I know what I'm running from. Do you?

tap tap tap

    eyes drifted, an tired sigh released into the chilled air.  

                                                                                   tap tap tap  

Zed sat up with a start, vision swarming as her head processed the sound. footsteps. 

A slight panic crepped up her spine. She was alone, left where they had dumped her after the last “session”. She had witnessed many things in her life, demons and what happens when they come in contact with people. Their sessions resembeled those things much more than she imagined with the world “help”. 

That’s what he said he was doing. I’m helping you. he’d say into her ear as he connected tools for currents of elecricity to run through to the sides of her head, a hand running over her hair like she was some pet. 

Zed stood, heavy eyes trained on the picture frame she held in her hands.

 It was a connection she was searching for, one that had come to be second only to breathing. 

The case was of a missing girl, not the first of it’s kind. She had been asked to assist after the third acurrance, which brought her to her current location, surrounded by the belongings of 17 year old Kade Brown. 

A slight frown formed after a full minute, placing the frame down among the others throughout the room. “So much life” she murmered, fingers lingering above it.

The voice didn’t register til the words were repeated.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"You could have been killed! Are you okay?"

"Excuse me but I think you got my order by mistake."

"Do you have siblings? I know someone who looks just like you."

"Here, let me get that for you..."

"Stop staring. It's impolite."

"I'm sorry but have we met before? You look familiar somehow."

"My memory isn't quite what it used to be. Who are you again?"

"Cheesy pickup lines are not going to work on me so don't bother."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't think anyone was behind me. Are you okay?"

"I don't know who you are but you can buzz off."

"I'd really like to be alone right now."

"I appreciate the gesture but I really don't drink..."

"I know I look like someone famous, but I'm not them. Honest."

"Perhaps you have seen my face before? Television. Newspaper. Blog maybe?"

"Sorry about that, my friend's an asshole."

"End of the world sucks, doesn't it?"

"At the risk of sounding cheesy and clichéd, do you want to have a drink?"

"God, I hate this song. Makes me want to stab my ears with a pen."

"Stay away from them. They're bad news."

"Why is it so hard to just find someone nice? That's all I really want."

"Hi. You don't know me but we kinda see each other every day..."