SIMS

by F. Paul Wilson

FOUR: Zero Chapter 8

  NEWARK, NJ

  Meerm feel ver bad today. So fat belly. Legs swoll. Hard move. Many move inside, like thing kicking. Kick-kick-kick. And dizz. Ver dizz.

  Oop. Meerm trip, fall against bunk. Make noise. Loud. Must hide. Benny come.

  Climb top closet. So hard climb. More hard squeeze into hole. But Meerm push hard. Push back board and wait in dark. Soon Benny come. Talk self. Always talk self.

  "Who's up here? Goddamn it, I heard you. I been hearing you all week! Now come out!"

  Benny come closet. Pull door. Meerm not breathe. Hear Benny voice through wall. Shout-shout-shout.

  "Where are you, dammit! You gotta be somewhere! Or maybe I just gone loco! No! I know what I heard, dammit!"

  Benny leave closet. Many loud noise in room - dresser move, bunk move, door slam-slam-slam. Then noise stop.

  "All right so maybe I am hearing things. Next I'll be seeing things. That's it. I'm losing it. I been babysitting these monkeys so long I'm going bugfuck nuts! But I coulda sworn. . . "

  Benny go way but Meerm stay. Too tired. Too scare to move. And hurt. Kick and hurt all time. Poor Meerm. When hurt stop?