Autopsy of a Mind

Chapter 85: Foolishly Hoping

"She got a new target and left school. Don't know where she went," he shrugged. That was it? That was the end of the story? "What, did you expect some form of passionate confession or her stalking me? It didn't go that far because I grabbed the opportunity and made her go away." He rolled his eyes.

"Obsession is a complex thing. You never know." I shrugged. "You make it sound like you killed her and buried her." I had to laugh.

"Well, most people would think the same. But there is nothing called a perfect crime. Even I couldn't pull it off. Someone or the other would find out how everything happened and I wouldn't be free. I don't have those instincts."

"Yes, you're above human instincts and too pretty for jail. Got it." He shook his head and smiled as he watched me laugh to my heart's content.

"It's clearly getting too late for you to think clearly." He shook his head. "You should go to sleep soon," he looked down at his watch. "If you start now, your ritual will be over in time for you to sleep."

"So this is why you made me watch these videos?" I asked, amused. 

"Why would you think that? This is a high priority case. Of course, you need to be in the loop. I'm just here in time to monitor you." What a straight reply. 

"Well, we've finished watching the videos so you can go home," I admonished. 

Sebastian's mouth slung down in a frown. "Isn't it more productive if I stay? Dr Knight asked someone to accompany you and you don't know anyone else from me. Moreover, I already brought Sheng Sheng over and she is asleep." He pointed towards his cat. 

Knowing that it was a lost cause, I shook my head. "You as you will." I got up from the ground and sauntered towards my bedroom. Picking out the clothes I wanted, I placed them in the bathroom. 

"Make sure to take a proper cold shower! Your body temperature needs to be low to facilitate better sleep!"

What a nag. 

I showered slowly and remembered to towel my body dry. It was getting chillier outside and I didn't want to catch a cold. I put on my night clothes, very different from my usual clothes and walked out with the towel in my hair. 

Sebastian peered at me curiously and then stood stumped. 

"This is not what you wear usually," he protested. I was wearing a tank top and really short shorts.

"This is what I usually wear to bed. If it's too scandalous for you, it can't be helped. I feel comfortable in this." Sebastian sighed in resignation. 

"Well, your comfort is important."

"Did you bring any clothes that you want to change into?" I asked. He wasn't wearing clothes fit to sleep in. 

"I'll just wear this," he said as he looked down at his clothes. 

"That won't do. You'll make me uncomfortable." I walked over to my wardrobe and pulled out a pair of pajamas I had bought and never worn because they were too big on me. It would be Sebastian's size. 

I handed it to him and he squinted. "This is not your size," he commented. I rolled my eyes. 

"Yes, it's for you. Go." I wanted to push him but he remained rooted to his spot.

"Do you bring people over to your place? That is not safe!" I didn't need to explain. 

"I'll eventually bring people over, so why not start now." The horror on his face was amusing to say the least. I motioned him forward and he moved with much protest. When he came out, I had to chuckle. 

The pink color and cherry prints brought out his features. He looked unbothered by his feminine clothes. Someone unconcerned with sociological pressures could do a lot of things without thinking. But he seemed to be in a better mood. 

"So you'll be bringing girls over," he said with a smile. 

"And what makes you think that?" I asked. He pulled at the hem of the clothes in answer.

"No other man would wear this because it would hurt their fragile masculinity." He shrugged. 

"You're so severe on your own sex." I chuckled. 

He shrugged. "Well, it's herd psychology. I am not being prejudiced here."

"Well, I need to prepare to sleep, so." She shooed him away. I went about my skincare routine, something I had started seriously recently. He watched in rapt attention.

He walked over to me once I was done and picked me up by the shoulders. He pulled me towards the bed and pushed me down. It took him a couple of minutes to tuck me into bed and then went towards the light switches to figure out how dark the room needed to be. 

After switching on a blue nightlight, he settled in beside me. His phone was nearby, so he opened an application and soon a podcast came on. It was a woman with a beautiful voice talking about literature and playing songs. 

I turned to look at his face. He was staring at the ceiling, not moving from his mummy-like position. In the dimness of the room, I found my heart starting to pound. I couldn't think about the man who lay beside me because the monsters were finally coming out. They seemed to lurk in the shadows, waiting for him to fall asleep before they crept out and swallowed me. 

Sebastian fell asleep shortly after the podcast ended, leaving me in the room... alone and awake. His steady breathing was overshadowed by the faint shuffling of feet in the distance and the darkness moving before my eyes. I screwed my eyes shut and counted sheep to hopefully fall asleep but it didn't help. 

I heard a breathing close to my ear and my eyes flew open. There was no one there. When I looked in the distance, I saw a shadow lurking near the door, it's form reaching over the door and hunching down as if looking at me. I tried my best to stop breathing, foolishly hoping that it would think I was asleep and not hurt me.