Hidden Sanity

Vigilant Eyes

Creepy. Very creepy. It made her skin crawl.

“Now this boss is really freaking me out.”

She shook her head then went out of the office, trying her best not to be eaten by her negative thinking. She stayed in the office until late at night again. She wanted to finish her job so bad so she could ask for a day-off and go back to her family to see her mom and dad. It’s been 2 months since she last saw them. She missed them a lot.

Meanwhile, as the lights in the streets dimmed, Jack drove along. He just finished his appointment with the president of another company that he got his company coordinated to. He looked tired. He pulled over beside a convenience store to buy something to eat. For energy.

As he went out of his car, he walked his way inside the store and he heard a voice of a woman who just called his name. “Jorge!”

He looked at her and said “Sorry?”

“Jorge! It’s me!” She came closer to him. Jack was just looking at her. She was a blonde girl.

He said “Do I know you?”

“Oh Jorge… I’m your classmate from college… Christine!”

“Christine… I remember no Christine from college.” He has a bad memory and he can’t remember anything because of the medicines he’s been taking at the hospital previously.

“Is that how a president of a company acts now? You forgot all about your past?” She chuckled as she brushed her hair with her hand.

Jack bit his upper lip and just looked away from her. He’s not interested.

Christine said “OK. Jorge, we had this thing going on between us when we were in college, right? Can’t you remember? Us? Alone in your dormitory’s room? But we didn’t get to do it because you’re too afraid to get caught?”

“Yeah, uh, hey uhm… would you mind? If I uh…” He pursed his lips then opened it with a popping sound. He’s cool like that. He inhaled then gave out these words, “I really need to eat right now. Can you excuse me for a while?”

“Oh sure! Of course! I can join you if you want…” She made it sound so seductive but Jack ignored it and entered the store. He bought a sandwich and a soda.

He went out and he was about to pass her by, forgetting someone was waiting for her. But Christine called out for him. “Jorge!”

He turned back. “Yeah?”

“Can we hangout for a little time tonight?”

“I’m pretty busy, I’m sorry.”

She went closer to him and snatched his sandwich. “Even just for an hour?” Then she inserted her tongue in between the bread of the sandwich and slowly licked the spreading inside. Obviously, she tried seducing him. She touched her private and said “Ohhh… I got so much pleasure right here.”

Jorge thought that she was nothing but a horny woman. He said “Say what you need to say, Christine. I could give you what you want, just say it to me straight.”

“Why are you so conceited nowadays? You’re making me upset, Jorge!”

“I can’t remember you, okay? So don’t you raise your voice to me, I don’t even know you.”

“You’re still the same weird guy I’ve met in college! When will you stop being a p***y, Jorge? I want us to make out. Isn’t that too obvious?” She rolled her eyes and licked the front of her upper teeth.

“If you weren’t acting such a b***h right now, maybe I could recognize you from all the other people, Christine.”

“Just tell me if you’re not willing to do it tonight with me and I’ll go!”

“I’m tired so go…”

“Tired? I can give you a little massage!” She gave him a friendly offer. Jack thought twice if he should even consume his time for the girl.

Christine talked again. “Are you single right now?”

“Christine, I must be doing something right now, you know…”

“What is it?”

“A phone meeting with my secretary…”

“For sure, that’s a girl. Am I right?”

“Yeah.”

“Who is she?”

“None of your business.”

“Come on, just drop me the name, maybe I know her. I know a lot of people in this area.”

“If I told you, will you shut your mouth and let me go?”

“Maybe?”

“Fine! She's Alice......You don’t know her.” He walked away, approaching his car.

“Alice who? Alice Simone?”

“You know her?” He looked back straight away.

“Of course… that’s the loser I met from high school. Is she still cheap now?”

“What did you just call her?” He changed his mood. He looked at her fiercely.

She said “I just called her names and got physical towards her, but just one time!” She laughed.

He stared at her with a scary look in his eyes. She didn’t mind. He smiled and said “Tell me how painful your whipping was. Illustrate the pain to me.”

“Really?” She could tell by the way he looked that he was trying to seduce her.

“Yeah. Get into my car.”

“Gosh, I never thought you’d finally take me!” She ran through his car excitedly.

Jack murmured, “No one hurts Alice.” He had that evil look in his eyes as he climbed inside his car. He drove her to a motel room in Brooklyn.

2 hours later…

Jack Kinley sat down on the single chair at the table and carefully folded back the page from the news magazine he bought lately in the morning. He chuckled to himself as he ripped it carefully and smoothed the page on the rickety table in the one-light bulb room he rented together with Christine. Staring at the page, he reached for the can of soda he just bought lately and took a swig.

Slowly, he eased out of his chair, staring at the face of the pretty blond girl. He carried the article to the refrigerator, where he used a carrot magnet left by the previous renter to secure it.

“That’s one,” he muttered to himself proudly. He tipped back the can of soda in his hand and took another swallow, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He was so proud. He just couldn’t stop grinning.

