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Unable to look at her any longer, René gazed at the oak trees outside his window. With the red horizon in the back, nature had become a work of art. And yet, it made him feel gloomy. Why couldn’t she notice him earlier? Why couldn’t she spot his attentive stare?
He jumped out of his skin when he suddenly felt something against him. His girlfriend tucked at his jumper. He could see her mouth moving, but couldn’t set himself into motion. It must have pissed her off, since she reached for his BlackBerry and unplugged his earphones.
“Why are you being so distant, René?”
“Just enjoy the ride.”
Once again, he looked out of the window, not willing to waste his precious time. Blue streaks emerged in the evening sky.
A white rect appeared in the window, ruining his view. He looked to the side. Cynthia had started a vlog and her fans were loathing him. He gritted his teeth, shrinking slightly in his chair. He couldn’t take this any more.
“Hypocrite,” he whispered into her ear and pushed his lips to her temple while pressing the button, the silence broken by the ringing bell.
She stood up, trembling with fright. He had made her miserable. His affection seen by the crowd worked in his favour, winning this play of chess. Still, he felt irritated. Why must everyone know every single thing about their relationship?
He furrowed his eyebrow and a frown appeared on his face. The bus passed the stop in the blink of an eye. So, René walked to the driver at a fast pace. “Sir, could you kindly let us get off at the upcoming stop?”
No reply. He repeated himself. The driver looked up, into his eyes, and grimaced like a Cheshire cat would. Everything about this bus driver’s behaviour felt offbeat.
“Renééé.”
Dammit, what is it this time?
He seated himself back into a seat, still distancing himself from her. He became more agitated as her iPhones camera filmed him. Again. She sneered, “The bus driver didn’t summon the name of our bus-stop.”
“So… what if I wanted dinner ‘with’ you?” He brushed off, shrugging his shoulders.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
He kept quiet. Being able to attend yoga classes was the only thing that kept him going, both knew that.
Cynthia didn’t stop there, “You know? It is odd. Lately, you've been avoiding me constantly.”
A bleak smile, as icy as a blizzard, appeared on his face. “My phone is in your hand.”
That expression had put her on edge. She turned around, starting to talk to her phone. He didn’t give a damn. She lusted for attention, even if it wasn’t his. Nonetheless, he would gladly overdose her with drama.
The night sky finally appeared. The bus had just passed the cemetery and drove into a gloomy town, no light emitting the streets.
The bus halted abruptly, and the couple rose coincidently. They walked sluggishly to the entrance, for it was the only door that was opened. René had reached the entrance with ease, but heard his girlfriend weeping for support. He hesitated for a second. Should he turn around or leave her behind?
“Aarrgghh!”
He ran to her, but the door had already closed, the bus moving forward once again. He pushed into the chair, touching his cold shoulders. It was like her skin was slowly turning into ice. He took off his jumper and shoved it in her hands.
René strode to the bus driver, determined to obtain knowledge about their location. The driver talked gibberish. René had to keep his fury in control. He spoke a mantra aloud: “I am angry, but my anger isn’t me…”
It went on and on until he finally calmed down, returning to Cynthia. “Dial 112. That psycho won’t drop us off.”
“Oh, my phone. It is dead?”
“Sigh, use mine.”
“Also dead.”
“Impossible! Hand it over!!” He was greeted by the black screen on his phone. He cursed. Not only that, but he could have sworn he had charged it before they left.
He heard the button being pushed in, “I told you tha-”
“It wasn’t me,” she interrupted in panic.
Aside from them, there was no one on the bus. His eyes widened as he mentally played the scenario backwards. The cold. The murmur. The dead phones. It all happened the moment they entered this town. Before his eyes, there was another world. The world of the ones that crossed the border. René saw them resting in their seats or standing. Some flew inside, others left the bus. Some good, others bad.
He stiffened at the sight of Cynthia. Ten entities circled around her, digging their teeth into flesh in delight. “Are you in pain?”
She nodded while rubbing her hands over the spots where the creatures were having a feast. It made him feel nauseous, and he got up, not wanting to wait and waste a second longer.
With a strong grip, he snatched the driver from his chair. The bus turned dangerously because of it. He seated himself in the driver’s chair and fled the city. Underneath a street light, he jammed in the break. The nightmare was nearing its end.
He grabbed the hammer from its safety lock and swung it with all his might. The glass broke and fell on the ground. Cynthia was the first one to get off, but she had dropped her strip ticket. René picked it, wanting to return it to its rightful owner but felt the world spin.
He lay on the floor, glass cutting his back. His voice was weak, “Why?”
“You would destroy me. Ruin my life!” She stood above him and pushed her screen in his face, showing him his screen captured notes. He didn’t even have to read it. Her intentions. Her obsessions. The ten guys she slept with while being with him. He knew all she had done.
“I banish you from my life.” When he had uttered those words it felt like the chains had broken, the curse lifted.
She dug her feet into his chest, “I don’t think so. You’ll die and none will know what happened.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Ahahahah.” He couldn’t stop laughing, making him look like a maniac. Finally, she figured out why he split his sides. With courage, she turned her phone, which pinged unceasingly. The girl who lived for the catbird seat saw it and he knew it.
The vlog was still recording.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
