Falling For Insanity

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter sixteen

Rosie Mae's POV

"Let's just say we aren't always the good guys." Eric informs me as we all pile into the car. He said it in such a way that he really believes there's ever a moment where they are the good guys. That's completely false.

Cory sits in the front with Eric who's driving. Nathan and Willy sit on either side of me in the back seat.

"Sometimes it's not killing for revenge, an eye for an eye and all that crap." Cory further explains Eric's statement.

"Yeah." Nathan chimes in. "Sometimes we kill to steal."

From the other side of me, Willy says, "if we steal someone else's product, it's more profit for us. Less money Eric has to put down on a bag to sell."

"But like Willy and I have complained about countless times;" Nathan reminds us, "we only do this when Eric needs us."

"And by the way, that's been a lot more recently. It's starting to feel like you don't really need our help." Willy adds.

It's entertaining to watch Nathan and Willy bounce off of each other, always finishing each other's sentences. It's as if they share the same brain, always having the same exact thoughts as the other. They must spend every waking moment together.

It's especially funny they way Nathan and Willy get on Eric's nerves. Their banter, sarcasm, and quickness with a come back, set a fire in him. To one who doesn't know the two of them, you'd never guess they were cold blooded ("temporary/only when needed") killers.

"I don't ever need your help. Don't mistake that." Eric retorts, keeping his annoyance filled eyes on the road. "It's just nice to have the extra sets of hands."

Nathan reaches over, nudging Willy who gives an expression of agreement and a nod before Nathan's even said anything. "He's so sweet, isn't he?" Nathan says sarcastically. "That's my best f*****g friend."

I stifle a laugh, Eric's warning eyes catching mine in the rear view mirror. I press my lips into a thin line, trying not to keep from egging the men on any further.

"So where do I come in? What am I gonna do?" I ask, searching all four of their faces.

"Who said you're gonna do anything?" Cory asks from the front, glancing over his shoulder at me. "You just stand there and look pretty."

"I did." Eric tells him before I can reply for myself. "And you'll be responsible for her."

Cory scoffs. "You're the one who wants her here. I-"

"You'll be responsible for her." Eric repeats, making Cory grumble in disapproval, shifting in his seat. Everyone is so nice today. Warm and welcoming. "You and Rosie will find his stash while us three do the rest."

Doing this with someone who very clearly didn't want to do it with me didn't make me feel safe. Obviously, it made me feel the opposite. I wish Eric would go with me. The confidence I once had slowly drifted away, under the impression that Eric would be the one by my side.

As the house got closer, my anxiety worsened. Every single step causing my chest to get tighter. The lit up driveway casted light at our feet as we walked the long paved road, creating a path for us to avoid so we aren't spotted. It's the only source of light in the still of the late evening. A distant train horn and shuffled feet is the only sound we all hear on this long, shameful walk.

"Why can't you go with me?" I peer up at Eric who has securely placed my ski mask over my head, around my eyes and mouth.

He avoids me, taking a gun from Cory before inspecting it and loading a clip in. He remains silent, evidently not wanting to answer my question. That wasn't going to stop me from getting my answer and maybe what I want.

"Eric." I repeat, head angling to get a better look at him, forcing him no where else to look but at me.

"There's no changing anything now, Rosie." Eric informs me, finally catching my stare with his own, disappointing me. "You'll be fine with Cory. It won't take as long as you think. In and out, like last time."

His words didn't help at all, still resenting the fact that he wouldn't be accompanying me. No matter who it was or anything said to put my mind at ease, it's still only Eric who could keep me safe.

For some strange reason, I've always had a knack for my gut instincts to be correct. Somehow, after all these years, that pit I get in my stomach never has failed me. You know how the anticipation of something bad happening takes over your body? That's what's occurring right now.

My stomach churns, just knowing this situation won't end up like the last one. A wrench will be thrown in tonights well thought out scheme and all I know is that Eric won't be there when this goes to hell, won't be there so protect be.

Though Eric is never wrong. It's a hard pill to swallow but it's a fact. I aught to be resting easy in hearing Eric's confidence in Cory's abilities, that being a comfort in itself. It's not. Because this time...I know I'm right.

"What are you so scared of?" He asks, studying me. "Your fear makes you feeble." All of a sudden, I am inferior again, small. No longer feeling as though I'm running with them, now more so stumbling to keep up behind them.

"I'm not you." I tell him through clenched teeth, his lack of sympathy irritating me.

"Gotta start somewhere." He replies, cracking a smile and gaining a chuckle from Nathan and Willy.

Eric takes my hand in his, guiding me over to where Cory stands impatiently, wanting to get the show on the road. Eric raises my arm, placing my hand in Cory's who wore a teasing grin. "Don't worry, love. I'll take good care of you."

