• “Come on drink. It’s what you do.”
    “No, no more. I’m sick of it.” Alice said, looking at the glass filled with amber liquid. “Just drink,” a pale hand pushed the glass closer.
    “No!” Alice grabbed the glass as threw it at a pale yellow wall. Alice glared as the mask covered face across the worn table. The mask was twisted into a bright red smile. The pale white eyes of the mask stared blankly at her.
    “Good girl,” the masked figure said as it patted Alice’s hand.
    “Go away. I don’t need you following me around. I’m already crazy enough.
    ”Alice rubbed a pale hand across her face.
    The masked figure was beside her, “But Alice how can I go away when I’m you?” the figure cocked its head to the side.
    “You dress like me and you look like me. But you’re not, my voice is not that deep and I don’t hide my ugly face behind an idiotic mask.”
    “But sweetie, I am you. I’m your inner self,” the figure said with a laugh.
    “Go to hell you stupid freak,” Alice said as she stood. The figure wrapped a pale arm around her neck.
    “Acceptance Hun, you need to learn how to accept things in life. Like the fact that you’re a killer, a drug addict.”
    Alice shook her head, “No, no I’m. I’ve never killed anyone, never.”
    The figure sighed; Alice wiped a hand across her eyes. She was now alone in the small yellow kitchen. Alice walked out of the pale yellow kitchen and into the faded living room. The masked version of herself was sitting on the thread bare couch.
    “Sweetie I don’t see why you live in this dump. You could afford something so much better. Or at least something to go on these bare walls.” The figure said.
    “Shut up, it may be a dump to you but I like it.” Alice said as she leaned on the kitchen door frame, arms crossed.
    “Just saying you could do us both a favor,” it said as it got up from the couch. The figure walked to the only window in the small room. Alice moved beside the figure, who pointed to three men fighting in the street below.
    “Cities full of them. They say there was a massive riot in D.C.” Alice said in a quiet voice. The figure shook its head, “This world is going to hell and you’re just along for the ride right?” the figure gave a small dark laugh before turning away from the window. Alice mimicked the figures laugh as she headed for the couch.
    “I’m the one driving at two hundred and fifty miles straight into hell screaming for vengeance,” she said with another dark laugh. The figure appeared beside her,
    “I wish you’d stop doing your little disappear reappear crap,” Alice said as she glared at the figure beside her.
    “Hey, I’m in your head so I pop up when you want me to,” the figure twirled a strand of its brown hair.
    “I want you to go away!” Alice yelled at the empty couch beside her. She slammed her fist into the arm of the couch, bitter tears in her eyes, “I really am crazy,” she said with a small laugh. Alice stood from the couch and headed down the small hall to the cramped bathroom. In the dim yellow light she looked at herself in the chipped mirror above the sink. Her pale ghostly reflection stared back at her with bloodshot eyes.
    “When was the last time you got a good nights rest?” the figure asked from behind her. “Before the riot in D.C.” Alice replied, a line of blood trickled from the corner of her eye. “Why do you think that is sweetie?” The figure asked in a smug tone.
    “Because of you, you started showing up the day of the riot, all of this is happening because of you,” Alice said anger edging into her voice. More blood trickled from the corners of her eyes, crows cawed at the living room window. Alice’s breathing became ragged.
    “You’re a killer, you’re crazy and you can’t sleep because knowing these things is tearing you apart.” The figure mocked.
    “Shut up!” Alice screamed in a manic voice. The figure began to laugh. It was mocking her, everything was mocking her. Blood poured from her eyes, ears, nose and mouth. She slammed her head into the mirror, the laughter became louder. Alice fell to the tiled floor convulsing. Birds fell from the sky. Alice’s body lay limp on the bathroom floor the voice in her head finally silent.