#fridayflash "Compulsion" Part III #horror

*This is the final installment of "Compulsion." You can read Part I here and Part II here.*

Edited: Oops, I forgot to add the "here" links. They're added now. Sorry!

Compulsion

Part III

I opened my eyes. The low light made me smile.

“How do you feel?”

I cocked my head. Peace spread through me as I looked around this room. It seemed familiar, so did the man. Did I know him? He touched my arm and I suppressed a giggle.

“I feel wonderful. Who are you?”

The man grinned. “I’m Mike and I have someone I’d like for you to see.”

“Hello, Mike.” I bounced in the chair as he removed a photograph and handed it to me.

She looked familiar too. Brown hair, a big bright smile, blue eyes. I liked her.

“Her name is Helen Fairling. I want you to find her for me and then return here. You’ll know what to do.”

I looked at him. His certainty reassured me. I studied her picture again, memorizing her features.

Mike handed me a slip of paper and a blue pill.

I always wondered what it was with blue pills. They were calming. I swallowed the pill without water. I looked at the address on the paper. Certainty filled me and I smiled wider.

"You do know what to do, right?"

I looked up at Mike. The intensity of his eyes was familiar. I didn't want to disappoint him.

“Yes, I’ll remember what to do, brother.”

#fridayflash "Compulsion" Part II #horror

*This is part two of "Compulsion." If you missed part one last week, click here.*

Compulsion

Part II

My foot tapped upon the blue carpet. Why blue and not red or gray? The shrinks said blue was comforting. I didn’t believe it. My breath spurted in rhythm to my tapping.

I needed it fixed.

I strode down the hallway. A faint lemony scent reminded me of pie. I counted the doors I passed.

Four, five, six.

Lucky number seven was Mike’s room.

I entered and the bunched muscles in my shoulders relaxed. I sank into the plush leather chair, which embraced me like an old friend. A sigh flowed from my lips and the door clicked shut.

“Hello, Jerry. How are you today?” Mike leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs.

“It h-happened again.” I tensed, clenching the chair arms. “Please, you have to make it better, Mike. I...I can’t help myself.”

“We will find the trigger to your compulsions. I promise you. Have you taken your medicine yet?”

"Not yet."

"Go ahead, then."

I pulled out a medicine bottle from my pocket. My hands trembled as I twisted the lid and popped the blue pills. Blue for calm. Yeah, right.  

Mike rose from the chair and grabbed the bowl-shaped silver helmet from the table. Wires sprouted from the top like a troll doll’s hair.

Its weight settled upon my head, comfortable and relaxing. I closed my eyes.

"Ready, Jerry?"

“Find it. Please. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.”

“Take deep breaths. Relax.” His voice calmed me.

I breathed in and out while he shuffled around me. A gentle humming filled my mind. I floated in a space of nothingness.

A memory consumed the void. She grinned, red lips stretched over white teeth. She had brown hair, not blond or red. A name tingled on the tip of my tongue but skirted away like a skittish kitten. I could almost remember her.

The humming increased to a buzz, shaking my brain.

The image shattered into shards.

Blackness remained. Soothing, cold, perfect.

Nothing.

#fridayflash "Compulsion" Part I #horror

*For today's flash piece, I've decided to take a short story broken into three parts and post a part each Friday starting today. Here is part one.*

Compulsion

Part I

Drip.

Splat.

Driiip.

Splaat!

Drip.

I blinked and stared at my hands. My right fingers curled around the knife’s handle.

The blade glistened as another fat drop splashed on the floor.

Splat.

What had happened?

Crimson streaks splattered the white walls like an over-enthused three year old with a paint brush. I followed the scattered spots to the body in the room’s center.

Grayish flesh dotted the red-coated corpse. A metallic scent swirled around me. I swallowed and gagged the wretched, sour taste of bile. The knife clattered to the tiled floor as I pressed against my knees.

Why was this happening...again?

I screamed, my soul pouring out the vileness of what I have done, while I tumbled to the floor. My knees cracked against it, causing me to shriek in pain. With ragged breaths, I crawled toward my newest victim. Maybe she was still alive.

Wide, pale blue eyes stared at me when I turned her head. Her mouth was slack, lips pouty. Blood dyed her hair. It could’ve been blond, or red. Maybe a light brown. I couldn’t tell.

I yelled again, pounding my fists upon the floor. Liquid sprayed upon me. Tears trickled warm along my cheeks. I choked and coughed before collapsing beside her.

“I’m sorry, so sorry.” I murmured, stroking her hair.

I didn’t know her, or didn’t think I did.

My head hurt, my heart. I struggled to sit. The blood congealed on my arm hair. I felt sticky, like I’d rolled in strawberry jam. I needed a shower and to find Mike. He’d make everything better.

I left her there. Beautiful, dead, and soon to be an erased memory.