He picked up the limp, cold body that seemed to weigh nothing more than a sack of groceries. It was quite flexible. As he turned in the darkness, he felt the blond hair brush his arm and he shivered. He didn’t like the feeling. It rattled him.

He quickly put the body down with a thump and looked around for an old towel. Finding one, he wrapped the head in the towel and picked up the body again.

He knew exactly how he would dispose of it so that there would be no evidence or even a trail of blood. He would do it the way he had done the last one—an experiment that had been a success for him. Not a speck left when he was done.

He smiled at his own cleverness.

He got home with an eased feeling. He felt so delighted by what he did. He snorted and said “This felt good…… I’ve never felt this good since ages!” He opened his fist and closed it again. He checked out his palm. He had the feeling again, the joy of killing people.

His blood rushed so quickly through his veins. He had become more into it that he wanted to do it again and again. He can’t fight the excitement he got as he has tasted the perfection of getting the lives of people one more time.

He smiled and said “This is going to be so fun.”

The incident triggered him to do more scenes like that.

Now he’s really back on track.

At exactly 12:30 in the morning, Alice was combing her hair. She was sitting on her sofa and blankly staring nowhere. This time, she emptied her mind above all that happened to her yesterday.

And surprisingly, her phone rang. She shivered in shock. It was an anonymous number.

She answered it to stop her stupid ring tone from playing back.

“Hello. How may I help you?”

“Hi.” His voice sounded familiar. She recalled that Jack told her that he’ll call her so she knew it was him.

She said “Sir Jorge?”

“Yes. Glad you answered my call.”

“I actually didn’t know who this is at first since I still don’t have your number so I have no idea who’s calling.”

“Well now you have, go save my number.”

“Later… What are we going to talk about, sir?”

“I feel so bad for leaving you with too much work so I wanted to ask you if you want me to just pass your task to someone else?”

“I’m in favor for that but I’m not so sure if that someone else could handle the hell you put up with your projects.”

He laughed. “Am I that wicked?”

“No, but the way you command, yes.”

“That’s why I’m making it easy for you now… I would select someone from the office who would shoulder your job.”

“Good thing.”

“You only now have 5 projects left. That sounded easier huh?”

“Are those the most difficult ones?”

“Yes, actually.”

“Why are you doing this?! Really.”

“You’re my secretary! This is your job.”

“Yeah, this is. So… is that it?”

“That’s all I can say about it, so yeah, you could rest now. Oh and by the way, nice night dress.”

“What?”

“You look nice with your night dress.”

Alice was actually wearing a night dress so she freaked out. She looked around her house. “Where the hell are you?!”

“Why?”

“How did you know what I was wearing?”

“Did I get it right?...... A pink night dress?”

“s**t. You are scaring me, sir Jorge!” Exactly, she was wearing a pink night dress.

“I’m just good at guessing.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah… But—don’t comb your hair too much, don’t worry, you already look pretty.”

She felt so scared right now because Jack can actually read her every move. “Honestly, you’re freaking me out right now, stop it.”

“You’re too easily tricked.”

“What?”

“Go on. Stand up and sleep now.”

“Where are you, really?!”

He whispered. “Behind your door…”

“Don’t joke around!”

His voice changed. “I am watching you Alice…” He sounded so scary.

“Jorge Kione! Please! This is not funny!”

Then the line was cut. Jack hung up.

So Alice stood up so fast. She remembered what he said to her in his office. “I can always track you down, Alice.”

There was an empty silence inside her apartment.

She looked at the door, imagining that he was there with his creepy smile again. Her knees were shaking. She went to her kitchen and picked up a knife just in case he’ll do something to her.

She walked closer to the door to check if he’s really there, although that encounter was severely nerve wrecking. She thought that she just put herself in the middle of death and survival this time.

She said “I’m calling the police! Get out of there!”

She walked too slow, scared of walking too near to the door. She didn’t want to get killed so she’s very hesitant about what she’s doing. She was looking at the peephole of her door, thinking that he might still be staring at her until now.

Her skin hairs rising, her hands were shaking… her heart was heavily thumping. Her knees felt so weak…

Until someone rang her doorbell, she got  even more horrified. She shouts, “Who’s that?!”

No one was answering so she thought it might be her boss waiting behind it and attempting to kill her.

She looked at the peephole to check who it was but nobody's outside…

It took her 1 minute before she finally had the guts to open the door right away and prepared herself for defense.

When she opened it, Jack jumped in front of her and said “Wah!!!”

Alice screamed so loud.

Jack laughed so hard. Alice noticed him laughing so she punched him on his back. “What was that all about?!!!”

“I’m just trying to scare you! I’m so sorry! Haha! Your face, you should’ve seen that!” He just couldn’t stop laughing.

It insulted her a lot so she shouted at him. “You are such an asshole!! What was that for?! Geez Jorge!!! You’re not funny!!”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” He’s still laughing.