Eric shot him a glare. "Save it." He snapped but then regained his composure, straightening his sweatshirt out as he glances between the four of us that watch him. "You all know what to do." He states.

The sound of Eric and the other men loading a bullet into their chambers echos around us, making my skin crawl. The freezing winter wind wasn't the only reason I was getting chills.

"Let's get to it." Cory nods his head in the direction of the house that was much closer now, his hand still in mine as they all hold their weapons limp at their sides.

Eric, Nathan, and Willy split off into different directions, leaving me alone with Cory who lead me around the back of the house.

Cory kept his footsteps light on the grass, trying to avoid making any sounds at all. I followed suit, watching him nervously as we reached the back deck.

He knelt down in front of the door, pulling out some type of gadget before going to work on the lock. It was only a few moments over my head farting around in fear of being caught before the door unlocked with a click.

Cory looked back at me from over his shoulder, raising a finger to his lips in a hushing motion.

We entered into the house which is exactly as I had imagined; immaculate. The lighting in the kitchen is dim but even then, the white countertops glistened, matched with grey and white chairs around the bar area. Everything is too expensive to touch, to even breathe on. Not that it mattered too much, given he'd have no use for any of it soon enough.

The silence in the house is eerie. It made me wonder how the hell the other men were being so quite upon entering. Cory and I could hear nothing but a very distant voice on a television, followed up by audience laughter. I figure that's where the man who's about to die is.

If Eric needed this many sets of hands...how many people was he expecting to kill? There's no way it's just the man of the house he is going to take out given the amount of man power and guns he brought along with him. Besides, from what I've learned so far about being around these types of killers is; they aren't often times found alone.

A million different bad scenarios raced through my mind as the kitchen got left behind, Cory leading me around a corner stealthily. It lead into a long narrow hallway,

"Nah, I'm staying in tonight."

A voice sounds throughout the hall as a door opened, outstepping two men in light conversation.

Cory wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into a room that's door was already ajar. He trapped me against the wall, sliding my body around his so he stood right in front of me. He is so close, our bodies touch. His frame being much being than mine, no one would be able to see me shrunken back behind him.

They had no idea all of us were in the house right now, going on about their night as if nothing was wrong. I can't help but to feel a sense of power, being right around the corner, hiding. Their already decided fate is in our hands.

It's thrilling, really.

"Watch me work." Cory whispers. I can hear the smile in his voice as he tucked his gun away, fists now clenching and unclenching on either side of him.

As the strangers footsteps grew closer to the room we hide in, I hold my breath, fearful of uttering a peep.

It all happens in what seems like a blink of an eye. Cory lunges forward as both men walked past the entrance. I step to the side, waking backwards, deeper into the room to get away from the altercation.

Cory's right arm c***s back before swinging full speed on the man. His fist connects with his temple and just like that...he's on the floor, knocked all the way out. Both men were in shock, surprised by Cory's sudden appearance. The second man tried, but Cory's reaction time was quicker as he started for the guy before the other one was even on the floor.

Cory didn't have to wrestle with the guy, he swiftly had him in a chokehold. It was like it took him little to no effort to slowly squeeze the life out of the man's eyes. Rather it was having a trick to it or being that strong, it's scary how easily Cory executed it.

After the sound of a thud, the dead body hitting the floor, Cory took steps over to the first man, pulling a knife from his pocket as he was in motion. My stomach churned a little less than last time as Cory slits his throat from ear to ear while he is unconscious.

"And you doubted me." Cory whispers with a wink before putting the knife back in its place.

"Let's just go." I whisper back, ignoring his jokes at a time like this.

We ascended the stairs, the pair of us keeping a close eye out for any movement. Cory's hand found mine again as we reached the top, his peaked in both directions before guiding me to the left hall.

Cory checked each room the was open, more than likely in search for whenever this guy keeps his stash. After already running into trouble and Cory killing two men, I was frightened as to how many more are to come.

My heartbeat faltered a little and my feet stopped following Cory who stopped with me, looking into the bedroom I'm staring into.

Eric stood in the middle of it, those black eyes now seemingly missing the whites of them. He wore a devilish smile, one I hadn't ever seen on him before. Happiness, enjoyment, excitement is written all over his face in the darkest of ways. Nathan and Willy stand lazily in the corner, exchanging amused expressions at the scene before them.

The home owner, I'm assuming, is knelt down on both knees before Eric. It seems Eric got some kind of satisfaction out of his victims kneeling, being at his mercy.

"It's nothing personal." Eric tells his victim before placing both hands on either side of his head.

Remembering when I thought it was scary how easily Cory choked that guys out back there just minutes ago...that was nothing compared to this.

