Page 39 of Framed Obsession

“You like it? I installed this new system that has facial recognition, so I can click a button to open the door if I know who it is. And if I want to let them in.” His eyebrows rise and fall a few times, with an ear to ear grin. I shake my head, acting like I'm impressed. He's extra, and he knows it.

“Guys like you don't understand the complexity of things like this. Plus, I built it myself,” he says, feeling accomplished. The smile drops from his face as I just stand there, not saying anything. He waves his hand in my direction.

“Do you have some info for me or not? I’m not here to talk about doors.” I push, knowing damn well he has something to help with our ongoing investigation. He rushes to his desk, quickly sitting on the cushioned chair behind it.

“Well, you remember the mask he was wearing, right? And I told you that only three stores had that specific type in stock?” I gesture with my hand for him to continue.

“It was the store located closer to town. It was purchased at the one near D’s house. I hacked the system to trace purchases made and kept an eye out for that mask in particular. Turns out no one has bought that mask in months. The last one sold was the same day D was attacked,” he continues.

“Do you think it was premeditated planning? Or do you think it was a spur-of-the-moment thing?” I ask. I’m glad he was able to narrow down the purchases, but I definitely wasn't expecting that the mask was purchased the same day of the attack. I would assume it would have been thought out, with how we couldn't find a trace of him. Speaking from experience, of course, but that doesn't make it any better.

If it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, it may be harder to find the person. If it was planned, that doesn’t make it any fucking better, due to it potentially being someone she knows. The fact that she could have been stalked while I was stalking her makes me feel more protective of her. How could I not have noticed?

“I’m not sure. I do know that he was driving a red SUV. I traced the cameras back to that day and watched. His face was well hidden. He wore a hood that covered him well, so I couldn't get a look at his face, unfortunately.”

“Were you able to trace his car to the next place, or before that?”

“I tried. He kept going beneath underpasses and back roads where there are limited cameras. He was driving in all directions. It was like he knew he was being wat—”

Searing pain ripples through me, and I collapse on the floor. The tightness in my chest constricts me. I struggle to take a full breath in. I can see Zane’s figure over me. It's a black blur, almost like an apparition. My hands clutch at my chest, the pain feeling like a hundred knives.

“Why can’t you just be normal?” she says.

Everything goes quiet. Tears begin to pool. I’m fucking tired of this. My body slumps to the floor. I curl in on myself, pulling my knees into my chest and banging my head against my kneecaps.

I don't know how to be normal.

I don't know how to be normal.

I don't know how to be normal.

I don't know how to be normal.

My vision clears. The wind from the ceiling fan hitting my face. I stare at the rotating panels. Round and round and round. Zane’s face pops in front, interrupting.

“Bro, what the fuck? Are you okay?” he asks. My head is hazy, causing me to rub by hand against my temple. No fucking way I had a flashback here. Zane doesn’t know about them. No one needs to fucking know about them, besides the angel who will help me fix them.

“Hmm? Yeah, no. I’m fine.” I push myself up into a sitting position, instantly feeling the throbbing in my skull. My face clenches with pain. I hate the headaches that come with them. Who would've known flashbacks came with extra side effects.

“You sure? You kept mumbling, ‘I don’t know how to be normal’ over and over,” he says with eyes boring into mine. The thought of telling him what’s been going on with me makes me want to jump off a fucking cliff. If I can get these episodes under control before then, there won’t be a need for a ruckus.

“Yeah, no. I’m good. I’ve just been a little stressed,” I say, avoiding the truth. He gives me a nod, and I can tell he’s not buying it, but I couldn't give a shit about what he thinks. There are more important things to deal with right now.

“So, you said he knew he was being watched?” I question. The thought alone makes me want to break every bone in that fuckers body. Does he know about me? Has he watched me with her?

“It seems that way. I mean, we don’t know for sure… yet.” He eyes me up and down, concern still in the air like a fucking plague. Personally, I don’t like people in my business, let alone their pity. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Red SUV. Got it. And, uh, thank you,” I grit, hating the sentimental words. His eyes shoot up.

“Umm, yeah. I owe you, remember?” he says awkwardly. Both of us are uncomfortable with feelings. It’s what makes our friendship work. A toxic, dysfunctional, unstable relationship that is. I eye him, wondering if he's just as damaged as I am.

“Yeah, you do. Forever, dipshit.”

Chapter 30

The Flower

Creature In The Black Night - Dayseeker