The Flat by Ian C Black

As I cleaned my teeth I started to choke. It was not that the toothpaste tasted any different or that I had inhaled inappropriately. It wasn’t even that the toothpaste had been poisoned. But, as I drew back the shower curtain, toothbrush in mouth. There was the lifeless body of a man in my bath.

Choking fit controlled. I regained a small element of composure. Whilst ninety percent of my mind was in turmoil I managed to summon what I could for conscious thought.

Actions flashed through this small, controlled part of my mind.
‘Get Help! Ambulance – no too late, Police.’ Before I could do anything I became aware of a loud shrieking noise – it appeared to be in the flat – this made it more difficult to concentrate. What should I do? Is the killer still here? Did I kill him?

Now there was a pounding as well. Is it in my head, or in the flat? Am I going mad? I have to think, decide what to do.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain over one side of my face, it reverberated through the cavities like a captive explosion. And there in front of me was a man. He had hit me. Is he going to kill me? Before I could panic I recognised him. It is Rick from next door, and there is Suzy just behind him.
“What's wrong, Jenny!” demanded Rick.
“You've been screaming for ages!” Suzy exclaimed.
“I had to kick your door in.” continued Rick
“You wouldn't answer, just kept screaming.” added Suzy.
What is going on, I couldn’t understand, so much being said at once. At least the shrieking and pounding had stopped.

I just sat looking ahead, Rick and Suzy were in sight and continuing to speak, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. They both seemed quite worked up. Have they seen the body too? Do they think I had done it? Have they called the police? My mind began to race once again, I had to decide what to do. Stop Rick and Suzy from calling the police.
“No....Police” I could hear myself saying. Rick moved closer to me. Is he the killer? Are they both involved? Is he going to kill me too?
“What did you say, I didn’t catch it?” Rick asked.
“No.....P..P..Police” I spluttered out.
“No, no, there was no-one else outside. I don’t think anyone has called the police.” Rick replied
“You don’t want to worry about them, just tell us what is wrong” Suzy said as she moved towards me and sat down beside me.
My mind was still in turmoil and I could barely maintain adequate conscious thought. As I tried to decide what to do next, I heard my voice once again.
“B... Bo.. Body!” it stuttered.
“I don’t understand, what did you say?” asked Rick
“Body..! Body..! BODY!” I was shouting now.
“What body, where?” Rick shouted back trying to get some sense out of me.
“Don’t shout.” said Suzy “What body, where?” she continued to me in a calming soft voice.
“Body... Bath... Bath!” I replied a little calmer now.
“What! You’ve got a body in your bath!” exclaimed Rick and I felt Suzy physically move back as she sat in the reassuring position at my side.

Rick went to check out the bathroom, Suzy regained her composure and a put reassuring arm moved around my shoulders. But Suzy could not keep still, her arm kept bumping against me. She moved closer.
“Calm down! You are shaking terribly.” said Suzy reassuringly, if a little concerned. My whole body was shaking, I realised this now. But I couldn't stop it.

Rick returned from the Bathroom. He moved in front of me, quite close.
“There’s nothing in your bath. There is no body or anything else.”
This could not be. I had seen it as clear and real as anything. What had happened to the body? I couldn't understand this. Rick had hold of my shoulders now and he was shaking me. He was trying to kill me.

I tried to get away from him. But he was too strong. I could hear him speaking, but couldn't understand what he was saying. Suzy was talking as well. Then, Rick let go of my shoulders and Suzy was in front of me. She was smiling and speaking calmly.
“Calm down, you were becoming hysterical again. Just sit still and calm down.” Suzy said something to Rick that I couldn’t hear. Rick turned and went out of sight.
“Where... Rick... Where..?” I tried to ask.
“Calm down” Suzy replied reassuringly “Rick has gone to get the doctor, you need to calm down; there's nothing to be frightened of.”
Suzy, helped me to sit down; I wasn’t aware I had stood up, but I must have.

Rick returned and spoke to Suzy; who then turned to me and spoke calmly right in front of my face.
“The doctor will be here soon, he’ll help you to calm down, there is nothing to be frightened of.”
What were they talking about; there was a body in her bath. Rick could not see it. He must be mad or blind. No, it was him; and Suzy. They killed the man and put him in my bath. I could be next.

Suddenly, Suzy was holding me by the arm. Rick rushed forwards and grabbed me. I knew this was it; they are going to kill me. I have to get away.

Again a loud shrieking noise was stopping me thinking clearly.
“Calm down and stop screaming” Suzy was shouting at me. I regained some awareness and realised I was on the floor some distance from the settee where I had been sitting. Both Rick and Suzy were on the floor with me. They had dragged me here. They are going to kill me.

Suzy was in front of me again, looking very distressed.
“Please calm down, relax. There is nothing here to harm you. You will be alright. The doctor will be here soon.”
I sat on the floor. Suzy sat with me and Rick went out of the room. I tried to think what I should do. I want to live. Are they going to kill me? I know Rick and Suzy. They are friends. They would not harm me. I feel calmer now; I can hear Rick calling. Suzy replied, but I still don’t understand what they were saying.

We sat calmly for some time. Then Rick returned, with another man. This was it. They are going to kill me. The man came over to me. He had a bag with him. What did it contain? How was he going to kill me? I must fight him off. Suzy was still next to me, arm around me, stopping me getting away.

Then they were at me. First Suzy, then the other man, then Rick; all grabbing at me and holding me down. Suzy was in front of me with a smile on her face. She was enjoying being in at the kill.
“Calm down” said Suzy “This is the doctor. He has come to help you.”

I looked around. I had moved across the room and was now sitting on the settee again. Suzy was in front of me. The doctor and Rick had moved away a little. Slowly, the doctor moved towards me. He spoke slowly and calmly.
“You just relax and take some deep breaths. Rick and Suzy tell me you have had a bit of a fright. I'm going to give you something to calm you down and then we can help you to get better.” I tried to move away to the other end of the settee, but found Suzy had sat down and she was tight against me. I turned to look at Suzy, who smiled reassuringly. Suzy was in on it. I was in danger. I had to get away.

The sudden sharp pain in my arm is followed quickly by a sense of calmness. I am only just aware of Suzy sitting next to me. I have to lie down. I feel very tired. I can’t get up. I am dying. I just lay here aware of voices and people moving around.

Someone was talking to me. There were two of them and they were sitting me up. I wanted to lie down and rest. I was being moved to another chair and the chair was moving through the room. It was floating. Was I dead and floating off? I don't know or care.

As I moved away, I heard voices. I recognised Suzy and Rick. The other voice must have been the other man.
“Will she be alright?” Suzy asked
“Given time.” replied the other voice.
“This flat must be jinxed” I heard Rick say “No one has been able to live here since that suicide four years ago”
“Strange.” said Suzy “He killed himself in the bath, didn’t he?

© August 2018