Goosebumps raised on my arms and I shuddered as I watched Eric's entire body flex, using every muscle it had to slowly crush the man's skull. Eric's eyes drift closed, staying that way, consuming every feeling of the bones gradually giving way. The victims eyes bulged as his head was being crushed.

Eric seemed to be in his own world. Lost in a daze as he brutally kills him. His body swayed back and forth a little, as if singing a song to himself in his head.

The sight and sound is gruesome, the cracking making me flinch and his head caving in under Eric's hands making me forget how to breathe. It's like I'm out of my body.

Cory tugs on my hand, dragging me with him as he forced me continue down the hall with him. "Still in love?" He asks

"Can you be quieter?" I whisper. "You're going to draw attention to us."

"Can you be a b***h any louder?"

I glare back at him, actually at the back of his head, not caring that he's not even paying attention.

"Ta-da." Cory hummed, dipping into a room with double doors to our right with me close on his heals.

We entered an office with a massive desk sat in the middle of the room. The walls were lined with bookshelves, sort of like a home library and office in one giant room. Everything is brown, wooden, rustic but elegant. If you could imagine what a rush persons house smelled like...this was it. It's like no one lived here, not a single thing out of place or unorganized.

Cory immediately opened a door inside the room, not bothering to look anywhere else beforehand. I checked the room out from behind him, craning my neck to get a better view. File cabinets and boxes lined the perimeter of the small closet. Pushed up against the back right corner sat a large safe. This was our destination.

Crouching down in front of the safe, Cory instructs, "keep a look out, Love."

It didn't take long before Cory appeared next to me with a duffel bag containing the money and dope thrown over his shoulder. He wears a triumphant look.

"Told you it would be ea-"

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Cory's words are put to a halt as gunfire blasts from downstairs. By his expression, I could tell this part wasn't pre planned.

This sends me into a panic as Cory hauls me behind him, running out of the office and down the hall. I tried not to trip over my own feet as I fight to keep up with his pace. Adrenaline courses through my veins as the duffel bag is being shoved into my chest, my arms instinctively wrapping around it.

"Just stay put." Cory exclaims, attempting to leave me stranded in a dark hall by myself as a war went on downstairs.

I didn't let him take but a step before I grabbed the back of his shirt, forcefully yanking him back. He looks down at me, kind of shocked by my strength. It was just the adrenaline pumping. My frail muscles amounted to nothing if not under pressure."I'm not just going to stand here with no way to defend myself, Cory!" I hissed. He's delusional if he really believes I'd listen to him when it comes to this. My life was dependent on him right now and that just won't do for me, I'll end up dead.

"Do you want to die or do you want to listen to me?" He asks in an impatient tone.

"If I listen to you then I will die." I correct him.

He stares at me for a moment, glancing towards the staircase that were only a few steps away from us. Then his eyes flicker between me and the duffel bag. "Then I suggest you make a quick exit to the car with that bag."

Cory didn't wait for me to respond or for me to stop him before taking two large strides towards the stairs, descending them rapidly. After a few loud thuds of feet hitting the steps, closer gunshots ring out, more than likely coming from Cory's gun.

My head swivels around, mind racing as my survival mode kicked on full force. I always thought if in a life or death situation like this, I'd freeze up, I wouldn't have any instincts to kick in. Now in the midst of it all, in this movie like circumstance, it's the exact opposite of what I once thought.

It's as if I'm not even thinking before I hide myself in a near bathroom, dropping to the floor along with the duffel bag that I frantically unzip. I pull out a few massive bags filled with m*******a and pills and then dig around some more.

My hands push massive stacks of cash aside before finally getting to what I was in search for.

Guns.

I pulled one out, the cold metal feeling heavy in my hands as my heart beat faster. I shook my head, as if shaking the nerves off as I grab one of the clips from the bottom of the bag. I have no experience with guns, so I just pictured how Eric had done it before as I slid the clip in and loaded a bullet into the chamber.

The gun clattered against the tile on the floor as I released my grip. With shaky hands, I zipped the bag back up before standing. I sling the duffle bag strap over my shoulder before retrieving the gun again.

With a large breath inhaled and then exhaled, I exited the bathroom.

Amidst my own survival tactics, the gunshots had came to a stop. The sound of unknown footsteps downstairs is the only thing I can hear now as I kept close to the wall, ready to hide in a room if need be.

My feet froze when a voice sounded but I found my breath again when I realized it was coming from downstairs.

"Who else is here?" A stranger asks, letting me know who's in control at the moment.

The thought of Eric being the one in front of the barrel this time makes my stomach twist into a knot. All of me wanted to say this wasn't the case but if Eric did have control of the situation, the man wouldn't be asking if anyone else is here, Eric would be.

