“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
I sighed. “Fine. I’ll ask something else, then. Why did you bind me?” I waited several seconds but no response came. “Dennis?”
“We can talk about that another day,” he finally said.“You should go to sleep.”
I stared for a few seconds, wondering if I should push for answers, but eventually decided not to. I’d save it for another day.“You better not push me off the bed again.” I cautiously got beneath the covers.
“Would I do such a thing?” His voice was almost angelic. If you ignored the devious undertone.
“Yes.” I settled on my side, ready to fall asleep, before a pair of lifeless eyes flashed before me. I sat up in a mild panic. “I don’t wanna go to sleep.”
“Would it help if I leave?” Dennis was across the room before I could blink.
“No!” I leapt up, tossing the covers and Frankie aside. A moment passed before I awkwardly added,“I mean, probably not. It doesn’t matter.”
“How do you always forget you can’t lie to me?”
“I don’t know,” I said. It seemed like I’d remember with how annoying it was. I opened my water bottle, then slid my nightstand drawer open and began shoving pill bottles aside in search of two specific ones. It took forever since the wrong bottles kept rolling back in my path, but I eventually found the right ones.
“What are those?”
I jumped as Dennis crouched in front of me.“Don’t do that.” I pushed a shoulder but he didn’t budge.
“Antipsychotics?” He slid a bottle from my grip.“And sleeping pills,” he observed, taking the other.“Do you need all this?”
“I need a lot of stuff.”
“But you don’t take them.”
“How can you tell?” I smiled sardonically and took the antipsychotics back.“My psychiatrist prescribed them a few months ago, but I haven’t used them yet. It’s not worth the side effects.”
“I take it they’re for hallucinations?”
“Psychosis, yeah. Visual and auditory. I feel like I’m going crazy sometimes, but I really don’t wanna take them. The hallucinations come and go, but they’re not really hurting anything. And the mood stabilizer I’m on helps enough.”
Dennis took the bottle a second time and removed the small paper I’d never bothered to detach. He unfolded it and scanned the page.“Nausea, fatigue, increased drowsiness,blurred vision, seizures, involuntary muscle movements, suicidal thoughts, increased blood sugar linked to the onset of diabetes, blood clot…” He looked up from the paper.“Your psychiatrist wants you to take this?”
I laughed and slid the paper from his hands.“The main thing I’m worried about is being drowsy,” I joked. I skimmed the ridiculously long list of cautions before folding the paper and tossing it in the drawer.“So you think I should take them?” I asked playfully, reaching for the bottle.
He pulled it away.“These sound dangerous. Do you really need them?”
My smile faltered as I thought back to Dr. Kelsey’s exact words.“According to her, yes. But I’ve been fine without them. It sucks, but I’d rather take my chances with some extra voices and people who aren’t there than all these side effects. I can live with them.” I took the other bottle back and downed two sleeping pills, making a face while Dennis watched.“Why are you watching me?” I asked the moment they were down. “Stop being creepy.”
“I’m never creepy. You’re paranoid.” His eyes flashed black again and I hastily stood.
“I’m gonna watch the sunrise.” I grabbed Frankie and a pillow, then maneuvered around him to nestle into the window seat’snook.“Wanna join? We can watch it together,” I offered, patting what space was left. “It’ll only be a few more hours.”
“That sounds boring as fuck.”
“Suit yourself. Just don’t melt on my bed when the sun comes up.” I leaned against the cool glass, content to wait for the sunrise. My eyes fell shut to the familiar click of Dennis’ lighter. Before I knew it, everything began to fade.
“Vixen.”
I jerked at the sudden voice. My eyes scanned the room, slowly adjusting to the darkness.“How’d I get in bed?” It was a struggle to even talk.
“You were screaming.” Dennis sat back and held up my spider-killing butcher knife.“And you tried to throw this at me.”
“In my sleep?” I had never done that before. He nodded as I took it from him.“I guess I’m crazier than I thought.”
