EPISODE 003
1129 Words
As soon as I left that room, the burden on my shoulders was relieved. I was finally finished for the day. I'm grateful. As much as I hated to admit it, my patience had a way of using up all of my energy, so today has been extremely taxing.
His appearance was enough to draw attention, but what about his character? Charming is the exact opposite of this. Chilly, detached, far away. Most of the time, he hardly acknowledged me at all, much less provided me with appropriate answers to my questions.
He didn't even answer half the time. I had never encountered someone who was so perfectly able to ignore another human being.
"How was it?" Isabella inquired as soon as I left.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "He has the attitude of a brick wall, but it's not bad."She grinned. "Well, he has a divine face. Perhaps he believes he doesn't require personality.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. Having a pretty face does not compensate for being annoying, She teased, "Are you sure?" "Because I'm fairly certain that half of the world doesn't agree with you."
I gave a snort. "Well, I'm not half the world." She leaned in after laughing. What does he eat, by the way? "Pure arrogance" on a plate, perhaps."
I grinned. "If it's true, he has been eating a full-course meal every day."We both laughed before I checked the time. "Alright, I’m heading out. See you tomorrow."
I was relieved to be leaving the hospital at last, and she blew me a kiss before I left. Although the trip home was brief, I felt a prick in the back of my neck as soon as I got out of the car.
That weird feeling of being observed. I glanced around, but there was nobody on the street. It's just my paranoia taking over again. Late at night, I had to stop reading about criminal psychology.
I pushed the emotion away and went inside.
Before I could object, my mother said, "Hey, welcome back," and grabbed my bag.
I muttered, "Thanks," and kicked off my shoes. "Long day."
"Are you hungry?"
I sighed and fell onto the couch. "Starving."
She vanished into the kitchen and came back a few seconds later carrying a glass of water. "Here."
I gulped it down and said, "You're a lifesaver."
She sat next to me and said, "So, tell me how was the oh-so-mysterious patient of yours today?"
He remains as arrogant as ever. Talking is beneath him.
She teased, "Then how do you manage?" I smiled. "I put up with him for the money."
She chuckled. "That's my girl now."
When I was getting ready for bed later that evening, I had a strange feeling. There was a strange smell in the air as soon as I entered my room. It wasn't anything my mother used, and it wasn't my perfume either.
After a moment of hesitation, I shook my head. It's probably all in my head. I ran a hand through my hair as I made my way to the mirror. Tired but calm, my reflection gazed back at me. My head is just being messed up by a long day. That was all.
Then I noticed it.
A set of eyes in the mirror, observing me.
I whirled around so quickly that I almost tripped.
Nothing.
The room was empty. The curtains on the balcony barely moved.
I took a shaky breath, forcing out a laugh. I whispered to myself, "I'm losing it." "Completely losing it."
Nevertheless, I locked my door and pulled the blanket up to my chin when I eventually got into bed.
With one exception, the morning was typical.
As I sat down for breakfast, my mother asked, "Did you sleep well?"
I paused and prodded my pancakes. "Yes. "Why?"
She gave a shrug. "Last night, you appeared agitated."
I took a swallow. " I'm simply exhausted. It was a tiring job.
She looked at me knowingly. "You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?"
"Of course," I lied.
I wasn’t about to tell her, I thought I saw a ghost in my mirror, "Good morning, Lia!" As I entered the hospital, Aria greeted me.
"Morning," I said, giving her a quick hug. "How’s he?"
"He took a shower a little while ago."
I scowled. "Is this how late he usually wakes up?"
She gave a headshake. "He's up by four; oh no. He simply waits before taking action.
I furrowed my brows. "Discipline."
She grinned. "Exactly."
I took a deep breath and walked over to his room. I knew he wouldn't bother answering, so I knocked twice before opening the door.
"Good morning, Leo—"
I choked on the words.
He held a towel in front of him, exposing his bare chest and muscles that are well-defined, Angular collarbones. Water ran down his toned abdomen. I was malfunctioning, but he looked up, totally unfazed.
My face was getting hot as I swallowed hard, What a fool! I ought to have waited!
I backed up so quickly that I almost fell. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall of the hallway.
I muttered to myself, "Get it together, Lia."
"You're free to enter now."
I recoiled at the calm, deep tone of his voice, I inhaled deeply and entered without looking into his eyes.
"Morning, psychiatrist," he thought.
I sat down and muttered, "Morning."
"Not good?"
He sounded almost playful. He barely acknowledged me yesterday, but he was quite talkative today. Untrustworthy.
I took out some papers and said, "Let's get to it." "Under my supervision, I have permission to let you leave the facility for an hour."
His eyes grew piercing. "Interesting."
I said, "You’re okay with that?"
"I don't have a problem."
Excellent.
His presence loomed behind me as we walked out together. It was...unusual. He seemed to be closely observing me.
When we arrived at the lobby, I watched at the television. There was another murder on the news. My stomach turned over.
Another man was discovered dead, repeatedly stabbed. The victim suffered a severed thumb. What location was the crime scene? My house is only two blocks away.
I felt a chill go through me.
Someone nearby whispered, "Serial killer?"
"Has to be," said a different voice.
I looked over at Leo. He was sitting at a desk, looking at a random poster on the wall while holding a bottle of water.
I wondered for the first time, just who was this man?
He stood up and said, "Ready?"
I gave a nod.
He avoided looking at me as we went outside, His attitude had changed, The news had altered him in some way.
And I suspected I was going to discover why.
- Writer