“You don’t know how scared I am to death!! Jerk!!” She almost shut the door in front of him but Jack was fast. He was able to stop it from closing through his arm.

He said “You should’ve seen how sexy you are in that view!”

“I’m not in the mood to talk to you, sorry.” She’s pissed off.

Jack turned serious and said “Alice, I’m sorry, okay? But I’m being honest right now…” He looked at her from top to toe. “You look stunningly beautiful…”

Alice was still looking at him so bad. She said “Were you really watching me?”

“Hell yeah.”

“What? You’re stalking me now? Huh?!”

“Will you please let go of the knife you’re holding? You’re kinda… freaking me out too.”

“You did freak me out! Be thankful, I didn’t stab you with this!”

“Come on, let go… I’m not going to hurt you.” He laughed again, remembering her reactions lately. “…Please…” He took the knife from her.

She hesitantly gave him the knife. Jack pushed her door and entered her apartment abruptly.

Alice wasn’t expecting it. It was not her intention to let him in. She didn’t even have plans to let him enter her house again but he just did.

Jack placed the knife on the table and lied down on her couch. He looked so mischievous with his position.

Alice said “Can you explain the entire thing to me?!”

“What thing?”

“Why…  Are… you watching over me?!

He smiled and said “Nothing.” He looked at her eyes. “So I could see how sexy my secretary is…”

“You’re a pervert!” She walked away from the living room. She went to her bedroom and spoke out to talk to him from that distance, “Really? My boss? Doing this? You’re disgusting!” She put back her comb to her cabinet.

He replied “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Wait… I have no bad intentions, okay? I’m just joking! Chill down, Alice!”

“Joking?! Jorge, there was a killer roaming around our town nowadays! Everyone was aware of that! Joking is not for this season! I hope you understand!”

“Yeah… I’m so sorry. I’m just so tired. I want to have a little fun.”

Alice went out of her room to see him. She said “What now? Have you gotten your satisfaction? You got what you need? You scared me for your own sake?! Just to have fun?! Bullshit, Jorge!”

He sat up on the couch.  “I just want you to know that I’m still your boss, Alice. Don’t talk to me like that.”

“Bosses don’t do this! You’re horrible!”

“There has been a misunderstanding here. I’m not a bad person, okay? I just……… want to be close to you.”

“Then why?! Tell me why, please! I’ve been dying to know!” She said irately.

“…because you’re beautiful, Alice…” He gazed deeply into her eyes to prove that he meant it. Alice met his gaze. She saw his face that seemed to be with a mixture of delight and embarrassment. It was so childlike, so strange that she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

She said “Jesus, you are weird.”

He lay back to the couch and laid his arm on the top of his eyes to cover half of his face.

He said “Did you know what happened to me lately during our meeting?”

Alice didn't want to talk back. She still felt mad at him.

So Jack answered himself, “It was embarrassing. I got caught texting in the middle of the meeting and they asked me to go out of the conference room like a 7th grade student punished by his teacher. Can you believe that?” He laughed at himself. “It was funny. But luckily, the meeting turned out successful.”

Alice replied “Didn’t your carelessness turn off the other companies? You’re embarrassing. You just disgraced our company.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m too smart, that’s what they want from me so they could never turn their backs on me. They could even use me to earn millions! That’s my worth.”

“Wow……. You really are so…………. conceited.”

“That’s what they say.” His smile faded and she saw that. Even without his eyes, she saw the loneliness through the expression in his face.

He uncovered his eyes and sat back. Alice removed her gaze to him right away.

He said “Alright. I have to leave…. Really, I’m sorry about what happened lately. I didn’t mean to scare you. Heh… So…” He walked to her door and said “Good night.” He closed the door himself and left her just like that.

Alice said “I wish I never had you as my boss!”

She must be sleeping right now but what he did lately kept her awake. She began being so conscious so she stayed inside her room in case Jack peeks in again, he won’t see her anymore. She tried to stay away from her living room as much as possible. She closed the door of her room and lied down to her bed.

She wrapped her whole body with a blanket. She tries to sleep while she’s half scared and half angry.

Good thing, she was able to anyway.

As Jack went inside his apartment, he smiled and said “Almost there…”

Then he pulled out a swiss-knife from his pocket then put it back to his drawer…

He slept after then a call woke him up again at dawn.

He painted a smile on his face and thought “Hmm? This came quite faster from what I expected.”

He talked to the person on the other line.

Early in the morning…

It was still dark outside when he left his apartment.

The call was from the FBI. They got his telephone number. He was asked to go to their place for an interview. Without hesitation, he did. With full willingness and readiness, he went alone.

Why? Could he be planning a new thing now? What thing may be running in his playful mind this time?

He entered the police force’s building without having any weapons with him. He walked with his head up like he never did a single crime to be remorseful about. Without nervousness, he entered the interrogation room. Like it was the most common place he had been to, like he saw no terror in it…

He was not afraid.