He’d burnt the sheets, but he hadn’t been able to get the blood stains out of the mattress. Why had he gone so crazy when she hadn’t connected? It was bad enough that he’d been wrong, but there was no reason for him to have torn into her body the way he had.

Except uncontrollable rage.

And he was still angry, because now he had another body to dispose of.

He’d have to move on, try and make a new connection, but this was the second time he’d got it wrong, the second mistake. Maybe Chloe was right, he’d lost it. Is that what happened? You only lasted so long and then your judgement went, and what of the rest of his talents, would they fade too?

Would he still be able to connect with the others? See things through their eyes, visit the places they were in without leaving his own space?

Would all that fade away?

So many questions rattled around his mind, but he had no answers; only the frustration of not knowing.

And the fear of failure.

He had what remained of Shannon’s body wrapped up in a plastic sheet, and taped around the edges so the blood wouldn’t seep out, not that there was much blood left now, most of it had soaked into the bed.

But still he had the problem of how to dispose of her safely and without being seen.

It was one thing to have killed Jeff, but he’d had the van to put his body in, and had been able to get rid of him unseen. Shannon was a different matter.

How did he get such a large bundle out of a guest room without being seen?

He should contact the others for help, he had last time, it had been sorted out quickly and quietly, but he couldn’t face telling them of his second failure. He would have to do it himself.

The only option seemed to be cutting her up and putting her into smaller bags and disposing of her piece by piece.

It wasn’t’ the thought of it that worried him, but still the fact of being caught.

Alex travelled five miles to another town to visit a DIY shop. It didn’t take him long to collect saws, strong ‘builders refuse’ plastic sacks, and some extra wide tape. Then another half hour to find a sports shop to buy a large holdall.

All the time he worried somehow the body would be discovered squashed in the wardrobe of his room.

There was nowhere else he could have put her.

Driving back to the guest house he heard Chloe in his head.

"Ready or not Alex."

"No, Chloe. Driving."

Heard her laughter. "Well I did say I’d get you back when you least expected it."

"Yes, well not in a dangerous situation like this Chloe,"

His eyes were on the road ahead, the dual carriageway was busy with holiday traffic but now his thoughts belonged to Chloe, and he needed her to go, before she found out what he’d done, how he had failed again. And if he mind talked for too long she would see, see right inside his head, right into his most private thoughts.

It wouldn’t take her long.

He tried to distract her. "Why do you want me anyway? I thought you were in love with your new conquest?"

A Jaguar cut in a little sharply in front of him, he had to touch the brakes a little, and swore under his breath.

"What’s that Alex? Swearing at me now?" her laughter again, tinkling in his mind, tracing though his nerves.

"Stupid motorist," he said out loud.

‘I see’

He could see her now, in her bedroom, alone.

The Jaguar pulled out again, itching to overtake the next car ahead of them.

And if he could see her, she could see him, in a few more minutes she could reach in wherever she wanted to, he tried not to think of Shannon, but in trying not to of course; he did.

And opened the window to let Chloe in.

‘Alex!’

Too late.

‘What have you done? You killed her, you got it wrong again.’

The last thing he’d wanted, now she’d tell everyone else, she had to.

‘Yes all right, I got it wrong again, I’m slipping, losing it, whatever else you want to call it.’ Why now? Why had she had to contact him now? A few more hours and he’d have cleaned up his own mess without anyone being the wiser.

‘No you wouldn’t.’

She’d taken the thoughts from him, he could hide nothing now.

And then she surprised him.

‘It’s okay Alex, I’m in England now, I’ll come and help you sort it out. I won’t tell the others.’

He saw the Jag pullout again and speed up the carriageway, overtaking the caravan that had been slowing him down. The sun flashed of the gleaming black paint-work.

But Alex felt anger at himself for his failure, and even more anger that Chloe now knew.

‘You have to tell them Chloe, you know you do. It’s the rule. We must tell our failures.’

‘You weren’t going to tell though were you Alex? You were going to get rid of her and keep quiet, hoping you wouldn’t be found out.’

He felt her digging around inside him, searching for his secrets.

‘Christ Alex, you shoved her in the wardrobe?’

‘Yes, where else could I put her?’

He felt her amusement, and despite her offer of help he wanted to hit out at her, and he could, but he remembered it was Chloe.

He could never hurt her.

The traffic slowed, something up ahead was causing a jam, and Alex slowed with it, though it frustrated him. He had to get back and deal with Shannon’s body, he wouldn’t feel safe until it was out of the way.

‘I’m coming to you Alex, I think it will take me around two hours. Don’t move her until I reach you.’

He was grateful for her concern, she was breaking one of the most important rules to help him, but he wondered if she was doing the right thing. Shouldn’t he tell the group? Maybe something could be done to help him.

At the rate this traffic was moving, she’d reach the guest house before he did himself.

As he slowed down further, he grew more frustrated. More angry with himself.

‘Calm down Alex,’ she whispered.

But he couldn’t calm down, the traffic delays combined with his ‘mistake’ and also Chloe finding out about the ‘mistake’ had all fuelled his frustrations, he yelled at the car in front, screaming at it to move.

‘Alex no, sit tight, I’ll be there soon.’

He knew she was right, but he couldn’t do it, couldn’t stay calm.

The traffic came to a dead halt.

Alex hit the steering wheel so hard with his fist that he dented the upper curve. He felt nothing from the bruise that started to form on his knuckles.

And he knew it was dangerous to feel this angry….knew what could happen…    

But sudden fear struck into his nerves…something was warning him.

He had to get back to the guest house, and soon, the body in the wardrobe was moving…

"Alex what’s happening?" He heard the alarm in Chloe’s voice, she sensed it too.

He couldn’t hide the panic in his own voice, in his thoughts. "I don’t know Chloe, but if you can get there before me, be careful, be very careful."

"She’s not dead Alex, she’s not dead!"

He knew it.. but she should be dead, had been dead.

He hit his head on the steering wheel in frustration.

He had to get back.

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