Paranoid 4

Chapter 4

Justice

I shook my head at Reggie’s story on how some lady stole my picture. “And you’re sure you didn’t misplace it?” I asked a bit skeptically.

“I am positive. I even looked in the car and around the house. She took that picture.”

I shook my head again, “This is so weird. First someone takes a picture of Grandma and now me! What the hell is really going on?”

“I don’t know babe. But don’t get worried alright. These are just coincidences.”

“Yeah right,” I said with much skepticism. I went into the bedroom and grabbed the basket of laundry. “I’ll be right back.” I said grabbing the keys and walking out of the apartment. I made my way to the elevator and pressed the button and waited patiently. The elevator finally made it to my floor and the door slowly opened. I stepped inside and pressed the key to go to the bottom floor.

Before it could reach the bottom it stopped on the 3^rd floor. The door slid open and revealed a man I never seen before. The building was huge so it wasn’t too surprising. He smiled at me and stepped inside.

I returned the smile and tucked my lips in and let my eyes wander everywhere but the man’s face. The elevator took the longest time to make it to the first floor but it eventually got there. I rushed outside and hurried to the laundry room. I used my keys to unlock it and enter it.

An old woman was folding her clothes. She dropped something on the floor and me being a Good Samaritan I helped her get it. She clenched my wrist and I looked at her crazy.

“Let go lady I was just trying to help!” I said snatching my hand away.

“You’re next!” She warned before snatching all of her belongings and rushing out of the laundry room.

“Fucking lunatic!” I exclaimed in the empty room. I scoffed and approached an available washing machine. I put a few quarters in the slot and set it on the levels that needed be.

I loaded the machine and shut it so that it can do its job. I grabbed the empty basket and the lights began to flicker. I looked confusedly around the room. Someone was standing outside of the window.

I narrowed my eyes trying to get a better look. He then lifted his hand aiming a gun at me. I screamed and hit the floor as he tried to shoot me through the glass. I crawled to the door and twisted the knob and left out of the room. One of the guards came running to where I was. “Ma’am what happened?”

“Someone tried to shoot me through the window in that room!” I blurted pointing to the laundry room. The security grabbed his gun pointing and opened the door and looked around. He observed the shattered window and began to babble on his walkie talkie.

I got off the floor and went to get my basket. My face was streaked with fearful tears. I grabbed my keys off the floor as well and made my way back to my apartment. Before the elevator slid closed I saw the same old lady scolding me as she sat on a bench.