Two Hits

From the kitchen, the familiar sound of the news report reaches my ears once more. I'm puzzled, wondering how does this keep happening? Is my TV broken? I'm drawn into the living room like a moth to a flame. I stare at the screen unblinking. This time the reporter says "In a shocking incident that authorities believe unfolded late Friday night or in the early hours Saturday morning, a brutal murder occurred here at the residence behind me."

My mind wanders away from the TV for a moment to thoughts of my furry companion. A playful image of a cat in my imagination. The gentle purring, the soft fur beneath my fingertips, the cozy warm snuggles together on a lazy afternoon. But suddenly, reality kicks in. I realized I don't have a cat. I just imagined the whole thing because of the drugs. What the fuck? What did I hear earlier?

Abruptly the focus shifts on the TV to a house that catches my eye. I'm struck by the familiarity of the sidewalk lights. The bushes lining the pathway look exactly like mine, neatly pruned, mirroring mine in every way. I'm astonished how similar it all is, the front porch and everything. And then it hits me—this is my house! Time stands still as I struggle to comprehend the shocking truth: I'm staring at my own home. Wait, did she say murder?

"Holy shit!" My eyes widen in sheer disbelief, my whole body going cold, the blood draining from my face. My heart stops, or at least it feels like it does, a sudden lurch in my chest that makes me gasp. Wham! A sudden and powerful blow, swift as lightning, shatters the back of my skull with the force of a freight train. The pain is immediate and overwhelming, a white-hot explosion that spreads through my entire head, my entire body. I find myself sprawled on the rug, searing agony pulsating in the back of my head and radiating through my entire body. Every nerve is on fire, every muscle screaming, and I can feel the impact reverberating through my bones. A trickle of blood escapes from my nose and mouth, warm and metallic, and I can taste it, can feel it running down my chin. My vision is blurring, dark spots appearing at the edges, and I can't think, can't process what's happening. I strain against the floor, my muscles flexing in a desperate attempt to get up, but I can't. My body won't respond, won't obey, and the effort makes the pain worse, makes my head throb with each heartbeat. Immobilized, my body is a captive prisoner to an unforgiving destiny. The fear is overwhelming now, a terror so complete it eclipses everything else.

Silently advancing from the shadows behind, a presence looms over me. With each deliberate step, the weight of darkness intensifies, suffocating the air around me. Slowly creeping into view, I see one black boot step over me, followed by a second. Laces already undone. A chilling realization creeps into my fractured mind as I glimpse my own darkened blood trickling from the end of an aluminum bat. I turn my eyes up and see my beloved friend staring menacingly down at me, his face contorted into a portrait of pure evil.

"Quincy?" I manage to choke out, my voice strained and weak, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

He looks at me, his eyes black, devoid of any humanity. "Call me Azrael," he hisses, his voice dripping with malice. "The angel of death!" He looks like he's completely psychotic.

Confusion and pain overwhelm me as I struggle to understand. My mind is unable to process what's happening, unable to make sense of it. "But why?" I wheeze, each breath labored and agonizing, my lungs burning, my throat raw. I can feel my strength draining away with every second. Coughing up blood, I see crimson stains spreading on the rug around me. The blood is warm, sticky, and there's so much of it, more than I thought possible. My rug. My blood. My death. The realization hits me with a fresh wave of terror, and I can feel my body going into shock, my limbs getting colder, my vision getting darker. My whole body is trembling, shaking uncontrollably, and I can't stop it, can't control it. The pain is everywhere now, in my head, in my body, in my soul, and I want to scream.

His face is a mixture of anguish and rage. "Because I loved her!" he bellows, his voice echoing through the room. "And you stole her from me! We were supposed to get married and you ruined everything! Now you're going to suffer! The way you made me suffer!"

His eyes, once filled with warmth and friendship are now coals burning with murderous rage. He paces back and forth, the anticipation of inflicting pain evident in his every movement. He struggles to catch his breath, his emotions spiraling out of control. But the calculation is still there. This isn't a crime of passion. This is a crime of planning. This is a crime of patience.

I glance at the television. The reporter's voice reaches my ears, painting a picture of fear and danger. "As of now, the suspect remains at large, heightening concerns within the community and leaving residents on high alert."

A surge of hope courses through me. I turn to Quincy, my eyes wide with terror. "Can't you see? They're onto you! They know what you've done!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he spits, his voice laced with contempt.

Gasping for air, trembling, I stammer out my words. "The TV... the news report," I manage to utter, my lips quivering uncontrollably.

"There's nothing on the TV you fucking idiot!"

And then it dawns on me, a shard of clarity through all the chaos. I had seen the future. A glimpse of what was to come through a tear in the fabric of time. The news report was a clue into the horror that awaited me. But it wasn't just a clue. It was a warning. A warning I didn't understand. A warning I couldn't understand. A warning that came too late.

My words are fragile and shaky. "Please, Quincy, don't do this." I implore. A last-ditch effort to appeal to his dormant sense of compassion. "We were friends, weren't we? Please, just call an ambulance. I won't tell anyone it was you."

"I SAID CALL ME AZRAEL!" he roars, the veins bulging in his forehead. "You think you're so much better than me don't you? You think I'm just some piece of trash? With your nice house and your fancy job! FUCK YOU! You think you're so fucking smart huh? Not so smart now are you? You worthless piece of shit! She never loved you!!! She would never love someone like you!!!"

His hateful words pierce me right through the heart. The weight of his words crash down upon me, as his anguished cries reverberate in the air. "She would still be with me if it wasn't for you!!! I HATE YOU!!!"

The laces once innocently undone, now symbolize the unraveling sanity of a psychopathic mind. My treacherous friend steps over me, a harbinger of my impending doom. With a chilling resolve, he raises the bat high above his head, gripping it tightly with both hands. The moment frozen in time as the demons within him take hold.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I shout, my hand outstretched towards my only friend.

Wham!

The world explodes in pain and darkness. The last thing I see is his face, contorted in rage and satisfaction. The last thing I hear is the sound of the bat connecting with my skull. The last thing I feel is the cold of the floor beneath me, the warmth of my own blood spreading around me.

The second hit. The final hit. The hit that ends everything.

Two hits.

Breaking News: Homicide Sends Shockwaves Through Community

In a shocking incident that authorities believe unfolded late Friday night or in the early hours Saturday morning, a brutal murder occurred here at the residence behind me. The victim, a young man whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was mercilessly bludgeoned to death with a blunt object.

The grim discovery was made after the victim failed to report to work on Monday morning, prompting concerned colleagues to contact the authorities. Detectives swiftly launched an intensive investigation, revealing a disturbing absence of any viable clues.

In the wake of this heart-wrenching incident, our community mourns a profound and tragic loss. The impact of this devastating event reverberates through the hearts of many, leaving a void that words fail to adequately express. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to those affected by this unfathomable tragedy.

Law enforcement agencies are currently faced with the challenging task of unraveling this heinous crime and bringing the perpetrator to justice. As of now, the suspect remains at large, heightening concerns within the community and leaving residents on high alert.

In this critical time, we implore the public to come forward with any information that could aid in identifying and apprehending the individual responsible for this senseless act. We urge you to act as the eyes and ears of our community by sharing any details, regardless of how insignificant they may seem with your local police department. The authorities assure us that all information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

As the community grapples with this tragedy and the presence of a dangerous individual, it is crucial that we stand together in unity and resolve. The pursuit of justice for the victim is a collective responsibility, and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of one another. As this investigation unfolds, we will continue to keep you updated with any further developments.