"Nervous?" I hear Eric dumbly ask, making mentally want to slap him for digging his grave any deeper than it already is. I wonder if he's worried about me as I am him.

A very audible punch sounded before the mean repeated himself. "I don't enjoy saying anything twice. Who else is here?"

Spit hitting the floor makes a splat. "No one." Eric complies.

The weight on my shoulders lifted a bit as none of them revealed my presence, having no idea where I even am themselves.

I slowly bent down, getting on all fours as I let the duffel bag down gently next to me, careful to keep as quiet as possible. I crawled towards the balcony that's over the grand entrance of the home. I peaked through the white bars, down at the scene.

Eric, Cory, Nathan, and Willy are all knelt side by side, each pair of hands limp at their sides, weapons confiscated. They no longer wore their ski masks. So much for it being easy like last time. Nathan and Willy are visibly shaken by the way the tables had turned on them, not used to this. Cory appears indifferent even though I'm sure he is worried about how Eric feels about him failing to keep me safe. Eric...of course wears a bland expression, hiding any emotion he has but he had to be thinking about me, about an escape rout.

Two men stand tall and cocky in front of them, lazily pacing around as they figured out their next moves, their decision on what to do with the four of them.

"Who do you work for?" One of them questions, staring directly at Eric who is evidently the head honcho everywhere he goes. They didn't have to figure out who to speak to when merely giving the four a once over.

"Oh come on, you know I can't answer that." The calmness in Eric's voice is chilling. How he can be so breezy right now is beyond me. I want him to just tell the men whatever information they wanted out of him, to save himself and his friends. I'm not that dense to beliefs an option. "Ask me something I can answer. Like how many men I've killed in this house alone tonight." The man's knuckles whiten around his gun as he listens to Eric.

"Five. The answer to that is five." Cory adds. "I killed three but who's counting?"

Eric and Cory exchange a sly grin.

"He still has a chance to catch up." Eric finishes before they both return their attention to the strangers.

I cover my mouth with my hand that isn't holding the gun to keep from making a sound when I see one of the men approach Cory, punching him hard enough to fall over. The other one marches up to Eric and pistol whips him. Eric's head turns to the side at impact, an open gash now resting in the top left corner of his head. Blood trickles down his temple, to his cheek as his head raises back up, that not phased look still on his face.

Seeing him like this is awful. It almost seems unreal that he doesn't have the upper hand this time. Eric is one of those men you can't imagine getting caught or gotten the best of. It just further proves that even he isn't as invincible as he acts.

The beating Eric and Cory are taking is what makes me spring into action, knowing that all four of them will die, including me, if I don't do something quick. They are clearly in no position to fight back, to save us. Sure they outnumbered the strangers, but the two of them had the firepower. You can't bring a knife to a gunfight.

I squinted one eye, aiming down the barrel of the gun that is now clasped tightly in both hands. Sweat beaded from my forehead, down my face, chest, and back as I tried to steady my breaths and trembling hands. Off I miss, we could very well all die. I have to be swift and precise.

The back of the man's head that now took its place back in front of Eric, is lined up perfectly. Their voices are downed out by a fuzzy sound in my ears, as if having cotton in them.

Bang.

One down.

It he gun jerks in my hand, to the left, at the other man who's head swivels around, looking for the source of the gun shot as his gun is raised and ready. Looking for me.

Bang.

Down went the clueless second man in a heap, all of his body weight thudding to the floor, limp.

As if I had just blacked out and am now coming to, I drop the gun loudly, bracing my hands on the floor beneath me. I can't even tear my eyes away from the human beings I just killed long enough to see Eric, Cory, Nathan, and Willy find me by the sound of the gun.

Tears form, filling the brim of my eyes before falling. The fuzzy sound that once filled my ears is now replaced by a shrill ringing, muffling all noise. Blood trickles out of the gunshot wounds to their heads, pooling around them gradually. Nausea washes over me, disgusted by the sight and the fact that I caused it. Though in a state of shock, I don't throw up, I just sit in the feeling, in a haze.

I'm still out of it as strong hands place themselves under my arms, lifting my limp body up, still gaping at the dead bodies.

"Get the car! Get the car! Get the car!" Eric repeats over and over, close to my ear from behind, making me come to again, but by bit. Heavy steps run, fading as they went farther away from us. The front door slams.

"What the f**k, Eric?!" I yell at him, trying to wrestle out of his firm grasp. He keeps a strong hold on me but let's me turn in his arms, shoving at his chest. "You're a liar!"

Eric frees a hand to wipe blood out of his eyes, the other holding me in place. "You're going to have to be mad at me later, Rosie Mae."

With that, he pulls my cursing form along with him, in the direction of an exit.