Chapter Four

The next night, Matt decided to drown his growing doubts in alcohol. He went to a bar, with the intention of getting totally plastered. However, he’d only taken one swig from his bottle of Budweiser when he began to feel a little sick. He groaned, slumping down at the bar, his head in his hands. “You got a headache already?” a female voice asked him. “Wow. You can not hold your alcohol…”

Matt looked up at the woman who had appeared next to him. She was pretty, with long golden hair and deep chocolate brown eyes. She was tall, and slim, and she was smiling at him with visible amusement. Matt sighed, “Sorry. I just moved into a new flat and, you know, still getting used to it.”

She groaned lightly as she slid into the seat next to him, “I know how you feel.” She took a sip of what Matt guessed was vodka and coke, “When I first moved into my house, I was so stressed. It got easier though.”

“It better…” he muttered.

*****

“Nice flat…” Reena marvelled later on, stepping in. “You officially have no right to be depressed. Mine was far worse than this.”

Matt shut the door behind them. “Oh, yeah? The living room’s just in there…” He followed her into the room. “So, you want a drink or anyth-?” He was cut off as she pulled him close and kissed him slowly. “Right,” he said breathlessly once she pulled back. “Not sure if I have that…”

She laughed lightly, “I’ll be right back. Where’s the bathroom?”

*****

Five minutes later, she returned, but there was a big change about her. Her eyes were wide and staring, and her face had gone a sickly white colour. “What? Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost…”

She stared at him, her eyes practically bulging out their sockets. “I have to go. I’m sorry.” She pressed her lips to Matt’s for a few seconds, then grabbed her bag and coat and ran out into the hallway. He followed her out just in time to see the door slam shut.

“I hate this house…” Matt muttered venomously to himself. He stared at the closed door for another thirty seconds or so.

A voice broke through his thoughts, “I didn’t want to do that.” Matt turned to the side to stare into the large mirror sitting on the wall. The man was back, and staring at the door, or the best he could while in the mirror. “No-one can stay here. It’s not safe.” He sighed, “She reminded me of my wife… Well, ex-wife now.” He hung his head before turning towards Matt. “I miss her…”

“What happened?” Matt asked him.

“Well, I went missing, didn’t I? She thought I’d been killed, widowed her. Everyone thought that I’d been murdered,” his voice was getting thicker and thicker, and a single tear flowed slightly down his cheek. “I was living here for a few months. Work purposes. Then I got trapped. And the police announced my death, so she came here to clear out my things. She would never let anyone do her job for her. She came into the bathroom, and she wept.”

*****

1996

Tears streamed down her beautiful face, leaving tracks on the flawless surface. She was in pain, it was clear to everyone. Her whole body shook as she leant over the sink, two hands clutching either side of the ceramic bowl to keep herself upright while her stomach churned furiously. “Why did this have to happen?” Her voice echoed in the small room. “Why on Earth did they send you here? I can’t bear the fact that you won’t be here anymore, that I’ve lost you… I don’t want to imagine a life without you. But, give me time. Just give me time. And I’ll try. I know you wouldn’t want me to waste my life, James. And I won’t. I promise you. I love you, and I always will. I just hope you didn’t die in pain. Remember me. I will, you.” She looked up into the mirror with large watery brown eyes, “Goodbye, James.”

*****

2006

“I was listening,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. He looked down to where Matt assumed his feet would be. “I stayed out of sight, but I heard every word. And it broke my heart to see that I’d broken hers. I wanted to touch her. To feel her in my arms once more.” He looked back up at Matt, and the brunette noticed that another solitary tear was working its way down his face. “But I couldn’t. I tried so hard, but I couldn’t. And ten years on, it still kills me inside. I hate myself for what I did to her.”

Matt leaned against the wall, “This is getting more and more like a horror movie…”