the exit doors.
"Poor, pitiful, paranoid Andrew. You can't even watch a film without talkin' to your demons. You pathetic little man." Jessica taunted. Andrew ignored this and went to get himself a strong drink.
****
Andrew was sitting in the local pub, clutching a pint of the local brew in his hand.
Jessica watched him raise, the drink to his mouth again. "I thought there was no way you'll start drinkin' to escape your conscience?" She asked, confusedly.
Andrew shrugged. "You two put me through so much pain drinking is the only escape."
"Why are you doing this, Andrew? What's the point?" Steven asked.
"Maybe I can destroy the part of my brain that controls my memories and emotions.
"Are you trying to get over us? Aww isn't that sweet Jessica? We're like his ex wife who broke his heart. I didn't know you cared for us that much."
"You should report yourself to the police. That's the only way you're going to sooth your conscience. You're not going to drown us out by drinking."
"We'll see about that." Andrew went up the bar and ordered himself another pint. Two stools to the right of him a couple of skinhead youths were discussing the latest video game. Steven shook his head, disapprovingly, as he sat on the stool in between Andrew and one of the skinheads. "You're never going to listen to me. After all who ever listens to their conscience. I wonder if your children are like you."
What are you talking about?" Andrew asked.
"I was wondering whether they've inherited the gene which might turn them into killers. You could be infamous, if you turned yourself in. The papers would call you the Killer in the Rain. If your children become murderers, their nickname would be the children of Satan. After all you are the devil in human form."
"That's it!" Andrew shouted, as he swung for Steven's face. His fist sailed through his second target's face and made contact with the back of the youth's head. "What the hell you doin'?! The skinhead shouted, as he pushed Andrew up against the wall.
"If you're going to threaten someone, don't give them a chance to distract you." Without further hesitation Andrew lifted his right knee into the youth's crotch. Taking advantage of this diversion Andrew head butted his assailant. The murderer tried to make a quick getaway; but the other skin head floored him with a simple punch to the throat. A swift kick to the stomach, kept him on the ground. Before anymore damage was done all three of them were kicked out of the pub. Andrew was seized by his collar and he was pulled back up to his feet, where he received a punch to the mouth. The hit was strong enough to floor him and the impact was rough. Andrew groaned, as his right forearm scraped against some jagged rocks. The two skinheads laughed and ran away Andrew heaved himself up and sat on a nearby wall. He checked his body and performed a self diagnosis. As far as he could tell, nothing was broken.
"I don't know why you lashed out. I was just pointing out a possible pen name."
Andrew glared at Steven, before inspecting his wounds again. Ten minutes later, a slim brunette who was walking past him stopped and looked down.
"You alright?" She asked.
"If I was alright do you think I'd have a cut lip, scraped forearm and a bruised stomach?"
"If you'll prefer I'll just leave you bleeding on this wall." The girl replied.
"Maybe that'll be best."
"I'm going to ignore all these sardonic comments and like to think that you're actually a nice guy."
Jessica rolled on the floor laughing. "Oh Andrew, this girl cracks me up." She said, wiping tears away from her eyes.
"Do you live close to here? I could take you home." The brunette offered.
Andrew nodded. "I don't live far from here. Can you help me up?"
The girl agreed and pulled the man up to his feet, when he suddenly groaned. "What's the matter?"
"My ankle's twisted."
"Of course it is. Just put your arm around me. We'll make it to your house eventually," the pair set off down the road, "how did you end up like this?" The brunette asked.
"I got into a fight in the pub. Don't even remember why. Sorry about before. I was just angry of how badly I lost that fight."
Steven's jaw literally dropped open. "Oh my god! Andrew Stone apologised?! That skin head must've hit you harder than we thought."
"Why are you helping me?" Andrew asked.
The brunette shrugged. "No reason. It's just a hobby of mine to take injured men home."
"Thank you. What's your name?"
"I'm Claire Brooks."
"Nice to meet you Claire. I'm Andrew Stone."
****
Andrew was lying on his sofa, while Claire was making a cup of tea in the kitchen. She brought it through to the living room and set it down on the table adjacent to Andrew. "You feeling better?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm just swell."
"I would've thought somebody of your age would be in a house." Claire remarked.
"Somebody of my age? I'm only thirty five. How old are you?"
"I'm thirty two."
"You look good." Andrew said.
"So do you."
"The secret to youthful good looks is killing two innocent people." Jessica stated.
"Why were you out so late?" Andrew asked.
"My friends had invited me out to dinner. I didn't really want to go, but I didn't want to let them down."
"Is that why you helped me out?"
Claire nodded. "Yeah, I was looking for an excuse not to go out and you're it."
"I'm flattered Claire. Listen, if I fix myself up, would you want to go out for dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"That would be nice."
"Aww isn't that sweet? You asked her out. Do you love her, Andrew? Andrew and Claire sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love-" Jessica mocked,
"Shut up." Andrew whispered.
Claire frowned. "What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Why'd you say nothin'? We're not nothin'. You're so rude. You should introduce us to your girlfriend."
"Say if I pick you up at seven?"
"Yeah that would be fine." Claire wrote down her address and handed it to Andrew.
Jessica shook her head, reproachfully. "If only you knew you were giving your address out to a murderer."
"I'll see you tomorrow then."
Claire nodded. "I'll let myself out, see you." The door opened and shut quietly.
Steven stood up and walked in front of Andrew. "You asked her out? How desperate are you? I know your wife left you, but is this seriously your way of getting back into the game?"
"No it's not. She was nice and I just seized an opportunity."
"You do know we're going to ruin this. You're never going to get your old life back."
"We'll see. I'm not that old yet. I can still have a family."
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