Criminal

Criminal

#reedsysecrets

Dear Diary,

"I just stole a million dollars from a bank today

It was probably the best heist of my life!

Now, I can finally buy that mansion I’ve always wanted to buy and the X-Box for my son’s birthday that I forgot four months ago. Yes! This was the day! Today was a good pay day”

Sincerely-“

Step...step...step…

What was that?

Step…step…step…

Probably my imagination.

I walked through my house, but everywhere I went, I heard extra footsteps.

I ran faster, so did they.

I tiptoed. They would too.

I placed my pen down on my expensive rug and turned around, but there was no one there.

I went to my kitchen to grab some champagne and a cigarette, but the footsteps were still there, pounding in my mind. Or do I thought.

Step...step...step…

Step…step…step…

STEP…STEP…STEP!

I was angry at this point, but also anxious. Maybe it was a hit man or a cop? Or maybe it was a friend who came to congratulate me?

Nevertheless, I yelled, “Who are you?!”

I was left with an echo and it felt like my consciousness was asking the same thing.

Then, I saw it. A figure that stared at me with its red, glowing eyes. It looked like a person, but it's entire body was shrouded in darkness (despite the light being on), and its hair looked like old straw.

It’s eyes stares into my soul and it spoke in an ominous, echoey voice. "Mere mortal....you can never run away from me..."

"Who are you?" I yelled. “What kinda joke is this? You trynna cheat me out on my pay day?”

"You may call me Guilt" it replied.

I scoffed. "Yeah, right. What kinda name is that?”

Guilt took out his cigarette and smoked it. "Anything can be anything," he replied simply. "It depends on how you portray it and what you experience."

I clicked my tongue and stared into his eyes. "Look. I don’t know who you are, but you need to leave, sir. Cause I ain’t got time to deal with people like you.”

Guilt crossed his arms. "And pray tell, what kind of person am I?”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s an easy one. You’re one of them teenage pranksters that come here every night trying to steal my well-deserved loot.”

Guilt clicked his tongue. “Well-deserved? And why do you deserve it, hm? Why do you deserve it more than some homeless dude on the street or some broke guy that can’t catch a break?”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Because I’m a father. I take great care of my son and my wife. I’m a real good person.”

Guilt went silent before he spoke up again. “And did you ever have any financial struggles?”

….

“No,” I replied.

Guilt kept interrogating me. “And did you ever consider donating that money or giving it away to anyone?”

I clicked my tongue. “Hey, it ain’t my fault they aren’t as fortunate as me. I mean, just about anyone can rob a bank if they got enough skill.”

Guilt sighed and smoked his own cigarette, except his had blue and golden smoke coming out of it. “And what if they don’t want to?”

I shrugged. “Not my problem. By the way, can I get one of those cigarettes?”

Guilt shook his head, but for a different reason than I expected. “You know these things be giving people cancer, right?”

…”That ain’t true,” I replied. I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. Smoking’s been a habit of mine since I graduated from high school back in 1989. What could I say? It was addicting, it relieved stress, and it was what all the cool cats were doing and still do today.

Despite his wishes against it, Guilt handed me one of his cigarettes and I smoked it with all my might. Then, something happened. I was no longer in my beautiful mansion, but I was instead in a dark forest wearing a drab black cloak that covered my entire body.

“What kinda nonsense is this?” I bellowed.

No answer. I rolled my eyes and walked through the shady forest that looked straight out of an old horror movie. Everything was black and gray. Even the sky, which had no stars or moon.

“Hello? Hello?” I called out.

Step…step…step…

Step…step…step…

Step…step…crunch!

I heard a tree branch behind me break and I turned to see what, or who it was. I saw a black figure that looked exactly like Guilt, except it was a woman..and she had an axe.

“Here to chop some trees?” I offered.

Step…step…step…

She walked closer to me and I backed away.

“Who are you?” I asked. “Guilt’s wife?”

The woman lowered her axe and spoke in a voice that reminded me of a siren.

“You killed me…” she said in a ghostly voice.

“What?” I replied.

The woman came closer and I saw her bank uniform, freckles, brown hair, and brown eyes. Huh. Almost looks like my wife. Though, I didn’t recognize her.

“I still don’t know who you are,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

The ghost woman stared into my soul and reached out an arm, like she was trying to take me with her into the afterlife.

“The bank…I worked there…before you shot me…with that gun…”

My memory went blank. I only remember stealing the gold and running from the cops.

“Oh…you worked there?” I said with a guilt smile. “Well…sorry. Had to be done.”

The woman looked shocked. “Sorry?! That’s all you can say?”

I shrugged. “What do you want me to say?”

The woman’s voice became aggressive. “I had a wife and kids and you just mercilessly killed me? And for what?! Money?’ Is that all that matters to you?!”

“And my wife. And son.” I replied with a sheepish smile. “See? Imma good person.”

The woman went silent before she screamed. “You are foolish!”

She flew after me and I ran for my life. Quite literally. The farther I ran, the more I heard footsteps approach me.

Step…step…step…

After I went inside a tall building, I saw pictures. Different pictures of people who were poor and needed money. I saw people who were dealing with anxiety and were struggling to keep their job.

Suddenly, I felt my confidence slowly falter as Guilt touched my shoulders.

“Are you still a good person?” Guilt asked.

I took a deep breath. “No, I am not.” I replied.